December 16 is the 43rd anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act. This is an important and powerful law that protects you and your loved ones every day, maybe without you even thinking about it.

What is the Safe Drinking Water Act? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) website, "The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) is the federal law that protects public drinking water supplies throughout the nation."

Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA is responsible for setting guidelines, or regulations, for our drinking water quality. These guidelines are put in place to protect us from contaminants at levels that may be harmful to us.

How can you learn about your water quality? Review your Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) from your local water provider. A CCR details if any contaminants are present in your local water, and if so, which ones. If you have questions about how to understand your CCR or to receive one, contact your local water provider.

To learn more about what may be in your water, visit our What’s in My Water section on DrinkTap.

And next time you turn on the tap, thank the Safe Drinking Water Act for protecting you!