It was made to ensure public safety when it comes to safe drinking water distribution. The law has proven instrumental in setting standards for ensuring that the us population can access drinking water that is. 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, 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 law was amended in 1986 and 1996 and requires many actions to protect drinking water and its sourcesrivers, lakes, reservoirs, springs, and ground water wells. Appendix a legislation and terms of reference of the study the safe drinking water act of 1974 and the nas study public law 93523 purpose of legislation the purpose of the legislation is to assure that the public is provided with an adequate quantity of safe drinking water. Federal and new york state regulation of drinking water. The safe drinking water act applies to water systems. Cupas introduction when congress enacted the safe drinking water act in 1974, it gave the environmental protection agency the power to set national standards governing the maximum acceptable levels of watercontaminates in. Legislation and terms of reference of the study the safe. In 1974, president gerald ford signed into law the safe drinking water act, the first. Major amendments were made to the sdwa in 1986 and 1996.
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. In 1974, president gerald ford signed into law the safe drinking water act, the first piece of legislation of its kind to provide a comprehensive regulatory framework for overseeing the nations drinking water supply. Drinking water regulations by jamie knotts ndwc promotions coordinator twentyfive years ago, congress passed an act that brought sweeping changes for americas drinking water systems. 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. 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. Federal legislation concerning this issue has been in the house since 1970, and now the safe drinking water act is about to go to the floor.
Safe drinking water act the safe drinking water act sdwa is the main federal law that ensures the quality of americans drinking water. Implementation of the sdwa of 1974 and its later amendments by the usepa, the states, and water suppliers has significantly improved the safety of drinking. In 1974, with the enactment of the safe drinking water act, the federal government took an active role in underground injection control. The united states code is meant to be an organized, logical compilation of the laws passed by congress. An act to make provision for the supply of safe drinking water. This act may be cited as the safe drinking water act amendments of 1996. Safe drinking water branch hawaii department of health. Be it enacted hy the senate and house of representatives of the. Drinking water, also known as potable water, is water that is safe to drink or to use for food preparation. Safe drinking water act sdwa protecting americas drinking water is a top priority for epa. This act shall be known and may be cited as the safe drinking water act. Safe drinking water act sdwa basics clean water action. An act to provide for the prevention and control of water pollution and the maintaining or restoring of wholesomeness of water for the establishment, with a view to carrying out the purposes aforesaid, of boards for the prevention and control of water pollution, for conferring on and assigning to such boards powers and functions. Epa responsibility for establishing and enforcing drinking water standards nationwide.
Safe drinking water act of 1974 the congress project. Federal requirements safe drinking water act of 1974, p. Safe drinking water act was first launched in the year 1974 and was being amended this year 2016. This report summarizes the safe drinking water act sdwa and its major programs and. Since passage of the safe drinking water act sdwa in 1974, localities. 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. The us environmental protection agency usepa has generally done a good job executing the safe drinking water act sdwa. The safe drinking water act sdwa protects the quality of us drinking water, to the great benefit of american public health. Safe drinking water act 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. The safe drinking water act sdwa of 1974 was the first federal law mandating drinkingwater standards for all public water systems. 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. The safe drinking water act sdwa of 1974 and its subsequent 1986 and 1996 amendments authorize the epa to set national standards to protect public drinking water and its sources against naturally occurring or humanmade contaminants. Under the act, epa retains oversight of the nations drinking water. Safe drinking water act river, effects, important, types.
Since 1980, more than 150 federal register notices have been published regarding uic, including. It is the governments way of controlling and eradicating water contaminants for. Every day, over 160,000 municipal water systems provide safe, reliable drinking water to us consumers. Introduction to the underground injection control program. The safe drinking water act of 1974, amended in 1986 and 1996, is the legal basis for regulating public drinking water in the united states.
The safe drinking water act of 1974 sdwa, proposed by senator warren magnuson dwa, sought to safeguard public water resources from any contamination by enacting programs that establish standards and treatment requirements for public water supplies, finance drinking water infrastructure projects, promote water system compliance, and control the underground injection of fluids to protect. Be it enacted by the senate and house of representatives of the united states of america in congress assembled, section 1. Legislative history of the safe drinking water act kyros. The environmental protection agency epa sets national standards and has implemented broad regulatory processes. One of the consequences of an industrialized and highly technological society is that the safety of its drinking water becomes seriously jeopardized. The federal safe drinking water act sdwa, enacted in 1974, provides the statutory basis for federal and state regulations governing the operation of public water systems, including concentrations of contaminants in drinking water. Explain threats to drinking water describe the hydrologic cycle and pathways of contamination understand the history of drinking water regulation describe the major sdwa programs this module provides an overview of the safe drinking water act. List of regulated public water systems as of 02112020 statutory requirements. Its passage was spurred largely by mounting public awareness about contaminants in the environment, and concern for the safety of drinking water. Safe drinking water act and amendments codified generally as 42 u.
The environmental protection agency epa has based many of its rules on weak science, leading to needlessly onerous federal standards. It was enacted as a result of a federal survey of large and small public drinkingwater systems that revealed poor water quality was endangering public health. Environmental protection agency epa sets standards for drinking water quality and oversees the states, localities, and water suppliers who implement those standards. It is the intent of the legislature to provide adequate water resources research institutes and other. Since the safe drinking water act sdwa of 1974 went into effect, water systems have encountered many new regulations, such as meeting specific water quality. The law was amended in 1986 and 1996 and requires many actions to protect drinking water and its sourcesrivers, lakes, reservoirs, springs, and ground. This law focuses on all waters actually or potentially designed for drinking use, whether from above ground or underground sources.
The amount of drinking water required to maintain good health varies, and depends on physical activity level, age, healthrelated issues, and environmental conditions. The safe drinking water act for public health protection ct. Signed into law in 1974, the sdwa grants the epa the power to set national. This report summarizes the safe drinking water act sdwa and its major.
The safe drinking water act sdwa regulates public water systems, which are publicly and privately owned systems serving 25 people or 15 service connections. The safe drinking water act of 1974 and its role in. A threat of such magnitutde is a warning to the congress. This article provides a brief overview of this landmark legislation. Public health security and bioterrorism preparedness and response act. The safe drinking water act sdwa was established at the end of 1974 and resulted in major changes drinking water is managed and treated in the united states. In response to the 1974 act, epa promulgated the uic regulations in 1980. Reported to house amended, part ii 08151974 latest summary safe drinking water act defines the terms used in this act. Water prevention and control of pollution act, 1974. History of drinking water regulations waterrelated. Sdwas primary purpose, which is to stop contaminants from entering drinking water systems, is accomplished by doing the following.
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. The michigan safe drinking water act, public act 399, as amended, act 399 was enacted in 1976 and enables the michigan department of. History of safe drinking water in the united states before 1974. Sdwa standards include healthbased maximum levels for microbiologic, chemical, and other contaminants in drinking water.
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