Public Health and Water Safety

Paper Summary:

Although the United States has one of the safest public water supplies in the world, it needs ongoing protection from both naturally-occurring and man-made contaminants. This paper discusses the public health history and current issues in water safety. The paper looks at what caused the United States to set standards for its public water supply, as well as the laws and statutes which were formulated. The paper also examines what the future holds and whether the United States' water supply is as safe as we think it is.

From the Paper:

"In March of 2001, the Bush Administration suspended the 1996 Amendments to the SWDA. They rejected the arsenic safety standards. In a highly controversial situation, after severe public heat and political backlash, in October 2001, the Bush Administration finally conceded to the 10 ppb value. However, during the suspension, the administration required new studies to be carried out, suggesting the earlier research was inadequate. As Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) stated, "It came back and bit them in the arsenic." In September 2001, studies by the National Academy of Sciences completed their new studies on arsenic exposure. Their new study stated that even 10 ppb is too high and recommended lowering the standard to 3 ppb in order to protect the public health."

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