Water: Drinking Water
Ground Water and Drinking Water
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Storm and Emergency Preparedness
Major storms and other types of incidents can be highly disruptive for water systems. Learn what water consumers can do to protect their water and what utility operators can do to protect their drinking water and wastewater systems. Visit:
- Our Water Emergency/Incident Information page for helpful information and resources.
- EPA's Natural Disasters website for information on how to prepare for emergencies.
- FEMA’s Ready.gov website for more information to help you Plan, Prepare, and Be Informed.
For easy access to preparedness information on your smartphone, check out the FEMA app or download the free Hurricane, Tornado, Earthquake or Wildfires Apps from the American Red Cross.
Drinking Water Protection
- Public Water Systems
- Source Water Protection
- Ground Water
- Underground Injection Control
- Compliance Guidance
- Regulations Under Development
- Other Actions
Funding
Standards & Risk Management
- Current Drinking Water Rules
- Regulations Under Development
- Other Actions
- Compliance Guidance
- Drinking Water Contaminants
- Regulation Development
- Drinking Water Science and Regulatory Support
Resources
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RESPONDING TO FLOODS
Major storms and hurricanes can result in flooding.
What should you do to protect your drinking water?- Visit our Emergency Information page for some helpful information.
- For information on flood maps, frequently asked questions, or
a guide to assess your flood risk, visit FEMA's FloodSmart.gov Web site. - For Emergency Preparedness tips, visit FEMA's Ready.gov Web site.
News
- Water Security: Preparedness Planning Guide
- Flood Resilience: A Basic Guide for Water and Wastewater Utilities
Your one-stop resource to know your flooding threat and identify practical mitigation options to protect your critical assets!
- Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR): Guidance Manual
- National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC): Federal Register Notice
- Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Program: Occurrence Data
- Water Security: Vulnerability Self-Assessment Tool (VSAT)
- National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC): Federal Register Notice
In the United States, we enjoy one of the best supplies of drinking water in the world.However, many of us give little or no thought to the water that comes from our taps whether it comes from a public water system or from your own, individual well.
Consumers often have questions about their drinking water and relay those to
EPA through our
contact
us page or by calling our
Safe Drinking Water Hotline.
Here are some of the popular subject areas requested:-
-
Water on Tap
A general guide for consumers that explains how drinking water is regulated by EPA and the states,
protected from natural and manmade threats, and how it gets from source to tap.
-
National Primary Drinking Water
Regulations
These were put in place to protect public health and must be met by all public water systems.
-
Consumer Confidence
Reports (Water Quality Reports)
For most people, by July 1 each year, a snapshot of your drinking water quality is delivered by your water supplier.
-
Private Wells
Not regulated by EPA, these household wells rely on their owners to keep them safe from contamination.
Learn more about what you can do to protect your family’s health.
Drinking water is important to all of us. We cannot survive without it, and we expect it to be there when we need it. Daily, hundreds of people work to keep your drinking water safe and available to you. These public health providers work together to treat, monitor, and deliver tap water.
Learn more about what this involves and how you can help:
-
Source
Water Protection
One of the most important aspects of safe drinking water is the protection of both ground water and surface water sources. It is much easier to protect a source than to treat it after contamination occurs. -
Water Treatment
This step-by-step virtual tour of a water treatment plant explains how water is treated and delivered to your home or business.
-
Emergency Preparedness
When an emergency situation occurs, we must be prepared. Information is available on emergency disinfection of drinking water and/or the proper treatment of a well or septic after a flood. -
School and
Child Care Facilities
Drinking water quality at a school or child care facility is very important because it may be the primary source of your child’s daily intake of this vital fluid.
-
Home Water
Testing PDF (2 pp, 596K, About PDF)
Many people, especially those with a private well, may want to have their tap water tested. EPA recommends that a certified drinking water laboratory perform those tests.
-
Safe Drinking Water Act
Passed in 1974, this law ensures the quality of Americans' drinking water. Under this authority, EPA sets standards for drinking water quality; and oversees the states, localities, and water suppliers who implement those standards. It also provides for the safe injection of fluids underground for storage or disposal.