All State Policies: Pennsylvania
Who’s Responsible?
Below are short descriptions of relevant state agencies/departments by policy topic, followed by more information on specific policies.
Drinking Water: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regulates public water supplies and bottled and bulk water under the Pennsylvania Safe Drinking Water Act. DEP’s Office of Water Programs’ Bureau of Safe Drinking Water manages the “federally delegated drinking water program and implements both the federal and state Safe Drinking Water Act and associated regulations” across nearly 9,200 public water systems.
Policies
Drinking Water
Article 1 Section 27 of the Pennsylvania Constitution (Green Amendment)
1971
An amendment in 1971 to the Constitution of Pennsylvania created what is known as a “Green Amendment.” It reads in full, “The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania’s public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people. (May 18, 1971, P.L.769, J.R.3) Joint Resolution No.3 added section 27.
