Which act addresses groundwater contamination and sets standards for drinking water?

Which act addresses groundwater contamination and sets standards for drinking water?

• A. Clean Water Act
• B. National Environmental Policy Act
• C. Rivers and Harbors Act
• D. Safe Drinking Water Act

Answer: (D)

Groundwater contamination and drinking-water safety are governed by the Safe Drinking Water Act. It gives the EPA the authority to set enforceable maximum contaminant levels for substances in public drinking-water systems and to protect underground sources of drinking water through standards, testing requirements, and treatment rules. The other acts focus on different areas: the Clean Water Act targets pollution of surface waters like rivers and lakes and regulates discharges into them; the National Environmental Policy Act requires environmental impact analyses for major federal actions; and the Rivers and Harbors Act mainly protects navigable waters from obstruction and pollution related to navigation. So the act that specifically addresses groundwater contamination and sets drinking-water standards is the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Groundwater contamination and drinking-water safety are governed by the Safe Drinking Water Act. It gives the EPA the authority to set enforceable maximum contaminant levels for substances in public drinking-water systems and to protect underground sources of drinking water through standards, testing requirements, and treatment rules. The other acts focus on different areas: the Clean Water Act targets pollution of surface waters like rivers and lakes and regulates discharges into them; the National Environmental Policy Act requires environmental impact analyses for major federal actions; and the Rivers and Harbors Act mainly protects navigable waters from obstruction and pollution related to navigation. So the act that specifically addresses groundwater contamination and sets drinking-water standards is the Safe Drinking Water Act.