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INTRQgi-'CTTON
Cf! .lur.w 19, 1986, the President of the United States
signed the 1986 A-endmerts to the Safe Drinkinc Water Act.
This Brochure briefly describes these Amendments and outlines
the : 
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FNF03CEMENT
New provisions in the 1986 Anenor.ents will provide t'PA
with new tools t*j streer.l ir.e enforcement actions to help
assure compliance with orir.kirg Water Ptuju ] at i->rs . Frtiv i;>jsly ,
the inly enforcement actions available involved civil and
criminal cases hrouuht auainst systems oat of compl 1 ar.ce with
the reculstions, Ihis process required extensive resources
a :ir: mjch tire. Trie new Arrendrr.ents :
Authorize ??A to issue admi r. ist rat i ve orders against
public water systrrs :n violation wrn-n Kr.fltrs <:¦> list
take appropriate enforcement action within 3D days
if nor 1 1 I cat or-.
Additional authorities to enforce against puolic water
system in violatior¦» maximum civil penalty licritf.
are increased to S25,:)00 per day of violation.
KNSEant.ATf.n c"n~tam in'Akts
Another hich priority for EFA is the monitoring of
or:requ"!a: erf cont am: narr s . The Amendments:
Require t'PA to issue regulations within 18 months
recuirino public water systems to test for contar.inants
not yot requlated ir drink ioc water ."-y the EPA.
P.iblic systems wouln have t.o r.esr. their water a*,
least once every five years thereafter.
Perulre EPA to list the unregulated contaminants to be
nsnitired. States with 6f ieoat hi; a u t hor i t y can
delete contaminants from the list if EPA approves,
and car arid to the list without ETA approval.
Allow srall systems supplyinc less than 150 service
connections can reet .-non i t or i nq recuirerents hy
submitting a water sample to the State or EPA,
or all swine tne State >r FPA - o r.-ike f tu.< i r own
sample.
LEAH RAN
The trt'^i-nue of leac ir drinkinq water f rorr plumr.ing mater-
ials rroved the Concress to write a major new section into tne
Amendments. These new provisions include:
o Prohibition of lead solders, t lux anc pipes us^ri in
new installations and repairs of puolic water systems
and drinking water plurr.Ping connected to such
systems, A warning )£ required or. any solder
containing more than .2 percent lead.
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o Prohibition, to be implemented via state enforcement
o if EPA deteririres State's failure to enforce
reouirt'.nunts, it may withhold up to 5 percent of a
State's crant,
o PuSl ic water systems .-ecu: red to provide public
r.otificatisr to all users explaining the potential
lead contamination sources ar.d reasonably available
methocs of mi t iqat i ric lead contam i r.at.ion.
GROUND KATER
The 1986 Amendments reflect the increased awareness
:jf the potential threat facino ground water resources.
Ground water is water that is stored Eelow the water table
ln saturation zones, often in aouiters that, can y i e 1 ii
significant quantities of water to wells and springs. We
use 90 billion gallons every cay, 13 sillion gallons of it
tor hcusehulc jess . In all, we drink 23C :nill:or> gallons ot
ground water a day. Almost half of Americans get all or
part of their  ctjrrpe; i nf) anc, s:imetines
contradictory uses; the sarre general area, for example, n>ay re
tapped 5 irultanpouK ly For irr:qation, drinking watf-r, .ird
industrial use. Some of these uses threaten the auaiity of
ground water, and nay lead to long-term contamination.
Causes of contamination may include: agricultural practices,
leaking underground storage tanks, faulty septic systers,
underground pipelines, nazardouu and ;t;ui-ha zn rdous landfills,
underground injection, wells, road de-icir.g, oil and gas
exploration, salt water intrusion, and feedlot waste disposal.
Ur.der the Safe "rinking Water Act as enacted in 1974,
E?A iirplerented (irnqrairs for protecting ground water: the
drinking water program, which regulates all public crir.king-
wat.cr systems regardless of the source of supply; the under-
ground injection control program, which regulates the injection
_>f any fluid, including disposal of industrial waster, in
deep underground wells; and the sole source aquifer program,
which permits EPA to designate an acuifer as a "sole source"
if it is a principal water supply. This designation authorizes
EPA to review any federally funded projects that may threaten,
or affect its quality.
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Bryurri these* Federal responsibilities, the States also
have regylater: many ~f the more coirnto.n and widespread sources
cmtarmation. The States traditionally have stoc: as the
first line of authority on croLnd-water protect ion/ and
cintinue to do so today.
However, new crounci-water related provisions under the
1986 Amendments will stap-up efforts to stop potential conta-
mination. These efforts will include:
Sole Source Aquifer Perr.onstrat ion Program
> EPA to establish demonstration programs to protect
"critical aauifer a rr-as," that is, all or part of
a designated sole source aquifer f rorr degradation.
o EFA to establish withir. or.e year of date of
enactment criteria for selecting such critical
areas .
o State and local authorities to nap area and
provide a comprehensive protection plan to EPA.
o Cnce plar. is approved, EPA may enter a cooperative
agreement to implement the project on a 50/50 basis,
vaxinum grant to a State for any one aquifer is
S4 million per year,
o EFA must report to Congress by September 1390 on
accompl ishirents of this program,
- Protecticr. of Wellheads
d Requires states to develop prograr.s for protecting
areas around wells supplying public drinking water
systems f rom contamination ft at could harm health.
Authorizes *>2C million annually in Fiscal 1987-88
and S35 million ¦; n 198S-91.
o Gives States three years to develop these programs,
o Reauires State wellhead protection program to define
responsibilities of St.itP and loc.il gyvurnnents
ar.d water systeir.s , and meet other requirements.
These include determining the hydroceoljcic well-
head protection area, identifying man-made sources
of contair.ir.ants, adopting (as appropriate! control
measures, technical assistance in protect the
wellheaj areas, and developing contingency plans
for providing an altcrrative sr.urce ,*>t drinking
water. States are given three years to submit
the plan to EPA.
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) EPA to provide criteria to States for defining
wellneat! protect i on arc-as nit bin one year of
enactrrent.
o Upon approval, states are eligible for EPA grant
tor 50-90 percent of costs Iccter:r.ired by EPA) of plan
development and ir.plemer.tation» F-jr.tls after
:':cc years of enactrent are only available to
irpl eirer.t protection,
o States roust si. jrt mpler i-:it i nq a plan within
two years of submittal and provide biannual status
report to EPA.
Underground Injection
o Requires EPA to issue rules within 18 r.onths fr>r
x.onitorinq of wells infecting wastes Sell* a drinking
wafer source ;Class ! wells),
o Requires EPA t•; report to Congress by September 1987
sunmarizinr. results of State surveys now recjired
on Class V wells.
o Seq-jires States to certify end EfA tj review programs
to requlate annular infection ; injection between the
tubing ana protective casing of a well! and
surface disposal of oilfield brines.
1NC1AK LANDS
Sew prov i s i or.r, have beer a.idec l.o dea'. spec: f ica". ly
with Indian jurisdictions,
o Authorizes EFA to treat Indian tribes as States
under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Indian, tribes ir.jy
be delegated primary enforcement respor.siti 1 ity
for public water systems and underground infection
control, ard may be provided with qrant and
contract assistance.
o CPA, in conjunct ion with the Ind:an Health Service,
crust, w i r :ii n 12 tionths of enactment, conduct a
survey of drinking water on Indian reservations.
o fc:PA oust, within 18 months of enactr.c nt, pror.ulqate
final regulations specifying those provisions of the
Act tor which it is appropriate tj treat Indian
tribes as States.
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OTHER
c Federal authority to act against tampering with
public water systems.
o Revised procedures for public notification of
water system violations. Notice of seiious
violations are to be given within 14 days.
o Expanded federal emergency powers include ability
to act against risks of contamination of underground
drinking water sources as well as the water supply,
and the right to require polluters to provide
alternative supplies. Section includes new funding
authorization.
SUMMARY
The passage of the amendments indicated the Conyress has
heeded the concerns of the public, the EPA, State goverr.~er.ts,
and those ir, the water supply industries. The successful
implementation of these Amendments hir.oes jpon the cooperation
of all of these groups. Many have come to realize that
out natural resources are finite and the drinking water
resources are no exception to this. It is a resource vital
to us all, and the protection of drinking water resources is
all of our responsibility. Consequently, all must partake
in the endeavour to assure the ultimate goal, a nation whose
water supply car. be sa~eiy consumed. The passage of these
amendments has reaffirmed this corr.mi tmer. t.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has prepared
implementation plans that will include workshops and public
meetings. The hqer.cy car. provide your organization with
mere information on these amendments, as well as a speaker
to further discuss these provisions. Please contact the EPA
regional office responsible for your State (see back cover!
or contact the U.S. EPA, Office of Drinking Water (WH-550),
401 M Street, 3.W, Washington, D,C. 20460.
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REGULATED CONTAMINANTS
Inorganics
Arsenic
Barium
Cadmium
Chromium
Fluoride
Lead
Mercury
Nitrate
Selenium
Silver
Microbials
Coliform bacteria
Turbidity
Organics
Endrin
Lindane
Methoxychlor
Toxaphene
2,4-D
2,4,5-TP Silvex
Trihalomethanes
Radionuclides
Gross Alpha
particle activity
Beta particle and
photon radioactivity
Radium-226 and
Radium-228

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PROPOSED REGULATIONS
Volatile Organic Chemicals
Trichloroethylene
Benzene
Vinyl Chloride
J	oo
Carbon Tetrachloride
1,2-Dichloroethane
1,1 -Dichloroethylene
1,1,1 —Trichloroethane
p-Dichlorobenzene
Tetrachloroethylene
Inorganics	Microbials
Asbestos
Copper
Giardia Lamblia
Viruses
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PROPOSED REGULATIONS (Con't)
Synthetic Organic Chemicals
Aldicarb
Chlordane
Carbofuran
PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls)
Acrylamide
DBCP (Dibromochloropropane)
1,2-Dichloropropane
Pentachlorophenol
Alachlor
EDB (Ethylene Dibromide)
Epichlorohydrin
Toluene
Xylene
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/ 0
•J.S. EKVIR0SXEKTA1 PP.OTECTICN AGENCY
REGIONAL OFFICES
REGION
'J.S, KPA, HugHiri I
John F, Kennedy Federal Building
Boston, XA 02233
(617)22 3-7210
'J.S. EPA, Region II
26 Federal Flaza
'icw York, NY 1J276
(212) 254-2>25
U.S. EPA, Region III
8*. 1 Cr.estnut Street
?hlIndelphla, PA 191C7
(215) 557-93CO
U.S. EPA, Region IV
3^5 Courtlar..i Street
Atlanta, 3 A 30365
(MO!)) S8I--727
'J.S. EPA, Reg lor. V
233 Soath Dearoorn street
Chicago, IL 6060^
(312) 353-2COO
'J.S. EPA, Region VI
1?01 Sim street
Dallas, TX 75270
;21'l) 76"'-2600
U.S. EPA, Heglor. VII
?2 6 Minnesota Aver.je
Kansas City, KS 66101
1913) 236-2800
U.S. EPA, Region VIII
One Denver Place
599 18th Street
Denver, CO 802C2-2!413
1. 303) 293-1SC3
L".3. EPA, Region IX
215 Fremont Street
San Francisco, CA 9!|1C5
{>.'0: 9''H-a:t>3
U.S. EPA, Hegtor. X
1293 Sixth Aveiue
Seattle, WA 9S101
(206) i*12-3310
STATES
00r 1nvc t1 cU t, H.1 ss.11;::..tic 11B
V.alne, New Hampshire,
fthoie Island, Vermont
.New Jersey, New Yor*,
Puerto Slco, Virgin Islands
Delaware, Maryland, Virginia,
West VI rg'< n'.a, Pennsylvania,
Clstrlct or Colur.bla
Alasania, Florida, Georgia,
Kentucky, "'.isslsst pp 1,
North Caroline, South
Carolina, Tennessee
Illinois, Indiana, Xichlgan,
Minnesota, Ohlc, Wisconsin
Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas
Kew Me*loo, Ok'.ahor.a
Iowa, Kansas, Missouri,
Meoraska
Colorado, Montana, Utah,
North Tiakota, South Dakota,
Wyor.ing
Arizona, California, Hawaii,
Nevada, American Sarioa, Guam,
Trust Territories of the Pacific
Alaska, Idaho,
Washington
-regon,
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