What does the non-potable water program include?

• A. Surveillance of pools, hot tubs, spas, and natural bathing areas.
• B. Implementation of new water treatment guidelines.
• C. Public education campaigns.
• D. Monitoring of drinking water contaminants.

Answer: (A)

Non-potable water programs focus on surveillance of recreational and other non-drinking water environments to protect public health. This means closely monitoring conditions in places people come into contact with non-potable water—like pools, hot tubs, spas, and natural bathing areas—to detect safety issues, track illness or outbreaks, and ensure proper disinfection and operation. This targeted surveillance helps prevent waterborne illness in settings where non-potable water is used, which is why this option best fits the program’s scope. In contrast, monitoring drinking water contaminants or implementing new water treatment guidelines are actions tied to potable water systems, and public education campaigns, while valuable, are not the defining activity of the non-potable program.