Capacity Assessment Tool

While some small public water systems are owned and operated by utilities and municipalities with experience in public water supply, others are owned and operated by entities for whom providing public water supply is not their primary business. The DPH did an initial assessment that identified significant concerns about the technical, managerial, and financial capacity of some small systems in 2016 using the Capacity Assessment Tool (CAT). DPH developed this tool to help track capacity deficiencies and understand small system needs. The CAT has also been incorporated into the sanitary survey process. As part of the routine sanitary survey, all CWS are required to complete a capacity questionnaire that will be used to update the CAT. The CAT data has been an integral part of developing capacity through the Water Utility Coordinating Committee (WUCC) process and keeping the data updated and relevant is key.