The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a new voluntary guidance document aimed at helping state regulatory partners identify and address potential infrastructure issues in public water systems before they cause service disruptions.
The resource, titled the Systemic Issues Checklist, is designed to supplement existing state sanitary survey programs. It offers state agencies a standardized framework to track recurring vulnerabilities—such as source water capacity limits, malfunctioning treatment equipment, and frequent water main breaks—during routine assessments.
Agency officials framed the action as part of the Trump administration’s Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative, emphasizing cooperation with states operating under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
“Public Water Systems provide essential clean and safe drinking water that their residents, schools, hospitals, businesses, commercial centers, and industry rely on,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Jess Kramer. “EPA must work seamlessly with state co-regulators to ensure drinking water is meeting federal standards, and today we are helping our states assess water systems and protect drinking water with this new checklist.”
The EPA noted that the checklist is voluntary and structured to fit into existing state inspection programs without creating additional administrative steps. Along with early identification tools, the guidance includes recommendations for long-term fixes.
State water administrators endorsed the resource, focusing on its utility for early intervention.
“Communities across the US deserve access to safe, reliable, and high-quality drinking water. With that commitment in mind, ASDWA supports the release of the Systemic Issues Checklist – developed in partnership with states and EPA – as a practical resource that will help drinking water primacy agencies and public water systems identify and address challenges before they become risks to service reliability or public health,” said Anthony DeRosa, Executive Director of the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators.
DeRosa added that the framework provides an effective tool to strengthen system resilience and continuous improvement for drinking water utilities of all sizes.
The checklist rollout aligns with existing federal support programs, including hands-on assistance through the agency’s Real Water TA program. The EPA highlighted that funding opportunities remain open for state and local infrastructure updates, including over $6.5 billion distributed this year through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. Additionally, roughly $11 billion in loans is available through the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program, which can cover up to 80 percent of project costs for small and rural communities.
The Systemic Issues Checklist is now accessible on the EPA’s sanitary survey and Safe Drinking Water Act capacity development state resources webpages.
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