The Safe Drinking Water The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)Act (SDWA)

SAFE 210SAFE 210

OverviewOverview

• Enacted in 1974 to:Enacted in 1974 to:– Protect public health by regulating the Protect public health by regulating the

nation’s public drinking water supplynation’s public drinking water supply

• Amended in 1986 and 1996Amended in 1986 and 1996– 1986: Establish NPDWS for 83 specified 1986: Establish NPDWS for 83 specified

contaminantscontaminants– 1996: Emphasis on public involvement 1996: Emphasis on public involvement

and public right to know (i.e., annual and public right to know (i.e., annual reports). Identified need for funding.reports). Identified need for funding.

www.epa.gov

Drinking water comes from a ‘watershed’ which is the land area over which water flows into the river, lake, or reservoir; not just the part of the river or lake that you can see

Who is regulated?Who is regulated?

• Public water systemsPublic water systems– ““System for the provision of water to the public System for the provision of water to the public

for human consumption through pipes or other for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances, if such such system constructed conveyances, if such such system has at least 15 service connections or regularly has at least 15 service connections or regularly serves at least 25 individuals”serves at least 25 individuals”11

• Chain of commandChain of commandEPAEPA StateState Local water supplierLocal water supplier

1 1 SDWA SDWA § 1401(4)(A)§ 1401(4)(A)

Guiding RegulationsGuiding Regulations

• National Primary Drinking Water National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR)Regulations (NPDWR)– Set enforceable maximum contaminant levels Set enforceable maximum contaminant levels

for particular contaminants in drinking water or for particular contaminants in drinking water or required ways to treat water to remove required ways to treat water to remove contaminantscontaminants

• National Secondary Drinking Water National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations (NSDWR)Regulations (NSDWR)– Relate to the aesthetics of water, not health Relate to the aesthetics of water, not health

effects (i.e., color, taste, odor)effects (i.e., color, taste, odor)

National Primary Drinking National Primary Drinking Water RegulationsWater Regulations

• Standards set through a 3-step Standards set through a 3-step process:process:

1)1) EPA ID’s contaminants that may affect EPA ID’s contaminants that may affect public health. public health.

2)2) EPA sets a health goal (MCLG)EPA sets a health goal (MCLG)

3)3) EPA determines a maximum EPA determines a maximum contaminant level (MCL) or a required contaminant level (MCL) or a required treatment techniquetreatment technique

National Secondary Drinking National Secondary Drinking Water RegulationsWater Regulations

• Non-enforceable guidelinesNon-enforceable guidelines

• Focuses on cosmetics and aesthetics Focuses on cosmetics and aesthetics of waterof water

Category of Category of

ContaminantContaminantss

Potential Health Effects from Ingestion Potential Health Effects from Ingestion of Waterof Water

MicroorganismMicroorganismss

Gastrointestinal illness Gastrointestinal illness

(ex. Diarrhea, vomiting, cramps)(ex. Diarrhea, vomiting, cramps) Legionnaire’s disease, a type of Legionnaire’s disease, a type of pneumonia pneumonia

Disinfectants Disinfectants Increased risk of cancerIncreased risk of cancer AnemiaAnemia Liver, kidney or central nervous Liver, kidney or central nervous system problems system problems

Disinfection Disinfection

ByproductsByproducts

Eye/nose irritationEye/nose irritationStomach discomfortStomach discomfortAnemia Anemia

Radionuclides Radionuclides Increased risk of cancerIncreased risk of cancerKidney toxicity Kidney toxicity

Category of Category of

ContaminantsContaminants Potential Health Effects from Ingestion of WaterPotential Health Effects from Ingestion of Water

Inorganic Inorganic ChemicalsChemicals

Skin damage Skin damage Circulatory system problemsCirculatory system problems Nervous system effectsNervous system effects Bone disease/mottled teeth of childrenBone disease/mottled teeth of children Infants and children- delays in physical or Infants and children- delays in physical or mental developmentmental development Kidney problemsKidney problems High blood pressureHigh blood pressure Hair or fingernail loss Hair or fingernail loss

OrganicOrganic

Chemicals Chemicals

Nervous system effectsNervous system effects Increase risk of cancerIncrease risk of cancer Cardiovascular system or reproductive Cardiovascular system or reproductive problemsproblems AnemiaAnemia Liver, kidney, spleen problemsLiver, kidney, spleen problems Weight lossWeight loss

Major Components to the Major Components to the SDWASDWA• EPA sets standards to help ensure EPA sets standards to help ensure

consistent quality in our Nations water consistent quality in our Nations water supply.supply.

• Contaminants are prioritized by Risk along Contaminants are prioritized by Risk along with Cost Benefit Analysiswith Cost Benefit Analysis

• National Primary Drinking Water National Primary Drinking Water Regulations set enforceable maximum Regulations set enforceable maximum contaminant levels & require ways to treat contaminant levels & require ways to treat water to remove contaminants water to remove contaminants

EnforcementEnforcement

• Public notice requirementsPublic notice requirements

• State enforcementState enforcement

• EPA enforcement EPA enforcement

• Citizen suitsCitizen suits

Consumer Confidence Consumer Confidence Reports (CCR)Reports (CCR)

Some information gathered in reports Some information gathered in reports include:include:

• Identification of source waterIdentification of source water

• Information on detected contaminantsInformation on detected contaminants

• Violations of requirements Violations of requirements

• Explanations of variances/exemptionsExplanations of variances/exemptions

• Explanation of expected contamiantsExplanation of expected contamiants

Funding to the StatesFunding to the States

• The EPA provides grants to The EPA provides grants to implement state drinking water implement state drinking water programs programs – Small water systems get special Small water systems get special

consideration because of their consideration because of their limitations on financing system limitations on financing system improvements and monitoring. improvements and monitoring.