Which of the following is TRUE about regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act?

Regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act establish critical standards aimed at protecting public health by ensuring the safety of drinking water. A major component of these regulations is the Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) and Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs).

MCLs are legally enforceable standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that define the maximum permissible level of a contaminant in drinking water. This ensures that water systems mitigate risks associated with harmful substances, directly contributing to public health safety. Thus, it is true that MCLs represent legally enforceable drinking water standards.

MCLGs, on the other hand, serve as non-enforceable health goals that indicate the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. They are based solely on health considerations without taking into account the cost of achieving these levels. This aspect underlines that while MCLGs are important for public health guidance, they do not carry legal enforceability.

It's also true that in some cases, MCLs can be set at levels higher than the corresponding MCLGs due to factors such as economic considerations or technology availability. Nevertheless, the MCL is designed to ensure that even if it