Lead in drinking water

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), originally passed by Congress in 1974, was motivated by growing concerns over public health and the quality of the nation’s drinking water. By the early 1970s, studies and media reports revealed widespread contamination of public water supplies with chemicals, microorganisms, and heavy metals such as lead, posing serious health risks. Outbreaks of waterborne diseases and documented cases of poisoning highlighted the need for federal oversight. The SDWA was designed to establish uniform national standards for drinking water quality, authorize the EPA to enforce those standards, and empower states to manage and regulate public water systems. The overarching goal was to protect Americans from harmful contaminants in their water, prevent disease, and ensure safe, reliable drinking water nationwide.Under the SDWA, states were granted “primacy,” allowing them to administer their own drinking water programs as long as they met or exceeded federal standards. This autonomy meant … Continued