1. SWDA

2.  The average total home water use for each person in the U.S. is about 50 gallons a day.  The average cost for water supplied to a home in the U.S. is about $2.00 for 1,000 gallons, which equals about 5 gallons for a penny

3. What do they mean? SDWA MCL MCLG PWS NPDWR NSDWR

4. Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) was originally passed by Congress in 1974 to protect public health by regulating the nation's public drinking water supply. The law was amended in 1986 and 1996 and requires many actions to protect drinking water and its sources: rivers, lakes, reservoirs, springs, and ground water wells.

5.  Arsenic in Drinking Water  Chemical Phase Rules  Lead and Copper Rule  Contaminants Basic Information  National Primary Drinking Water Regulations  National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations  Radionuclides in Drinking Water

6. Arsenic in Drinking Water Arsenic is a semi-metal element in the periodic table. It is odorless and tasteless. It enters drinking water supplies from natural deposits in the earth or from agricultural and industrial practices. Arsenic Rule at a Glance Maximum Contaminant Level in parts per million (ppm) MCL = 0.010 ppm Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) = 0 ppm Health Effects Skin damage or problems with circulatory systems, and may have increased risk of getting cancer Sources of contamination Erosion of natural deposits; runoff from orchards, runoff from glass & electronic production wastes For other contaminants and their MCLs, visit this page.visit this page

7.  Non-cancer effects can include thickening and discoloration of the skin, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting; diarrhea; numbness in hands and feet; partial paralysis; and blindness.  Arsenic has been linked to cancer of the bladder, lungs, skin, kidney, nasal passages, liver, and prostate.

8. Chemical Phase Rules The Chemical Contaminants were regulated in phases, which are collectively referred to as the Chemical Phase Rules. These rules regulate over 65 contaminants in three contaminant groups: Inorganic Contaminants (IOCs), Volatile Organic Contaminants (VOCs), and Synthetic Organic Contaminants (SOCs). The rules apply to all public water systems (PWS). PWS type, size, and water source determine which contaminants require monitoring for that system.

9. Lead and Copper Rule Lead and copper enter drinking water primarily through plumbing materials. Exposure to lead and copper may cause health problems ranging from stomach distress to brain damage. On June 7, 1991, EPA published a regulation to control lead and copper in drinking water. This regulation is known as the Lead and Copper Rule (also referred to as the LCR or 1991 Rule).

10. The treatment technique for the rule requires systems to monitor drinking water at customer taps. If lead concentrations exceed an action level of 15 ppb or copper concentrations exceed an action level of 1.3 ppm in more than 10% of customer taps sampled, the system must undertake a number of additional actions to control corrosion. If the action level for lead is exceeded, the system must also inform the public about steps they should take to protect their health and may have to replace lead service lines under their control.

11. Contaminants Basic Information National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWRs or primary standards) are legally enforceable standards that apply to public water systems. Primary standards protect public health by limiting the levels of contaminants in drinking water. Visit the list of regulated contaminants with links for more details. http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/index.cfm

12. List of Contaminants and their (MCLs)  An alphabetical listing with links to fact sheets on the primary drinking water regulations.  Microorganisms  Disinfectants  Disinfection Byproducts  Inorganic Chemicals  Organic Chemicals  Radionuclides

13.  National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations (NSDWRs or secondary standards) are non- enforceable guidelines regulating contaminants that may cause cosmetic effects (such as skin or tooth discoloration) or aesthetic effects (such as taste, odor, or color) in drinking water.  EPA recommends secondary standards to water systems but does not require systems to comply. However, states may choose to adopt them as enforceable standards.

14. List of National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations ContaminantSecondary Standard Aluminum0.05 to 0.2 mg/L Chloride250 mg/L Color15 (color units) Copper1.0 mg/L Corrosivitynoncorrosive Fluoride2.0 mg/L Foaming Agents0.5 mg/L Iron0.3 mg/L Manganese0.05 mg/L Odor3 threshold odor number pH6.5-8.5 Silver0.10 mg/L Sulfate250 mg/L Total Dissolved Solids500 mg/L Zinc5 mg/L

15. Most drinking water sources have very low levels of radioactive contaminants ("radionuclides"), most of which are naturally occurring, although contamination of drinking water sources from human-made nuclear materials can also occur. Most radioactive contaminants are at levels that are low enough to not be considered a public health concern. At higher levels, long-term exposure to radionuclides in drinking water may cause cancer. In addition, exposure to uranium in drinking water may cause toxic effects to the kidney.

16. To protect public health, EPA has established drinking water standards for several types of radioactive contaminants combined radium 226/228 (5 pCi/L); beta emitters (4 mrems); gross alpha standard (15 pCi/L); and uranium (30 µg/L).

17. Town hall meeting:  http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/environment-july- dec08-waterbottle_08-18/ http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/environment-july- dec08-waterbottle_08-18/  http://www.polandspring.com/ http://www.polandspring.com/