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Appearance. Drinking water quality in the United States is generally safe. In 2016, over 90 percent of the nation's community water systems were in compliance with all published U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) standards. [ 1 ] Over 286 million Americans get their tap water from a community water system.
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) is the primary federal law in the United States intended to ensure safe drinking water for the public. [ 3 ] 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 that implement the ...
The history of water supply and sanitation is one of a logistical challenge to provide clean water and sanitation systems since the dawn of civilization. Where water resources, infrastructure or sanitation systems were insufficient, diseases spread and people fell sick or died prematurely. Astronaut Jack Lousma taking a shower in space, 1974.
Drinking water or potable water is water that is safe for ingestion, either when drunk directly in liquid form or consumed indirectly through food preparation. It is often (but not always) supplied through taps, in which case it is also called tap water. Typically in developed countries, tap water meets drinking water quality standards, even ...
The Safe Drinking Water Act is the principal federal law governing public water systems. [1] These systems provide drinking water through pipes or other constructed conveyances to at least 15 service connections, or serve an average of at least 25 people for at least 60 days a year. As of 2017 there are over 151,000 public water systems.
The state capital is currently struggling with access to safe drinking water after a disruption at a main water processing facility. (Photo: Brad Vest/Getty Images)
The United States Environmental Protection Agency [6] (EPA) limits the amounts of certain contaminants in tap water provided by US public water systems. The Safe Drinking Water Act authorizes EPA to issue two types of standards: primary standards regulate substances that potentially affect human health; [7] [8]
Bottled water may not be safer than tap. But many people think it is. In much of the U.S. — and other wealthy nations — tap water is tightly regulated, frequently tested and “often exceeds ...