This paper gives small systems an overview of regulatory sampling and reporting requirements by describing requirements for the state of Ohio. While this is sufficient for an overview, there can be slight and sometimes not so slight differences among states. The article begins with a concise summary of the major impacts of the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974: defining categories of water systems, establishing primary and secondary drinking water regulations, and encouraging states to assume primacy. The 1986 amendments are covered in some detail in regard to sampling and reporting requirements under the following headings: coliform, turbidity, chlorine, nitrates, inorganics, volatile organic chemicals, synthetic organic chemicals, radionuclides, new wells, and other operational parameters. Each topic is broken down into existing regulation and projections of what will be required in the future. For example, for VOCs, "It is anticipated that the 51 VOCs currently without MCLs will have MCLs finalized in federal regulations." The appendix contains the names, addresses and telephone numbers of state water supply agencies.