Federal, State and Local Programs
Ground water protection occurs at the Federal, State and local level through various agencies at each level. Federal and State governments (environmental, agricultural, natural resource agencies) regulate ground water through laws, regulations, and policies. State government often has its own laws and regulations and may help the Federal government enforce Federal laws and regulations. Similarly, local government (i.e., municipal, township, county, heath agencies) may regulate ground water through local ordinances, and may assist both the Federal and State governments enforce laws. In general, Federal legislation provides a baseline for ground water regulations. State and local laws often will provide stricter regulations than the Federal law.
Ground water protection also occurs through non-regulatory means through education, implementation of voluntary programs, and the active involvement of local citizenry. It is important to note that the protection of ground water relies on various programs, both regulatory and non-regulatory.
Drinking water protection is provided through the Safe Drinking Water Act, which authorizes USEPA to develop regulations, to set nationwide uniform drinking water quality standards for all States, and to implement programs to ensure the safety of public water supplies and protect public health. State and local environmental agencies ensure that public water systems test drinking water regularly to ensure its safety. Drinking water testing includes bacteria, nitrates, inorganic and organic chemicals, radioactive elements, lead, and copper. The exact number of contaminants a system must test for is determined by the extent to which they are present in the source water. State agencies provide valuable technical and other assistance to help restore and maintain safe drinking water quality.
Public water utilities are responsible for providing safe and reliable drinking water supplies to their customers. They test public drinking water for contamination, regularly report monitoring results to the State, and notify their customers of unsafe water conditions when they occur. Utilities are responsible for efficient treatment system operation and maintenance and the development of source water protection programs
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