小型供水系统的所有者和客户正处于十字路口。他们很快将面临大量投资的需要，并承担更大的运营成本，以遵守《安全饮用水法》下日益严格的性能要求。满足这些需求将暴露出更换恶化基础设施的额外需求。如果从一开始就没有充分认识到这些责任的范围，零碎地应对新环境可能会成为一个陷阱。综观全局，系统既可以找到自信前行所需的保证，也可以发现涉及替代结构或制度安排的重组机会。 本文描述了宾夕法尼亚州为提高可视性，从而提高小型系统的生存能力而采取的策略。包括6个参考文献、表格、图表。

Owners and customers of small water systems are at a crossroads. They will soon face the need to make significant investments and bear much greater operating costs to comply with increasingly stringent performance requirements under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Meeting these demands will expose additional needs to replace deteriorated infrastructure. A piecemeal approach to coping with the new environment could become a trap if the full scope of these liabilities is not appreciated at the outset. By taking a comprehensive view, systems can either find the assurance they need to move forward confidently on their own or discover restructuring opportunities involving alternative structural or institutional arrangements. This article describes the strategy adopted by Pennsylvania to improve visibility and thereby enhance the viability of small systems. Includes 6 references, table, figures.