cross-cutting requirement means a requirement of a Federal law or regulation, compliance with which is a condition on receipt of a loan or loan guarantee pursuant to section 1452 of the Safe Drinking Water Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300j–12 ), that, if applied with respect to projects and activities for which a public water system receives such a loan or loan guarantee, would be substantially equivalent to a requirement of an applicable State or local law. (2) Public water system The term public water system has the meaning given that term in section 1401 of the Safe Drinking Water Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300f ).