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EPA worked with stakeholders and developed a series of "white papers" on distribution system issues to serve as background material for EPA, expert and stakeholder discussions.
Two white papers, The Potential for Health Risks from Intrusion of Contaminants into the Distribution System from Pressure Transients, and Deteriorating Buried Infrastructure Management Challenges and Strategies, were prepared by the American Water Works Service Company.
Five white papers, Permeation and Leaching, Nitrification, Finished Water Storage Facilities, Effects of Water Age on Distribution System Water Quality, New or Repaired Water Mains, were prepared by the American Water Works Association.
These papers present available information and do not represent agency policy or necessarily reflect the views of EPA.
You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA’s About PDF page to learn more.- The Potential for Health Risks from Intrusion of Contaminants into the Distribution System from Pressure Transients (PDF)(20 pp, 218 K)
- Potential Contamination Due to Cross-Connections and Backflow and the Associated Health Risks (PDF)(44 pp, 593 K, September 2001)
- Deteriorating Buried Infrastructure Management Challenges and Strategies (PDF)(37 pp, 1 MB, May 2002)
- Permeation & Leaching (PDF)(24 pp, 234 K, August 2002)
- Nitrification (PDF)(17 pp, 250 K, August 2002)
- Health Risks From Microbial Growth and Biofilms in Drinking Water Distribution Systems (PDF)(52 pp, 419 K, June 2002)
- Finished Water Storage Facilities (PDF)(24 pp, 332 K, August 2002)
- Effects of Water Age on Distribution System Water Quality (PDF)(19 pp, 581 K, August 2002)
- New or Repaired Water Mains (PDF)(15 pp, 226 K, August 2002)