Bureau of Safe Drinking Water

The Bureau of Safe Drinking Water is charged with managing the federally delegated drinking water program and implements both the federal and state Safe Drinking Water Act and associated regulations. To carry out this mission, the Safe Drinking Water Program: Protects all Pennsylvania residents and visitors from microbiological, chemical and radiological contaminants in drinking water served at nearly 9,200 public water systems; conducts surveillance, compliance, enforcement and permitting activities at public water systems to ensure compliance with safe drinking water standards; protects Pennsylvania's drinking water sources through proper planning and management of water resources and their uses; responds to water supply emergencies, such as floods, droughts, chemical spills or waterborne disease outbreaks; and maintains a web-based reporting application to allow accredited laboratories and public water suppliers to report drinking water sample results electronically. The bureau also trains and certifies drinking water and wastewater treatment operators for over 10,000 plants.