Long Term Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule ( LT 2 or LT2ESWTR ) and EPA1623.1 Analysis. Previous US EPA drinking water regulations required public water systems that use surface water sources to remove at least 99% (2-logs) of Cryptosporidium by filtration. New data on Cryptosporidium infectivity, occurrence, and treatment indicate that, while these treatment requirements were adequate for most water treatment facilities, there are a subset of systems that may utilize source waters with high levels of Cryptosporidium oocysts and also systems that do not provide filtration. It is these systems that are of particular concern for water quality managers and public health officials.

As a result, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has promulgated the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2ESTWR), which increases monitoring requirements for all treatment facilities that use surface water or ground water under the direct influence of surface water.

The LT2 rule requires large surface water treatment facilities (those serving >10,000 individuals) and unfiltered systems to monitor for Cryptosporidium in their effluent at least once per month for a period of 2 years.

BCS is an ISO17025, TNI/NELAP, and EPA certified LT2 laboratory. We can accept either 10 L or Pall Envirocheck HV filters for analysis mandated by the EPA Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2ESWTR). Our laboratory is completely equipped for environmental parasitology and possesses all the equipment necessary for performing EPA Method 1623.1 for analysis of Cryptosporidium and Giardia.

In addition to detection of Cryptosporidium and Giardia by Method 1623.1, BCS has a full-scale cell culture laboratory, which enables viability testing of Cryptosporidium oocysts. Viability is assessed and the number of infectious oocysts can be estimated using methods outlined in published literature (Slifko et al., 1999).

Cryptosporidium and Giardia Detection and Enumeration and Matrix Spike analysis (Required initially and every 20 samples thereafter) is conducted by EPA 1623.1Additional filters (in case of highly turbid source waters that cause clogging) are available at request and provided at cost. Additional charge may be incured for samples collected from high turbidity and sediment water.  The charge is for the analysis of subsamples as per method requirement (max 3 per sampling event).

 

Please Contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for current pricing, volume discounts, details on analytical procedure, and sampling kit requests.  For simplification, the sample collection diagram can be found HERE. Detailed sample collection instructions can be found HERE. The sampling kit includes insulated cooler, cooler packs, collection filter cartridge (or 10 liter bladder), tubing, flow regulator, connections, and flow meter. The sampling data sheet can be found HERE and Chain of Custody (COC) form HERE

Method EPA 1623 and updated EPA 1623.1 Cryptosporidium and Giardia analysis