What distinguishes Primary Standards from Secondary Standards in water treatment?

Primary standards in water treatment are established to protect public health, and these standards are enforceable by law. They set maximum allowable levels for specific contaminants known to pose health risks when present in drinking water. This ensures that the water supply meets safety requirements and is safe for human consumption.

Secondary standards, on the other hand, pertain to aesthetic qualities of water such as taste, odor, and appearance. While they are important for consumer satisfaction, they are not enforceable. Regulatory agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provide these standards to ensure that water is palatable and visually appealing, but compliance with secondary standards does not carry the same legal weight as compliance with primary standards.

Since the primary standards focus on health-based criteria and are enforceable by regulatory entities, this makes the distinction clear between the two types of standards in the water treatment context.