Drinking Water

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) was passed by Congress in 1974, with subsequent amendments passed in 1986 and 1996, to ensure and protect the quality of Americans' drinking water. Under SDWA, EPA has the authority to set the standards for drinking water quality and oversee states, localities, and water suppliers who implement these standards. In June 2019, EPA proposed a new perchlorate drinking water standard. EPN commented, raising serious questions about the scientific defensibility of the EPA perchlorate regulation and the validity of the monitoring and cost-benefit analysis.

EPN Presents Testimony on Proposed Lead and Copper Rule Revisions at Science Advisory Board Public Teleconference

EPN Comments on Proposed Lead and Copper Rule Revisions

EPN Writes a Letter on Proposed EAB Amendments

EPN Requests a Comment Extension on Proposed LCR Revisions

EPN Statement to the National Drinking Water Advisory Council

EPN Comments on EPA’s Proposed Drinking Water Regulation for Perchlorate

Buried Lead How the EPA Has Left Americans Exposed to Lead in Drinking Water

May 4, 2020 / by

Lauren Rosenthal and Will Craft /

APM Reports

EPN members Jeff Cohen, former EPA Senior Manager, Office of Atmospheric Programs, Office of Air and Radiation; Mike Shapiro, former Deputy Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Water; and Betsy Southerland (cited above) were quoted in this article on the Trump administration’s proposed rollback to the Lead and Copper Rule and how it will increase hazardous exposure to lead in drinking water.

Drinking Water, Water

Pentagon Cleanup of Toxic ‘Forever Chemicals’ Likely to Last Decades

March 22, 2020 / by

Rebecca Beitsch /

The Hill

Betsy Southerland, EPN member and former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted in this article on the Department of Defense’s ongoing and protracted cleanup of PFAS contaminated sites.

Chemicals & Pesticides, Drinking Water, Toxic Substances, Water

Indiana University Experts Testify on State Lead Contamination

March 2, 2020 / by

Enrique Saenz /

Indiana Environmental Reporter

Janet McCabe, EPN member and former Acting Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Air and Radiation, was quoted in this article concerning testimony she gave on state lead contamination.

Drinking Water, Water

Revamped Lead Rule Ignores Concerns Raised in EPA Memo

February 25, 2020 / by

Ariel Wittenberg /

E&E News

Betsy Southerland, EPN member and former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted in this article concerning proposed changes to the Lead and Copper Rule and its effects on drinking water.