Introduction
1. What are germs?
2. Getting germs
3. Germ environment
4. Germ travel
5. Symptoms
6. Water's role
7. Water suppliers
8. Rules
9. Conclusion
Diseases & pathogens
Note on E. coli
What are the rules?A strict set of standards guides the drinking water industry. The underlying rule for germs is that there should be no fecal organisms in the water. Testing procedures and proper water treatment are carefully defined and enforced.
The Safe
Drinking Water Act (SDWA) was enacted in 1974 by the US Congress; it was
revised and updated in 1986 and 1996. The US Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) enforces SDWA by requiring each state to designate an agency
to oversee its water suppliers. States may make certain provisions of
their laws more strict than SDWA, but no one can change SDWA rules to
make them more lenient.
In Massachusetts, SDWA is enforced by the Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP). Public water suppliers in Massachusetts must report
regularly to DEP concerning the withdrawals from their sources, the quality
of their source water, and the analysis of the finished water they deliver
to consumers.
 |
See
the kinds of germs we're talking about |
|