What aspect of water does the Safe Drinking Water Act primarily regulate?

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) is primarily focused on ensuring the quality of water provided to the public for drinking purposes. This legislation mandates that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets standards for drinking water quality that public water systems must follow. The act aims to protect public health by preventing contaminants in drinking water supplies, which is essential for protecting communities and ensuring safe access to potable water.

Regulating the public drinking water supply encompasses several critical components, including testing for contaminants, implementing treatment methods, and monitoring the safety of water delivered to consumers. By focusing on public health through the safety of drinking water, the SDWA plays a vital role in safeguarding communities from waterborne diseases and chemical pollutants.

The other choices pertain to different aspects of water management: pricing systems deal with the economic side of water access, stormwater runoff management is concerned with the environmental impacts of precipitation events, and agricultural irrigation practices focus on water usage in farming. While these are important areas related to water resources, they are not the primary concern of the Safe Drinking Water Act.