Drinking Water: Consumers Often Not Well-Informed of Potentially Serious Violations.
Abstract
In recent years, public awareness and concern about the quality and safety of drinking water supplied by the nation's public water systems have increased. Health and environmental officials have become increasingly concerned over the potential long-term health effects associated with a variety of man-made chemical contaminants found in drinking water. Many of the contaminants have been linked to cancer, birth defects, and other serious health problems. In addition, concern has been expressed over whether people are being notified promptly, as required, when their water contains such contaminants. As requested by the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Superfund, Ocean, and Water Protection, Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, GAO reviewed (1) public water system operators' compliance with and the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) and the states' enforcement of the Safe Drinking Water Act's and EPA'S requirements for notifying the public of drinking water violations and (2) the effectiveness of the requirements themselves in enabling the public to receive timely and adequate information about violations, without placing an unnecessary burden on water system operators. jg p.3
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA298631
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office