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Arsenic
The Safe Drinking Water Act requires EPA to revise the existing 50 parts per billion (ppb) standard for arsenic in drinking water. EPA is implementing a 10 ppb standard for arsenic.
Ground Water Rule
EPA proposed a rule which specified the appropriate use of disinfection in ground water and addressed other components of ground water systems to assure public health protection.
Lead and Copper
EPA estimates that approximately 20 percent of human exposure to lead is attributable to lead in drinking water.
Microbials & Disinfection Byproducts
A major challenge for water suppliers is how to balance the risks from microbial pathogens and disinfection byproducts. This web site includes development of the Ground Water Rule, as well as the two new final rules: Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule and Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule.
MTBE
MTBE (methyl-t-butyl ether) is a member of a group of chemicals commonly known as fuel oxygenates. MTBE replaces the use of lead as an octane enhancer since 1979.
Radionuclides
EPA has updated its standards for radionuclides in drinking water.
Radon
Radon is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas that may cause cancer, and may be found in drinking water and indoor air.
Analytical Methods for Drinking Water
An analytical method is a procedure used to analyze a sample in order to determine the identity and concentration of a specific sample component. Many government agencies, universities and consensus methods organizations develop analytical methods.
Laboratory Certification
Laboratories analyzing drinking water compliance samples must be certified by EPA or the state. They must analyze performance evaluation samples, use approved methods and states also require periodic on-site audits.
Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List (CCL)
EPA is required to establish a list of contaminants to aid in priority-setting for the Agency's drinking water program. EPA has divided contaminants among those which are priorities for additional research, those which need additional occurrence data, and those which are priorities for consideration in rulemaking.
Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Program
Occurrence data generated by the UCM program are used to evaluate and prioritize contaminants on the Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List, a list of contaminants EPA considers for possible new drinking water standards.
National Contaminant Occurrence Database
The NCOD was developed to satisfy statutory requirements set by Congress in the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act amendments. It contains occurrence data for both regulated and unregulated contaminants in public water systems.
Six Year Review of Standards
EPA reviews each national primary drinking water regulation promulgated by the Agency at least every six years.
Treatment Technology
The mission of the treatment technology team is to identify and/or develop high quality, cost-effective treatment technologies to meet regulation development and program implementation objectives and deadlines.
Research
Links to the National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) home page.
Current Standards (MCLs)
EPA sets standards that, when combined with protecting ground water and surface water, are critical to ensuring safe drinking water. EPA works with its regional offices, states, tribes and its many partners to protect public health through implementing the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Drinking Water and Health
The U.S. has one of the safest water supplies in the world. Now you have a way to find information about your drinking water if it comes from a public water supplier.
Meeting Summaries
Read summaries of public meetings related to Safe Drinking Water Act implementation.
Partnership for Safe Water
The Partnership for Safe Water is a unique cooperative effort between EPA and its stakeholders. The Partnership encourages and assists U.S. water suppliers to voluntarily enhance their water systems' performance.
Perchlorate
EPA has released for public review and comment its revised draft toxicity assessment on perchlorate, which is the primary ingredient of solid rocket propellant.
Sulfate
Sulfate is a substance that occurs naturally in drinking water. Health concerns regarding sulfate in drinking water have been raised because of reports that diarrhea may be associated with the ingestion of water containing high levels of sulfate.
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