On November 30, EPA’s Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water released the agency’s final Drinking Water Action Plan. Organized around six “priority areas,” the plan is intended to serve as a “national call to action, urging all levels of government, utilities, community organizations, and other stakeholders to work together to increase the safety and reliability of drinking water.”
Developed based on EPA’s known priorities as further informed by a significant stakeholder outreach process over the past year, the six priority areas as listed in the Action Plan are:
- Priority Area 1: Promote Equity and Build Capacity for Drinking Water Infrastructure Financing and Management in Disadvantaged, Small, and Environmental Justice Communities
- Priority Area 2: Advance Next Generation Oversight for the Safe Drinking Water Act
- Priority Area 3: Strengthen Source Water Protection and Resilience of Drinking Water Supplies
- Priority Area 4: Take Action to Address Unregulated Contaminants
- Priority Area 5: Improve Transparency, Public Education, and Risk Communication on Drinking Water Safety
- Priority Area 6: Reduce Lead Risks through the Lead and Copper Rule
In addition to being a "call to action" it is anticipated that the Action Plan will serve as a transition document, outlining EPA's policy priorities as the incoming administration takes control at the agency.