Management Resources for Small Drinking Water Systems

Water system management is integral to enabling the system to achieve and maintain compliance with SDWA requirements. The documents below provide a summary of system owners’ key duties in protecting public health through overseeing system operation, working with local officials and strategic planning.

• Water System Owner Roles and Responsibilities: A Best Practices Guide (pdf) (166.5 KB, September 2006, EPA 816-F-06-036)
  • This Guide is intended for owners of all public water systems serving fewer than 10,000 persons.
• Strategic Planning STEP Guide 2021 (pdf) (2.39 MB, 3/8/2021, EPA 816-B-21-001)
  • This guide is designed to help decision makers and operators of community water systems (CWSs) and non-transient noncommunity water systems (NTNCWSs) serving 3,300 people or fewer learn about the strategic planning process and begin to develop a strategic plan.