What constitutes a public water system?

A public water system is defined by its ability to serve a specific threshold of individuals or connections consistently. The correct definition states that a public water system must have at least 15 service connections or serve at least 25 individuals daily. This qualification ensures that the system is designed to deliver potable water to a significant number of people, emphasizing its reliability and permanence in serving the community.

Option B accurately captures this regulatory standard, highlighting the importance of maintaining consistent water supply and quality for a community. By establishing a clear minimum of either service connections or daily users, it also ensures that smaller systems are not overlooked while still establishing a baseline for public health and safety.

The other options do not meet the criteria necessary to classify as a public water system. For example, simply providing water to a minimum number of households does not by itself ensure that the system is meeting the regulatory standards specified by public health guidelines. Additionally, a system that operates only during specific times, like summer months, lacks the constancy and reliability required of public water systems, which are essential for ensuring access to safe drinking water year-round. Lastly, a collection of individual private wells does not form a single interconnected system that can collectively provide water; instead, it consists of independent sources that may not