EPA recently strengthened drinking water requirements to protect an additional 18 million Americans served by 11,000 small drinking water systems from crystosporidium and other disease causing microorganisms. For those smaller drinking water systems that serve fewer than 10,000 people, this final rule has the same protective requirements already in place for large systems. To provide maximum public health protection, the EPA is now requiring small systems to use the best available technology to further ensure the safety of the nation's drinking water supply. This final rule requires 99 percent removal of cryptosporidium through enhanced filtration. Small systems have three years to come into compliance. Technical and financial assistance is available to the states and utilities. Additional information on the Final Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule is provided at www.epa.gov/safewater under "What's New."