Reference

Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974

Summary

This is the primary Federal legislation protecting drinking water supplied by public water systems (those serving more than 25 people). The act provides for the establishment of primary regulations for the protection of the public health and secondary regulations relating to the taste, odor, and appearance of drinking water.

Main Points

• The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), title XIV of the Public Health Service Act, is the key federal law for protecting public water systems from harmful contaminants.
• First enacted in 1974 and substantively amended in 1986 and 1996, the Act is administered through regulatory programs that establish standards and treatment requirements for drinking water, control underground injection of wastes that might contaminate water supplies, and protect ground water.
• The 1974 law established the current federal-state arrangement in which states may be delegated primary implementation and enforcement authority for the drinking water program; the 1986 amendments sought to accelerate contaminant regulation.
• The state-administered Public Water Supply Supervision (PWSS) program remains the basic program for regulating the Nation's public water systems.