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United States · Law · S

S. 433 (93rd)

Safe Drinking Water Act

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

18 January 1973

Last action

16 December 1974 · President

Status

Public law 93-523.

Sponsors

Sen. Magnuson, Warren G. [D-WA], Sen. Hart, Philip A. [D-MI], Sen. Tunney, John V. [D-CA], Sen. Baker, Howard H., Jr. [R-TN], Sen. Bayh, Birch [D-IN], Sen. Cook, Marlow W. [R-KY], Sen. Cranston, Alan [D-CA], Sen. Hartke, Vance [D-IN], Sen. Hughes, Harold E. [D-IA], Sen. Humphrey, Hubert H. [D-MN], Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA], Sen. McGee, Gale W. [D-WY], Sen. McGovern, George [D-SD], Sen. Moss, Frank E. [D-UT], Sen. Pastore, John O. [D-RI], Sen. Pell, Claiborne [D-RI], Sen. Randolph, Jennings [D-WV], Sen. Stevens, Ted [R-AK], Sen. Williams, Harrison A., Jr. [D-NJ], Sen. Gravel, Mike [D-AK], Sen. Mondale, Walter F. [D-MN], Sen. Gurney, Edward J. [R-FL], Sen. Case, Clifford P. [R-NJ]

Subjects

Environment

Source updated

14 January 2025

Environment

Summary

Safe Drinking Water Act - Provides that the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, after consultation with the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, shall issue proposed regulations prescribing national primary and secondary drinking water standards within 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act. Restricts the authority of the Administrator to prescribe the addition of any substance to water systems other than for the purpose of treating contaminants. Requires the Administrator to review the adequacy of any national primary or secondary drinking water standards issued under this Act every three years. Establishes, within the Environmental Protection Agency, a National Drinking Water Council consisting of fifteen scientifically qualified members. Provides that the Council shall advise, consult with, and make recommendations to the Administrator on matters relating to the scientific review of data relating to the activities of the Agency under this Act. Authorizes the Administrator to render financial, technical, and other assistance to public agencies, institutions, water supply utilities, and individuals in the conduct of research and investigations relating to contaminants in drinking water or to the provision of adequate supplies of safe drinking water. Authorizes the Administrator to finance any project or activity which is designed: (1) to develop, expand, or carry out a program for training persons for occupations involving the management and operation of drinking water systems; and (2) to train instructors to teach such programs. Authorizes appropriations of $14,000,000 for fiscal year 1974, $23,000,000 for fiscal year 1975, and $31,000,000 for fiscal year 1976. Provides that the Administrator shall (after consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture and the several States) conduct a survey of the quantity, quality, and availability of rural drinking water supplies. States that such survey shall be completed within two years after the date of enactment of this Act and a final report submitted, not less than six months after the completion of such survey, to the President for transmittal to the Congress. Authorizes appropriations of $1,000,000 for fiscal year 1974, $2,000,000 for fiscal year 1975, and $1,000,000 for fiscal year 1976 for such survey. Provides for special study and demonstration grants for the purposes of: (1) demonstrating new or improved methods of providing safe drinking water to the urban and rural areas of the nations; and (2) investigating the health implications of recycling waste waters for drinking and related uses. States that such grants shall not exceed 66 2/3 percent of the construction costs and 75 percent of other costs as determined by the Administrator. Authorizes appropriations of $2,000,000 for fiscal year 1974, $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1975, and $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1976. Authorizes appropriations of $8,000,000 for fiscal year 1974, $15,000,000 for fiscal year 1975, and $21,300,000 for fiscal year 1976 for grants to States to assist them in establishing and maintaining adequate programs to assure the safety of public drinking water. Provides that such grants shall not exceed 66 2/3 percent of the cost of any such State program. Sets forth provisions which a State plan for such program shall contain to qualify for grants under this Act. Grants the States primary enforcement responsibility with respect to standards established under this Act. Authorizes the Administrator to issue regulations to carry out the purposes of this Act. Provides for judicial review of such regulations. States that nothing in this Act shall affect the authority of any State or local governmental unit to establish drinking water standards, except that such standards shall not be less stringent than the requirements of this Act. Specifies activities which are prohibited under this Act. Sets forth penalties for any such violations. Authorizes any person to commence a civil action for injunctive relief under this Act. Makes the provisions of the Act applicable to Federal facilities. Authorizes the Administrator to waive compliance with the requirements of this Act upon receiving information from the Secretary of Defense or from the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating that such waiver is in the interest of national security. Authorizes appropriations not to exceed $8,000,000 for fiscal year 1974, $11,000,000 for fiscal year 1975, and $13,000,000 for fiscal year 1976 for the purposes and administration of this Act.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 18 January 1973

    Introduced

    Referred to Senate Committee on Commerce.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 18 January 1973

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 20 June 1973

    Reported

    Reported to Senate from the Committee on Commerce with amendment, S. Rept. 93-231.

    Source: Committee

  4. 20 June 1973

    Reported

    Reported to Senate from the Committee on Commerce with amendment, S. Rept. 93-231.

    Source: Committee

  5. 22 June 1973

    Passed

    Measure passed Senate, amended.

    Source: Floor

  6. 22 June 1973

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Measure passed Senate, amended.

    Source: Floor

  7. 25 June 1973

    Introduced

    Referred to House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce.

    Source: IntroReferral

  8. 19 November 1974

    Passed

    Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H.R. 13002.

    Source: Floor

  9. 19 November 1974

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in House: Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H.R. 13002.

    Source: Floor

  10. 26 November 1974

    Passed

    Senate agreed to House amendments with an amendment.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  11. 26 November 1974

    Passed

    Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to House amendments with an amendment.

    Source: NotUsed

  12. 3 December 1974

    Passed

    House agreed to Senate amendment to House amendment.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  13. 3 December 1974

    Passed

    Resolving differences -- House actions: House agreed to Senate amendment to House amendment.

    Source: NotUsed

  14. 5 December 1974

    Floor

    Measure presented to President.

    Source: Floor

  15. 5 December 1974

    President

    Measure presented to President.

    Source: President

  16. 16 December 1974

    President

    Public law 93-523.

    Source: President

  17. 16 December 1974

    Became law

    Signed by President.

    Source: BecameLaw

  18. 16 December 1974

    President

    Signed by President.

    Source: President

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

3 official files

Public Law (PDF)

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  • Public Law (PDF)

    Public Law · EN · 17 December 1974

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

  • Public Law

    summary · EN · 16 December 1974

    Open at official source

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  • Introduced in Senate

    summary · EN · 18 January 1973

    Open at official source

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