The Multiple Barrier

Approach to PublicHealth Protection

Safe drinking water is essential to our physical health and to the economic health of our communities. However, drinking water is

vulnerable to contamination from manypotential threats. The 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments created acoordinated set of programs and requirements to help water systems makesure they have a safe supply of drinkingwater. These programs and requirementsform a Multiple Barrier Approach thatplaces technical and managerial barriersthat help prevent contamination at thesource, treatment, and tap to provide asafe supply of drinking water forconsumers.The barriers are:Risk Prevention: Risk Prevention: Risk Prevention: Selecting andprotecting the best source of waterwhere possible or protecting a currentsource of water.

Risk Management: Risk Management: Using effective

treatment technologies, properly designed and constructed facilities, andemploying trained and certified operators to properly run system components.

Monitoring and Compliance: Monitoring and Compliance: Detecting and fixing problems in the source

and/or distribution system.

Individual Action: Individual Action: Providing customers

with information on water quality andhealth effects so they are better informed about their water system.

By placing integrated barriers from thesource to the consumer at the tap, watersystems can help protect communitiesfrom the risk of contamination andwaterborne disease. A successfulmultiple barrier approach includes:

Barriers between potential threats

and the consumer. and the consumer.

For example:

• Source water protection activities

such as identifying and reducingcontamination in watersheds.

• Appropriate source water treatment.• Properly trained, certified operators.• Properly designed and constructed

facilities.

Programs and activities to makesure the barriers are in place andoperational. operational.

For example:

• Sanitary surveys to evaluate the

adequacy of a water system’s facilities for producing and distributingsafe drinking water.

• Comprehensive Performance Evaluations to identify cost-effective improvements in system performance.• Standards for the design and construction of a system’s components.• Continuing education and training of

managers and certified operators.

• Strategic and emergency response

planning to make sure a system isprepared for the future and forpotential crises or disasters.

Did You Know?Capacity development — thedevelopment of a system’s technical, managerial, and financialability to provide safe and adequate drinking water to itscustomers — is the foundation ofa successful multiple barrierapproach for any system.

Office of Water (4606M)EPA 816-K-06-005www.epa.gov/safewaterSeptember 2006

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Barrier #4: Individual Action

Consumer awareness and participation are key components in the multiplebarrier approach.A community water system is required to prepare and provide to theircustomers, at least annually, Consumer Confidence Reports (AnnualWater Quality Reports) that discuss:

 The condition of the system’s source water. The level of contaminants in the system’s drinking water.

The reports are a way to raise consumer awareness about drinking water,and they can be used as a tool to encourage dialogue between consumersand the water system.Water systems are also required to notify the public of any violations ofnational drinking water standards. Public notification makes sure that:

 Consumers are informed of any health risks in a timely manner. Water systems build trust with consumers by sharing information.

Beyond information sharing, systems can benefit greatly from involving thepublic in a variety of activities. For example:

 Systems can further their source water protection efforts by helping the

public form watershed associations.

 Systems can encourage the public to notice and report activities that

could represent contamination or sabotage threats to the water system.

Informed and involved consumers can become advocates forimprovements in their water system’s operations. Public education andparticipation can also help consumers become more aware of the true costand value of water.From a financial perspective, customers who have a better understandingof their water system, the true cost and value of water, and the role theyplay will be more likely to support rate increases and bond issues neededto fund multiple barrier approach activities.

Barrier #3: Monitoring and Compliance

Under the monitoring and compliance barrier, systems aim to detect andfix problems in the source and/or distribution system as early as possible.They accomplish this by collecting information about:

 The presence of contaminants. The effectiveness of current treatment processes. Any deterioration in the quality of source or treated water.

Monitoring the quality of water is very important in the distribution system,as well as throughout the entire water system. Even if water from anextremely clean source is adequately treated, breakdowns in thedistribution system can lead to waterborne illnesses. In particular, thecontamination of treated water can result from:

 Line breaks. Inadequate water pressure. Deficiencies in storage tanks. Inadequate separation of water supply lines and sewers.

Part of the strategy for this barrier should include a cross-connectiondetection and control program as well as efforts to make sure that alldistribution system components are properly sized and maintained. Watersystems must also monitor water in the distribution system for theformation of byproducts from disinfection and for the leaching of lead andcopper from household plumbing.Monitoring programs should be developed around the needs andcharacteristics of individual water systems, and they should comply with allregulatory requirements. The monitoring and compliance barrier helps asystem maintain the physical integrity of its components and makeadjustments as necessary to provide a consistent, safe supply of water.From a financial perspective, operators who have data on the performanceand condition of their system’s components (as part of an assetmanagement plan) can increase the useful life of system components andquickly identify and respond to small problems before they become largeand expensive.

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