Laws & Statutes

• Read our short summary: Understanding the Safe Drinking Water Act
• Search SDWA online  or
• Download a 7.4 M text file 
  (Note: SDWA is included in 'Chapter 6A - Public Health Service' / section 300f)

  1996 Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act

  In 1996, Congress amended the Safe Drinking Water Act to emphasize sound science and risk-based standard setting, small water supply system flexibility and technical assistance, community-empowered source water assessment and  protection, public right-to-know, and water system infrastructure assistance through a multi-billion-dollar state revolving loan fund.  For more detailed information, read: 

  • Section-by-section summary,
  • Thematic summary, or 
  • Full text of the 1996 SDWA Amendments (319 K HMTL Page)
  • Statutory Requirements in the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996

  Historical Press Releases

  • EPA Voices Support for Safe Drinking Water Act [March 8, 1973]
  • Train Names 80 Cities for EPA Drinking Water Survey [December 18, 1974]
  • Protecting America's Drinking Water: Our Responsibilities Under the Safe Drinking Water Act [March, 1975]
  • EPA Safe Drinking Water Standards Go into Effect Today [June 25, 1977]
  • President Signs Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments [June 20, 1986]
  • Lead Contamination Control and Asbestos Information Acts of 1988 [November 1, 1988]
  • President Clinton Signs Legislation to Ensure Americans Safe Drinking Water [August 6, 1996]

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