Tribal Governments Role in Safe Drinking Water in Indian Country
Financial Assistance
Tribal governments oversee water system utilities or utility boards. Along with Tribal utilities, Tribal governments are responsible for providing safe drinking water that complies with the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWRs) under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
Under SDWA, EPA can approve “Treatment in the Same Manner as a State (TAS)” eligibility and authorize primacy for Tribes meeting certain requirements. These Tribes implement programs like the Public Water System Supervision (PWSS) program and enforce regulations within their jurisdiction.
To receive primacy for the PWSS program, a Tribe must apply for and receive TAS status. Currently, the Navajo Nation is the only Tribe with TAS status and primacy over the PWSS program. Having primacy, the Navajo Nation enforces SDWA regulations and program requirements for public water systems within the boundaries of the Tribe’s approved program. For more information, please see the Tribal Primacy webpage.
EPA provides technical assistance to Tribal water systems through the following programs:
- Tribal Public Water System Supervision Program (Tribal PWSS) - provides technical, managerial and financial capacity development training to assist the utility with system operations; and
- Drinking Water Infrastructure Grant – Tribal Set Aside Program (DWIG – TSA) - provides funding to drinking water systems to finance infrastructure improvements.
EPA also provides other training and technical assistance to Tribes to aid in regulatory compliance.