OIT OIT Environmental Regulations and Permits 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal law is the primary regulation governing public drinking water quality in the United States?
- Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) (Correct answer)
- Clean Water Act (CWA)
- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
- National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
Correct answer: Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), enacted in 1974, is the primary federal law protecting public drinking water quality in the US.
Question 2: What is a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) in the context of drinking water regulations?
- The minimum amount of a contaminant allowed in treated water
- The highest permissible level of a contaminant in public drinking water (Correct answer)
- The maximum level of treatment chemicals that can be added
- The highest level of bacteria acceptable in source water
Correct answer: The highest permissible level of a contaminant in public drinking water
An MCL is the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water, set by the EPA to protect public health.
Question 3: What agency sets national drinking water standards in the United States?
- OSHA
- CDC
- EPA (Correct answer)
- FEMA
Correct answer: EPA
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes and enforces national drinking water standards under the SDWA.
Question 4: What is a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit used for?
- Authorizing the use of treatment chemicals
- Regulating the discharge of pollutants into waters of the United States (Correct answer)
- Permitting construction of new water treatment plants
- Allowing operators to test new purification methods
Correct answer: Regulating the discharge of pollutants into waters of the United States
An NPDES permit regulates the discharge of pollutants from point sources into US waters, including wastewater plant effluent.
Question 5: What does a consumer confidence report (CCR) require water utilities to do?
- File annual reports with the EPA only
- Annually inform customers about their water source and quality (Correct answer)
- Post water quality data only on a government website
- Submit daily sampling results to the state
Correct answer: Annually inform customers about their water source and quality
The CCR, also called an annual water quality report, requires water utilities to inform customers each year about their water source and detected contaminants.
Question 6: Which of the following is considered a primary drinking water standard under the SDWA?
- pH level
- Lead concentration (Correct answer)
- Water hardness
- Chlorine taste
Correct answer: Lead concentration
Lead is regulated under primary drinking water standards because it poses a direct health risk, with an action level of 15 ppb.
OIT OIT Environmental Regulations and Permits 1
Which federal law is the primary regulation governing public drinking water quality in the United States?