If contamination of a water supply is discovered, what is the most important immediate concern?

The most important immediate concern when contamination of a water supply is discovered is the safety of the public. This priority is crucial because the primary goal in any water contamination incident is to prevent harm to individuals who may consume or come into contact with the contaminated water. Ensuring public safety means taking swift actions to assess the risk, providing clear information to the community, and implementing measures to protect individuals from exposure.

While testing for pollutants is essential for understanding the extent and nature of the contamination, it follows the immediate need to ensure that people are not at risk. Notifying the media can be important for public awareness, but it is secondary to directly safeguarding the health of the community. Assessing the source of contamination is also critical for remediation efforts, but again, this task should come after immediate protective actions are taken for public safety. Thus, prioritizing public safety lays the foundation for all subsequent actions in response to the contamination incident.