Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA, 1974)

1) Link to the Text of the Act
Read the statute (42 U.S.C. § 300f et seq.)

2) Why It Was Done
The SDWA was enacted to protect public drinking water supplies across the United States, setting national health-based standards and requiring states and water suppliers to ensure safety.

3) Pre-existing Law or Constitutional Rights
Before SDWA, drinking water safety was primarily a state and local responsibility, with no enforceable federal standards. Pollution crises and unsafe municipal supplies prompted federal action.