Drinking water quality legislation of the United States
In the United States, public drinking water is governed by the laws and regulations enacted by the federal and state governments. Certain ordinances may also be created at a more local level. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) is the principal federal law. The SDWA authorizes the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to create and enforce regulations to achieve the SDWA goals. Federal requirements The Safe Drinking Water Act is the principal federal law governing public water systems. These systems provide drinking water through pipes or other constructed conveyances to at least 15 service connections, or serve an average of at least 25 people for at least 60 days a year. As of 2017 there are over 151,000 public water systems. Approximately 52,000 Community Water Systems serve the majority of the U.S. population Approximately 85,000 systems are non-transient, non-community water systems (such as schools, factories, office buildings, and hospitals that operate their own systems) Approximately 18,000 systems are transient, non-community water systems (such as rural gas stations or campgrounds). Eight percent of the Community Water Systems—large municipal water systems—provide water to 82 percent of the US population. The SDWA authorized the EPA to promulgate regulations regarding water supply. The