Tap the Power

Knowledge
is Power

Publications available from the Theobald Legislative Library

Safe Drinking Water

 Compiled by Patricia Reichert, November 2007

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Wisconsin has some of the best water around, mostly due to the geological legacy of the last ice age. However, many things can affect groundwater before it reaches the tap. This Tap the Power addresses drinking water contaminants, private well considerations, public water system infrastructure, security issues, and state and federal regulations.

Analysis and Findings of the Gallup Organization's Drinking Water Customer Satisfaction Survey / U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2003. (622.2/X4) http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS54810

Arsenic in Drinking Water: Regulatory Developments and Issues / U.S. Congressional Research Service. 2007. (623.3/X10) www.ncseonline.org/NLE/CRS/abstract.cfm?NLEid=2

Bottled Drinking Water Laboratory Analysis Report / Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. (623.3/W7d/2005-2006) www.datcp.state.wi.us/fs/consumerinfo/food/health/bottled-water

The Clean Water and Drinking Water Infrastructure Gap Analysis / U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2002. (622.2/X8) http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS25705

Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment: Third Report to Congress / U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2005. (622.2/X19) www.epa.gov/safewater/needssurvey

Health Effects of Arsenic-Contaminated Drinking Water: Final Report Submitted to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources / Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services. 2002. (NatR/Water/h) (library use only) http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/EcoNatRes.ProjectFinalReport

Protection of Chemical and Water Infrastructure: Federal Requirements, Actions of Selected Facilities, and Remaining Challenges / U.S. Government Accountability Office. 2005. (331.825/X7) The Department of Homeland Security and the EPA have assisted the water and chemical sectors to implement security enhancements. http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS60333

Safe Drinking Water Act: Selected Regulatory and Legislative Issues / U.S. Congressional Research Service. 2007. (622.2/X6) www.ruralwater.org/crssdwa.pdf

Safeguarding the Nation's Drinking Water: EPA and Congressional Actions / U.S. Congressional Research Service. 2007. (331.825/X8) www.ncseonline.org/NLE/CRS/abstract.cfm?NLEid=1496

"Small Rural Communities' Quest for Safe Drinking Water" / U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, Rural America, Fall 2002, v.17, no.3. (328/M34)
www.ers.usda.gov/publications/ruralamerica/ra173/ra173g.pdf

25 Years of the Safe Drinking Water Act: History and Trends / U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1999. (623.3/X8) http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/websites/epagov/www.epa.gov/safewater/sdwa/trends.html

Water Health Series / U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

• "Bottled Water Basics." 2005. www.epa.gov/safewater/faq/pdfs/fs_healthseries_bottlewater.pdf
•  "Filtration Facts." 2005. www.epa.gov/safewater/faq/pdfs/fs_healthseries_filtration.pdf

Water Infrastructure Needs and Investment: Review and Analysis of Key Issues / U.S. Congressional Research Service. 2007. (622.2/X3) www.ncseonline.org/NLE/CRS/abstract.cfm?NLEid=1826

Water on Tap: What You Need to Know / U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2003. (622.2/X20) www.epa.gov/safewater/wot/pdfs/book_waterontap_full.pdf

Wisconsin Bureau of Drinking Water and Groundwater Publications.

• Annual Drinking Water Report: Wisconsin's Public Water Systems. 2006. (NatR/Water/a) (library use only) http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/dwg/report.pdf
• Arsenic in Drinking Water. 2006. (NatR/Water/a) (library use only) http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/dwg/arsenic/geninfo.htm
• Iron Bacteria Problems in Wells. 2005. (NatR/Water/i) (library use only)
• Iron in Drinking Water. 2005. (NatR/ES/i) (library use only) 2001 report online: http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/dwg/Forms/iron.pdf
• Lead in Drinking Water. 2005. (614/W7b/2005) 2003 report online: http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/dwg/Forms/Lead.pdf
• The Potential for Drinking Water Contamination from Submersible Well Pumps. (623.3/W7x3/2001) http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/dwg/pubs/WaterContSubPumps.pdf
• Well Chlorination in Arsenic Sensitive Areas: Too Much of a Good Thing? Information for Private Well Owners. (623.3/W7k/2002) http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/dwg/WellChlorination.pdf
• Wisconsin's Capacity Development Program for Public Drinking Water Systems: Report to the Governor. (622.2/W7s4/2005) http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/dwg/CapDevl/GovReport05.pdf

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Publications.

• Bacteriological Contamination of Drinking Water. (622.2/ W7r6/2000) http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/dwg/BACTI.HTM
• Nitrate in Drinking Water. 2006. (NatR/Water/n) (library use only) http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/dwg/Forms/nitrate.pdf
• An Operator's Handbook for Safe Drinking Water for Other than Municipal and Nontransient, Noncommunity Water Systems. 2006. (622.2/W7r2) 1999 edition online: http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/dwg/Forms/operator.pdf
• An Owner's/Operator's Handbook for Safe Drinking Water for Transient, Noncommunity Public Drinking Water Systems. 2000. (622.2/W7r4) http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/dwg/Forms/OwnerOperatorHandbook.pdf
• Tests for Drinking Water from Private Wells. 2007. (NatR/Water/t) (library use only) http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/dwg/pubs/TestsForWell.pdf
• 2006 Report to the Legislature on Groundwater Management Areas. 2006. (NatR/GWCC/t) (library use only) http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/dwg/gac/GACFinalReport1206.pdf
• Wisconsin Water Quality Assessment Report to Congress. (622.2/W7i/2006) http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/wm/watersummary/Waterqualityassessment.html

Related Web Sites

Central Wisconsin Groundwater Center: www.uwsp.edu/cnr/gndwater/privatewells "Water Testing and Private Wells" and "Common Water Quality Problems." The Center, located in the College of Natural Resources at UW-Stevens Point, is part of the University of Wisconsin-Extension Cooperative Extension Service.

National Association of Clean Water Agencies: www.nacwa.org "[R]epresents the interests of the country's wastewater treatment agencies." Works closely with federal regulatory agencies.

National Rural Water Association: www.nrwa.org News, white papers, and legislation important to water utilities. Links to state chapters, including Wisconsin.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

• www.epa.gov/safewater/dwh "Drinking Water and Health: What You Need to Know."
• www.epa.gov/safewater/dwinfo "Local Drinking Water Information."
• www.epa.gov/safewater/pws "Public Drinking Water Systems Programs."
• www.epa.gov/safewater/sdwa "Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)."
• www.epa.gov/safewater/smallsys/nwsysfin.pdf [State programs for new water systems].
• http://cfpub.epa.gov/safewater/watersecurity "Water Security."

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): http://health.usgs.gov/dw_contaminants "Chemical and Pathogenic Contaminant Exposure by Drinking Water."

University of Minnesota Extension, Water Resources Center: http://wrc.umn.edu/outreach/dwhh.html "Drinking Water and Human Health."

University of Wisconsin Water Resources Institute: www.wri.wisc.edu One of 54 institutes nationwide administered by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

• http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/dwg/pubbro.htm "Answers to Questions About Common Water Contaminants and Water Quality."
• http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/dwg/ccr/ccr_instructions.htm "Consumer Confidence Reports" for public water systems.
• http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/dwg "Drinking Water and Groundwater."
• http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/dwg/wells.htm "Wells: Private Wells and Public Wells."

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