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Drinking Water Program Highlights
Environmental Protection Agency
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Guidances, Rules, and RegulationsDrinking Water Standards for Regulated Contaminants Under the SDWA, EPA sets legal limits on the levels of contaminants in drinking water. The legal limits reflect both the level that protects human health and the level that water systems can achieve using the best available technology. Besides prescribing these legal limits, EPA rules set water-testing schedules and methods that water systems must follow. In case a specific limit cannot be set, the rules also identify techniques for treating the water. Small Systems & Capacity Development A State must obtain the legal authority or other means to ensure that new community and nontransient noncommunity water systems that start-up after October 1, 1999 have the technical, financial and managerial capacity to meet National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. New York, New Jersey and Puerto Rico have met this requirement (not applicable to Virgin Islands). States are also required to establish capacity development strategies by August 6, 2000 to assist all systems in developing and maintaining capacity. New York, New Jersey and Puerto Rico have met this requirement (not applicable to Virgin Islands).
By February 5, 2001, states must adopt and be implementing an operator certification program that meets EPA's Final Guidelines for the Certification and Recertification of the Operators of Community and Nontransient Noncommunity Public Water Systems or Drinking Water State Revolving Fund money will either be held back or denied. Headquarter and Regional Operator Certification Contacts Consumer Confidence Report Rule (CCR) This important right-to-know rule requires water systems to provide annual water quality reports to their customers. The CCR includes information on source water, the levels of any detected contaminants, compliance with drinking water standards, and educational information. Customers should expect to receive their reports by July 1st of each year.
Grants and FundingsThe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) The 1996 Amendments authorized one billion dollars per year through the year 2003 of financial assistance to the states to be used for low interest loans to public water systems for the construction of facilities to ensure safe and adequate drinking water. New Jersey, New York and Puerto Rico have implemented the DWSRF programs and are making low interest loans for drinking water facilities. Virgin Island receives fundings in the form of grants.
Drinking Water Infrastructure Grants for Indian Nations The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) amendments of 1996, made a number of changes to the United States' drinking water program. A significant change to the SDWA was the establishment of a program that authorizes EPA to distribute Federal Grant Money to Indian Nations for needed public drinking water system infrastructure improvements. EPA Region 2 sent out its second annual letter announcing a "call for projects" on July 14, 2000. Pre-application Form were due by October 1, 2000 in order for new projects to be listed in the Fiscal Year 2001 Intended Use Plan (IUP). No new pre-applications were submitted. A proposed Proposed FY-2001 Intended Use Plan has been drafted which explains EPA's plan for distribution of available FY-2001 funds. There was a 45 day comment period on the Proposed IUP which ended March 17, 2001 (see Jan 31, 2001 Letter Transmitting Proposed FY-2001 IUP).
Related ProgramsWellhead Protection Program (WHP) Between 1990 and 1991, New York, New Jersey, and
Puerto Rico submitted Wellhead Protection Program Plans that were
approved by EPA. (The U.S. Virgin Islands has not yet submitted
its final plan for approval.) Source Water Assessment Program The states’ Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP) Plans describe how the states will proceed with the assessments. New
Jersey SWAP Plan Territories are excluded from the DWSRF Program, and the U.S. Virgin Islands is therefore not actively involved in SWAP. |
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