The safe drinking water act sdwa lists three specific criteria for health effects, occurrence, and risk reduction that the usepa must follow when identifying new contaminants for regulation. The law was amended in 1986 and 1996 and requires many actions to protect drinking water and its sourcesrivers, lakes, reservoirs, springs, and ground. Every day, over 160,000 municipal water systems provide safe, reliable drinking water to us consumers. 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 sdwa is the principal federal law in the united states intended to ensure safe drinking water for the public. Amendments to safe drinking water act amends the safe drinking water act the act to. The safe drinking water act sdwa, as amended in 1996, requires the environmental protection agency epa to make regulatory determinations every five years on at least five unregulated contaminants. Safe drinking water act 2003 the safe drinking water act 2003 regulates drinking water quality. Pdf the us environmental protection agency usepa has generally done a good job executing the safe drinking. Federal requirements safe drinking water act of 1974, p. The safe drinking water act applies to water systems.
The last major investment in our water supply system occurred 36 years ago, in 1960. Safe drinking water act imperial irrigation district. Be it enacted by the senate and house of representatives of the united states of america in congress assembled, section 1. In 1996 the safe drinking water act sdwa was amended to provide communities with more information about the ways in which they can protect their drinking water sources from contamination. First enacted in 1974 and substantially amended in 1986 and 1996. The town of bay harbor islands purchases 100% of its water from miamidade water and sewer department wasd. An act to make provision for the supply of safe drinking water. A bill to reauthorize and amend title xiv of the public health service act commonly known as the safe drinking water act, and for other purposes. The safe drinking water act sdwa regulates public water systems, which are publicly and privately owned systems serving 25 people or 15 service connections. If we do not act now, the cost will be far higher in the future. This article provides a brief overview of this landmark legislation. Since passage of the safe drinking water act sdwa in 1974, localities struggle. Join a diverse group of californians in support of proposition 204, including.
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. Sdwa standards include healthbased maximum levels for microbiologic, chemical, and other contaminants in. 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. Overview of selected provisions with the safe drinking water act amendments of 1996, congress acknowledged federal, state, and local experiences with the drinking water law, responded to emerging public health information and new scientific and regulatory concepts, and passed the most extensive drinking water amendments in a decade. The item safe drinking water act amendments of 1996. This law focuses on all waters actually or potentially designed for drinking use, whether from above ground or underground sources. 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. 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.
Introduction to the safe drinking water act of 1996 an epa drinking water academy module a big part of watershed management involves protecting ground water and drinking water. Generally, the sdwa applies to water systems with 15 or more connections, or those regularly serving 25 or more people daily, 60 or more days per year. Amendments of 1996 shall not be considered a public water system for purposes of the act until the date. History of drinking water regulations waterrelated topics. Under sdwa, the united states environmental protection agency epa is given authority to set the standards for drinking water. Safe drinking water act sdwa protecting americas drinking water is a top priority for epa. Originally, sdwa focused primarily on treatment as the means of providing safe drinking water at the tap. The law updates the standardsetting process by focusing regulations on contaminants known to pose greater public health risks.
The 1996 amendments added new requirements related to annual water quality reports, operator certification requirements, system capacity, and source water assessment and protection. Under 1996 amendments to the safe drinking water act, every 5 years epa is to determine for at least five contaminants whether regulation is warranted, considering those that present the greatest public health. History of the safe drinking water act sdwa drinking. The safe drinking water act sdwa of 1974 was the first federal law mandating drinkingwater standards for all public water systems. Major amendments were made to the sdwa in 1986 and 1996. The first report covered the period january 1, 1996, through december 31, 1996. The sdwa required the environmental protection agency epa to establish new drinking water standards. Congress last reauthorized the safe drinking water act sdwa in 1996, and although funding authority for most sdwa programs expired.
The safe drinking water act sdwa, title xiv of the public health. This law focuses on all waters actually or potentially designed for drinking use, whether from above ground or. 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 sdwa has been amended and or reauthorized several times since passage as public law 93523 in 1974. History of drinking water regulations waterrelated. The safe drinking water act sdwa protects the quality of us drinking water, to the great benefit of american public health. It places obligations on water suppliers and water storage managers to provide safe, highquality drinking water. Jul 12, 2011 the potential health effects of exposure to most of these chemicals, and the extent of their occurrence in drinking water, are unknown.
Pursuant to a congressional request, gao provided information on the. The safe drinking water act requires states to prepare an annual report on violations of the national primary drinking water regulations by public water systems in the state. Government printing office superintendent of documents, congressional sales office, washington, dc 20402. Scada supervisory control and data acqui sition system went online in april 1996. Their training provides information to help epa, states, tribes, and. Safe drinking water act violations 2000 new jersey. Regulations public water systems drinking water healthy. The act authorizes epa to establish minimum standards to protect tap water and requires all owners or. It replaces the current laws demand for 25 new standards every three years with a new process based on occurrence, relative risk, and costbenefit considerations. Safe drinking water act amendments of 1996 general guide to provisions environmental protection agency office of ground water and drinking water august 1996 the safe drinking water act amendments of 1996 pl 104182 establish a new charter for the nations public water systems, states, and the environmental protection agency in protecting.
A brief history of drinking water regulations safe drinking water. The new amendments made sweeping changes to the existing sdwa, created several new programs, and. The act comes from the environmental protection agencys responsibility to set safe drinking water standards for all states and water supplies. List of regulated public water systems as of 02112020 statutory requirements. An amendment to the public health service act, the safe drinking water act sdwa or the act federalized the regulation of drinking water systems. In the safe drinking water act amendments of 1996 p. The safe drinking water act as amended by the safe drinking water act of 1996 public law 104182, august 6, 1996 printed for the use of the committee on environment and public works for sale by the u. Safe drinking water act timeline 1974 safe drinking water act becomes law as a result of the 1969 study and interest by various members of congress, the safe drinking water act sdwa was passed and signed into law on december 16, 1974. This report summarizes the safe drinking water act sdwa and its major programs and. Safe drinking water act amendments of 1996 title i.
The 1996 amendments greatly enhanced the existing law by recognizing source water protection, operator training, funding for water system improvements, and public information as important components of safe drinking water. The 1996 amendments greatly enhanced the existing law by recognizing source water protection, operator. At its top level, it divides the world of legislation into fifty topicallyorganized titles, and each title is further subdivided into any number of logical subtopics. This guidance is required by section 515 of the treasury and general government appropriations act for fiscal year 2001 and associated office of management and budget omb implementation guidance. Their training provides information to help epa, states, tribes, and others increase their. Safe drinking water act of 1974 legislative history. Water users that fail to maintain this alternative water delivery service will be disconnected from the canal water. Introduction to the safe drinking water act of 1996.
July 17, 1996 action resolved, that the bill from the senate s. 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. Water quality information the safe drinking water act. History of the safe drinking water act sdwa request pdf. The amendments require states to create a source water assessment program for all their public drinking water systems. Under sdwa, the united states environmental protection agency epa is given authority to set the standards for drinking water quality and. 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 safe drinking water act sdwa was established to protect the quality of drinking water in the u. Due to the federal and state safe drinking water acts, iid water users who receive service canal water at their homes or businesses must have an alternate source of water for drinking and cooking purposes california health and safety code section 116275s. 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. Public health security and bioterrorism preparedness and response act.
Unfortunately, 1996 sdwa amendments to the law failed to fix these funda. 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. Sdwa standards include healthbased maximum levels for microbiologic, chemical, and. Dec 08, 2004 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. Public health security and bioterrorism preparedness and. Safe drinking water act amendments of 1996 united states safe drinking water act of 1974 united states drinking water law and legislation united states.
The united states code is meant to be an organized, logical compilation of the laws passed by congress. 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 sdwa has been amended and or reauthorized several times since passage as public law 93523 in. Safe drinking water branch hawaii department of health. The safe drinking water act the sdwa was put into effect in order to protect the quality of drinking water for people living in the united states. 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. This act may be cited as the safe drinking water act amendments of 1996.
Quality guidelines and adapt the principles under the 1996 safe drinking water act amendments for safety and risk analysis. Source water assessment program drinking water in new. The town of bay harbor islands water department is required, as part of the 1996 safe drinking water act, to provide information to the consumer regarding the quality of water delivered. Formal agreement with epa washington state department of. The potential health effects of exposure to most of these chemicals, and the extent of their occurrence in drinking water, are unknown. 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.
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