Basic Information

Only one percent of the earth’s water is available for drinking water. To protect the public’s health by ensuring safe drinking water, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act in 1974. Under this law, EPA sets standards for drinking water quality and assists the states, localities, and water suppliers who implement those standards. The law protects us against both naturally occurring and human‑made contaminants that might be found in drinking water. EPA, states, and water utilities work together to make sure these standards are met.

There’s a lot to know and study about our drinking water. EPA's National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL) studies ways not only to protect and restore our water resources, but also to help transport clean drinking water right to our taps.

NRMRL's areas of drinking water research include:

• Arsenic
• Contaminants
• Corrosion
• Distribution Systems
• Small Systems
• Source Water Protection
• Treatment Technology