如何制定饮用水标准以及应对哪些污染物进行监管是《安全饮用水法案》（SDWA）重新授权的核心问题。SDWA标准制定条款的建议修订涵盖范围广泛。总的来说，环保组织认为标准不够严格，应该更多地考虑敏感的亚群体。另一些人指出，鉴于不确定且有时不存在增量效益，与满足日益严格的标准相关的高成本是不合理的。本专栏将探讨制定合理的饮用水标准方法所涉及的问题。 它审查了目前美国环境保护局（USEPA）制定的标准。本系列的第二部分将回顾第104届国会提出的改变标准制定过程的立法提案。包括10个参考文献、表格和图表。

How drinking water standards are set and which contaminants should be regulated are central issues in reauthorization of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Suggested amendments to the standard-setting provisions of the SDWA cover a broad spectrum. In general, environmental groups argue that standards are not strict enough and that greater consideration should be given to sensitive sub-populations. Others note that the high cost associated with meeting increasingly strict standards is unjustified in light of the uncertain and sometimes nonexistent incremental benefits. This column takes a look at the issues involved in developing a rational approach for establishing drinking water standards. It reviews the current US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to set standards. The second part of this series will review legislative proposals offered in the 104th Congress to change the standard-setting process. Includes 10 references, table, figure.