Information Collection Rule Program

The Information Collection Rule (ICR), published in the Federal Register on May 14, 1996, required data collection on disease-causing microbes (pathogens), indicators of fecal contaminants (total coliform, fecal coliform or E. coli) disinfection byproducts, drinking water sources, and drinking water treatment plants. This was the largest data collection effort for these water quality and treatment measures ever undertaken. The effort was coordinated by EPA and involved 296 public water systems each serving at least 100,000 people. It began in July 1997 and ended in December 1998. All participants followed the same method for the analysis of samples collected once a month.

EPA will use the data from all the samples collected under the ICR to support future regulation of microbial contaminants, disinfectants and disinfection byproducts.

New York City ICR Data (PDF)