History

• Interstate Quarantine Act of 1893
  • Intent was to prevent the spread of disease
  • Enforced by the United States Public Health Service (USPHS)
  • Applied only to systems providing water to interstate travel (boats and trains)
• USPHS developed further non-mandatory water standards
• The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) was established in 1970
• Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) of 1974
  • Result of public pressure and advances in the identification and detection of contaminants
  • Has been amended several times, most recently in 1996
  • Sets drinking water quality standards and regulations for the water industry to protect public health
  • Enforced by the (USEPA)