Drinking Water Policy in the United States

Abstract

The Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 directed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop regulations that limit the level of contaminants in public drinking waters. The 1986 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act further expands the agency's role in specifying numerical limits for physical, chemical, and biological parameters. The effect of changing water policies in the United States is illustrated by using the proposed Surface Water Treatment Requirements Rule (SWTRR) as an example. The SWTRR will affect every surface water system in the United States. Those systems which do not currently filter will need to satisfy an ongoing set of rigid requirements to avoid filtration. For systems that already filter their water, new degrees of disinfection and treatment are being proposed. Information is also presented regarding the assistance that research centers and foundations can provide for both developing and developed nations. In particular, the roles of the American Water Works Research Foundation and the Water Research Centre of Great Britain are examined.