What is the key Federal law for protecting public water systems from harmful contaminants?

• A. Clean Water Act (CWA)
• B. Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
• C. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
• D. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)

Answer: (B)

Public drinking-water safety is governed by a federal statute that authorizes national standards and enforcement to prevent contaminants from reaching taps. The Safe Drinking Water Act gives the EPA the authority to set enforceable maximum contaminant levels and treatment requirements for drinking water, require regular monitoring and reporting by public water systems, and ensure timely public notification if problems arise. States can run and enforce the program under EPA oversight, which helps keep drinking water safe across different regions. This focus is specifically on contaminants in the water as it is delivered to consumers, not on how water bodies themselves are polluted or cleaned. Other laws address those broader environmental issues or cleanup of hazardous sites, not the everyday quality of drinking water in public systems.