ABSTRACT
The first drinking water standard, designed to protect the public against acute bacterial diseases, was set in 1914 by the U.S. Public Health Service. Over the years, it has been revised to include source protection, chemical standards, and a radioactivity standard. In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act, which was designed to protect groundwater from contamination by organic and inorganic chemicals, radionuclides, and microorganisms. In 1986, the act was amended. Support for such legislation has been high, since nearly half of the nation’s population relies on groundwater as a primary source of drinking water. Our national effort these past two decades to improve water quality continues to show results; however, new challenges remain.
