Which regulation requires sanitary surveys for drinking water systems?

• A. SWTR
• B. IESWTR
• C. Public Notification Rule
• D. Lead and Copper Rule

Answer: (B)

Sanitary surveys are thorough inspections that identify vulnerabilities in a drinking water system—focusing on the source water, treatment barriers, and the distribution system to protect public health. The regulation that requires these surveys is the Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule. This rule adds stronger protections for surface water systems and requires states to conduct sanitary surveys to assess a system’s ability to meet treatment and source-water protection standards. It ensures there are documented plans and practices for maintaining treatment integrity, cross-connection control, disinfection, and overall system safeguards. The other regulations set treatment requirements, notification rules, or lead/copper standards, but do not mandate the systematic, regular sanitary surveys in the same way.