Small Community Options for Regulatory Equity Act of 2005

H.R. 1315, the Small Community Options for Regulatory Equity Act of 2005, would allow small, nonprofit public water systems serving 10,000 or fewer people to request exemptions from certain federal drinking water standards. These exemptions would apply specifically to naturally occurring contaminants, such as arsenic, radon, and uranium, if the local water system determines that meeting the federal requirements is not economically feasible. If enacted, the bill would give these small communities more local control over their water regulations, potentially lowering utility costs for residents while also allowing those systems to bypass certain national health standards for drinking water.