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. The safe drinking water act requires states to develop and implement a program to foster the technical, managerial and financial capacity of public water systems. The 1996 amendments greatly enhanced the existing law by recognizing source water protection, operator training, funding for water system improvements, and. Safe and secure drinking water protection act of 2015 2015. Us epa, ow, office of ground water and drinking water subject. It is the intent of the legislature to provide adequate water resources research institutes and other. Americans, on average, drink one litre of water per day and 95% drink less than three litres per day.
May 27, 2011 under 1996 amendments to the safe drinking water act, every 5 years the environmental protection agency epa is to determine for at least five contaminants, such as chemicals, whether regulation is warranted, considering those that present the greatest public health concern. During deliberations for sdwa in 1974, congress recognized the existence of a wide variety of injection wells, and struggled to provide a statutory definition that might include all possible injection types. Under sdwa, the united states environmental protection agency epa is given authority to set the standards for drinking water quality and oversee states. The drinking water protection act was enacted on august 7, 2015. The safe drinking water act 2011 the act includes requirements for enforcement agencies to provide an annual report on the operation of the act for each financial year. Executive summary from the departments 1993 report to the legislature, drinking water into the 21st century. Hawaii safe drinking water branchs role in backflow.
Drinking water to promote and protect the health of all. Dec 04, 2015 effective december 4, 2015, the office of environmental health hazard assessment oehha is adding 2,5hexanedione cas no. Basics and consumer confidence reports phoenix, arizona april 1417, 2015 program objective. 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. Epa has established protective drinking water standards for more than 90 contaminants, including drinking water regulations issued since the 1996 amendments. Since 1996, epa had not recommended any new contaminants for regulation until february 2011, when it reversed. Effective december 4, 2015, the office of environmental health hazard assessment oehha is adding 2,5hexanedione cas no. Safe and secure drinking water protection act of 2015. The oneparagraph section of the 551page energy policy act of 2005 exempted hydraulic fracturing from the underground injection control uic provisions of the safe drinking water act sdwa.
State environmental and public health laboratories prepare for and are often called upon in such emergency situations. Safe drinking water act sdwa protecting americas drinking water is a top priority for epa. This act may be cited as the safe drinking water act amendments of 1996. Compliance monitoring and lab awareness training course is designed to assist in career development for water operators, utility managers, and tribal personnel. Some can cause immediate illness, such as the 16 million cases of acute gastroenteritis that occur each year at us community water systems. 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.
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. Includes information on the office of drinking waters authority, or primacy. Includes information on the office of drinking water s authority, or primacy. The tribal water and wastewater operator certification program at the inter tribal council of arizona, inc. The occurrence of fecal indicators in a drinking water supply is an indication of the potential. Since 1996, epa had not recommended any new contaminants for regulation until february 2011, when it reversed its. The safe drinking water act 101 training course will explore the regulatory structures of the safe drinking water act sdwa as it pertains to tribal water systems. Chemical listed effective december 4, 2015 as known to the. Usaphc tg 179, complying with the safe drinking water act april 2015 1 chapter 1 introduction 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the safe drinking water act. The safe drinking water act sdwa is the primary statute that governs injection wells. Authority under section 1431 of the safe drinking water act pdf. Hydraulic fracturing and safe drinking water act regulatory. Contaminants regulated under the safe drinking water act author.
Basics and consumer confidence reporting training course is designed to assist in career development for tribal personnel. Human right to water and sanitation international decade. 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. Here, we show that healthbased drinking water quality violations are widespread, with 945 million people possibly affected during each of the past 34 years. Formal agreement with epa washington state department of. On 28 july 2010, through resolution 64292, the united nations general assembly explicitly recognized the human right to water and sanitation and. The act places obligations on water suppliers and water storage managers to provide safe, quality drinking water. Hydraulic fracturing and safe drinking water act regulatory issues mary tiemann specialist in environmental policy adam vann legislative attorney july, 2015 congressional research service 75700.
Drinking water, also known as potable water, is water that is safe to drink or to use for food preparation. Current and future article pdf available in journal american water works association 1041. Introduced in house 0109 2015 safe and secure drinking water act of 2015. The safe drinking water act sdwa is the principal federal law in the united states intended. Sdwas primary purpose, which is to stop contaminants from entering drinking water systems, is accomplished by doing the following. Safe drinking water act imperial irrigation district. A table that shows the timeline of when drinking water contaminants were regulated or had a revision. Are you protected under the safe water drinking act. Safe drinking water act in the state of florida 7 550. If a water supplier does not serve 15 service connections. Hillary hecht enforcement officer us epa, region 9 enforcement division uicpwssfifra section march 2015 overview of enforcement. How to identify lead free certification marks for drinking.
The drinking water in canadas cities is regularly tested and considered safe, but on many native reserves clean drinking water is considered a luxury. As a component of food law, the clean water acts failure to address. 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. This report is for the financial year 1 july, 2015 to 30 june, 2016 and describes activities. Also includes links to state statutory authority rcw. The 1996 safe drinking water act amendments directed the epa to conduct a survey of the infrastructure needs of public water systems every four years. The law was amended in 1986 and 1996 and requires many actions to protect drinking water and its sourcesrivers, lakes, reservoirs, springs, and ground. The latest canadian government of 2015 was to spend additional funds to fix the problem but has not had success. 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. 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 is the principal federal law in the united states intended to ensure safe drinking water for the public. The act comes from the environmental protection agencys responsibility to set safe drinking water standards for all states and water supplies. Drinking water related regulations are in titles 22 and 17 of the california code of regulations.
Washington 77 million peopleroughly a quarter of the u. Article 2 department and local responsibilities 116325116345. Introduction to the underground injection control program. The office of drinking water protects public health and ensures virginians have a safe and adequate supply of drinking water. Be it enacted by the senate and house of representatives of the united states of america in congress assembled, section 1. Drinking water contaminants pose a harm to public health. The surveys collect data from water systems nationwide that are eligible to receive drinking water state revolving fund srf monies regarding their 20year. Welcome to the 2015 drinking water infrastructure needs survey and assessment website. Regulations public water systems drinking water healthy. Drinking water is regulated under the safe drinking water act 2003 and the safe drinking water regulations 2015. A bill to direct the administrator of the environmental protection agency to publish a health advisory and submit reports with respect to microcystins in drinking water. The act has reduced the lead content allowed in water system and plumbing products by changing the definition of lead free in section 1417 of the safe drinking water act sdwa from not more than 8% lead content, to. Under 1996 amendments to the safe drinking water act, every 5 years the environmental protection agency epa is to determine for at least five contaminants, such as chemicals, whether regulation is warranted, considering those that present the greatest public health concern. Describes washingtons agreement for meeting the requirements of the federal safe water drinking act sdwa.
Reduction of lead in drinking water and the installation of emergency eyewash, eyeface wash and combination shower source. The amount of drinking water required to maintain good health varies, and depends on physical activity level, age, healthrelated issues, and environmental conditions. Keywords timeline, drinking water, contaminants, regulation created date. Pdf the us environmental protection agency usepa has generally done a good job executing the safe drinking water act sdwa.
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. Water users that fail to maintain this alternative water delivery service will be disconnected from the canal water system and held. This law focuses on all waters actually or potentially designed for drinking use, whether from above ground or underground sources. Office of general counsel, environmental protection agency office of groundwater and drinking water. Article 1 pure and safe drinking water 116270116293. Before citing any statute, the text of the statute should be confirmed by visiting californias legislative information website at. The legislative history at the back of the act provides detail about the past and future operation of the act. Introduced in house 01092015 safe and secure drinking water act of 2015.