City of Columbus

• ISO 14001 Self-Declaration
• Environmental Policy
• Environmental Aspects
• Regulatory Requirements
• Service Provider Responsibilities

REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS
The processes involved in getting clean drinking water to the tap and treating wastewater for safe return to the water cycle are regulated at the state and federal level to ensure optimum quality and standards are met during each phase. The Department of Public Utilities also adheres to a number of voluntary standards above and beyond what the law requires. The Environmental Management System keeps track of all the requirements, identifies roles and responsibilities in meeting these requirements and provides a structure for communicating those requirements and any additions or changes to appropriate staff.

Clean Water Act
The Clean Water Act grew out of the Federal Water Pollution Act of 1948 and became law in 1972. It is the primary law that sets standards to protect the health of our rivers. As a result, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) put pollution control programs and water quality standards in place to protect surface waters.

Safe Drinking Water Act
The purpose of the Safe Water Drinking Act is to ensure the safety of the drinking water delivered to your tap. Through the EPA, this federal law regulates drinking water quality, treatment and monitoring and focuses on all above ground or underground water sources designed for drinking use. 

Clean Air Act
The Clean Air Act is the comprehensive federal law that regulates air emissions from stationary and mobile sources. Among other things, this law authorizes the EPA to establish National Ambient Air Quality Standards to protect public health and public welfare and to regulate emissions of hazardous air pollutants.

State Regulations
The department is subject to regulatory programs maintained by the State of Ohio under Ohio’s Water Pollution Control, Safe Drinking Water, Hazardous and Solid Waste, Air Pollution Control, and Emergency Response Laws.  

US Army Corps of Engineers
The US Army Corps of Engineers regulates activities related to filling, grading and construction in and adjacent to the navigable waters of the United States and waters with a significant nexus to such waters, including wetlands.