The Safe Drinking Water Act turns 50, marking a half-century commitment to safeguarding drinking water for Colorado’s residents and visitors.
In 1974, Congress passed groundbreaking legislation regulating the nation’s drinking water supply to protect public health. This legislation sets standards for naturally occurring and human-made contaminants. The Water Quality Control Division within the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment partners with water systems to test and treat water to meet these standards.
The division’s work under the Safe Drinking Water Act includes:
Overseeing compliance with federal and state drinking water rules that keep drinking water safe from bacterial, chemical, and metal contaminants like lead.
Providing technical assistance, performing inspections, and reviewing designs for water infrastructure projects.
Helping water systems respond to emergencies like the Marshall Fire a few years ago.
Coordinating with utilities to obtain grants and low-interest loans to improve drinking water infrastructure.
Ensuring that drinking water systems provide information about tap water to their communities, such as annual reports, known as consumer confidence reports.
Supporting certified water operators that provide critical services within the communities they serve.
Guiding water systems across the state as they look for buried drinking water pipes that may contain lead. In several communities, the removal of lead pipes is already underway.
Working with communities to test water and address issues with emerging contaminants like PFAS.
“We are so much more than just enforcing the rules,” said Ron Falco, Safe Drinking Water Program Manager within the division. “The division strives to keep our state’s drinking water supplies safe today while addressing future challenges. As technology and science advance, so does the division’s commitment to helping our water systems confidently supply high-quality water to the public.”
The division created a website with more details on the act, including a timeline and video.
