Arsenic Standard Reinstatement Act

The Arsenic Standard Reinstatement Act (S. 635) would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement a stricter limit on the amount of arsenic allowed in public drinking water. Specifically, it would set the maximum contaminant level at 0.01 milligrams per liter, a significant reduction from the previous standard. Under this bill, this specific safety level could only be changed in the future by an act of Congress rather than through administrative agency decisions.

For everyday citizens, this legislation aims to improve public health by reducing long-term exposure to arsenic, a naturally occurring element that can be toxic at high levels. If enacted, the bill would ensure a consistent national safety standard for tap water across all public water systems. While this would provide increased protection against health risks like cancer and heart disease, it would also require local water utilities to maintain the infrastructure necessary to meet these stricter filtration requirements.