VOORHEES, NJ, May 15, 2012 -- American Water's (NYSE: AWK) Central Laboratory, based in Belleville, IL, has met all proficiency testing requirements by the United States EPA for the third round of the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3). American Water's Central Laboratory is one of the first water and wastewater utilities to participate and pass proficiency testing for UCMR3 methods.
"At American Water, we hold ourselves to the highest standards in delivering clean, high-quality drinking water to the people we serve," said Dr. Mark LeChevallier, director of Innovation & Environmental Stewardship for American Water. "When it comes to complying with strict federal regulations, we've consistently scored among the highest of all water companies. Our recent milestone of being one of the first utilities to meet all proficiency testing requirements for UCMR3, once again demonstrates our commitment to delivering water of the highest quality to our customers."
In 2013, the EPA UCMR program will resume for all public water systems serving more than 10,000 users. In addition, 800 systems serving less than 10,000 users will also be required to participate in the program. As proposed, UCMR3 would require public water systems to monitor for 28 chemicals and two viruses. This testing will take place over a continuous, 12-month period, between January 2013 and December 2015, for approximately 6,000 public water systems. The UCMR program allows the EPA Office of Water to screen the country's water systems for a select number of pollutants that may become regulated contaminants in the future. American Water successfully analyzed proficiency testing samples for seven of the UCMR3 methods, which is an integral part of the UCMR Laboratory Approval Program. The final UCMR3 was published on May 2, 2012.
At American Water's laboratories, more than one million tests and measurements using the most advanced technology and equipment are conducted each year. Since it's opening in 1981, the Central Laboratory has been dedicated to drinking water analysis and quality measurement. American Water's research team has won over a dozen awards for research, and routinely interacts with prominent researchers, universities, and organizations, including the USEPA, while the Central Laboratory provides input to regulators as they develop federal standards and guidelines for safe drinking water.
About American WaterFounded in 1886, American Water is the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs approximately 7,000 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 15 million people in more than 30 states and parts of Canada. More information can be found at www.amwater.com.
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