Drinking Water Regulations - The Drinking Water - page 35

1996) was federal responsibility extended beyond intestate carriers to include
all community water systems serving 15 or more outlets, or 25 or more cus-
tomers. Prompted by public concern over findings of harmful chemicals in
drinking water supplies, the law established the basic federal-state partner-
ship for drinking water that is used today. It focuses on ensuring safe water
from public water supplies and on protecting the nation's aquifers from con-
tamination. Before we examine the basic tenets of the SDWA, we must define
several of the terms used in the Act.
SDWA Definitions*
Action level (AL)— The amount required to trigger treatment or other
action.
Best management practices (BMPs) —Schedules of activities, prohibitions
of practices, maintenance procedures, and other management prac-
tices to prevent or reduce the pollution of waters of the United States.
Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) or annual drinking water quality report —
An annual water quality report that a community water system is
required to provide to its customers. The CCR helps people make
informed choices about the water they drink by letting people know
what contaminants, if any, are in their drinking water and how these
contaminants may affect their health. The CCR also gives the system
a chance to tell customers what it takes to deliver safe drinking water.
Contaminant— Any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological sub-
stance or matter in water.
Discharge of a pollutant —Any addition of any pollutant to navigable
waters from any point source.
Exemption —A document issued to water systems having technical and
financial difficulty meeting national primary drinking water regu-
lations; it is effective for 1 year and is granted by the USEPA due to
compelling factors.
Likely source —Where a contaminant could have come from.
Maximum contaminant level (MCL)— The maximum permissible level of
a contaminant in water that is delivered to any user of a public water
system.
Maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG) —The level at which no known
or anticipated adverse effects on the health of persons occur and
which allows an adequate margin of safety.
Maximum residual disinfectant level (MRDL) —The highest level of a dis-
infectant allowed in drinking water.
* These definitions are adapted from 40 CFR 122.2, SDWA §1401, and CWA §502.