(1) Changing Federal and State regulations relative to the provision of water are creating financial problems for small water systems.

(2) Many communities depend mostly on small water systems as their primary source of public water and often do not have the technical expertise or the financial resources required to develop, maintain or operate water supply systems which satisfy increasingly stringent environmental standards.

(3) Cooperative efforts between State and local governments and operators of small water systems could, in at least some circumstances, significantly help meet the water supply needs of rural areas by physically connecting small systems and operating them jointly or by otherwise merging the ownership or operation of small water systems.

(4) In order to help small water systems become or remain viable so that they are able to comply with Federal or State environmental requirements on a long-term basis, it is critical that efforts to provide technical and managerial assistance be accomplished in a coordinated and cooperative manner and that systems should be encouraged to form regional water systems.

(5) Creation of regionalized systems is in all respects for the health, welfare and benefit of the citizens of this Commonwealth.

(6) The Commonwealth must, in particular, give a priority to giving small water systems financial and technical assistance to comply with regulations requiring the filtration of surface water sources of water.