WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing the Control and Mitigation of Drinking Water Losses in Distribution Systems guidance document. This guidance provides information on flexible tools and techniques that may help the public water system (PWS) tailor a program to meet its water loss prevention needs and maintain its infrastructure to deliver clean, safe drinking water to customers — often a significant challenge for the operator of PWSs and particularly for small water systems. A successful water loss prevention program will help the PWS balance use of its resources to address the financial and personnel demands of economic restrictions, water availability, population and climate changes, regulatory requirements, operational costs, and public and environmental stewardship.

Interested parties may download electronic versions of the guidance document on the EPA website at http://water.epa.gov/type/drink/pws/smallsystems/technical_help.cfm. Copies of the guidance will be available in hard copy by contacting the Water Resource Center at 202-566-1729 and identifying document number EPA 816-R-10-019. You also may contact the National Service Center for Environmental Publication at 800-490-9198.