Which type of PWS is not required to sample for VOC's?

• A. Transient Noncommunity Water System
• B. Nontransient Noncommunity
• C. Community Water System
• D. Public water system with groundwater

Answer: (A)

VOC monitoring targets systems where people use the water year after year, so regulators require regular checks on systems with a stable or semi-stable population and long-term exposure potential. Transient noncommunity water systems serve people who come and go—seasonal workers, campers, or travelers—so the population in these systems isn’t constant and the water use pattern is temporary. Because of that, routine VOC sampling isn’t required for these systems under standard monitoring rules; the risk profile and practical sampling considerations don’t align with the same long-term oversight applied to permanently staffed systems.

In contrast, community water systems and nontransient noncommunity systems maintain a more persistent user base, so they have to monitor for VOCs to detect any contamination over time and protect public health. Groundwater-sourced public water systems also fall under VOC monitoring when applicable to their regulatory schedule and source characteristics.

So the type not required to sample for VOCs is the transient noncommunity water system.