Which act sets maximum contaminant levels for pollutants in drinking water to protect human health?

Which act sets maximum contaminant levels for pollutants in drinking water to protect human health?

• A. Clean Water Act
• B. Clean Air Act
• C. CERCLA
• D. Safe Drinking Water Act

Answer: (D)

The Safe Drinking Water Act sets maximum contaminant levels for pollutants in drinking water to protect human health. It authorizes the EPA to establish enforceable standards—called maximum contaminant levels—for contaminants found in public water systems, and it requires monitoring, treatment, and regular reporting to ensure safe drinking water. This focus on drinking water quality is what makes it the one that directly governs how clean our drinking water must be. The other acts address different environmental concerns: the Clean Water Act regulates discharges of pollutants into surface waters like rivers and lakes; the Clean Air Act deals with air pollution and ambient air quality; CERCLA (Superfund) focuses on cleaning up hazardous substances released into the environment.

The Safe Drinking Water Act sets maximum contaminant levels for pollutants in drinking water to protect human health. It authorizes the EPA to establish enforceable standards—called maximum contaminant levels—for contaminants found in public water systems, and it requires monitoring, treatment, and regular reporting to ensure safe drinking water. This focus on drinking water quality is what makes it the one that directly governs how clean our drinking water must be.

The other acts address different environmental concerns: the Clean Water Act regulates discharges of pollutants into surface waters like rivers and lakes; the Clean Air Act deals with air pollution and ambient air quality; CERCLA (Superfund) focuses on cleaning up hazardous substances released into the environment.