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Water Treatment

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1. What Law Keeps My Drinking Water Safe?

Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) in 1974 to protect public health by regulating the nation's public drinking water supply and protecting sources of drinking water. The SDWA is administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its state partners.

2. Where Can I Find Information About My Local Water System?

Since 1999, water suppliers have been required to provide annual Consumer Confidence Reports to their customers. These reports are due by July 1 each year, and contain information on contaminants found in the drinking water, possible health effects, and the water's source. These are mailed out annually or can be requested by contacting the Danville Water Treatment Plant at (859)238-1241 for customers in the local area.

3. I don't like the taste, smell, or appearance of my tap water. What's wrong with it?

Even when water meets EPA's standards, you may still object to its taste, smell, or appearance. EPA sets secondary standards based on these aesthetic characteristics (not health effects) which water systems and states can choose to adopt.

Common complaints about water aesthetics include:


Temporary cloudiness (typically caused by air bubbles).

Chlorine taste (which can be improved by letting the water stand exposed to the air).

4. How will I know if my water isn't safe to drink?

Your water supplier must notify you by newspaper, mail, radio, TV, or hand-delivery if your water doesn't meet EPA or state standards or if there is a waterborne disease emergency. The notice will describe any precautions you need to take, such as boiling your water.

Follow the advice of your water supplier if you ever receive such a notice. The most common drinking water emergency is contamination by disease-causing germs. Boiling your water for one minute will kill these germs. You can also use common household bleach or iodine to disinfect your drinking water at home in an emergency, such as a flood.