In anticipation of the growing need to protect drinking water, President Clinton in l993 proposed the first-ever revolving loan fund available directly to states to upgrade community drinking water systems. The survey results will be used as the basis for loan-fund allocations in future years. Although the nation's drinking water is generally safe, we can no longer take safe drinking water for granted. To provide for protection of community drinking water, President Clinton asked Congress back in l993 for a safe drinking water loan fund to help make sure additional resources are available to states and communities. This first-ever assessment will help guide our investments in future protection.
Microbiological contaminants are waterborne pathogens that can cause acute illness or even death.
Since 1993, over 10 million Americans have been asked to boil their water to guard against possible illness caused by microbiological contaminants, such as cryptosporidium. Over 11 million people receive unfiltered surface water, even though states have determined that the water poses health risks from microbiological contaminants. American Indians and Alaska Native water systems face special challenges in providing safe drinking water, including isolation, arid conditions, and arctic climates. The survey was submitted to Congress in accordance with the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act which required EPA to assess capital improvement needs of the nation's 55,000 community drinking water systems. The 4000 communities responding to EPA's survey, with assistance from states, documented their plans for meeting federal drinking water safety standards as well as their needs for the next 20 years for other drinking water infrastructure, including the replacement or refurbishment of distribution piping, water storage tanks, and adding or improving sources of water.