Which term refers to the EPA program that surveys unregulated contaminants in drinking water?

• A. Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation
• B. Contaminant Candidate List
• C. National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations
• D. Total Coliform Rule

Answer: (A)

The question focuses on identifying the EPA program that collects data on contaminants in drinking water that are not yet regulated. The correct term is the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation, which requires public water systems to sample for a set of unregulated contaminants and report the findings. This data helps the EPA understand how widespread these contaminants are and supports decisions about whether to regulate them in the future.

For context, the Contaminant Candidate List is a separate list of contaminants that could be regulated someday, not the ongoing surveillance program. National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations cover non-enforceable guidelines for aesthetics like taste and appearance, not monitoring for unregulated contaminants. The Total Coliform Rule governs monitoring for coliform bacteria, a microbial issue, rather than unregulated chemical contaminants.