Which of the following standards is crucial for ensuring safe drinking water?

The correct choice is the EPA water quality standards. These standards are essential because they are designed specifically to protect public health by regulating the levels of contaminants in drinking water. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes maximum allowable levels for various pollutants, ensuring that the water supply is safe for consumption and meets necessary regulatory requirements.

These standards take into account both the short-term and long-term health risks associated with exposure to different substances in drinking water, including microbiological, chemical, and radiological contaminants. By adhering to these standards, water treatment facilities can effectively safeguard the health of the community and ensure that the water distributed meets safety and quality criteria.

The other options, while important in their respective areas, do not specifically target water safety in the same way. OSHA safety standards focus on occupational safety and health, ISO certification pertains to quality management systems across various industries, and CDC health recommendations aim at public health guidance but do not directly regulate drinking water quality.