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Introduction to the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996

(an EPA Drinking Water Academy module)

A big part of watershed management involves protecting ground water and drinking water; within EPA the Drinking Water Academy specializes in Web-based and live training about groundwater and drinking water issues. Their training provides information to help EPA, States, Tribes, and others increase their capability to implement the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments, which will, in turn, promote better compliance and greater public health protection.

As it concerns one of two primary federal laws concerning protection of our nation's waters, the Introduction to the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996 module (About PDF, 1.9MB, 100 pp) covers essential information for watershed managers. In particular, it explains the types of threats to drinking water and public health; describes where our drinking water comes from and how it may become contaminated; introduces the three major programs under the Act to protect drinking water supplies; and provides the history of state and local regulation of drinking water.



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