Where can primary drinking water standards be found?

Primary drinking water standards are established to protect public health by limiting the levels of contaminants in drinking water. These standards outline the maximum allowable concentrations of specific contaminants that can be present in public water supplies. The correct source for these primary drinking water standards is found in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, specifically section 141.

The 40 CFR 141 provides legally enforceable national drinking water standards that apply to public water systems. It details the types of contaminants, the maximum contaminant levels acceptable for public health, monitoring and reporting requirements, and treatment techniques required to ensure safe drinking water quality.

While the Safe Drinking Water Act is the legislative framework that authorizes the development of these standards, the specific regulations and standards themselves are codified in 40 CFR 141. This distinction helps clarify the difference between the act itself and its regulatory implementations.

State environmental codes may also contain regulations governing drinking water, but they are generally based on the federal standards outlined in 40 CFR 141, meaning they reflect or build upon the national baseline rather than providing primary standards themselves. Similarly, 40 CFR 136 relates to the methods for testing and analyzing pollutants, but it does not set the primary drinking water standards.