AWWA JAW21950

Water utilities throughout the United States will be affected by the 1986 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act. The authors describe these effects along with suggesting preparations that can be undertaken to meet the requirements of the new law when it is fully implemented. Water utilities must deal with new contaminant standards, including installation of new treatment technologies that may be needed to meet these new standards. Wellhead protection programs and required disinfection of groundwater and surface water supplies will change the way in which many systems now operate. The far-reaching effects of more stringent regulation of the by-products of disinfection, coupled with disinfection adequate to contend with viruses and Giardia, will cause an exquisite balancing of potentially conflicting goals in water treatment. Includes 7 references, table, figures.