这篇关于美国饮用水实践和处理技术的文章讨论了该行业在上个世纪的进展，并总结了当今常用的处理方法。本文介绍了美国的公用事业行业、饮用水水质目标、饮用水质量管理法规，包括19141962年的饮用水标准、1974年的《安全饮用水法案》、国家临时一级饮用水法规、国家二级饮用水法规以及未来的法规。讨论的处理厂实践包括: 浊度和微生物污染物的处理要求；常规处理、初始混合（也称快速或闪速混合）、絮凝、沉淀、过滤和消毒；无机、放射性和有机污染物的处理技术；以及处理厂废物处理。讨论了与以下主题有关的新发展:来源保护；替代消毒剂，如氯胺、二氧化氯和臭氧；直接过滤；自动化工厂流程；以及水的再利用。包括54个参考文献、表格和图表。

This article on drinking water practices and treatment technologies in the United States discusses the progress of the industry over the last century and summarizes the treatment methodologies in common use today. The public water utility industry in the United States, water quality objectives for potable water, and regulations governing drinking water quality including the drinking water standards of 19141962, the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, National Interim Primary Drinking Water Regulation, National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations, and future regulations are addressed. Treatment plant practices discussed include: treatment requirements for turbidity and microbiological contaminants; conventional treatment, and initial mixing (also called rapid or flash mixing), flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection; treatment techniques for inorganic, radiological, and organic contaminants; and treatment plant waste disposal. New developments relating to the following topics are addressed: source protection; alternative disinfectants such as chloramines, chlorine dioxide, and ozone; direct filtration; automated plant processes; and water reuse. Includes 54 references, tables, figures.