作者追溯了联邦政府试图要求某些水系统使用颗粒活性炭（GAC）吸附处理来去除源水中的合成有机污染物的尝试。按时间顺序讨论拟议规则制定的反对者和支持者所采取的行动，从整体上说明规则提案的理由、反对理由以及提案的最终放弃。几乎同时提出的监管三卤甲烷的提案造成的混乱- 还讨论了一个完全独立的污染物类别。包括49个参考文献、表格、图表。

The author traces the federal government's attempt to require certain water systems to use granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption treatment for the removal of synthetic organic contaminants present in source waters. The actions taken by opponents and proponents of the proposed rulemaking are discussed in chronological order, providing an overall perspective of the reasons for the rule's proposal, the reasons for objections to it, and the ultimate abandonment of the proposal. The confusion created by the almost simultaneous proposal for regulating trihalomethanes - a completely separate category of contaminants - is discussed also. Includes 49 references, tables, figures.