Posted on June 23, 2025 by Brent Phillips

Ensuring regulatory compliance for potable water systems is crucial for public health, particularly in rural municipalities where infrastructure challenges are prevalent. Protective coatings serve as essential barriers against contamination, corrosion, and leaching in water storage tanks and distribution pipelines. This blog explores the evolving regulatory landscape, compliance hurdles, and solutions for rural water systems.

The Regulatory Framework Governing Coatings

Potable water coatings must comply with the NSF/ANSI 61 and NSF/ANSI 600 standards, which establish health-effect requirements for materials that come into contact with drinking water. These standards, enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state agencies, limit contaminants like ethylbenzene (≤0.14 mg/L), toluene (≤0.06 mg/L), and xylene (≤0.09 mg/L). The Public Water System Supervision (PWSS) program implements Safe Drinking Water Act mandates, requiring rigorous material testing and certification.

Rural Compliance Challenges

Rural systems face unique hurdles, including:

• Limited funding for coating upgrades and maintenance
• Aging infrastructure requires frequent recoating
• Technical resource gaps for testing and documentation
• Despite these challenges, states like Arkansas demonstrate high compliance rates through systematic testing, conducting 55,000+ pesticide tests annually without exceeding federal contaminant levels.

Certification and Testing Protocols

Protective coatings undergo exhaustive evaluation to include:

• Leachate testing for 150+ contaminants under NSF 61
• Accelerated aging to simulate long-term water exposure
• Material composition audits for solvents and heavy metals
• Coatings must also meet AWWA durability standards for immersion service, corrosion resistance, and bond strength.

Innovations in Coating Technology

Recent regulatory shifts (e.g., NSF 600) have driven advancements toward:

• 100% solids epoxy replacing solvent-based formulas to meet stricter extraction limits
• Low-temperature cure systems enabling year-round application in remote areas
• HAPS-free formulations eliminate hazardous air pollutants
• These innovations help rural utilities extend the lifespan of the asset while reducing recoating frequency.

Implementation Strategies for Municipalities

Rural systems can optimize compliance through the following:

1. Prioritizing NSF 61/600-certified coatings for all
2. immersion surfaces.
3. Leveraging SRF loans for infrastructure modernization.
4. Partnering with technical assistance programs for
5. testing support.
6. Scheduling proactive recoating during infrastructure upgrades.
7. Digital record-keeping for audit readiness.

How Rural Municipalities Can Adopt a Certified Coatings Program

Regulatory compliance in protective coatings remains non-negotiable for safe drinking water. Rural municipalities can overcome resource constraints by adopting certified coatings, utilizing federal support programs, and implementing phased infrastructure improvements. As standards evolve toward stricter contaminant controls, proactive adoption of compliant protective coatings will ensure water safety for vulnerable communities.

Learn more from the water tank and tower experts at Cunningham Inc. by calling (620) 848-3030 today.