EPA water regulations and tap water safety gaps

A survey of 2,000 U.S. adults conducted by Talker Research for Culligan reveals a gap in consumer awareness regarding drinking water quality. While 76% of respondents reported being more intentional about their health, 35% had not considered their tap water quality in the previous year.

Although the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates more than 90 contaminants in public water systems, current regulations do not cover every potential substance. The EPA maintains a Contaminant Candidate List for substances that may require further research, but inclusion on this list does not constitute an enforceable standard or a confirmed health risk.

The process for establishing new standards involves setting a non-enforceable public health goal followed by an enforceable standard based on available technology, measurement capabilities, and cost. For instance, under the EPA’s lead rule, water systems are granted a 10-year period to replace lead service lines.