U.S. Public Water System Violations (2011-H1 2016)

1 Sep 2016
Available with corporate subscription

Data Insight: Bluefield tracks violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act by public water systems

More than 42 million people served by public water systems in the 50 U.S. states and Native American reservations are potentially impacted by violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. U.S. EPA violations, totaling a combined 3,286 at the end of H1 2016, signal ongoing opportunity for improvement, including investment, for public water systems.  While the number of serious violations trends downward — 43% from 2011 through 2015 — more than 2,000 systems face the next stage of regulatory pressure, including formal enforcement.

In this Data Insight, Bluefield water experts analyze:

  • Drinking Water Act Violations since 2011
  • Enforcement by state, population and owner type
  • Type of violations

Clients also receive access to data appendix showing violations by public water system, population, city and county. To see more recent research available through this service follow this link.

Bluefield Takeaways

  • More than 42 million people served by public water systems in the 50 U.S. states and Native American reservations are potentially impacted by violations.
  • Over the last five years, 2011-2015, serious violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act violations has declined 43% to 2,237.
  • Ten states represent 73% of violations by number of systems, led by Texas, Oklahoma, California, North Carolina, and Louisiana.