This paper describes in detail the design and operation of the public health surveillance
component as deployed in Cincinnati. The paper emphasizes the importance of collaboration
between drinking water utilities and local public health partners in detection of, and response to, a drinking
water contamination incident. In addition, dual-use applications of the public health surveillance
component model are presented. Although the findings are based on the public health surveillance
component as deployed by the Cincinnati contamination warning system, broader applications of
the public health surveillance component model, approach, and concepts are discussed. Includes 8 references, figure.