THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY'S CONCERN FOR SAFE DRINKING WATER

The findings are discussed of special studies and evaluations of water supply systems and regulatory programs. One major study revealed significant deficiencies, particularly among the smaller systems, in water quality survelliance, facilities and operation. The Safe Drinking Water Act of 1973 and a similar bill in the House, H.R. 9726, both of which will result in publication of standards in 1974, are discussed. The findings of another study showed that 63 percent of the water supply along Interstate Highways in Virginia, Oregon and Kansas, failed to meet some physical, chemical or bacteriological constituent limit of the Drinking Water Standards. Nineteen percent of the systems failed to meet at least one mandatory, or health-related constituent limit. The need for regulation of public water supply systems by the states, and the establishment of a common water supply system (by interconnecting individual systems) are emphasized.