The Public Water System Responsibilities

The authoritative responsibility for drinking water quality, which would include controlling cross-connections falls within the purview of the public water system. The public water system is the entity responsible for the quality of water delivered to the consumers and is held responsible for compliance to the federal and state drinking water requirements. This would include a warranty that the water quality delivered to the customer is not compromised as a result of its delivery through the distribution system. State drinking water regulations have cross-connection control requirements. Therefore, every public water system shall have a cross-connection control program compliant with the state regulations. Cross-connection control program ensure that the consumers are drinking water that is safe to drink. Controlling cross-connections meets the intent of the SDWA and is an intricate part of the public water systems approach to complying with the SDWA. However, compliance with the SDWA is not at the tap where consumers are using the water. The public water systems is responsible to ensure that drinking water is protected from contamination at the source and from the time it leaves the treatment plant until it reaches the consumer under its jurisdiction. Since the 1986 amendments to the SDWA, public water system is only required to comply with water quality standards for the delivery of water to the consumer. The quality of water flowing out of the consumers tap, which begins at the water meter and includes all piping and fixtures in the building is not under the jurisdiction of the public water system.

If the domestic plumbing system after the meter is not under the jurisdiction of the public water system, how can cross-connections and health risk associated with backflow incidents be controlled? Pursuant to the requirements of the state drinking water program regulations, the public water system will be required to establish and implement a cross-connection control program. However, prior to establishing a cross-connection program, the public water system management must first choose the type of cross-connection control program that best meets the system’s responsibilities and the requirements of the state drinking water program. The types of cross-connection control approaches can be separated into two categories, containment or isolation. In choosing the approach that works best, the quality of water that is consumed within the premises of a building after the meter should always be considered. Controlling the quality of water where it is consumed is a public health issue and should be primary responsibility of the public water system.