Local water systems are asking the EPA—for the first time in the Safe Drinking Water Act’s history—for help obtaining chlorine-based water treatment chemicals amid a nationwide shortage.
Local water officials say they fear chlorine suppliers are prioritizing deliveries to swimming pools instead of local water utilities.
Fifteen drinking water and wastewater systems made the requests under Section 1441 of the drinking water law, according to a Federal Register notice published Friday.
The EPA has never before processed requests for help under that section of the law, which was enacted in 1974, said EPA spokeswoman Cathy Milbourn.