EPA Celebrates Safe Drinking Water Act in Georgia

Benjamin H. Grumbles, EPA assistant administrator for water, will celebrate 30 years of progress under the Safe Drinking Water Act today at the Clayton County Georgia Water Authority.

Grumbles will visit the Clayton County Water Authority to observe the innovative technology being used there to make drinking water safer for the community.

The Clayton County Water Authority uses innovation that goes beyond regulatory requirements in ensuring that their customers have access to safe drinking water.

In addition to conventional treatment, the Authority uses ultraviolet disinfection at all of their treatment plants to provide greater removal of microbial pathogens that can negatively impact human health by causing gastrointestinal illness.

The Safe Drinking Water Act, signed Dec. 16, 1974, governs a mandatory national program to protect public health through drinking water safety.

In the United States, more than 53,000 community water systems test for the presence of up to 90 contaminants that are regulated in drinking water. In the last 30 years, the percentage of individuals and communities receiving safe, clean water that meets public health standards has increased significantly.

Other attendees will include Jim Giattina, EPA Water Division Director, Region 4; Stallings Howell, EPA Chief, Drinking Water and Groundwater Branch, Region 4; Chris Thomas, EPA Chief, Drinking Water Section, Region 4; Jim Taft, Executive Director, Association of State Drinking Water Administrators; Mike Leonard, Executive Vice President, American Water Works Association; Nolton Johnson, Branch Chief of Water Resources, Georgia Environmental Protection Division; Mike Thomas, President Georgia Water & Pollution Control Association; Bobby Scott, President National Rural Water Association; Guy Pihera, Clayton County Water Authority Water Production Manager, and Brad Addison, Program Manager Drinking Water Compliance Program, Georgia Environmental Protection Division.

Source: EPA