The Biden administration has finalized new requirements to better inform the public about the presence of lead and other contaminants in their tap water.
Issued Wednesday, the EPA rule will require water providers to compile and provide access to “easier-to-read” drinking water quality reports, the agency said. The annual reports are important tools for alerting consumers of potential pollutants.
Under the rule, states and tribes will also need to submit data regarding how well water systems are complying with federal drinking water regulations. This will help EPA better target enforcement efforts and assess trends, according to the rule.
“EPA is taking action today to help ensure that the American public has improved access to information about the drinking water in their communities by strengthening requirements for annual drinking water quality reports,” Bruno Pigott, acting assistant administrator for water at EPA, said in a news release.
