The development of safe and adequate supplies of drinking water for individual homes is essential and necessary to protect the health of the individuals residing in suburban areas. Urban fringe areas are often beyond the reach of municipal water systems, and individual wells or a community distribution system must be provided to serve the properties with a safe supply of water. The accelerated rate of housing construction has greatly aggravated environmental health problems, especially in fringe areas and rural communities. The recommendations of the Joint Committee are presented primarily for the purpose of establishing a uniform approach for various Federal agencies concerned with the sanitation of individual water supplies. (Author)