1. Drinking Water Quality in the US: And why its not a major environmental health issue Emma Susick November 6, 2007

2. What is quality drinking water? Water Quality Standards issued by EPA with limited amounts of: MicroorganismsMicroorganisms RadionuclidesRadionuclides Inorganic contaminantsInorganic contaminants Organic contaminantsOrganic contaminants Volatile organic compoundsVolatile organic compounds DisinfectantsDisinfectants Disinfection byproductsDisinfection byproducts http://www.epa.gov/safewater/hfacts.html

3. Water Quality in the World 83% of the world’s population have access to improved drinking water 83% of the world’s population have access to improved drinking water http://www.unicef.org/wes/files/JMP_2005.pdf

4. Drinking Water in the US Public Perception: Public Perception: Do you worry about the water you drink? Do you worry about the water you drink? Is this a topic in the foreground of public health? Is this a topic in the foreground of public health? 161,000 public water systems serving 268 million 161,000 public water systems serving 268 million Outbreaks and cases rarely lead to serious complications or death Outbreaks and cases rarely lead to serious complications or death EPA states the US has some of the best drinking water in the world. EPA states the US has some of the best drinking water in the world. http://www.epa.gov/safewater/wot/pdfs/book_waterontap_full.pdf

5. Drinking Water in the US CDC

6. Drinking Water in the US http://www.epa.gov/nheerl/articles/2006/waterborne_disease/introduction.pdf

7. Drinking Water in the US http://www.epa.gov/nheerl/articles/2006/waterborne_disease/waterborne_outbrea ks.pdf

8. Drinking Water in the US http://www.epa.gov/nheerl/articles/2006/waterborne_disease/waterborne_outbrea ks.pdf

9. Drinking Water in North Carolina 2,606 water systems serving 6,615,436 people 2,606 water systems serving 6,615,436 people generally of high quality and free from significant contamination generally of high quality and free from significant contamination Approximately half of our drinking water comes from clean ground water Approximately half of our drinking water comes from clean ground water Public water supplies are tested, and regulated Public water supplies are tested, and regulated Small private water are not regulated Small private water are not regulated Orange County: 4 contaminants found above health based limits, and no violations. Orange County: 4 contaminants found above health based limits, and no violations. http://www.ewg.org/tapwater/statereports/statereport.php?state=NC

10. What keeps our drinking water safe? Agencies: Agencies: Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Protection Agency Office of waterOffice of water Public Water System SupervisionPublic Water System Supervision Center for Disease Control Center for Disease Control NC Division of Water Quality NC Division of Water Quality American Water Works Association American Water Works Association Association of State Drinking Water Administrators Association of State Drinking Water Administrators

11. What keeps our drinking water safe? Legislation: Legislation: Clean Water Act 1972 Clean Water Act 1972 Safe Drinking Water Act 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act 1974 National Primary and Secondary Drinking Water Regulations National Primary and Secondary Drinking Water Regulations

12. What keeps our drinking water safe? http://www.epa.gov/safewater/wot/pdfs/book_waterontap_full.pdf

13. Bigger Issues Water quantity Water quantity Contamination and Pollution Contamination and Pollution Sanitation Sanitation International development and Infrastructure International development and Infrastructure Education Education Cancer Cancer Non-Communicable and Chronic Diseases Non-Communicable and Chronic Diseases

14. Bigger Issues http://www.who.int/whosis/whostat2007_10highlights.pdf

15. Sources: http://www.epa.gov http://www.epa.gov http://www.who.int http://www.who.int http://www.ewg.org/tapwater/ http://www.ewg.org/tapwater/ http://www.ewg.org/tapwater/ http://www.cdc.gov http://www.cdc.gov http://www.cdc.gov http://www.unicef.org http://www.unicef.org