Small municipalities are often far removed from
political and industrial interests, and their populations are more vulnerable
to waterborne related illnesses (Hrudey and Hrudey, 2004; NCCPH,
2011). In fact, small municipalities cannot afford complex multi-stepped
treatment systems (CWWA, 1998; MDDEFP, 2004). In addition, available
information on drinking water quality is limited for these systems. As a result,
small systems are more vulnerable to drinking water quality failures.