Cyanotoxin Tools for Public Water Systems
Recommendations for Public Water Systems to Manage Cyanotoxins in Drinking Water
EPA developed a support document for states and public drinking water systems (PWSs) to assist them as they consider whether and how to manage cyanotoxins in drinking water. The recommendations in this document are intended to assist PWSs manage the risks from cyanotoxins in drinking water, including information and a framework that PWSs can consider in their cyanotoxin risk management efforts.
Cyanotoxin Management Plan Template and Example Plans
The Cyanotoxin Management Plan Template and Example Plans provide a framework for states, tribes and public water systems to develop their own system-specific cyanotoxin management plans. The template includes potential steps for preparing for a bloom and mitigating the effects of a bloom including monitoring, treatment and communication activities. EPA partnered with five utilities to develop system-specific cyanotoxin management plans that provide examples of how water systems are managing cyanotoxin risks.
Water Treatment Optimization for Cyanotoxins
The Water Treatment Optimization for Cyanotoxins document supports public water systems in developing monitoring and treatment optimization approaches for cyanotoxins to achieve the best performance possible from each treatment process. It presents proactive approaches for water sampling and monitoring to help public water systems anticipate treatment needs and to treat cyanotoxins in drinking water. Information is presented for treating cyanotoxins using many types of water treatment.
Drinking Water Cyanotoxin Risk Communication Toolbox
The Drinking Water Cyanotoxin Risk Communication Toolbox is a ready-to-use, “one-stop-shop” to support public water systems, states and local governments in developing, as they deem appropriate, their own risk communication materials. It includes editable worksheets, press release templates, social media posts and other quick references. The materials focus on communicating risk and providing background information to the public prior to and during a drinking water cyanotoxin contamination event as well as general information on harmful algal blooms and cyanotoxins.
Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins: Information for Drinking Water Systems Fact Sheet
In September 2014, EPA developed a factsheet to provide public water systems with basic information on human health effects, analytical screening tools and the effectiveness of various treatment processes to remove or inactivate microcystin-LR, anatoxin-a and cylindrospermopsin.
Harmful Algal Blooms and Drinking Water Fact Sheet
The Harmful Algal Blooms and Drinking Water Factsheet provides information to the public on the impacts of HABs in a drinking water context. It discusses basic information on cyanobacteria occurrence, health impacts from cyanotoxins and U.S. EPA Health Advisories for microcystins and cylindrospermopsin.
Possible Funding Sources for Managing Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms and Cyanotoxins in Drinking Water
An explanation of possible funding sources that can be used to manage cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms and cyanotoxins. These sources include the Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act revolving funds and other possible funding sources to support drinking water systems in managing risks to drinking water from harmful algal blooms and cyanotoxins.