An In-Depth Analysis of the Safe Drinking Water Act

The Safe Drinking Water Act, passed in 1974, was a critical step in improving the quality of drinking water across the United States. The act set permissible levels for hundreds of contaminants in public drinking water systems based on implemented health standards. While the policy is overseen by the EPA, enforcement occurs at the state level, with all public water systems required to report violations and annual water quality data to state governments. This paper analyzes the SDWA on the basis of two criteria: policy effectiveness and racial equity. We find that the SDWA does not meet either criterion.