Threats to the safety and reliability of drinking water systems have captured public attention and prompted government action. In recent years, the discovery of dangerous concentrations of lead in tap water in Flint, Michigan, algal toxins in the drinking water of Toledo, Ohio, an industrial chemical spilled into the drinking water source for Charlestown, West Virginia, an algal bloom threatening drinking water systems using water from the Ohio River, and perfluorinated compounds in water sources near military bases and factories have caused water supply interruptions or raised public health concerns. As acknowledged in a report released this month by the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), “public confidence regarding the quality of their drinking water has been shaken lately by a series of high-visibility crises that have resulted in temporary drinking-water-system closures and do-not-use advisories.”
These events occurred despite legislative efforts. Congress enacted the Safe Drinking Water Act in 1974 and adopted amendments in 1986 and 1996 to ensure the safety and reliability of public water systems. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was tasked with issuing regulations to implement the act’s provisions. The environmental departments of most states, including Pennsylvania, are “primary” agencies that implement drinking water standards through their own regulations that are at least as stringent as the EPA’s requirements. Not surprisingly, the recent events prompted the EPA to examine the state of the nation’s drinking water infrastructure and operations and identify steps to improve the safety and reliability of our water supply. The results of this effort are embodied in the EPA’s Drinking Water Action Plan issued on Nov. 30.
