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The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) was originally passed by Congress in 1974 to protect public health by regulating the nation's public drinking water supply. The law was amended in 1986 and 1996 and requires many actions to protect drinking water and its sources: rivers, lakes, reservoirs, springs, and ground water wells. (SDWA does not regulate private wells which serve fewer than 25 individuals.)

Understanding the Safe Drinking Water Act (short summary)

Search SDWA online (Cornell University search engine)

Understanding the Safe Drinking Water Act (fact sheet)

Drinking Water Costs & Federal Funding (fact sheet)

Drinking Water Standards & Health Effects (fact sheet)

Drinking Water Treatment (fact sheet)

Drinking Water Monitoring, Compliance, and Enforcement (fact sheet)

Protecting Drinking Water Sources (fact sheet)

Public Access to Information & Public Involvement (fact sheet)

Water Facts (fact sheet)

Glossary (fact sheet)

Section-by-section summary

Thematic summary

Statutory Requirements in the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996

Ground Water Rule

Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (January 4, 2006)

Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (Dec 16, 1998)

Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (January 5, 2006)

Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (January 14, 2002)

Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (Dec 16, 1998)

Filter Backwash Recycling Rule (June 8, 2001)

National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for Lead and Copper (June 29, 2004)

Lead and Copper Rule minor revisions (Dec 20, 1999)

Arsenic Rule (Jan 22, 2001)

Radionuclides Rule (Dec 7, 2000)

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Rule (Aug 7, 2000)

Public Notification Rule (May 4, 2000)

Consumer Confidence Report Rule (Aug 19, 1998)

Variances and Exemptions Rule (Aug 14, 1998)

Information Collection Rule (May 14, 1996)

EPA has created tools for the various rules under the SDWA. The tools range from PDF placards to interactive CD-ROMs to a Rule Wizard. If you need more help, check them out by clicking on this header.