Safe Drinking Water Act
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SWDA) is the principal federal law in the United States that ensures safe drinking water for the public.[1] Pursuant to the act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to set standards for drinking water quality and oversee all states, localities, and water suppliers who implement these standards. SDWA applies to every public water system in the United States.[2] There are currently more than 160,000 public water systems providing water to almost all Americans at some time in their lives. SDWA does not apply to bottled water. Bottled water is regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.[3] The SDWA requires EPA to establish National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWRs) for contaminants that may cause adverse public health effects.
