Question

Compare the Safe Water Drinking Act and the Clean Water Act.
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Answer 1

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and the Clean Water Act (CWA) are both enforced by the EPA but have different goals and tools: the SDWA protects public health by setting drinking-water standards (maximum contaminant levels) for public water systems and overseeing source protection, treatment, monitoring and consumer notification, while the CWA protects surface waters (rivers, lakes, wetlands and coastal waters) by regulating pollutant discharges through permits (NPDES), technology-based effluent limits, water-quality standards and state-led programs (including TMDLs). In short, the SDWA focuses on keeping tap water safe for consumption, often working through public water suppliers, whereas the CWA focuses on preventing and controlling pollution of the nation’s waters and supporting aquatic uses and ecosystems.