What You Can Do
To Keep Your Drinking Water Safe
Be Aware of Your Water Source
and Supplier
Where does your water come from?
Who is your water supplier?
Has your water been tested recently?
Is it tested regularly?
»How is it treated and protected from
contamination?
«Have water shortages occurred in your
community?
Conserve Water
In the Home/On the Farm
Improve water use and management
practice
Repair leaking faucets and toilets
Understand crop needs for water and
irrigate appropriately
Water your lawn wisely
Wisely Use and Dispose of Household,
Lawn, and Garden Chemicals
Follow all directions carefully
How much is needed? Use only what
you need
Sponsor or participate in pesticide
collection/disposal activities
Minimize the Production of
Waste Materials
Compost vegetable wastes
Recycle newspaper, aluminum cans,
glass containers
Don't buy more of anything than you
can use
Recycle used motor oil
Think of the impact of what you do on
water quality
Learn the Facts About Your Water
Don't believe everything you hear or
read in advertisementsget the facts
Review results of drinking water tests
in your community
Attend public meetings
Follow the news about drinking water
matters, such as the development of
new standards
Learn about potential contamination
sources of groundwater and surface
water
Get Involved in Your Community
Urge your water supplier and state and
local regulatory and health officials to
insure that your water supply complies
with all standards
Support efforts to educate the public
and elected officials about the need to
protect and improve the quality of
drinking water
Express willingness to pay higher
water rates, if necessary, to finance
improvements in water quality
Support efforts to protect water
supplies
National
H Drinking Water Week
Drinking water: on'ftp for the Future
-------
Working Together
To Keep \bur Drinking Water Safe
Public and Private Water Utilities
control location of wells and intake
pipes that draw water into drinking
water systems
sample and test water and maintain
test records
treat water to meet standards for
public health and safety
protect watershed or wellhead areas
inform and involve public about future
plans and needs
notify public if any problems arise
State and Local
Pollution Control Agencies
protect surface water
protect groundwater from
contamination
monitor groundwater and detect
contaminants
State Drinking Water Programs
establish state drinking water standards
(at least as strict as national standards)
train staff of local water systems
inspect water systems and maintain
records
«take enforcement actions against water
systems in violation of law
State Groundwater
Protection Programs
develop comprehensive groundwater
protection strategies
develop programs and recommend
laws to control contaminating sources
and activities
» conduct statewide inventory and
monitoring of groundwater
EPA Drinking Water Program
assume responsibility for enforcement
when necessary
establish drinking water standards
»establish monitoring and reporting
requirements
provide funds and technical assistance
to the states
»set rules for underground injection
wells
conduct research and training
activities
inform the public about new drinking
water regulations
EPA Groundwater Protection Program
coordinate EPA groundwater
protection strategy within various
affected EPA programs, focusing
programs' attention on groundwater
concerns
assist states in developing
comprehensive programs
administer wellhead protection and
sole-source aquifer protection
programs
Other Federal Agencies
work together with EPA and state
agencies on drinking water programs
and groundwater protection programs
Public Utility Commissions
regulate the financing of investor-owned
water systems and the rates their
consumers pay for water
8"8- National
» Drinking Water Week
Drinking water: On Tap for the Future
------- |