Water Quality

In the U.S., the Safe Drinking Water Act helps ensure clean and safe water. In addition, more than 40 million people rely on private water sources that are not held to federal standards. Further, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), estimates that more than 20% of households rely on septic systems to process their wastewater.

Private Water Network

The Private Water Network (PWN) is a virtual community of practice for individuals working to protect human health from contaminants in private drinking water sources to:

  • Connect with peers
  • Share experiences, insights, and resources
  • Get timely and relevant guidance for existing and emerging issues
  • Build capacity

Private Water Network

Preparedness & Response for Septic Systems

After a disaster, such as a hurricane, wildfire, or earthquake, septic systems may be damaged and fail to operate correctly. However, there is no standard safety protocol in place for using septic systems after a disaster occurs. We worked with subject matter experts and national partners to develop a toolkit with guidance for different types of emergency situations.

See Toolkit

A Guidebook for Developing Tribal Water Quality Standards

Water quality management programs can be as varied as the tribes who develop them. This guidebook from National Tribal Water Council focuses on the fundamental element of any water quality management program: water quality standards.| Guidebook

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