Water: Drinking Water
Ground Water and Drinking Water
I need Information on...
Storm and Emergency Preparedness
Major storms and hurricanes can result in flooding. What should you do to protect your drinking water?
- Visit our Emergency Information page for some helpful information.
- Vist EPA's Hurricanes page for information on how to prepare before and after a hurricane strikes.
- Visit FEMA's Ready.gov Hurricane page and FloodSmart.gov Web site for more helpful information.
Drinking Water Protection
- Public Water Systems
- Source Water Protection
- Ground Water
- Underground Injection Control
- Compliance Guidance
- Regulations Under Development
- Other Actions
Funding
Standards & Risk Management
- Current Drinking Water Rules
- Regulations Under Development
- Other Actions
- Compliance Guidance
- Drinking Water Contaminants
- Regulation Development
- Health Advisories and Science Support
Resources
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RESPONDING TO FLOODS
Major storms and hurricanes can result in flooding.
What should you do to protect your drinking water?- Visit our Emergency Information page for some helpful information.
- For information on flood maps, frequently asked questions, or
a guide to assess your flood risk, visit FEMA's FloodSmart.gov Web site. - For Emergency Preparedness tips, visit FEMA's Ready.gov Web site.
News
- National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: Revisions to the Total Coliform Rule (RTCR)
EPA anticipates greater public health protection under the RTCR, as it requires public water systems (PWSs) that are vulnerable to microbial contamination to identify and fix problems, and it establishes criteria for systems to qualify for and stay on reduced monitoring, thereby providing incentives for improved water system operation.
- Federal Funding for Utilities - Water/Wastewater - in National Disasters (Fed FUNDS)
An intuitive web-based tool that provides tailored information for water and/or wastewater utilities to obtain information on federal disaster funding programs.
- Small Systems: State Drinking Water Program documents
Program, Funding, Capacity Development & Operator Certification Collaboration Fact Sheets
- EPA Approved Laboratories List for laboratories conducting analyses
for the third Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 3)
- 2 Lab Quality Assurance Program Videos for Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2 Rule): Cryptosporidium in Water: Reviewing Laboratory Reports & Cryptosporidium Analysis: Using a Dispersant
- Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2 Rule): Federal Register Notice
Public Meeting on Monitoring Data Analysis, Occurrence Forecasts, Binning, and the Microbial Toolbox, November 15th, 2012
- Capacity Development and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) policy update: Memorandum to Regional Water Division Directors
Update to the Implementation of Capacity Development & Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Programs to Reflect the New Enforcement Policy & Enforcement Targeting Tool
In the United States, we enjoy one of the best supplies of drinking water in the world.However, many of us give little or no thought to the water that comes from our taps whether it comes from a public water system or from your own, individual well.
Consumers often have questions about their drinking water and relay those to
EPA through our
contact
us page or by calling our
Safe Drinking Water Hotline.
Here are some of the popular subject areas requested:-
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Water on Tap
A general guide for consumers that explains how drinking water is regulated by EPA and the states,
protected from natural and manmade threats, and how it gets from source to tap.
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National Primary Drinking Water
Regulations
These were put in place to protect public health and must be met by all public water systems.
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Consumer Confidence
Reports (Water Quality Reports)
For most people, by July 1 each year, a snapshot of your drinking water quality is delivered by your water supplier.
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Private Wells
Not regulated by EPA, these household wells rely on their owners to keep them safe from contamination.
Learn more about what you can do to protect your family’s health.
Drinking water is important to all of us. We cannot survive without it, and we expect it to be there when we need it. Daily, hundreds of people work to keep your drinking water safe and available to you. These public health providers work together to treat, monitor, and deliver tap water.
Learn more about what this involves and how you can help:
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Source
Water Protection
One of the most important aspects of safe drinking water is the protection of both ground water and surface water sources. It is much easier to protect a source than to treat it after contamination occurs. -
Water Treatment
This step-by-step virtual tour of a water treatment plant explains how water is treated and delivered to your home or business.
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Emergency Preparedness
When an emergency situation occurs, we must be prepared. Information is available on emergency disinfection of drinking water and/or the proper treatment of a well or septic after a flood. -
School and
Child Care Facilities
Drinking water quality at a school or child care facility is very important because it may be the primary source of your child’s daily intake of this vital fluid.
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Home Water
Testing PDF (2 pp, 596K, About PDF)
Many people, especially those with a private well, may want to have their tap water tested. EPA recommends that a certified drinking water laboratory perform those tests.
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Safe Drinking Water Act
Passed in 1974, this law ensures the quality of Americans' drinking water. Under this authority, EPA sets standards for drinking water quality; and oversees the states, localities, and water suppliers who implement those standards. It also provides for the safe injection of fluids underground for storage or disposal.