Water Filtration

What Is a Public Water System?

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) defines a public water system as one that serves piped water to at least 25 persons or 15 service connections for at least 60 days each year. There are approximately 161,000 public water systems in the United States.* Such systems may be publicly or privately owned. Community water systems (CWSs) are public water systems that serve people year-round in their homes. Most people in the U.S. (268 million ) get their water from a community water system. EPA also regulates other kinds of public water systems, such as those at schools, campgrounds, factories and restaurants. Private water supplies, such as household wells that serve one or a few homes, are not regulated by EPA, however, the EPA does compile reports on the vast majority of water systems in the U.S. regardless of location or type. You can check your local water supply and consider your options for water filtration systems and the benefit they can have for your families safety and health.

* Public Water Systems

Community Water System (54,000 systems) - A public water system that serves the same people year-round. Most residences are served Community Water Systems.

Non-Community Water Systems (approx. 108,000 systems) - A public water system that does not serve the same people year-round. There are two types of non-community systems:

• Non-Transient Non-Community Water System (almost 19,000 systems ) - A non-community water system that serves the same people more than six months of the year, but not year round. For example, a school with its own water supply is considered a non-transient system.
• Transient Non-Community Water System ( more than 89,000 systems) - A non-community water system that serves the public but not the same individuals for more than six months. For example, a rest area or a campground may be considered a transient system.

Excerpt from EPA “Water On Tap”

What Law Keeps My Drinking Water Safe?

Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) in 1974 to protect public health by regulating the nation’s drinking water supply and protecting sources of drinking water. SDWA is administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its state partners.

Highlights of the Safe Drinking Water Act

• Authorizes EPA to set enforceable health standards for contaminants in drinking water
• Requires public notification of water systems violations and annual reports (Consumer Confidence Reports) to customers on contaminants found in their drinking water- www.epa.gov/safewater/ccr
• Establishes a federal-state partnership for regulation enforecment
• Includes provisions specifically designed to protect underground sources of drinking water - www.epa.gov/safewater/uic
• Requires disinfection of surface water supplies, except those with pristine, protected sources
• Establishes a multi-billion dollar state revolving loan fund for water system upgrades - www.epa.com/safewater/dwsrf
• Requires an assessment of the vulnerability of all drinking water sources to contamination - www.epa.com/safewater/protect

It is important to note that the SWDA applies to every public water system in the United States but does not apply to bottled water. Bottled water is regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. A good alternative to public and bottled water is a water filtration system that can be purchased from a variety of local and online suppliers at a reasonable cost.— Drinking Water: Past, Present and Future EPA-816-F-00-002