6. Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) The United States enjoys one of the world’s most reliable and safest supplies of drinking water. Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act in 1974 to protect public health, including by regulating public water systems The SDWA requires EPA to: * Set primary drinking water standards. + Conduct a thorough cost-benefit analysis for every new standard to determine whether the benefits of a drinking water standard justify the costs. + Strengthen protection for microbial contaminants, including Cryptosporidium, while strengthening control over the byproducts of chemical disinfection. + Ensure water system operators are certified for safe operation, * Distribute public information materials and hold public meetings about what's in drinking water, where it comes from, how it’s treated, and how to help ““& protect it.6. Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) ‘The SDWA requires each state to: + Use the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to help water systems make infrastructure or management improvements. + Assess its sources of drinking water (rivers, lakes, reservoirs, springs, and ground water wells) to identify significant potential sources of contamination and to determine how susceptible the sources are to these threats, Over 170,000 public water systems provide drinking water to most Americans. Customers that are served by a public water system can contact their local water supplier and ask for information on contaminants in their drinking water and are encouraged to request a copy of their Consumer Confidence Report. This report lists the levels of contaminants that have been detected in the water, including those by the EPA and whether the system meets state and EPA drinking water standards. DID YOU KNOW? ple in the United States rely on water from private cae freSnV.yCTT Cy mead ae ey Primary Standards EPA has established National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWRs) that set mandatory water quality standards for regulated drinking water contaminants. These are enforceable standards called "maximum contaminant levels’ (MCLs) which are established to protect the public against consumption of drinking water contaminants that present a risk to human health. An MCLis the maximum allowable amount of a contaminant in drinking water which is delivered to the consumer. Each standard also includes requirements for Water systems to test for contaminants in the water to make sure standards are achieved The most direct oversight of water systems is conducted by state drinking water programs, States can apply to US EPA for “primacy.” the authority to implement SDWA within their jurisdictions, Ifthey can show that they will adopt standards at least as stringent as the EPA’s and make sure water systems meet these standards. All states and territories, except Wvorning and the District of Columbia, have received primacy. ‘The SDWA sets up multiple barriers against pollution. These barriers include: + Source water protection * Treatment * Distribution ‘+ System integrity * Public informationRegulated Contaminants EPA sets legal limits on over 90 contaminants (cick here) in drinking water. The legal limit for a contaminant reflects the level that protects human health and that water systems can achieve using the best available technology, EPA rules also set water-testing schedules and methods that water systems must follow. Unregulated Contaminants EPA uses the Unregulated Contaminate Monitoring Program to collect data for contaminants suspected to be present in drinking water, but that do not have health-based standards set under the SDWA. Every five years, EPA reviews the list of contaminants, largely based on the Contaminant Candidate List. To review the most recent list dated 2017-2021, click here. Secondary Standards In addition, EPA has established National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations (NSDWRs) that set non-mandatory water quality standards for 15 contaminants. EPA doesn't enforce these "secondary maximum contaminant levels” (SMCLS). They are established as guidelines to assist public water systems in managing their drinking water for aesthetic considerations, such as taste, color, and odor. These contaminants aren't considered to present a risk to human health. While SMCLs ate not federally enforceable, EPA requires a special notice for exceedance of the fluoride SMCL of 2.0 me/L. Community water systems that exceed the fluoride SMCL of 2 mg/l, but do not exceed the MCL of 4.0 mg/| for fluoride, must provide public notice to persons served no later than 12 months from the day the water system learns of the exceedance.( cere6.2 Underground Injection Wells (UIC) ‘An injection well is used to place fluid underground into porous geologic formations. These underground formations may range from deep sandstone or limestone to a shallow soil layer. Injected fluids may include water, wastewater, brine (salt water), or water mixed with chemicals, Injection wells have a range of uses including: + Storing CO. + Disposing of waste * Enhancing oil production = Mining + Preventing salt water intrusion Widespread use of injection wells began in the 1930s to dispose of brine generated during oil production, Injection effectively disposed of unwanted brine and preserved surface waters. In some formations, injection enhanced the recovery of oil. In the 1950s, chemical companies began injecting indus- trial wastes into deep wells, As chemical manufacturing increased, so did the use of deep injection, Injection proved to be a safe and inexpensive option for the disposal of unwanted and often hazardous industrial by-products.6.2 Underground Injection Wells (UIC) EPA regulates the construction, operation, permitting, and closure of injection wells used to place fluids underground for storage and disposal. Injection wells have been grouped into six classes. + Classes HIV and VI include wells with similar functions, construction, and operating features. This allows consistent technical requirements to be applied to these well classes, + Class V wells are those that do not meet the description of any other well class. Wells in Class V do not necessarily have similar functions, construction, or operating features. + Class VI wells are solely for long-term storage of COs. Aquifer EPA regulates these wells to protect public health and prevent con- tamination of underground sources of drinking water (USDWs) via the Safe Drinking Water Act. USDW is an aquifer or a part of an aquifer that is currently used as a drinking water source. The purpose of the UIC requirements is to: + ensure that either injected fluids stay within the well and the intended injection zone + ensure the fluids that are directly or indirectly injected into the USDW don’t cause a public water system to violate drinking water standards or affect public health