Civil cases and settlements by statute enforcement us epa. The federal safe drinking water act sdwa was passed in 1974 and has been amended several times to expand both its breadth and the united states environmental protection agencys epa power to enforce it. Congress enacted the safe drinking water act sdwa in 1974 and amended and reauthorized it in 1986 and 1996. Superintendent of documents, congressional sales office, washington, dc 20402. Pursuant to the act, the environmental protection agency epa is required to set standards for drinking water quality and oversee all states, localities, and water suppliers that implement the standards the sdwa applies to every public. Safe drinking water act sdwa protecting americas drinking water is a top priority for epa. Safe drinking water act 2003 the safe drinking water act 2003 regulates drinking water quality.
Safe drinking water act summary since 1986, the safe drinking water act sdwa or the act has prohibited the use of certain items that are not lead free, and since 1996 the act has made it unlawful for anyone to introduce into commerce items that are not lead free. The safe drinking water act, proposed by president nixon and signed into law by president ford in 1974, was a response to these widespread concerns and is the basis for current law. The safe drinking water act sdwa of 1974 was the first federal law mandating drinkingwater standards for all public water systems. This report discusses key drinking water issues in the 108th congress involving water infrastructure funding and problems caused by specific contaminants, such as the gasoline additive methyl tertiary butyl ether mtbe, perchlorate, and lead in drinking water. The compound must be present in drinking water systems at a frequency and level of public health concern. This authorized the epa to award capitalization grants to states.
Current and future article pdf available in journal american water works association 1041. Enforcement response guide for section 1433 of the safe. Drinking water and health, volume 1 safe drinking water. A water supplier that would be a public water system only as a result of modifications made to this paragraph by the safe drinking water act amendments of 1996 shall not be considered a public water system for purposes of the act until the date that is two years after august 6, 1996. This ccr provides important information about your drinking water and it shows how your drinking water quality measured up to government standards during 2018.
Sdwas primary purpose, which is to stop contaminants from entering drinking water systems, is accomplished by doing the following. Bill s8, an act respecting the safety of drinking water on first nation lands short title. Office of general counsel, environmental protection agency office of groundwater. Since passage of the safe drinking water act sdwa in 1974, localities struggle to meet federal mandates that do not make sense in all drinking water systems. Drinking water standards and training materials free to. In 2004, epa randomly tested the drinking water on 327 u. Environmental protection agency epa sets the maximum allowable amount of a contaminant in drinking water. The safe drinking water act amendments sdwa of 2016 would ensure safer water for. Epa is responsible for ensuring the safety of drinking water in the united states under the safe drinking water act. Reduction of lead in drinking water and the installation of emergency eyewash, eyeface wash and combination shower source. Compliance sites are locations in the distribution system where tthms are high, haa5s are high, and at average detention time sites. The compound must cause an adverse effect on human health.
Initially, epa focused on converting 15 longstanding drinking water guidelines, previously issued by the public health service, into enforceable maximum contaminant levels mcls, as required under the statute. Signed into law in 1974, the sdwa grants the epa the power to set national health standards for drinking water to protect against both naturallyoccurring and manmade contaminants that may be found in drinking water 4. Safe water for the community a guide for establishing a communitybased safe water system program. Safe drinking water act sdwa amendments of 1996, signed by president clinton on august 6, 1996. Understanding the safe drinking water act pdf 4 pp, 377 k.
It is the intent of the legislature to provide adequate water resources research institutes and other. Protecting americas drinking water is a top priority for epa. Are you protected under the safe water drinking act. Pdf the us environmental protection agency usepa has generally done a good job executing the safe drinking water act sdwa. Regulating the compound must present a meaningful opportunity for health risk. Keywords timeline, drinking water, contaminants, regulation created date. Know your rights under the flint safe drinking water. Enforcement response guide for section 1433 of the safe drinking water act pdf 12 pp, 2 mb contact us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem. The cd also includes an excel spreadsheet for budgeting. Environmental protection agency epa has based many of its rules on weak science, leading to needlessly onerous federal standards. The safe drinking water act sdwa celebrated its 40th anniversary in december 2014. The law was amended in 1986 and 1996 and requires many actions to protect drinking water and its sourcesrivers, lakes, reservoirs, springs, and ground.
Drinking water standards the federal safe drinking water act regulates drinking water standards for all states. Environmental protection agency epa to report back to congress on waste disposal practices, and develop minimum federal requirements for injection practices that protect public. Requirements for safe drinking water act 2011 under the safe drinking water act 2011, drinking water providers will need to contact and register with sa health in the first instance to determine the requirements for their individual circumstances. Epa has established protective drinking water standards for more than 90 contaminants, including drinking water regulations issued since the 1996 amendments to the safe drinking water act that strengthen public health protection.
Perchlorate regulation and the safe drinking water act. This act shall be known and may be cited as the safe drinking water act. Under sdwa, the united states environmental protection agency epa is given authority to set the standards for drinking water quality and oversee states, localities, and water. Us epa, ow, office of ground water and drinking water subject. Congress last reauthorized the safe drinking water act sdwa in 1996, and although funding authority for. The bill provides for the development of federal regulations governing the provision of drinking water, water quality standards and the disposal of. Safe drinking water act and regulations epa department. Both the epa and the njdep require water suppliers to provide a consumer confidence report ccr to customers on an annual basis. Safe drinking water act or sdwa means the public health service act, as amended by the safe drinking water act amendments of 1986 as amended, 42 u.
It was enacted as a result of a federal survey of large and small public drinkingwater systems that revealed poor. Epa calculates these standards based on a lifetime of exposure. Drinking water and health safe drinking water committee advisory center on toxicology assembly of life sciences national research council national academy of sciences washington, d. The safe drinking water act sdwa is the principal federal law in the united states intended to ensure safe drinking water for the public. The safe drinking water act the safe drinking water act sdwa was enacted in 1974. This module provides an overview of the safe drinking water act. Safe drinking water act consumer confidence report. Know your rights under the flint safe drinking water act settlement agreement fact sheet pdf created date.
A table that shows the timeline of when drinking water contaminants were regulated or had a revision. The number of sites is based on the type of source water and population served. An act to make provision for the supply of safe drinking water. The state of hawaii dwtrlf program was established by the 1997 state legislature as the result of the 1996 federal amendments to the safe drinking water act. Contaminants regulated under the safe drinking water act author. The safe drinking water act external sdwa was passed by congress in 1974, with subsequent amendments in 1986 and 1996, to ensure and protect the quality of americans drinking water. The safe drinking water act of 1974 and its role in providing. Transient noncommunity public water system training april. If a water supplier does not serve 15 service connections.
In 1974, president gerald ford signed into law the safe drinking water act, the. Information about the safe drinking water act, its implementation, and related topics. It is the main federal law that ensures the quality of americans drinking water. Under sdwa, the united states environmental protection agency epa is given authority to set the standards for drinking water quality and.
In 1974, congress passed the safe drinking water act sdwa. This bill amends the safe drinking water act to revise regulations for drinking water contaminants, including by. But epa is also required to set federal drinking water standards, known as maximum contaminant. Safe drinking water act consumer confidence report delivery options memorandum. The safe drinking water act sdwa, title xiv of the public health. Under the act, epa retains oversight of the nations drinking water.
The safe drinking water act sdwa sin 1974 the safe drinking water act was passed by congress and signed by president ford sprotects public health by regulating the nations public drinking water supply sconcern over cancer causing chemicals in new orleans and pittsburgh water supplies slead contamination in boston water pipes sfoul odors and taste in cities and towns. This new digital representation of the original work has been recomposed from xml files created from the o riginal paper book, not. The bureau of safe drinking water is charged with managing the federally delegated drinking water program and implements both the federal and state safe drinking water act and associated regulations. Pursuant to the act, the environmental protection agency epa is required to set standards for drinking water quality and oversee all states, localities, and water suppliers that implement the standards. The safe drinking water act sdwa was originally passed by congress in 1974 to protect public health by regulating the nations public drinking water supply. The safety of public water systems, safe drinking water act, pub. The purpose of the consumer confidence report ccr is to raise customers awareness of. The safe drinking water act sdwa sin 1974 the safe drinking water act was passed by congress and signed by president ford sprotects public health by regulating the nations public drinking water supply sconcern over cancer causing chemicals in new orleans and pittsburgh water supplies slead contamination in boston water pipes sfoul odors and taste in cities and. Safe drinking water for first nations act, was introduced in the senate on 29 february 2012. It places obligations on water suppliers and water storage managers to provide safe, highquality drinking water. You may need a pdf reader to view some of the files on this page.
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