What are the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR)?

The National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR) are a set of legally enforceable standards designed to protect public health by ensuring that the drinking water supplied by public water systems is safe. These regulations establish maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for specific pollutants, which means that water systems must monitor and control levels of these contaminants to meet the established health-based standards.

The purpose of the NPDWR is to safeguard public health by preventing harmful exposures to various contaminants, whether they are microbiological, chemical, or radiological in nature. Public water systems are required to comply with these standards, and failure to do so can result in enforcement actions, including penalties or interventions designed to rectify violations.

This regulatory framework is critical in promoting safe drinking water and addressing potential health risks associated with contaminants.