An on-site inspection of the various components of a public water system is known as what?

The correct answer is the sanitary survey. A sanitary survey is a systematic assessment of a public water system, which includes an inspection of the physical, operational, and managerial aspects of the system. The purpose is to evaluate the system's ability to deliver safe drinking water and to identify any conditions that could lead to contamination or hinder compliance with health standards. This survey typically entails checking the sources of water, treatment processes, distribution systems, storage facilities, and other critical components.

The other options do not align with the specific focus and intent of assessing public water systems for safety and compliance. A fatality and accident survey would pertain to safety incidents rather than water quality assurance. Water inspection is a more general term and does not specifically address the comprehensive approach of a sanitary survey. A storage tank inspection, while important, focuses only on the condition and operation of storage tanks, not the entire water system. Thus, the definition and scope of what constitutes a sanitary survey make it the most appropriate answer for this question.