Which ESAM Plan component describes the description and classification of each public water system?

• A. Identification of Support Laboratory
• B. Locally Developed Procedures for Drinking Water Surveillance Program
• C. Description and Classification of Each Public Water System
• D. Annual and Long-Range Sampling Schedule

Answer: (C)

The essential idea is organizing system-level information by describing and classifying each public water system. This component lays out details for every PWS—what it is, where it is, its size, source water, treatment, ownership, and regulatory status—and groups systems into categories. That classification helps guide where to focus attention, determine monitoring needs, and allocate resources for surveillance and risk assessment. The other parts of the ESAM Plan deal with supporting laboratory identification, establishing procedures for how drinking water surveillance is carried out, and laying out the timing of sampling activities, but the part that explicitly describes and classifies each public water system provides the framework for understanding the scope and characteristics of the entire system network.