The Drinking Water Section inspects all community public water systems every three years to verify regulatory compliance and identify technical and managerial deficiencies. A significant deficiency is any situation, practice, or condition in a public water system with respect to design, operation, maintenance, or administration that the department determines to be causing, or has the potential for causing, risks to health or safety of the public served by the system. If a significant deficiency is discovered, the water system must perform a corrective action to address the deficiency. This data is updated on an annual basis.

Environmental Protection Agency: Researches and establishes the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act which are legally enforceable standards that apply to public water systems.

CTDPH Drinking Water Section: The Environmental Protection Agency has given the CTDPH Drinking Water Section the primary enforcement responsibility (Primacy) for the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations in Connecticut.

Connecticut Local Health Departments: Provide valuable assistance to the CTDPH Drinking Water Section by locally identifying public water systems and providing compliance assistance.

Certified Water System Operators: Public drinking water professionals that are certified by the CTDPH Drinking Water Section for the operation of treatment plants and distribution systems at public water systems.

Town and regional officials: Provide insight on local and regional planning.

Public Water System Owners: Responsible for providing safe and adequate drinking water to their consumers and maintaining compliance with the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations and State Regulations.

Through education, training and on-site technical assistance, the Drinking Water Section aims to provide public water system owners and operators with the tools necessary to proactively maintain water system infrastruture before the quality of the drinking water is compromised. Tools include Drinking Water State Revovling Fund loan program, asset management, financial management, and water supply planning technical training and guidance.

The significant deficiency corrective action regulations went into effect in early 2014. The Drinking Water Section will continue providing on-site technical assistance and advising systems on corrective action options. The program will be evaluated annually to identify common deficiencies identified and if additional guidance may be beneficial in reducing deficiencies. The Drinking Water Section will continue to promote the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund as an affordable option to provide loans to repair and maintain water system infrastructure.