Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§300j–3b Contaminant standards or treatment technique guidelines

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 6A— - PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER XII— - SAFETY OF PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS › Part Part E— - General Provisions › § 300j–3b

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Within nine months after October 18, 1978, the Administrator must create guidelines for extra standards or treatment steps to control five kinds of contaminants: microbiological, viral, radiological, organic, and inorganic. The rules must be strong enough to keep people from being harmed when treated wastewater is used as drinking water and must include a safety margin. After those guidelines exist, grants for demonstration projects that involve people drinking treated wastewater can be given only if the applicant shows the project will follow the national primary drinking water rules under section 300g–1, meet the new guidelines, and otherwise provide safe drinking water. The Administrator may make the rules apply nationwide, vary them by project type, set them for each project, or use a mix. Grants may still be awarded before the guidelines are finished.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §300j–3b

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

(1)Not later than nine months after October 18, 1978, the Administrator shall promulgate guidelines establishing supplemental standards or treatment technique requirements for microbiological, viral, radiological, organic, and inorganic contaminants, which guidelines shall be conditions, as provided in paragraph (2), of any grant for a demonstration project for water reclamation, recycling, and reuse funded under section 300j–3a of this title or under section 300j–3(a)(2) of this title, where such project involves direct human consumption of treated wastewater. Such guidelines shall provide for sufficient control of each such contaminant, such that in the Administrator’s judgement, no adverse effects on the health of persons may reasonably be anticipated to occur, allowing an adequate margin of safety.
(2)A grant referred to in paragraph (1) for a project which involves direct human consumption of treated wastewater may be awarded on or after the date of promulgation of guidelines under this section only if the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Administrator that the project—
(A)will comply with all national primary drinking water regulations under section 300g–1 of this title;
(B)will comply with all guidelines under this section; and
(C)will in other respects provide safe drinking water.
(3)Guidelines under this section may, in the discretion of the Administrator—
(A)be nationally and uniformly applicable to all projects funded under section 300j–3a of this title or section 300j–1(a)(2) 11 See References in Text note below. of this title;
(B)vary for different classes or categories of such projects (as determined by the Administrator);
(C)be established and applicable on a proj­ect-by-project basis; or
(D)any combination of the above.
(4)Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit or delay the award of any grant referred to in paragraph (1) prior to the date of promulgation of such guidelines.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 300j–1(a)(2) of this title, referred to in par. (3)(A), was amended by Pub. L. 104–182, title I, § 121(3), (4)(A), Aug. 6, 1996, 110 Stat. 1651, to redesignate par. (2)(B) as subsec. (b) of section 300j–1, strike par. (2)(A), and add a new par. (2) relating to information and research facilities. Codification Section was enacted as part of the Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1979, and not as part of the Public Health Service Act which comprises this chapter.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 300j–3b

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73