​Most NIH facilities are supplied by external water providers who provide all services necessary to comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act.

The NIH Drinking Water program is focused on the NIH Animal Center (NIHAC) facility in Poolesville, MD, because NIHAC is the only NIH location operating its own water supply system.  NIHAC disinfects groundwater pumped from surrounding groundwater wells and conducts bacteriological monitoring, inorganic monitoring, and chemical analysis.  Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) issued a water appropriations permit limiting the amount of water that is permissible to pump from the groundwater wells. NIH submits a quarterly report to MDE with analytical monitoring and water withdrawal volumes.

Click here for more info on Drinking Water Safety at NIH. This website includes information for addressing questions or concerns regarding NIH drinking water.​