Aesthetics and Consumer Satisfaction: Updating EPA 's Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels

Key Takeaways The US Environmental Protection Agency's secondary maximum contaminant levels (SMCLs) have not been updated since they were first published in 1979, while water professionals’ understanding of the science and engineering related to aesthetic issues has expanded. Consumers expect their tap water to be colorless, with acceptable taste and no odor; the SMCLs provide important guidance for delivering palatable drinking water and enhancing consumer satisfaction. Information is provided to support updating the SMCLs—now 47 years old and based on outdated science—to help utilities meet 21st‐century consumer expectations of high‐quality drinking water in terms of taste, odor, and appearance.