Awareness of the presence of contaminants of emerging concern (a.k.a. emerging contaminants) in public and private water supplies around the country has become a considerable focus of public officials and the general public. This awareness arose from recent developments in analytical techniques which allow lower concentrations of these compounds to be detected, new drinking water health advisory levels announced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and an increased understanding of the potential health effects of chemicals in food, air, water, and other environmental media.

Originally published in Water Resources Committee Newsletter - March, 2018.