About the Safe Water Program

CDC’s Safe Water program provides the following services to public health departments, particularly environmental health programs:

• Offering free, evidence-based guidance, tools, and training.
• Providing technical assistance to help programs address unique challenges in their jurisdictions.
• Building environmental health capacity to address water hazards using data-driven, evidence-based approaches.

Environmental health programs work to provide safe water in their communities by

• Addressing problems with private drinking water systems such as wells.
• Identifying hazards through permitting and inspecting drinking water and wastewater systems, public swimming pools, waterparks, and other venues.
• Responding to and preventing outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease.
• Filling crucial functions during emergencies such as testing water supplies and assessing shelters and other facilities.