Regional water utilities, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, national water organizations and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency organized a “Toast to Tap” celebration on Thursday, October 2, 2014 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Congress passed the Act in 1974 and authorized the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate drinking water supplies by setting water quality and delivery standards. Hosted in the Park at CityCenter in Northwest DC, the event brought together members of the water community and local businesses to highlight the value of safe water to the metro region.

“This law reflected a dramatic shift in the way that Americans related to the environment,” said DC Water General Manager George S. Hawkins. “Recognizing the need to protect public health through safer drinking water supplies, advocates led the way for landmark legislation that ensures that the public is safe and informed about their drinking water.”

“We are celebrating the Safe Drinking Water Acts first 40 years of remarkable achievement in protecting public health and renewing our commitment to ‘Putting Drinking Water First’ by working to protect our precious drinking water resources,” said Robert Wendelgass, President of Clean Water Action.

“We’ve made incredible progress in improving the safety of drinking water during the past 40 years. Safe and reliable drinking water is central to our lives, and the important work that the water sector does to protect the health of American people each and every day is vital to our local economies,” added Ken Kopocis, Deputy Assistant Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Water.

Today’s interactive event featured games, giveaways and hands-on activities such as a water taste test, water wheel of fortune, and free water poured from the taps of a water bar. Officials from the Environmental Protection Agency led a ceremonial “toast to tap water” with reusable water bottles and local tap water. Event organizers included: Regional water utilities, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, American Water Works Association, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Clean Water Action and the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators.