The Surface Water Treatment Rule (SWTR) established treatment of viruses to ensure a MCLG of zero for which contaminants?

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Multiple Choice

The Surface Water Treatment Rule (SWTR) established treatment of viruses to ensure a MCLG of zero for which contaminants?

Explanation:
The key idea is that the Surface Water Treatment Rule targets pathogens in surface water and sets a zero health-goal (MCLG) for the major microbial contaminants. Viruses, Giardia (a protozoan), and Legionella are all disease-causing microorganisms that can be present in source water, so the rule requires treatment to inactivate or remove them so that the MCLG is zero. This is achieved through the standard treatment approach for surface waters—coagulation/flocculation, filtration, and disinfection—that provides substantial reductions for these pathogens. Pesticides and solvents are chemical contaminants governed by different parts of drinking water regulation, not the microbial zero MCLG emphasized by the SWTR.

The key idea is that the Surface Water Treatment Rule targets pathogens in surface water and sets a zero health-goal (MCLG) for the major microbial contaminants. Viruses, Giardia (a protozoan), and Legionella are all disease-causing microorganisms that can be present in source water, so the rule requires treatment to inactivate or remove them so that the MCLG is zero. This is achieved through the standard treatment approach for surface waters—coagulation/flocculation, filtration, and disinfection—that provides substantial reductions for these pathogens. Pesticides and solvents are chemical contaminants governed by different parts of drinking water regulation, not the microbial zero MCLG emphasized by the SWTR.

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