Water Filtration

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

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