State or US EPA permission not to meet a certain drinking water standard. The water system must prove that: (1) it cannot meet a Maximum Contaminant Level, even while using the best available treatment method, because of the characteristics of…

A failure to meet any state or federal drinking water regulation.

An evaluation of drinking water source quality and its vulnerability to contamination by pathogens and toxic chemicals.

The water that is analyzed for the presence of US EPA-regulated drinking water contaminants. Depending on the regulation, US EPA requires water systems and states to take samples from source water, from water leaving the treatment facility, or from the…

The land area from which water drains into a stream, river, or reservoir

The area surrounding a drinking water well or well field which is protected to prevent contamination of the well(s).