AWWA JAW62663

Looking back at the 30-plus years of regulations resulting from the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), this article reviews additional progress in improving drinking water quality through the evolution of substantial regulatory programs, both at the national and state levels. This article discusses a variety of future challenges for both national and state regulatory programs. Topics covered include: early regulatory history; early Safe Drinking Water Acts (SDWA); utility response to the 1986 SDWA; the 1996 SDWA amendments; the Bioterrorism Act; US Environmental Protection Agency's present and future regulatory agenda; research and funding concerns; and, a discussion of what the future holds for drinking water regulations. Includes 30 references, figure.