Understanding the causes for water system failure

To understand the causes for water system failure and to better direct limited assistance resources, the Colorado Safe Drinking Water Program in 2009 conducted an analysis of public water system data. The goal was to use data that are routinely collected by the program to determine the root causes for system failure. Three data sets were analyzed: data tracked by the program's Acute Team, data collected during sanitary surveys, and self‐reported compliance data. The results from this study clearly pointed to a number of issues that most frequently lead to critical system failure. The data are being used by the program to focus assistance resources and conduct additional investigations.