EPA Seeks Comments on Routine Water Microbe Data Rules
Published Date: 6/22/2026
Notice
Summary
The EPA wants to keep collecting info about microbes in water to keep us safe and is asking for your thoughts before renewing this paperwork. This affects water companies and anyone involved in water safety, with no new costs expected, just a continuation of current rules. You’ve got until August 21, 2026, to share your comments and help shape the future of clean water!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
Renewal of Microbial Information Collection
The EPA proposes to renew the Microbial Rules information collection (ICR No. 1895.12; OMB Control No. 2040-0205). The collection is currently approved through October 30, 2026, comments are due by August 21, 2026, and responding is mandatory to comply with 40 CFR parts 141 and 142.
Estimated Annual Burden and Cost
EPA estimates 144,273 respondents with a total annual burden of 15,020,711 hours and total annual costs of $1,378,226,000, including $174,800,000 in annualized capital or operation and maintenance costs. These are EPA's stated per-year estimates for the information collection covered by this ICR.
Which Microbial Rules Are Covered
The consolidated ICR covers recordkeeping and reporting for multiple microbial drinking water regulations, including the Surface Water Treatment Rule; Total Coliform Rule and Revised Total Coliform Rule; Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule; Filter Backwash Recycling Rule; Long Term 1 and Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rules; the Ground Water Rule; and the Aircraft Drinking Water Rule. Entities subject to any of these rules are included in the covered information collection.
Future Microbial Rulemakings Added to ICR
EPA states that future microbial-related rulemakings will be added to this consolidated ICR after those regulations are promulgated and their initial, rule-specific ICRs expire. This means new microbial rules may later be folded into the same collection process.
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