Drinking Water: Safe Drinking Water Act Reauthorization Issues
(Testimony, 11/01/95, GAO/T-RCED-96-35).

GAO discussed issues surrounding the reauthorization of the Safe
Drinking Water Act. GAO noted that: (1) state strategies to help water
systems comply with the act include water system operator certification
and training, comprehensive water system inspections, sanitary surveys,
water source protection, approving of alternative technologies suitable
for small water systems, and determining systems' viability and
restructuring needs; (2) because of state funding limitations, the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has helped states prioritize
program goals and has given states 5 years to comply with all program
requirements; (3) this strategy has forced states to pursue national
priorities while curtailing traditional quality assurance activities;
(4) EPA has revised its guidance to make more effective use of available
funding and has initiated an effort to reevaluate and streamline
drinking water regulations; (5) although setting up state revolving
funds (SRF) for safe drinking water projects is a more efficient
government investment method, it will not close the funding gap; (6)
land purchase restrictions, relatively short loan periods, and
competition for and repayment of loans make it difficult for smaller
communities to participate in the SRF program; and (7) proposed
legislation would increase funding for state water systems and eliminate
requirements for additional contaminant standards.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  T-RCED-96-35
     TITLE:  Drinking Water: Safe Drinking Water Act Reauthorization 
             Issues
      DATE:  11/01/95
   SUBJECT:  Potable water
             Water treatment
             Water quality
             Proposed legislation
             Revolving funds
             Compliance
             Grants to states
             Federal/state relations
             Quality control
IDENTIFIER:  EPA Safe Drinking Water Program
             State Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund
             Wyoming
             EPA Source Water Protection Partnership Program
             Connecticut
             Treatment Works Construction Grant
             EPA Construction Grants Program
             
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