Is a water system serving one apartment building with three apartments, housing a total of six residents considered a Public Water Supply (PWS)?

A water system that serves one apartment building with three apartments and a total of six residents is generally classified as a non-public water supply rather than a Public Water Supply (PWS). In most jurisdictions, a PWS is defined as a water system that serves a minimum of 15 service connections or serves an average of 25 individuals daily for at least 60 days a year. Given that the total number of residents is only six, the system does not meet these criteria and is therefore not considered a PWS.

This classification is important for regulatory reasons, as public water systems are subject to more stringent testing and water quality standards mandated by agencies like the EPA. Smaller systems, such as the one described, may have different regulations, often being categorized as private drinking water systems, which do not have the same level of oversight. Thus, the designation of the water system in question is understood correctly as a non-public water supply.