What dictates whether a water system is regulated as a public system?

Regulation of a water system as a public system primarily hinges on the classification based on connections or population served. The criteria set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and various state regulations classify water systems as public if they serve at least 25 people or have 15 service connections. This framework ensures that certain standards for water quality, safety, and monitoring are met for the health and wellbeing of the public.

Other factors, while important in context, do not directly determine public system classification. For instance, the source of the water supply can influence quality and regulatory requirements but does not dictate whether a system is considered public. Similarly, the size of storage tanks and the age of the distribution system are operational aspects that may have implications for performance and compliance but do not inherently classify a system as public. Thus, the classification based on connections or population is the definitive criterion for regulation as a public water system.