Drinking water Technology, Eawag, developed a method by which hazard maps could be produced for geogenic toxic substances in groundwater. This provides an efficient way of determining which wells should be tested. Parameters for drinking water quality typically fall within three categories: Physical and chemical parameters include heavy metals, trace organic compounds, total suspended solids (TSS), and turbidity. Microbiological parameters include Coliform bacteria, "E. coli", and specific pathogenic species of bacteria (such as cholera-causing "Vibrio cholerae"), viruses, and protozoan parasites. Chemical parameters tend to pose more of a chronic health risk through buildup of heavy metals although some components like nitrates/nitrites and
Safe Drinking Water Act (USDW) means an aquifer with sufficient quality and quantity of ground water to supply a public water system now or in the future as defined by 40 C.F.R. § 144.3. Surface water quality is generally protected by the Clean Water Act. U.S. Congress by 42 United States Code (U.S.C.) § 300h(b) and 42 U.S.C. § 300h-1(C) prohibit any underground injection which endangers drinking water sources. The Ninth Circuit United States Court of Appeals while enforcing this prohibition of “harmful injections into drinking water aquifers” explains that underground injection of even clean water can result in the illegal movement of a