GAO: US Water Drinkers in Dark on Violations, Contaminants

August 10, 2011

Two new Congressional watchdog reports say that the American public is too much in the dark about the safety and healthfulness of its drinking water.

While EPA oversees the Safe Drinking Water Act programs, much of the daily responsibility is delegated to state agencies. The non-partisan Government Accountability Office says the states are under-reporting violations and contamination to EPA. Moreover, EPA has fallen behind in setting standards for known contaminants that may cause health problems.

 

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