Is the Clean Water Rule still in effect?
For background, the Clean Water Rule is an update to the Clean Water Act (CWA) that became law in the United States in 1972. The CWA went into effect after years of public outcry over environmental damage from industrial pollution, including from farms. The act created protections for America’s drinking water sources, including rivers, streams, and other bodies of water of the U.S. (WOTUS). The legislation set limits on industrial waste water contamination levels, as well as required companies to file a permit if their business practices could pollute local waterways.
Forty-three years later: the Clean Water Rule
The Clean Water Rule was established by the Obama administration in 2015 as an extension of the CWA. The rule expanded the definition of the waters of the U.S. to include waterways that do not flow year-round, plus waters that are not always connected to others, such as interior wetlands. The government added the new protections after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) analyzed over 1,200 peer-reviewed studies that showed the connectivity of these smaller bodies to downstream waters.
Current efforts to end the Clean Water Rule
In July 2017, the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers began an effort to repeal the Clean Water Rule. Since 2017, the issue has been debated in the U.S. court system. As a result of a series of legal decisions, the rule is not currently in effect on a federal level. Instead, twenty-two states still adhere to the 2015 rule; twenty-eight states do not.
The end of federal-level Clean Water Rule looks likely
The Trump administration is working to eliminate the 2015 rule across the country and is now close to achieving the goal. This attempt is welcome news to people who believe the regulation was confusing, encompassed too much territory, and amounted to government overreach.
Some support the decision
Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau stated, “For too long, farmers and ranchers have had to live with real regulatory confusion. Some hear they must follow the pre-2015 rule. Others have to follow the 2015 rule, even though courts have found it illegal. The confusion only heightens the risk farmers and ranchers face in these already uncertain times.”
State laws can also provide protection
In April, Popular Science published a state-by-state analysis of the potential changes to the Clean Water Rule. In one example, the state of New Jersey supplies water to nearly half of its residents from water sources covered by the Clean Water Rule. At the same time, New Jersey has higher state-level water standards than required by the federal government, so the state’s water should maintain a high level of protection.
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Disclaimers
1Coway air purifiers have been proven to trap dust, pollen, dander, viruses and bacteria in the air based on KCL (Korea Conformity Laboratories) testing.They have been tested in a 30㎥ size chamber according to the Korea Air Cleaning Association standard (SPS-KACA 002-132:2022 Modified) to measure the 0.01㎛ size of particle removal rate. It was tested on maximum airflow speed in normal room temperature and humidity conditions. The performance may vary in the actual living environment of customers.
→ Tested with Airmega Aim, 100, 150, 160, AP-1216L, AP-1512HH, AP-1512HHS, 200M, Icon, IconS, 230, 240, 250, 250 Art, 250S, 300, 300S, 400, 400S, ProX
299.97% of viruses, bacteria, fungi and pollen were verified to be removed from the air for Coway air purifiers which have Green True HEPA™ filter applied based on the Japan Food Research Laboratories(JFRL) testing according to JEM 1467 standard.
→ Tested with Coway Airmega AP-1512HH, AP-1512HHS, 250, 250 Art, 250S, 300, 300S, 400, 400S
→ All tested by JFRL and received above result within below time.
All tested by JFRL and received above result within below time.
- Virus: Tested with Escherichia coli phage ΦX174 NBRC 103405, 60 minutes
- Bacteria: Tested with Staphylococcus epidermidis NBRC 12993, 60 minutes
- Fungi/Mold: Tested with Penicillium citrinum NBRC 6352, 60 minutes
- Pollen: Tested with Cedar Pollen extract, 60 minutes
3Aerosol test conducted in a Biosafety level 3 laboratory with two Coway air purifier models, Coway Airmega 250 and 400 for removal of SARS-CoV-2 Aerosol by US based MRI Global, a not-for-profit laboratory and partner of US Department of Defense. The test was conducted in a 13.1ft3 chamber. Virus was aerosolized for 15 minutes and the product was turned on high for 2 minutes. Result showed each product effectively removed over 99.98% of the SARS-CoV-2 in 2 minutes. This is a result from a laboratory experiment condition and result may vary in different conditions. This result does not imply it kills SARS-CoV-2 or prevents the transmission of Covid-19. Coway Airmega 250S and 400S are identical to the tested models and has equal performance with an additional mobile connectivity function.
4The concentration of ammonia, acetaldehyde and acetic acid were proven to be removed within 30 minutes by FCG Research Institute, Inc. Human Life Science Lab. It is not a demonstration result in the actual use space. Not all odors and gases may be supported. → Tested with Coway Airmega 150, 160, AP-1512HH, AP-1512HHS, 400, 400S
5The coverage area of the air purifier is based on an area where the air cleaner can make two air changes per hour (ACPH). An air change per hour translates to how many times an air purifier can clean an area, assuming the height of a ceiling to be 8 ft, in one hour. Therefore ** means two air changes per hour means that the cleaner can clean the area once every 30 minutes and * means air changes per hour means that the air purifier can clean the area once every 60 minutes.
10Terms and conditions apply. Discounts, including promotions, coupons, bundle discount and subscription discount, cannot be stacked on top of other coupons. During promotional periods, discount codes will not be able to be applied to orders. Promo codes may apply to products only—filters, accessories, and new products within 3 months of the release date are not included.
