50th Anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act
Celebrating 50 Years of the Safe Drinking Water Act
December 16, is the fiftieth anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) signed into law on December 16, 1974, by President Gerald R. Ford, a Republican. The measure required the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set maximum contaminant levels for drinking water and required states to comply with them. It protected the underground sources of drinking water and called for emergency measures to protect public health if a dangerous contaminant either was in or was likely to enter a public water system.
The SDWA was one of the many laws passed in the 1970s after a new awareness from the American public about environmental issues started with the publishing of Rachel Carson’s 1962 book Silent Spring which explored the effect of toxic chemicals on living organisms. Suddenly, Americans became more aware of the dangers of pollution in the environment, especially in their drinking water.
At the time, the new law dramatically improved the quality of drinking water in the U.S., making it some of the safest in the world. Over the years, the EPA has expanded the list of contaminants it regulates, limiting both new man-made chemicals and new pathogens. For 50 years, this landmark federal legislation has been a key driving force safeguarding the quality of potable water that is so essential to daily life across the U.S. Administered through science-based EPA regulations, SDWA set stringent and clear standards which all water utilities and systems, of all sizes, are required to meet. Today, EPA has established protective drinking water standards for more than 90 contaminants, including drinking water regulations issued since the 1996 amendments to the SDWA that strengthen public health protection. Over 92 percent of the population supplied by community water systems receives drinking water that meets all health-based standards all of the time.
The Illinois Public Health Association is proud to join with our members, partners, and the water community in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the SDWA. At IPHA, we are committed to upholding the principles of the Safe Drinking Water Act by advocating for all communities in Illinois to continue to have access to safe, reliable drinking water. This anniversary is a moment to reflect on the progress made and reflect on the importance of safe drinking water and the role public health plays in protecting this critical resource.
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