MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLY SOURCE PROTECTION IN NEW YORK STATE: AN EVALUATION OF THE PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY RULES AND REGULATIONS PROGRAM

A program evaluation model consisting of the criteria effort, performance, effectiveness, adequacy of performance, and appropriateness is used to evaluate the New York State Public Water Supply Rules and Regulations Program during 1975-1980. This program has evolved in New York State to protect municipal water supply sources from contamination.;The program's performance is more adequate for surface than for ground sources of supply. Ground water contamination, however, is a more salient public policy issue in New York State than is surface water supply contamination. There is no consensus among Department of Health engineers concerning the effectiveness of the program. Municipal water supply administrators, however, consider the program to be effective.;A consensus of opinion exists among Department of Health engineers and municipal water supply administrators that 15 categories of contaminant-generating activities are not occurring often within their jurisdictions. Analysis of the 92 separate activities comprising the 15 categories reveals that eight may be considered serious contaminants of municipal sources on a state-wide bases.;Administrative revisions are recommended to institute a potable water supply source protection program that can be administered statewide to address salient water quality issues and to capture the general benefits that accrue to the water purveyor, consumer and society.;Th Public Water Supply Rules and Regulations Program demonstrates a minimum capacity to serve among all categories of municipal water supply systems in the State. A high incidence of enactment of rules and regulations exists in counties lacking a county health department. Meager annual administrative activity between 1975 and 1980 is revealed by Department of Health engineer estimates of average annual dollars and man-hours expended.