On Dec. 16, 1974, President Gerald Ford signed the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
This was the first-ever mandatory national program to protect public health through drinking water safety. The act was significantly amended in 1977, 1986 and 1996.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes and enforces the standards for maximum contaminant levels, treatment techniques and monitoring to which public drinking water systems must adhere. States and Indian Tribes are given primary enforcement responsibility, called "primacy," for public water systems in their state or tribe if they meet certain requirements.
Kentucky has held SWDA primacy since 1977. It is the mission of the Kentucky Division of Water (DOW) to ensure protection of public health protection through that primacy. Primacy is not a permanent status. Rather, it must be re-asserted for each new EPA regulation.
One of the conditions of primacy is that the state adopt and administer state rules that are at least as stringent as federal requirements. If this condition is not met, enforcement of the act reverts to EPA.
Primacy in Kentucky (PDF file, 30 pages) provides a detailed explanation of primacy.
It should be noted that primacy does not include regulation of private wells and cisterns. For more information about and testing of these water sources, contact your local health department or view suggestions offered by EPA on how to keep your drinking water well or cistern safe.
History of the Safe Drinking Water Act
Chronology of providing safe water in the United States and Kentucky
EPA's 25 Years of the SDWA -- History and Trends
Highlights of the 1996 Amendments to the SDWA
Contaminants tested under the Safe Drinking Water Act (National Primary Drinking Water Standards)
Contact the Safe Drinking Water Hotline, toll-free, at 1-800-426-4791 for information and educational materials on safe drinking water.
