*3.5. Formation of the MWQI Program*

Local water agencies, recognizing that source water quality improvements would have significant consumer cost and public health benefits, commissioned a study to evaluate various Delta water management alternatives for meeting existing and proposed state and federal drinking water quality standards [40]. In addition to placing more stringent requirements on water treatment, the Surface Water Treatment Rule (SWTR) [41] promulgated by USEPA also emphasized watershed protection. Robbins et al. [42] concluded that, based on a national survey of surface water systems, a three-tiered approach that combines watershed controls, reservoir management, and water treatment is often necessary to meet public health objectives for drinking water protection. Arriving at a similar conclusion for

the Delta water supplies, Krasner et al. [15] advocated DBP control strategies that included watershed management in addition to water treatment components.

As fundamental understanding of Delta source water quality issues coalesced (based on data made available through the various independent efforts of the 1980s) and regulatory pressures mounted, the need for a unified program to provide water quality data in support of management decisions affecting Delta water supplies was identified. The SWP water contactors, regarding IDHAMP as a model of interagency cooperation and a successful vehicle for public health decision support, requested that CDWR create a standing program that would provide information on known and emerging threats to drinking water quality [25]. Responding to this request, CDWR initiated the MWQI Program in 1990, unifying activities being conducted under IDHAMP and the Delta Island Drainage Investigation [43].
