How many individuals must a public water system serve to be subject to regulations?

A public water system is defined as one that provides water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances to at least 25 individuals on a regular basis for at least 60 days a year. This benchmark is established to ensure that the regulations designed to protect public health are applied to systems that are large enough to warrant oversight. Serving 25 individuals aligns with the threshold set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and related state regulations, which focus on ensuring safe drinking water. Therefore, the requirement of serving 25 or more individuals effectively captures the essence of public health protection by regulating water systems that impact a significant enough portion of the community.