As Drinking Water Week continues today, the American Water Works Association and others in the water community are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act.

The Safe Drinking Water Act is a federal law that went into effect in 1974, and it works through setting health-based standards and regulations and overseeing drinking water suppliers. Amendments to the Act in 1986 and 1996 increased protection of drinking water and drinking water sources.

Currently in the U.S., community water systems are required to monitor their drinking water a few times a day to test for more than 90 contaminants and report any problems that may occur.  

Learn more about the Safe Drinking Water Act by visiting the U.S. EPA’s website.