Drinking Water Treatment in the U.S.—A Review of Capital Cities’ CCRs

The public water systems (PWSs) across the U.S. utilize either groundwater, surface water, or groundwater under the direct influence of surface water (GWUDI) resource, treating the source-water to applicable federal primary and secondary drinking water regulatory requirements and standards and, thus, distributing to residential, institutional, commercial, and industrial users. The PWSs in the U.S. are required by federal requirements—based on 40 CFR Part 141, Subpart O—to provide the annual water quality reports, consumer confidence reports (CCRs), to their customers. The source water quality, selected water treatment train, and the product drinking or potable water quality at distribution are critical elements of water supply, at all times. This presentation is focused and included (as feasible): a review of the Year 2016 CCRs on drinking water production and distribution in the fifty-three (53) capital cities of U.S. and territories and, a discussion of the data reported on source-water and product water quality parameters. The current presentation and reporting of CCRs have been observed to be not uniform and comprehensive. A recommendation is made toward preparing and providing the descriptions and data in the CCRs, as per the applicable requirements, in a uniform manner for the comprehensive understanding of stakeholders.