International standards for drinking water

Regulations, standards and guidelines used in the U.S.A., Europe (Belgium, Denmark, France, West Germany, the Netherlands, U.K. and U.S.S.R.) and in Canada, and those suggested by the World Health Organization are compared. Twelve tables are included. Although no single set of standards would suffice for all countries, a large degree of agreement was apparent about which contaminants should be regulated and at what level. The first priority was the bacteriological safety of the drinking water supply. Once this was established attention might be given to the pervasive organic chemicals.