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primacy. States, or US EPA acting as o primacy agent, <br />make sure water systems 1ox1 for contaminants, review <br />plans for water system improvements, conduct on -site <br />inspections and sanitary surveys, provide training and <br />technical assistance, and 1ok* action against water <br />systems not mooting standards. <br />To ensure that drinking water is aofa, SDWY\ ue10 up <br />mo|0p|n barriers against pollution, These 6onin,s <br />include: source water protection, treatment, distribution <br />system integrity, and public information. Public water <br />systems are responsible for ensuring ihni contaminants <br />in top water 6o nu1 exceed [he don6orJa. Wo1o/ systems <br />treat the water, and must test their water frequently <br />[or specified contaminants and report the results to <br />states. H o water system is not meeting these ,tun6on]s, <br />it is the water supplier's responsibility to notify its <br />customers. Many water suppliers now are also required <br />tn prepare annual reports for their customers. The <br />public is responsible fo/ helping local water suppliers <br />to set priorities, make decisions on funding and system <br />improvements, and establish programs to protect drinking <br />water sources. 0/o|o/ systems 0000 the nation n*|y on <br />citizen advisory committees, rate boards, volunteers, and <br />civic |oo6om to actively protect [his resource in every <br />community in Americo. <br />Protection & Prevention: <br />Essential components of safe drinking water include <br />protection and prevention. 3|ntoo and water suppliers <br />must conduct assessments ofwater Sources |o see <br />where they may be vulnerable to contamination. VVo|er <br />systems may also voluntarily adopt programs to protect <br />their watershed or wellhead, and states con use legal <br />authorities from other |oeo to prevent pollution. SDVVA <br />mon6otnx that states have programs <br />to certify water system operators and <br />make m/o that new water systems <br />have [Fie technical, financial, and <br />managerial capacity |o provide safe <br />drinking water. 3DVVA also oo|s o <br />fromeworkfor [lie Underground <br />Injection Control (U0 program <br />to control [lie injection of wastes <br />into ground water. U3 EPA and <br />states implement the U|C program, <br />which sets standards for sale waste <br />injection practices on6 bons certain <br />types of injection altogether. All of <br />these programs help prevent the <br />contamination of drinking water. <br />^� <br />~ <br />� <br />� <br />-------- <br />-° <br />_ <br />PA ­ <br />Setting National <br />Standards: <br />1) <br />inking Water <br />� <br />= <br />US EPA sets national x1nnJor6s for top water which help <br />ensure consistent qualify in our nation's water supply. <br />US EPA prioritizes contaminants for potential regulation <br />6o,e6 on risk and how often 11heyoccur in water supplies. <br />(To aid in 11his effort, certain water systems monitor <br />for the presence of <br />contaminants for which <br />no national Uon6o/6x <br />currently exist and <br />collect information <br />on thoiroccvrrence). <br />US EPA sets o hoo||h <br />goal 600n6 on risk <br />(including rinks to 11ho <br />most sensitive people, <br />e.g., infants, children, <br />pregnoot~om*o, <br />the elderly, and the <br />immono'compromiso6). <br />U3 EPA then sets o <br />legal limit for the contaminant in drinking water or o <br />,oqoi,e6 treatment technique--- this limit o, t,eo|ment <br />techniqoe is ,et to be ox do,n to 11hn health goal as <br />