Amending the Safe Drinking Water Act: View from Congress

Journal Article · · EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Journal; (United States)

OSTI ID:6912020

Waxman, H

In 1986, the last time Congress amended the Safe Drinking Water Act, the legislative process was a model of cooperative progress. Across the nation, the message is clear: Safe drinking water can no longer be taken for granted. Polls show that drinking water safety is a growing public concern, with one industry survey showing that more than 80 percent of consumers are willing to pay more for water meeting federal standards, while less than 2 percent agree with the industry position that federal standards are too strict. Probably the singe most widespread and serious drinking water problem in the United States is not microbial contamination, but contamination from byproducts of the disinfection process, such as chloroform, that can cause cancer. Lead contamination is another major problem. The range of serious problems plaguing the nation's drinking-water systems must be addressed by Congress in the ongoing effort to amend the SDWA. President Clinton has proposed a broad new program to do just that. The Clinton Safe Drinking Water Initiative would provide for more financial and technical assistance to water suppliers, assure better training for system operators, streamline the law's requirements, provide special relief for small water systems, and guarantee more effective oversight.

• OSTI ID: 6912020
• Journal Information: EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Journal; (United States), Vol. 20:1-2; ISSN 0145-1189
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
CLEAN WATER ACTS
LEGAL ASPECTS
DRINKING WATER
CONTAMINATION
IMPLEMENTATION
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
WATER QUALITY
CONTROL
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LAWS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION CONTROL
POLLUTION LAWS
WATER
540220* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
290300 - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
Health
& Safety