Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§300i–3 Contaminant prevention, detection and response

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 6A— - PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER XII— - SAFETY OF PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS › Part Part D— - Emergency Powers › § 300i–3

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Require the Administrator, working with the CDC and other federal, state, and local authorities (or by hiring others), to review ways to prevent, find, and deal with intentional chemical, biological, or radiological contamination of community water systems and their source water. The review covers things like real-time monitoring and detection equipment, warning systems for operators and the public, education and awareness programs for water systems, tools and procedures to stop contaminated water from reaching people, treatment or cleanup methods to remove or neutralize contaminants, and biomedical research on short- and long-term health effects. Money to carry this out is authorized under section 300i–4(e) of this title.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §300i–3

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Administrator, in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and, after consultation with appropriate departments and agencies of the Federal Government and with State and local governments, shall review (or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements to provide for a review of) current and future methods to prevent, detect and respond to the intentional introduction of chemical, biological or radiological contaminants into community water systems and source water for community water systems, including each of the following:
(1)Methods, means and equipment, including real time monitoring systems, designed to monitor and detect various levels of chemical, biological, and radiological contaminants or indicators of contaminants and reduce the likelihood that such contaminants can be successfully introduced into public water systems and source water intended to be used for drinking water.
(2)Methods and means to provide sufficient notice to operators of public water systems, and individuals served by such systems, of the introduction of chemical, biological or radiological contaminants and the possible effect of such introduction on public health and the safety and supply of drinking water.
(3)Methods and means for developing educational and awareness programs for community water systems.
(4)Procedures and equipment necessary to prevent the flow of contaminated drinking water to individuals served by public water systems.
(5)Methods, means, and equipment which could negate or mitigate deleterious effects on public health and the safety and supply caused by the introduction of contaminants into water intended to be used for drinking water, including an examination of the effectiveness of various drinking water technologies in removing, inactivating, or neutralizing biological, chemical, and radiological contaminants.
(6)Biomedical research into the short-term and long-term impact on public health of various chemical, biological and radiological contaminants that may be introduced into public water systems through terrorist or other intentional acts.
(b)For the authorization of appropriations to carry out this section, see section 300i–4(e) of this title.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Centers for Disease Control changed to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by Pub. L. 102–531, title III, § 312, Oct. 27, 1992, 106 Stat. 3504.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 300i–3

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73