Which statement about the relationship between Primary and Secondary Drinking Water Regulations is correct?

• A. Primary regulations are enforceable and health-focused; Secondary are non-enforceable guidelines about taste, odor, or appearance.
• B. Primary regulations apply only to bottled water.
• C. Secondary regulations set health-based limits.
• D. Secondary regulations are always enforceable.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that Primary and Secondary Drinking Water Regulations serve different purposes and have different enforceability. Primary regulations are enforceable standards that directly aim to protect public health; they set maximum contaminant levels and treatment requirements for contaminants that pose health risks. Secondary regulations, on the other hand, are non-enforceable guidelines that address taste, odor, color, and other cosmetic or aesthetic factors to keep drinking water acceptable to consumers. Because of this, the statement that Primary regulations are enforceable and health-focused while Secondary regulations are non-enforceable guidelines about taste, odor, or appearance is correct. It’s worth noting that bottled water is regulated by the FDA under a separate framework, not EPA’s Primary/Secondary split.