United States Office of Water EPA 816-F-99-001
Environmental Protection (4606) April 1999
^^ Agency Washington, DC 20460
&EPA America's Drinking Water in 1997
In 1997,88 percent of the
population served by
community water systems
received drinking water with
no reported violations of any
health-based standard.
Every day, millions of people turn on their taps to get a drink of the water
provided by one of over 50,000 community water systems in America.
Almost all of these water systems consistently provide safe water for their
_______________ customers; in 1997, over ninety percent of all
community water systems had no violations of any
health-based drinking water standards.
This summary report highlights important information
about drinking water from the 1997 National Public
Water System Annual Compliance Report (EPA 305-
R-99-002), the Environmental Protection Agency's
second report on drinking water quality in America.
This summary focuses on community water systems,
or those that serve the same people year-round (e.g. in
homes). For information on other water system types
(e.g. those that serve rest-stops, campgrounds, or
seasonal residents), please refer to the complete 1997 report. Private drinking
water wells are not regulated by EPA.
Drinking water is protected nationally through the Safe Drinking Water Act,
which is administered by EPA. EPA sets drinking water safety standards by
regulating over 80 specific contaminants. Drinking water contaminants
include anything that may have adverse effects on human health. EPA has
divided these contaminants into four different categories (see the chart on the
next page). All drinking water, including bottled water, can reasonably be
expected to contain small amounts of some contaminants. Usually these
contaminants do not present a health threat. However, when contaminant
levels exceed safety limits, the water may be unsafe for some people to drink.
EPA's regulations: 1) set safe levels (maximum contaminant levels) for
contaminants in drinking water or specify requirements for treating water to
make it safe, and 2) set monitoring and reporting requirements that specify
how often water must be tested to ensure it is safe. A water system is said to
be in violation of a safety standard if: 1) it puts public health at risk by
providing water containing levels of specific contaminants above EPA's safety
levels or failing to comply with required treatments, or 2) it fails to carry out
or report the required monitoring. EPA considers violations of the first type to
be health-based violations, as they may adversely impact human health.
Monitoring violations (the second type) are also important, because if drinking
water is not properly tested it is impossible to know if health-based standards
are exceeded. This report, as well as EPA's full report, focuses only on
significant monitoring violations, or those where the water system failed to
take a significant number of the required samples.
Water systems are responsible for meeting all drinking water safety standards,
for notifying their customers when there is a problem with the water, and for
testing their water for contaminants and reporting the results to the appropriate
state agency. States report information on water systems to EPA.
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TYPES OF DRINKING WATER CONTAMINANTS
The potential health effects of drinking water contaminants may be either acute or chronic: contaminants with acute effects may
immediately impact health; contaminants with chronic effects may impact health if ingested at unsafe levels over many years.
Lead and Copper (acute/chronic)
The Lead and Copper rule requires all water systems to control for the
amount of lead and copper in tap water. Lead usually enters the water
supply through lead pipes in the home or the water distribution system.
Infants and children who drink lead in excess of the action level could
experience delays in their mental or physical development Children
could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. Adults
who drink this water over many years could develop kidney problems
or high blood pressure. Copper is an essential nutrient, but some people
who drink copper in excess of the action level over a relatively short
amount of time could experience gastrointestinal distress. Some people
who drink water containing copper in excess of the action level over
many years could suffer liver or kidney damage. People with Wilson's
Disease should consult their doctor.
Viruses and Giardia (acute)
The Surface Water Treatment rule requires disinfection and filtration for
most systems that get their water from a surface water source (such as a
river, lake, or reservoir) or a ground water source that comes into contact
with surface water. Inadequately treated water may contain disease-
causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and
parasites which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea,
and associated headaches.
Coliform Bacteria (acute)
The Total Coliform rule applies to all water systems, and requires them
to test for the presence of coliform bacteria. Coliforms are bacteria that
are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that
other, potentially harmful, bacteria may be present. A violation of this
rule means either that high levels of coliforms were found in the water,
or that harmful bacteria (fecal coliforms or E. coli) were found Fecal
coliforms and R, coli indicate that the water may be contaminated with
human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause short-term
effects such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms.
They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, and
people with severely compromised immune systems.
Chemical Contaminants (acute/chronic)
Nitrates/Nitrites (acute) - All water systems must test their water for
nitrates and nitrites. Infants below the age of six months who drink
water containing nitrate or nitrite in excess of safety standards could
become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die. Symptoms include
shortness of breath and blue-baby syndrome.
Radionuclides (radioactive particles) (chronic) - Standards for
radionuclides apply to all community water systems. Some people who
drink water containing radionuclides in excess of safety standards over
many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
Organic Chemicals (solvents & pesticides) (chronic) - Standards for
organic chemicals apply to all community water systems. Some people
who drink water containing organic chemicals in excess of safety
standards over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer
or experiencing other adverse health effects.
Inorganic Chemicals (e.g. asbestos & cyanide) (chronic) - Standards
for inorganic chemicals apply to all community water systems. Some
people who drink water containing inorganic chemicals in excess of
safety standards over many years may have an increased risk of getting
cancer or experiencing other adverse health effects.
Total Trihalomethanes (products of the reaction of drinking water
disinfectants with organic material) (chronic) - These standards
apply only to community water systems serving more than 10,000
people. Some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in
excess of safety standards over many years may experience problems
with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous systems, and may have an
increased risk of getting cancer.
FINDINGS
Most Americans continued to have safe drinking water in their homes and
workplaces in 1997.
In 1997, 88 percent of the population served by community water systems
received drinking water with no reported violations of any health-based
standard. Of the people affected by a violation of a health-based standard,
most received water from a system that violated the standard that protects
against viruses and Giardia. This standard applies to systems that draw from
a surface water source (such as a river or lake), and usually requires the
system to filter and disinfect its water. Many major urban water systems rely
on surface water sources, and the failure of several of these systems to filter
their water accounts for the large number of people affected by this violation.
The other health-based standard that was frequently violated in 1997 was the
coliform bacteria standard. The remainder of the health-based violations
affected far fewer people.
There were more violations of significant monitoring and reporting
requirements than of health-based standards in 1997. Although more systems
violate monitoring and reporting requirements than health-based requirements
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WATER SYSTEMS
ON INDIAN
RESERVATIONS
HELPING SYSTEMS
MEET SAFETY
STANDARDS
(17 percent of systems vs. 8.5 percent), fewer people (7 percent of people vs.
12 percent) are served by systems with these violations. This is because most
of the monitoring violators are small water systems; large water systems tend to
have more resources and trained staff available to help ensure compliance with
monitoring requirements.
Small systems had a difficult time complying with the monitoring requirements
for coliform bacteria in particular and, to a lesser extent, lead, copper, and
nitrate. See the charts below for more details.
EPA currently manages the drinking water program for all water systems on
Indian reservations, as no tribes have yet attained the authority to run the
drinking water program. In 1997, there were over 700 community water
systems on Indian reservations serving 400,000 people. These water systems
encounter many of the same problems that other small water systems do. In
1997, these systems experienced relatively more monitoring (but not health-
based) violations than other categories of water systems, including other small
systems. For example, a third of all water systems on Indian reservations had
monitoring violations for coliform bacteria, compared to 11 percent of non-
tribal community water systems, and 12 percent of non-tribal small community
water systems.
Both EPA and states have the authority to take action to guarantee that the
water provided by systems meets safety standards. States engage in a variety
of activities to help water systems remain in, or return to, compliance. These
activities include: visiting water systems; helping systems invest in preventive
measures; providing financial assistance for system improvements; conducting
training sessions; and holding public information meetings. States also have
operator certification programs that require water system operators to be
licensed by the appropriate authorities.
Health-Based Violations
in Calendar Year 1997
Significant Monitoring Violations
in Calendar Year 1997
# Sytems -A- # People
y^
-n, y
ll^liiWW^
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CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
EPA *sfull report includes
summaries of state reports and is
available, gn the Safewater Web
S§e or from-.the Safe Drinking
Water Hotline..
State of Iowa 1997 PWS Compliance Report
VMlllou for 19*7
Dixotisioti
IGWK'S report meluiies pcrfeilaj08%t systems in and out of compliance and infonnation on
tCBUminwa. 9USM of ImHrsactiJt PWSs complied with MCLs. Of the 83 regulated
conbniiiuntt, only 7 wcro fouftMRcvcls thai exceeded the MCL. S6.8% of Iowa's active PWSs
compiled wtdi monitoring requirements. Enforcement action information is also presented.
Tht* page provides * summary of the data reported by the State of Iowa. EPA has not interpreted
tiw information provided and is not commenting on whether the State of Iowa has fully reported
jli violation!,
Wkerc In Obtain IM7 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
{trot's 1W State Anrnia) Compliance Report is available by accessing the State's Web site at
yip;-'»i>T>Mmg.i».«'iinreniment'drn'.'»rpam^'rpd-'\vlniiiplv/pwsemDi)7.htm or by contacting
Ihc Iowa Dcpanrocnl uf Naural Resources, Water Supply Section, Wallace Slate Office
BuiUutt. 900 But Cond Avenue, DCS Moines, IA 50319-0034.
The 1997 national water quality report concludes that drinking water in
America is generally safe and continues to improve. However, to ensure
its continued safety, EPA, states, tribes, and water systems need to work
together to ensure that all water systems deliver safe and affordable
drinking water. In particular, EPA is focused on helping the smallest
water systems meet drinking water standards. This help includes low-
interest loans through the drinking water state revolving fund, training,
and technical assistance. Another of EPA's current priorities is working
with its partners to ensure that the data being used to analyze the drinking
water program are complete, timely, and accurate.
EPA's national report is available on the Internet (at http://www.epa.gov/
safewater/annual/) or by calling the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (see
number below). You may also obtain a summary of your state report from
EPA (see sample on this page). Each state report summary shows the
specific number of violations in your state and information on how to
obtain a copy of your full state report. Many complete state reports are
also available on state web sites.
For more information about your local drinking water, contact your water
_-^ supplier directly. Beginning this year, water
suppliers are producing annual water quality
reports, also called consumer confidence reports,
that show what contaminants have been detected
in drinking water and whether the water system
has violated any drinking water safety standards
(water systems have to notify customers
immediately if there is ever a drinking water
emergency). These reports must be provided to
consumers by October 1999 and may already be
available. Look for your report in the mail, or
call your water system to find out when the
report will be available. EPA also has a web site
(see address below) with information about local
drinking water quality, including information on
individual water systems and contacts for more
information at the state level.
• EPA's Safewater Web Site
(http://www.epa.gov/safewater/) can provide you
with more information on the Safe Drinking
Water Act, on individual water systems, on
contaminants that may be in drinking water, and
on activities you can take to help protect the
sources of your drinking water.
• EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline
(1-800-426-4791) can answer questions about
drinking water and provide referrals for more
information. You can also order documents from
EPA, including the 1997 National Annual Public
Water System Compliance Report.
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