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Article: Safe Drinking Water Act
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- Water:Science and Issues
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CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Safe Drinking Water Act
The Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, amended in 1986 and 1996, is the legal basis for regulating public drinking water in the United States. Its passage was spurred largely by mounting public awareness about
contaminants
in the environment, and concern for the safety of drinking water. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has primary enforcement responsibility.
Evolution of the Law
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) of 1974 was the first federal law mandating drinking-water standards for all public water systems, from big cities to roadside campgrounds. It was enacted as a result of a federal survey of large and small public drinking-water systems that ...