A public water system must serve how many service connections to be regulated under Safe Drinking Water Act?

The correct answer is that a public water system must have 15 or more service connections to be regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. This regulation is important because it establishes a threshold that helps to identify systems that are large enough to potentially impact public health.

With 15 or more service connections, the system is likely to serve a significant number of people, making it essential to adhere to safe drinking water standards to protect public health. These standards cover various aspects of water quality, testing, and treatment to ensure that the drinking water is safe and meets federal health guidelines.

The 15-service connection threshold helps to differentiate between smaller systems, which may not have the same level of impact, and larger systems that require more stringent oversight. Understanding this regulation is crucial for water operators who are responsible for ensuring compliance and maintaining water quality within their systems.