The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a rule delaying by five years deadlines for stricter wastewater treatment standards for coal-fired power plants, a move that will allow continued releases of toxic pollutants into waterways that supply drinking water for more than 30 million Americans. The delayed standards would have required coal plants to significantly reduce discharges of wastewater containing arsenic, mercury, bromide, and other hazardous pollutants. Under the new rule, power plants will have additional time before being required to install more advanced treatment technologies.