A public water system is one that provides water to 25 or more people for at least 60 days each year or serves 15 or more service connections. These public water systems may be publicly or privately owned and operated.

Very small water systems which provide water for public consumption, but which do not fall under the above definition, are regulated by the Department of Health and the county health departments.  Bottled water and water vending machines are regulated by the State Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Food Safety.  Digging of water wells, both public and private, and the quantities of water that may be extracted, are regulated by the Water Management Districts.

DOH Checklists (example)

• Quality Systems
• Microbiology
• Chemistry Overview
• Chemistry Technology Checklists:
• Colorimetry (UV-VIS-IR) and Fluorimetry
• Electrochemical
• Extractable Organics GC
• Extractable Organics GCMS
• Flame Emission, Atomic Absorption and Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry
• Gravimetric
• High-Resolution GCMS
• HPLC and LCMS
• P, DCP and ICPMS
• Ion Chromatography
• Pesticides GC
• Physical Properties
• Titrimetric Measurements
• Turbidimetric Measurements
• Volatile Organics GC
• Volatile Organics GCMS
• Radiochemistry
• Toxicity Testing
• Protozoa and Virus Microscopy
• Air Sampling and Testing
• Asbestos Microscopy

Included below are various contaminants divided according to general classifications and specific regulatory rules.  Within these pages, contaminants are listed alphabetically with direct reference to analytical methods which have been approved for compliance monitoring.  Prior to using these methods to analyze drinking water compliance samples, laboratories must be certified by U.S. EPA or the State.  Once certified, laboratories must analyze performance evaluation samples, use approved methods and undergo periodic on-site State audits. Addition information can be found on the laboratory certification page.

Components:

• Approved Methods for Organic Chemicals
• Approved Methods for Inorganic Chemicals and Other Contaminants
• Approved Methods for Microorganisms
• Approved Methods for Disinfectant Residuals, Disinfection Byproducts, and Disinfection Byproduct Precursors
• Approved Methods for Radionuclides
• Approved Methods for Unregulated Contaminants
• Recommended Methods for Secondary Drinking Water Contaminants
• Drinking Water Regulations Relating to Analytical Methods