Congress delegated enforcement of these drinking water standards to the EPA. The EPA develops rules that govern how the provisions of the Act will be carried out. The Arkansas Department of Health is the primacy agency that enforces drinking water regulations in Arkansas.

In 1986 Congress reauthorized the Act and amended it. The 1986 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Rules developed to implement it have influenced the operation of Fort Smith's water system. Among the changes were the initial regulation of 83 drinking water contaminants, and a requirement to regulate an additional 25 contaminants every three years.

All water supplied by Fort Smith's public water system meets or surpasses federal and state drinking water standards.

Primary standards protect public health.

Primary standards include maximum contaminant levels, maximum contaminant level goals, action levels and treatment techniques.

Secondary standards relate to aesthetics.

These guidelines are designed to assure good aesthetic quality of water. Secondary standards apply to contaminants that affect the taste, odor or color of water, stain sinks or bathtubs, or interfere with treatment processes.

Many factors determine the quality of drinking water. As a consumer, you may first notice the physical characteristics of water. Although the taste, odor and color are important, the primary objective for all water suppliers is to ensure that your water is safe. In order to protect your health, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) impose stringent regulations on the maximum levels of certain chemical, physical and biological constituents that are allowed in your drinking water.

The Total Coliform Rule requires water agencies to meet a stricter limit for coliform bacteria. Coliform bacteria are usually harmless, but their presence in water can be an indication of disease causing bacteria. When coliform bacteria are found, special follow-up tests are done to determine if harmful bacteria are present in the water supply. If this limit is exceeded, the water supplier must notify the public of the problem by newspaper, television, or radio.

The Lead and Copper Rule requires water agencies to monitor the levels of lead and copper in the source water, in the distribution system, and for the first time, at the homes of customers who met EPA selection criteria. The Fort Smith Utilities meets the new standards, but is still required to continue monitoring these levels.