Source Assessment Guidance Manual i Purpose

The purpose of this guidance manual is solely to provide technical information for water systems and States to assist them in complying with the Ground Water Rule (GWR). The statutory provisions and EPA regulations described in this document contain legally binding requirements. This guidance is not a substitute for applicable legal requirements, nor is it a regulation itself. Thus, it does not impose legally-binding requirements on any party, including EPA, States, or the regulated community. While EPA has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the discussion in this guidance, the obligations of the regulated community are determined by statutes, regulations, or other legally binding requirements. In the event of a conflict between the discussion in this document and any statute or regulation, this document would not be controlling. Interested parties are free to raise questions and objections to the guidance and the appropriateness of using it in a particular situation. Although this manual describes suggestions for complying with GWR requirements, the guidance presented here may not be appropriate for all situations, and alternative approaches may provide satisfactory performance. The mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use