Public  Notification Handbook

                  for

        Public Water Systems
             Office of Water
United States Environmental Protection Agency
            Washington, D.C.

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                                      ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This handbook was prepared for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under Grant No. T007287-01.
Patricia Ritchey and Ralph Langemeier,  EPA Project Officers, Rowena Michaels and  Bill Landis, Office of
Public Affairs, Region 7, provided valuable guidance to the project. This handbook was compiled under
the direction of Sandra Hick, Ed.D., Division of Continuing Education, the University of Kansas with
assistance from Rex Buchanan, Assistant Director of Public Affairs, Kansas Geological Survey, the
University of Kansas, and Malcolm  Neelley,  Publication Services,  Division of Continuing Education,  the
University of Kansas.

The author wishes to thank Carl  Reeverts, EPA Office of Drinking Water, Washington, D.C.,  for his
significant assistance in developing and reviewing this handbook.

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                               Contents
INTRODUCTION                                                           t
     Who Should Read This Handbook                                         \
     Who Should I Call If I Have Questions?                                     i
     Overview                                                              U
     Purpose of Public Notification                                           Hi
     Purpose and Content of this Handbook                                   iv
     Development of New and Revised Drinking Water Regulations                 v

SECTION 1  Violations for Which Public Notification is Required      i-i
     Types of Violations—Six Types                                          1.1
     Summary of Public Notification Requirements                             1-3

SECTION a  Different Types  of Violations:  How You Must Respond   &i
     Levels of Violation                                                    2-1
         Tier 1 Violations                                                  2-1
         Her 2 Violations                                                  2-2
     Types of Public Water Systems                                          2-3
     Community Water Systems: Notification Requirements                     2-4
         Notice to New Billing Units                                         2-4
         Tier 1 Violations—Acute—Community Water System                    2-4
         Tier 1 Violations—Non-Acute—Community Water System                2-6
         Tier 2 Violations—Community Water System                          2-8
     Non-Community Water Systems:  Notification Requirements                2-10
         Tier 1 Violations—Acute and Non-Acute—Non-Community
          Water System                                                  2-10
         Tier 2 Violations—Non-Community Water System                     2-12
SECTION  3  Information That Must be Included in a Public Notice
    Information to be Included—12 Types                                    3_1
    Checklists for General Public Notification Requirements                     3.5
    Guidelines for Presentation of Information                                3.5

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 SECTION 4  Types and Examples of Public Notice                     4-1
     Notices by Mail                                                     4_2
     Notices by Hand Delivery                                             4.5
     Notices by Posting                                                   4.3
     Notices for Newspapers                                              4.13
     Notices for Radio and Television                                      4.20

 SECTION 5  Special Public Notice for Fluoride                        S1
     Primary and Secondary Standards for Fluoride                            5-1
     Public Notification Requirements for Exceedances of the Secondary
      Standard for Fluoride                                               5_1
     Violations of Primary MCL for Fluoride                                  5.3
SECTION  6  Proof of Publication
    What Constitutes Proof of Notice

SECTION  7  Annual Summary of Violations:  A Recommendation

SECTION  S  Notification for Unregulated Contaminants

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Appendices

    A. Glossary of Terms                                          A-l

    B. Mandatory Health Effects Information                       B-l

    C. Recommended Health Effects Language                      c-i

    D. Checklists for Community and Non-Community Public
       Water Systems for Tier 1 and Tier 2 Violations               D-l

    E. Safe Drinking Water Act • Section 1414(c): Enforcement of
       Drinking Water Regulations, General Public Notification
       Requirements                                             E-l

    F.  National Primary Drinking Water Regulations •
       Section  141.32: General Public Notification Requirements •
       October 28,  1987 • Including Technical Amendments of
       April 17, 1989 and the Surface Water Treatment and Total
       Coliform Regulations of June 29, 1989                       F-l

    G. Explanation  of the Footnotes for the Summary of Public
       Notification  Requirements Chart in Section 1 and Public
       Notification  Checklists in Section 3 and Appendix D          c 1

    H. National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations •
       Section  143.5: Compliance with the Secondary Maximum
       Contaminant Level and Public Notification for Exceedances
       of the Secondary Standard for Fluoride                      HI

    I.  Environmental Protection Agency Regional Offices            i-i

    |.  State Public  Drinking Water Program Offices                 j-i

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                              Introduction
                  Who Should Read This Handbook
             This Handbook is for owners, operators, and managers of public
         water systems. A public water system is a system for the provision of
         piped water for human  consumption, if the system has at least fifteen service
         connections or regularly serves an average of at least twenty-five individuals
         daily at least 60 days of the year. (See Section 2 of this Handbook for
         more information.)
               Who Should I Call If I Have Questions?
             This Handbook discusses federal public notification regulations only.
         Public water systems are required to comply with the federal regulations
         from the effective date of the rule. The federal regulations went into effect
         on April 28, 1989. States with  primacy are required to adopt regulations no
         less stringent than the federal requirements. At the time of publication of
         this Handbook, some states have not yet adopted the revised public
         notification regulations. In the interim, you should check with your state
         primacy agency which can answer your questions or put you in contact with
         someone who can.
             In order to provide you with the most current information on EPA rule
         development and to respond to any questions you may have concerning
         federal drinking water requirements, the EPA Office of Drinking Water in
         Washington, D.C. has established a toll-free number.

Safe Drinking Water Hotline
9

QQQ
QQQ
QQQ
I 	 1
ipfpf7j;r
Sk nours:
tklj 8:30 am-4:30 pm
| EST
1 Monday-Friday
1 1-800-426-4791
In Alaska and the District of Columbia
1-202-382-5533

Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems

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                            Introduction
 Overview

     With the enactment of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) in 1974,
 Congress required that public drinking water systems notify their customers
 when drinking water standards were violated.  EPA promulgated regulations in
 1975 to implement the public notification provision.  These requirements were in
 place from that date until the recent revision prompted by the 1986 SDWA
 Amendments.
     On June 19, 1986, Congress amended the Act and, among other things,
 directed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to revise the public
 notification requirements.  Congress wanted those changes "to provide for
 different types and frequencies of notice based on the differences between
 violations" and to "take into account the seriousness of any potential adverse
 health effects which  may be involved." In so doing, Congress reaffirmed its
 position that public notification is an important responsibility of public water
 systems.
     In response to this Congressional mandate, on October 28, 1987, EPA
 published its revised, general public notification requirements, changing the
way public drinking water supplies are to issue notice. Those
requirements went into effect on  April 28, 1989.
     Since the law emphasizes that public notification is an important
responsibility of water systems, this book is designed to help people who  own,
operate, or manage a public water supply to understand and comply with the
revised requirements.
                                Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems

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                                           Introduction
  General
   Public
 Notification
Requirements
            Purpose of Public Notification
            i
                     The primary purpose of public notification is to inform
                 consumers of any potential adverse health effects
                   related to the drinking water being supplied to them, and
                   what steps consumers can take to minimize the impact.
                   Also, Congress requires public notification to provide
                       information to consumers that will encourage them to
                   ---  support the expenditures it will take to provide safe
water. The House Report (Safe Drinking Water Act, July 10, 1974) states:
     "The purpose of this notice requirement is to educate the public as to
     the extent to which pubic water systems serving them are performing
     inadequately in light of the objectives and requirements of this bill.
     Such public education is deemed essential by the Committee in order
     to develop public awareness of the problems facing public water
     systems...and to advise the public of potential or actual health
     hazards."

     So, Congress wants  you to use public notification to do more than just
announce violations. Congress wants you to educate consumers.  It is in
your best interest to communicate with your customers.
 Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems
                                                                                                in

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                                            Introduction
                   Purpose and Content of this Handbook

                       The purpose of this handbook is to take you, step by step, through the
                   process of public notification. It tells you:

                         • What a violation consists of;
                         • What notices are necessary for each violation, and
                            when they must be provided;
                         • The kind of information that should be included in
                            a public notice;
                         • The different types of notices to be provided, along
                            with examples of each;
                         • Examples of how notices should be tailored to fit
                            specific circumstances; and,
                         • The special circumstances related to fluoride in
                            water.
                            States with primacy may add additional requirements or elect to
                    give the notice themselves. The primacy agency is the agency that is
                    responsible for regulation of public water systems in states and on
                    Indian lands. In most cases, this Is the state agency that regulates
                    public water systems.  In states and on Indian lands where no
                    designated agency administers the public drinking water pro-
                    gram, EPA Is the primacy agent. Appendix I contains a list of EPA
                    regional contacts. A list of state contacts is given in Appendix J.
iv
                                                Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems

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                                         Introduction
             EPA will continue to publish standards, including mandatory health effects
        language to be used in public notices, for contaminants found in drinking water.
        The design of this notebook (three hole punched) allows for copies of additional
        EPA requirements, and pertinent state statutes and regulations, to be inserted in
        the handbook for easy reference.
        Development of New and Revised Drinking Water
        Regulations

            Every public water supply in the country must meet the National Primary
        Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR). Currently, the NPDWR contain standards
        for 30 contaminants; however, the 1986 Amendments to the Safe Drinking
        Water Act require the regulation of many more contaminants. As an owner,
        operator, or manager of a public water system, you will want to be informed as
        to what regulations are being developed and when they will be published.  EPA
        publishes proposed and final regulations in the Federal Register.  Please call
        the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791 or for Alaska and Washington,
        D.C., 202-382-5533) for the Status of EPA rule development.
Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems

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                   Sect/on 7 Violations for Which Public Notification is Required
SECTION
Violations for Which Public
Notification is Required
                    Types of Violations—She Types

                    Summary of Public Notification Requirements
 Types  of Violations—Six Types


     The  Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) requires owners or operators of public water systems to
notify the persons they serve if certain violations of the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations
(NPDWRs)  or certain other specified events occur.

      For the fake of simplicity, we refer to atl these events as "violation*" throughout
  this handbook.

     The six types of violations are:
         Failure to comply with an appli
  cable maximum contaminant level
  (MCL)
                   The NPDWRs establish certain levels of contaminants,
                   Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs), that are
                   acceptable in drinking water under monitoring
                   conditions specific for each contaminant. When analysis
                   reveals that the water supply contains levels of
                   contaminants higher than those amounts, the water
                   supply is in violation of the applicable MCL
         Failure to comply with a
  prescribed treatment technique
                   Where EPA cannot set a MCL for a particular
                   contaminant because it is not economically or technically
                   feasible to determine the level of that contaminant in
                   drinking water (for example, viruses), EPA can require a
                   treatment technique in lieu of a MCL Failure to meet a
                   prescribed treatment technique requirement is a violation
                   that necessitates notification of persons served by the
                   system.
Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems
                                                                                      1-1

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                         Section 1  Violations for Which Public Notification is Required
               Failure to perform water quality
       monitoring as required by the
       regulations
                                      The NPDWRs set standards for the frequency with
                                      which waters must be tested.  They also establish the
                                      proper locations for sampling. Failure to meet these
                                      requirements is a violation and the system  must notify
                                      the public.
       •Si
        Failure to comply with testing
procedures as prescribed by a
NPDWR
                                             For a drinking water analysis to be valid under the
                                             SDWA, it must be performed according to the methods
                                             prescribed in the NPDWRs.  Failure to comply with the
                                             established testing procedures is a violation of the
                                             NPDWRs and public notification is required.
              Issuance of a variance or
       an exemption
                                             When EPA or a state agency allows a public water
                                             system to vary from the established standards, the
                                             system must let the public know.
              Failure to comply with the
       requirements of any schedule that has
       been set under a variance or
       exemption
                                      When EPA or the state allows a public water system a
                                      variance or an exemption from a drinking water
                                      standard, it also establishes a schedule for coming into
                                      compliance with that standard.  If the water system does
                                      not meet that schedule, it is in violation and must notify
                                      the public.
         Differences among violations call for different kinds of public notice.  If the violation is more
    serious, then the requirements for public notice are more stringent. To differentiate between the
    violations—and the resulting public notice requirements—EPA has divided violations into Tier 1 and
    Tier 2 categories based on the seriousness of the violation. The  two tiers of violations are explained in
    Section 2. The requirements also vary according to the type of  public water system.  A Summary of
    Public Notification Requirements is given on the following page.
1-2
                                                  Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems

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                     Sect/on 1  Violations for Which Public Notification is Required
  Summary of Public Notification Requirements
                           Public Notification Requirements
Violation
Category
Type
TIER 1
1. MCL
2. Treatment
Technique
3. Variance or
Exemption
Schedule
Violation
TIER 2
1 . Monitoring
2. Testing
Procedure
3. Variance or
Exemption
Issued
Mandatory
Health
Effects
Information
Required
(All PWSs)
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Notice to
New Billing
Units
(CWSs Only)
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Type of
PWS
Community
Non-
Community*
Community
Non-
Community
Time Frame Within Which Notice Must be Given (Box Indicates
time frame for Initial notice, and is followed by the frequency of
repeat notice until the violation is resolved)
.Viola- 72 	 7 14 45 3 Annual
t»bn hours days days days months
At
N»
Ute Violations:
TV and Radio No. Repeat
Newspaper1 No Repe
Mail or Hand Delivery*
•i in ii
W)-Actite Violation^
Newspaper1 No Repe
Maj} or Hand Delwery2
• •
at
Quarterly Repeat

a*
Quarterly Repeat
1
Option 1 :
Notice as for Community Water Systems
or
Option 2:
ACM** Violations:

Posting or „ x -
Hafld Delivery ^Mnuous/Quarterly Repeat*
	
N0ttvA&jte Violation^
1 Posting or Hand t>«6very Continue

Newspaper1


•us/Quarterly Repeat5
Qwterty
Repeat by
MaS or
Hand
Delivery
OptWO 1:
Notice as for Community Water Systems
or
Opttan 2:

Pasting or Hand DeKVe^y

Continuous/
Quarterly
flepeal5
Footnotes

^f no newspaper of general circulation is available, posting or hand delivery is required as specified in
   §141.32(a)(3)(i)and§141.32(b)(3)(i).                                         K
2May be waived in accordance with §141.32(a)(1)(ii).
^Includes both transient non-community public water systems and non-transient non-community public water
   systems.
4Less frequent notice (but no less than annual) to be required as in §142.16(a).
Continuous repeat required if  posting is used; quarterly repeat required if hand delivery is used.
        I The regulations cited above (e.g., §14132(a)(3)(i)), can be found in Appendix F.
Further explanation of footnotes can be found In Appendix C.

Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems
                                                                                               1-3

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                  Section 2  Different Types of Violations: How You Must Respond
 SECTION
Different  Types of  Violations:
How You  Must  Respond
                        • Levels of Violation
                           Tier 1 Violation*
                           Tfcr 2 Violation*

                        tt Types  of Public Water Systems

                        i Community Water Systems
                           Notl« to Mew BWUttg UnlU
                           Iter 1 Violation*—Acute
                           Tier 1 Violations—Non Acute
                           tfer Z violation*

                        1 NoivCommimlty Water Systems
                           Tier 1 Violations
                                Violation*
     I he revised general public notification requirements define two levels of violations, each with its
own set of public notification requirements.  The requirements also vary according to the type of
public water system, and are summarized in the information and charts that follow. For the complete
text of the general public notification requirements, see Appendix F.
 Levels  of Violation


     I he requirements divide violations into two types.
                                 Tier 1 Violations
      The more serious are Tier 1 violations, which require substantial efforts at public notification.
  Tier 1 violations include:

          •  Failure to comply with an MCL
          •  Failure to comply with a treatment technique requirement
             established in lieu of an MCL
          •  Failure to comply with a schedule prescribed under a variance or
             exemption
Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems
                                                                 2-1

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                       Section 2  Different Types of Violations: How You Must Respond
                                       Tier 2 Violations
            Tier 2 violations are less serious, and have simpler public notification requirements.  Tier 2
       violations include:

               • Failure to comply with monitoring requirements
               • Failure to comply with specified testing procedures
               • Operating under a variance or an exemption
           While operating under * variance or an exemption U not really a violation, for
       the safc* of simplicity, we refer to such events as "violations" throughout this
       handbook.
2-2
                                                Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems

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                      Section 2 Different Types of Violations: How You Must Respond
  Types  of Public Water Systems


      A "public water system" has 15 or more service connections or regularly serves at least 25
 people 60 or more days a year.  A system that serves water 60 or more days a year is considered to
 "regularly serve" water. Public water systems can be publicly or privately owned.  Public water systems
 are subdivided by regulation into two major categories: community and non-community water
 systems. This division is based on the type  of consumer served and the frequency the consumer uses
 the water.  Basically, a community system serves water to a residential population, whereas a non-
 community system serves water to a  non-residential population.  The non-community category is
 further broken down into two categories: non-transient non-community water systems and
 transient  non-community water systems.
                                       PUBLIC
                                   WATER SYSTEM

                               A system that pipes water for
                               human consumption If such
                               system has at least IS service
                               connections or regularly
                               serves at least 25 Individuals
                               60 or more days out of the
                               year.
                COMMUNITY
               WATER SYSTEM
          A public water system that
          ptpes water for human
          consumption to at least 15
          service connections used by
          year-round residents,, or one
          that regularly serves at least
          25 year - round residents (e,g,,
          immidpaftty, subdivision,
          mobile home park).
      NON-COMMUNITY
       WATER SYSTEM
A public water system that
pipes water for human:
consumption to at least 15
service connections used by
individuals other than
year-round residents for at least
60 days a yeaf, or serves 25 or
more people at least <$0 days a
year (e.g., schools,, factories,
rest stops, interstate 
               restaurants, motels, golf courses,
               parks).
         Contact your primacy agent if you are not sure what category you are in.
public  notification regulations apply based on whether you are a community,
non-transient non-community, or transient non-community water system.
                                         The
Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems
                                                                          WHEN IN DOUBT, ASK!
                                                                                                    2-3

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                        Section 2 Different Types of Violations: How You Must Respond
       Community Water Systems:  Notification Requirements
       Notice to New Billing  Units
          In addition to complying with the public notification requirements for Tier 1 violations,
      community water systems must provide notice to new billing units of any existing Tier 1  acute
      and non-acute violations. A copy of the most recent public notice must be given  to all new billing
      units or hookups prior to or at the time service begins.
       Tier 1  Violations—Acute—Community Water System
          If the violation is an acute violation, the system must follow a three-step procedure. Acute
     violations are those which involve an acute risk to human health.  Current acute violations are listed in
     §141.32(a)(l)(iii) of the general  public notice regulations (Appendix F) and currently include (1) any
     violations specified by the State as posing an acute risk to human health, (2) violations of the MCL for
     nitrate, (3) violations of the MCL for total coliforms when fecal coliforms or E. coli are present in the
     water distribution system,* and (4) occurrences of a waterborne disease outbreak in an unfiltered
     system.*  Additional acute violations will be defined  as new regulations are promulgated.
          *[Effective December 31, 1990, as specified by the Surface Water Treatment and Total Coliform
     Regulations of June 29, 1989.]
          The steps are as follows:

              Step  1    Deliver notice to the principal  television and radio stations serving the area within
                        72 hours following the violation.
                                                     and
              Step  2    Provide notice within 14 days of the violation through a daily general circulation
                        newspaper (if none, then through a weekly newspaper) serving the area.  If there
                        is no newspaper circulation, follow the alternate procedure below.
                                                     and

              Step  3    Provide notice by direct mail, either with the water bill or in a separate letter, or
                        by hand delivery, within 45 days of the violation.  Repeat this notice every
                        three months as long as the violation continues.  The requirement for
                        notice by mail or hand delivery may be waived by the state In writing
                        If the violation  Is corrected within 45 days of the violation.  See
                        Appendix F, Section 141.32(a)(l)(H) for waiver requirements.  If no
                        waiver Is  issued, the public notice  must be given even if the violation
                        has been  corrected within  the 45-day period.  A  supplier cannot forgo
                        the notice on the assumption that the state will waive the notice.


         Alternate  Procedure:

              Use this procedure only if there is no daily or weekly newspaper serving the area served by
              your system. Instead of following steps 1, 2, and 3 above, provide notice by hand
              delivery or by posting  within  72 hours of the violation.  Repeat the notice by hand
              delivery every three months or provide continuous posting for the duration of
              the violation.
2-4
                                                 Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems

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                     Section 2 Different Types of Violations: How You Must Respond
  If your area is served by a daily or weekly newspaper, follow this procedure.
    Tier  1
    STEP1
    STEP 2
    STEPS
Community  Water System        Acute
                                                     No Repeat
DAILY
=
D
rES
^
D
— —
LJ=
w
NO
YE
WEEKLY
=
D
5
^
n
LT!
r
NO
J
                                              Steps 1,2, and 3 do not
                                              apply. Follow the   H
                                              Alternate Procedure
                                              given below.
                                                            No Repeat
                         Possible State Waiver if Violation has been Corrected-
                         See Section 141.32(a)(1)(ii), Appendix F
                                               Repeat every 3
                                             months for duration
                                                 of violation
  Alternate Procedure:

  Provide notice by hand delivery or posting within 72 hours of the violation  Repeat
  the notice by hand delivery every three months or provide continuous posting for
  the duration of the violation.                                              y
Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems
                                                                                              25

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                       Section 2  Different Types of Violations: How You Must Respond
      Tier 1 Violations—Non-Acute—Community Water System
         For community water systems served by a daily or weekly newspaper, any Tier 1  non-acute
     violation requires the following two-step procedure. For communities not served by a daily or weekly
     newspaper, an alternate  procedure is described below.  The steps are as follows:

              Step 1    Provide notice within 14 days of the violation through a daily general circulation
                        newspaper (if none, then through a weekly newspaper) serving the area. If there
                        is no newspaper circulation, follow the alternate procedure  indicated.
                                                   and
              Step 2    Provide notice by direct mail, either with the water bill or in a  separate letter, or
                        by hand delivery, within 45 days of the violation. Repeat this notice every
                        three months as long as the violation continues.  The requirement for
                        notice by mail or hand delivery may  be waived by the state in writing
                        If the violation is corrected within  45 days of the violation.  See
                        Appendix F, Section 141.32(a)(l)(ii) for waiver requirements.  If no
                        waiver is issued, the public notice must be given  even  if the violation
                        has been corrected within  the 45-day period.  A supplier  cannot forgo
                        the notice on the assumption that  the state will waive the notice.


         Alternate Procedure:

              Use this procedure only if there is no daily or weekly newspaper serving the area served by
             your system.  Instead of following steps 1 and 2 above, provide notice by hand
             delivery or  by posting within 14 days of the violation.  Repeat the notice by hand
             delivery every three months or provide continuous posting for the  duration of
             the violation.
       RIMEMBER THAT COMMUNITY WATER  SYSTEMS MUST NOTIFY NEW CUSTOMERS OF
       EXISTING US* 1 VIOLATIONS PRIOR TO THE TIMi, OR AT THE TIME, SERVICE
2-6
                                                Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems

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                       Section 2 Different Types of Violations: How You Must Respond
   If your area is served by a daily or weekly newspaper, follow this procedure.
Tier 1 Community Water System Non-Acute
STEP
1
DAILY
m D


Ds

NO


WEE


EKLY
D
LJ=

N0 Steps land 2 do not
	 k aDDlv. Follow the ^^^
given below.
           YES
YES
                                                                No Repeat
    STEP 2
    Possible State Waiver if Violation has been Corrected-
    See Section 141.32(a)(1)(ii), Appendix F
                                                  Repeat every 3
                                                months for duration
                                                    of violation
   Alternate Procedure:
   Provide notice by hand delivery or posting within 14 days of the violation
                                   three
Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems
                                                                                                    2-7

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                        Section 2 Different Types of Violations: How You Must Respond
      Tier 2 Violations—Community Water System
         Generally Tier 2 violations are less severe than Tier 1, so the frequency of public notification is
     generally less. For communities served by a daily or weekly newspaper, any Tier 2 violation requires
     the following two-step procedure. For communities not served by a daily or weekly newspaper, an
     alternate procedure is described below.  The steps are as follows:

              Step 1   Provide notice through a daily, general circulation newspaper (if none, then
                       through a weekly newspaper) serving the area within three months of the
                       violation.
                                                      and
              Step 2   Provide notice by direct mail, either with the water bill or in a separate letter, or
                       by hand delivery, within three months of the initial notice.  Repeat this notice
                       every three months as long as the violation continues.


         Alternate Procedure:

              Use this procedure only if there is no daily or weekly newspaper serving the area served by
              your system.  Instead of following the procedure above,  provide notice by hand
              delivery or posting within  three months of the violation. Repeat the notice by hand
              delivery every three months or provide posting for the duration of the
              violation.
             States have the option to authorize less frequent notice for minor monitoring violations.  To
    do this, the state's program revision to adopt the revised public notification rules must include rules
    specifying either:  (1) which monitoring violations are minor and the frequency of public notice for
    such violations; or (2) criteria for determining which monitoring violations are minor and the frequency
    of public notification for such violations.  However, notice for minor monitoring violations must be
    given no later than annually and the state program revisions must first be approved by EPA
    before they can be implemented.  Until EPA approves the reduced monitoring frequency, the
    requirement for more frequent notice must be followed. Contact your primacy agent for more
    information.
2-8
Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems

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                      Section 2  Different Types of Violations: How You Must Respond



   If your area is served by a daily or weekly newspaper follow this procedure.
     Tier 2
Community  Water System
                                                 Steps 1 and 2 do not
                                                 apply. Follow the
                                                 Alternate Procedure
                                                 given below.
                                               Notice
                                               within
                                                 3
   Alternate Procedure:
                                                      Repeat every 3
                                                    months for duration
                                                       of violation
                                °r P°Sti"9 Within three montns * the violation
                                        three months                      •
Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems
                                                                                              2-9

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                     Section 2 Different Types of Violations: How You Must Respond
     Non Community Water Systems:  Notiflcation Requirements
     Tier I Violations—Acute and Non-Acute—Non-Community Water System
        Owners and operators of non-community water systems—both transient non-community
    water systems and non-transient non-community water systems—have two options for public
    notification of a Tier 1 violation (either acute or non-acute).

            Option 1    Follow the same requirements as set for community water systems with Tier 1
                        violations described earlier.
                                                 or
            Option 2    Provide notice by hand delivery or continuous posting within 72 hours for an
                        acute violation or 14 days for a non-acute violation.  Posting must
                        continue for the duration of the violation. Notice by hand delivery
                        must be repeated at least every three months for as long as the
                        violation exists.
2-10
Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems

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     Tier 1
     OPTION 1
Non-Community
 Water System
                                                 Acute/Non-Acute
               Notification as for Community Water Systems
    OPTION 2
           Hand Delivery
       Notice
       within
      72 hours
                               Notice
                               within
                               14 days
                               Notice
                               within
                              72 hours
                              Notice
                              within
                              14 days
                          Repeat every 3
                        months for duration
                           of violation
                       Visible for duration
                          of violation
       probab,y not * aware
                                                          " -PI— - such areas
Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems
                                                                                2-11

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                       Section 2  Different Types of Violations: How You Must Respond
      Tier 2 Violations—Non-Community Water System
         The requirements for Tier 2 violations provide two options for public notification by a non-
    community water system.

             Option 1
Follow the same requirements as set for community systems with Tier 2
violations described earlier.
                                                    or
             Option 2
Provide notice by hand delivery or continuous posting within three months
of the violation.  Posting must continue for the duration of the
violation.  Notice by hand delivery must be repeated at least every
three months as long as the violation exists.
2-12
                       Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems

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                     Section 2  Different Types of Violations: How You Must Respond
    Tier  2
Non-Community  Water System
    OPTION 1
               Notification as for Community Water Systems
    OPTION 2
            Hand Delivery
                                   Notice
                                   within
                                 3 months
                                  Repeat every 3
                                months for duration
                                   of violation
                   or
             Posting
                                  Notice
                                  within
                                 3 months
                               Visible for duration
                                  of violation
   thk  tf , >       °P  °n t0 authorize less freq"cnt notice for minor monitoring violations  To
sn  iflfnn p>h  S^^°9KamK r6ViSi°n l° adopt the revbed public notification rules mus° include mles
specify ng e.ther: (1) wh.ch monitoring violations are minor and the frequency of public notice for
such violafons; or (2) criteria for determining which monitoring violations are^no'r and the requency
of public notification for such violations. However, notice for minor monitoring violations mu t b >
b^rth^ tHKn annVa"y 3nd thC State Pr°9ram revisions ™* fi«t  be app oved by EPA
rpr!  r?   7i"" *" mPlemented  "^ ^PA approves the reduced monitoring frequency the
information  "^   ^ ""^ ™*  ** ^^ C°ntaCt y°Ur ^rlm^ ^ ^r more
Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems
                                                                                          2-13

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                  Sect/or? 3 Information That Must be Included in a Public Notice
 SECTION
          Information That  Must be Included in
          a  Public  Notice
                      Information to be Included—12 Types

                      Checklists for General Public Notification
                      Requirements

                      Guidelines for Presentation of Information
  Information to be Included—12 Types


     The public notification regulations specify that certain types of information must go into any
 public notice, no matter what form it takes. The following section discusses the kind of information
 that must be included.  In presenting this information in the notice, the order and emphasis depends
 on the circumstances of each violation.
     O
The notice MUST provide a clear and readily understandable explanation of the
violation.
      23 mg/l of
        nitrate
                   The notice must tell readers the nature of the violation and should help them
                   discern the seriousness of the violation.
                    example, in the case pf an MCL violation, the notice
                might indicate that analysis of the water provided to
                consumers showed a nitrate level of 23 milligrams per liter
                (mg/l), when the MCL is 10 mg/l. In the case of a
                monitoring violation, || might stale that the system failed to
                take 2 of 10 samples required for bacteriological analysis.
         The notice MUST Include Information about any potential adverse health effects,
      APPENDIX B
       Mandatory
        Health
        Effects
      Information
          EPA has established mandatory language on the health effects of
          certain chemical contaminants found In water (Appendix B).

          The EPA language MUST be included in notices given by public water systems
          where the system is:
              — in violation of an MCL or treatment technique,
              — has been granted a variance or exemption,
              — is operating under a variance or exemption, or
              — fails to comply with a variance or exemption schedule.
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                        Sect/on 3 Information That Must be Included in a Public Notice
                          The notice My$T include the mandatory health effects language in
                          the notice or news release, word for word, for each contaminant for
                          which the system is in violation. The mandatory health effects
                          language must be published intact; and It cannot be broken up by
                          Inserted  material.
                                Fur example, for an IWOL violation of vinyl chforlde, the
                                rtottcc MUSI Include the following paragraph:
                                "The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets
                                drinking water standards and has determined that vinyl chloride is a
                                health concern at certain levels of exposure. This chemical is used in
                                industry and is found in drinking water as a result of the breakdown
                                of related solvents.  The solvents are used as cleaners and degreasers
                                of metals and generally get into drinking water by improper waste
                                disposal. This chemical has been associated with significantly
                                increased risks of cancer among certain industrial workers who were
                                exposed to relatively large  amounts of this chemical during their
                                working careers.  This chemical has also been shown to cause cancer
                                in laboratory animals when the animals are exposed at high levels
                                over their lifetimes. Chemicals that cause increased risk of cancer
                                among exposed industrial workers and in laboratory animals also may
                                increase the risk of cancer in humans who are exposed at lower levels
                                over long periods of time.  EPA has set the enforceable drinking water
                                standard for vinyl chloride  at 0.002 part per million (ppm) to reduce
                                the risk of cancer or other  adverse health effects which have been
                                observed in humans and laboratory animals. Drinking water which
                                meets this standard is associated with little to none of this risk and
                                should be considered safe."
                   Currently promulgated mandatory health effects language is Included in
           Appendix B. Appendix B includes language for microbiological contaminants
           total conforms, and fecal coliforms/f. coli specified by the Surface Water
           Treatment and Total Collform Regulations which were published on June 29
           1989, and which become effective December 31, 1990.  The language in
           Appendix B must be used when NPDWRs for contaminants listed in  that
           appendix are violated.

                   EPA Is continuing to publish mandatory language for additional
           contaminants and has  proposed mandatory language for a number of
           contaminants.  Recommended language, Including proposed  mandatory
           language, is included in Appendix C for your use as appropriate. Health effects
           language for total coliforms and turbidity Is also Included. You are  not required
           to use this language until It is final and the NPDWR is in effect.  Future
           mandatory health effects language should be added to this handbook as it
           appears in the Federal  Register.
             The notice MUST contain Information about the population at risk.
3-2
In other words, if a particular segment of the population such as infants or
senior citizens is particularly susceptible to problems that result from a
violation—this must be made clear.


                        Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems

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                    Section 3  Information That Must be Included in a Public Notice
           Notices MUSI contain information about the steps being taken to correct the
           problem.
      Problem corrected
                      The public must be told about what is being done by their water system to
                      correct the problem, and about the schedule for correction of the violation.
                      Notices probably do not need to include a lengthy description of the
                      correction; a few sentences will probably be enough.  However, notices should
                      mention the date by which the problem will be corrected. If the problem  has
                      already been corrected, the notice should inform the consumers of the date
                      the problem was corrected.
          The notice MU$T include information about the necessity of seeking alternative
          water supplies, if any.

                      In the case of most violations, the public does not need to seek alternative
                     water supplies, and that should be made clear.  When it is necessary to seek
                     alternative water supplies, the need should be emphasized early in the notice.
            BoVtlbd
            Drinking
            -.Water
for example, where the water exceeds the MCL for nitrate,
you should caution y&w consumers »ot to use the water In
formula for feeding Infants less than $i* months of age,
          Notices MU$T include any preventive measures that should be taken until the
          violation is corrected.

                      Consumers need specific information about actions that they can take to
                      reduce any potential health hazard that might result from the violation.
      Boil before
       drinking!
for example, waters with bacterial contamination may need
to be boiled before consumption. Conversely, water high in
nitrate should not be bolted.
             If you have any questions and your local health officials cannot help you
     contact your primacy agency for assistance in identifying the correct preventative
     measures to be taken in a particular situation.  If no preventative measures are
     required, then this information should also be passed on to the consumer
         Notices MUST be clear and conspicuous.

                     Posters must be large and placed in locations where the public will see them
                     Newspaper notices should be large and use design techniques to attract
                     attention. Notices by mail or hand delivery should be tailored for that use
                     For more information on designing and writing notices, see Section 4 of this
                     Handbook.
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                                                                                          3-3

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                         Section 3  Information That Must be Included in a Public Notice
               Notices MUST not contain unduly technical language.
                           This is extremely important.  Avoid technical words and phrases. When they
                           are necessary, define them. Notices  must be written in language that is easy
                           to understand. Anything else will defeat the purpose of public notification
                           Again, see Section 4 of this Handbook.
               Notices MUST not contain unduly small print.
            MCL MCL MCL MCL MCL MCL
            MCLMCL MCLMCLMCLMCL
            MCLMCLMCIMCLMCIMCI
            MCL Ma Ma na MCLMCL
            MCL Ma Ma Ma MCLMCL
                   This is especially important for notices in newspapers and for posters.  See
                   Section 4 for guidelines.
               The notice MU$T not create problems that frustrate the purpose of nubile
               notification.                                                          r
                           The notice must inform consumers of possible problems and provide them
                           with information for making decisions about the safety of their drinking water.
                           Do not use language that might confuse customers.  Do not underplay the
                           seriousness of the situation nor create undue alarm.  Downplaying the
                           significance of violations defeats the purpose of public notification.
          0>
       Notices MySI include a phone number of the owner, operator, or someone to
       contact at the public water system as a source of additional information.
        John Watercrest
        High Water System
        City, State 33444

        Office Hours: 9-5

            555-1378
                  In news releases, this information should be included in the story itself, and at
                  the top of the news release, so that reporters will have a source to call' if they
                  have questions.  It should include a person's name and not simply a phone
                  number. An address is optional but desirable. The notice  could also list the
                  times someone will be available to  answer questions.  The source person for
                  additional information should  be prepared to answer any questions
                  that might arise.
              Where it is appropriate, notices MUST be multi-lingual.
DEUTSCH

 FRANQAIS
           ESPANOL
                          Where a non-English speaking population makes up a significant portion of the
                          water-consuming public, the notices must be in the appropriate lanquaqe as
                          well as English.                                                  y '
3-4
                                                  Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems

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                    Section 3 Information That Must be Included in a Public Notice
  A Checklist of Genera! Public Notification  Requirements


      The checklists in Appendix D summarize the general public notification requirements and will
 help community and non-community water suppliers determine if all requirements for public
 notification for Tier 1 and Tier 2 violations have been met. Use the checklists as you develop your
 public notice.  (See Appendix D for copies of the checklist that you may duplicate for your use )
Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems
                                                                                        3-5

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                         Section 3  Information That Must be Included in a Public Notice
       Guidelines for Presentation of Information


           When writing a public notice, there are many things to keep in mind.  The public notification
      regulations provide specific requirements about the ways in which information is to be presented to
      the public. Also, how a notice is written depends on the type of medium being used
                     Mail
Hand Delivery
Newspaper
The Tunas
I^^H
!
                                                                           TV -Radio
                                        PUBLIC NOTICE
      That is, a notice intended for posting or direct mail may be different than a similar notice to be placed
      m a newspaper. (Examples of different notices for different media are provided in Section 4 )  While
      notices may vary in content and form, their purpose is, as intended by Congress:  (1) to educate the
      public; (2) to develop public awareness of the problems facing public water systems; (3) to encouraae
      a willingness to support greater expenditures to assist in solving these problems; and (4) to advise the
      public  of potential or actual health hazards. In order to do this, customers must be provided
      information in  a manner that is
                                           • Clear
                                           • Accurate
                                           • Precise
     To meet this requirement:
                                    [   MAKE IT CLEAR  ]
     Don t use technical terms rf they can be avoided. The subject of water quality, and its regulation
     is complicated enough.  Save technical words or phrases for times when they are necessary for
     understanding or for future education.  If such terms are necessary, define them.
                           Don't assume that your audience knows the
                           meaning of technical phrases. Avoid acronyms
                           or abbreviations.
3-6
                                                 Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems

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                   Section 3  Information That Must be Included in a Public Notice
                             PRESENT INFORMATION
                          IN ORDER Of IMPORTANCE
     Many readers, particularly newspaper audiences, read only the first few paragraphs of a story,
letter, or notice. Those paragraphs, therefore, should contain the most important Information;
they can also attract audience interest and increase the chance that they will read further.

     The first few paragraphs should also state that the information is being supplied by a water
system.  That not only provides information to readers, but it gives the notice additional credibility and
lets readers know that they should be concerned.
                                      BE CONCISE
     Regardless of whether you use a letter, mail insert, legal notice, or poster, be concise.  It sounds
simplistic, but studies have shown that short words are easier to understand than long words. Short
sentences are easier to understand than long sentences.  Short paragraphs are easier to understand
than long paragraphs. Also, long news releases are more likely to be cut or rewritten, or not used at
all, than short ones.  So  ... Include all  of the necessary Information, but don't clutter up a story or
notice with  every available piece of information.
  To check ttie clarity of a notice, you i»ay wish to $fiow copies to a few typical
  consumers before mailing or publishing  It.  Those consumers may help you pinpoint
  portions of the notice that they do not understand and which should be revised
  before the notice is released.
     Now that you know what information you must include in your notice, you are ready to begin
writing.  As you prepare your notice, use the checklists and guidelines in this section to assist you. The
following section (Section 4) provides types and examples of public notice. Read it carefully.
Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems
3-7

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                       Sect/on 4 Types and Examples of Public Notice
SECTION 4    Types and Examples of Public  Notice
                       V  Notices by Mall

                       •  Notices by Hand Delivery

                       •  Notice* by Posting

                       •  Notices for Newspapers

                       •  Notices for Radio and Television
    This section of the handbook discusses different types of public notice and provides examples of
each. Each medium of public notice is different, and your notice should be tailored accordingly.
Whether the medium is mail, hand delivery, posting, newspaper, television, or radio, your notices must
be written and designed so they will have maximum impact.
                               PUBLIC NOTICE
         When using this section, keep in mind that your notices must include
         all the Information called for by the Checklists in Appendix D,
Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems
4-1

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                                Section 4  Types and Examples of Public Notice
       Notices by
                                    Mail
           Mail or hand delivery of notices is a common means of letting the public know about water
      quality problems, particularly when a problem continues for a long time and new customers need to
      be notified.  Delivery can generally be made with the customer's bill.

           Two common forms of such  notices are formal letters from the system manager, announcinq
      the problem and its treatment, and a postcard-size announcement, often on stiff paper, that can
      be mailed separately or included with the water bill. Perhaps the biggest problem is providinq the
      necessary information  and getting the customer's attention at the same time  Various desian
      techniques can help.                                                              *
       Boldface type:   WATER

       Type styles:   Palatino
                     Geneva
                     Monaco
Important information can be highlighted in boldface type.
Using several type styles will generally make a notice more
readable.  Information should not clutter up the entire page of a
notice. White space around the type generally makes the
information more readable.  The examples in this section show
various techniques for producing letters and mail  inserts.
      With the advent of computerized desktop publishing and word-processing systems, larger water
      systems may have increased flexibility in designing such announcements.

          An example of a formal letter for the Trumble Water District follows on the next page.
4-2
                                                   Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems

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                            Section 4  Types and Examples of Public Notice
              Formal Letter or Bill Staffer with Recommended Health
              Effects Language
                            Trumble Water District VII
                                  1 Lakeview Road
                                Ball City, Utah 33333
                                     (104)555-2859
G»
                   NOTICE OF HIGH NITRATES IN DRINKING WATER
                                                                        JulyS, 1989
  Dear Customer:
  The State Department of Health has granted the Water Department an exemption from the
  requirement to maintain less than 10 milligrams of nitrate per liter (mg/l) of water in the water
  supply.  The State Department of Health has established a nitrate limit of 10 mg/l, but has
  granted the Water Department an exemption for the next year until special water treatment
  equipment  designed to  lower nitrate levels is installed.  Samples of Trumble city water show that
  it contains about 15 milligrams of nitrate per liter of water.

  The United  States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking water standards and has
  determined that nitrate  poses an acute health concern at certain levels of exposure. This
  inorganic chemical is used in fertilizer, and  is associated with  sewage and wastes from farm
  animals.  It  generally gets into water from sewage or as a result cf agricultural fertilizing activity.

  Excessive levels of nitrate in drinking water have caused serious illness and sometimes death in
  young children under one year of age.  Infants are at the greatest risk.  The serious illness in
  children is caused because nitrate is  converted to nitrite in the body and nitrite interferes with the
  oxygen carrying capacity of the child's blood. This is an acute disease in  that the child can
  exhibit symptoms within hours of consuming water.  Symptoms include shortness of breath and
  blueness of  the skin.  Clearly, expert medical advice should be sought immediately if these
  symptoms occur. However, they do not always  occur. The purpose of this notice is to encourage
  parents and other responsible parties to provide children with an alternate source of drinking
  water.  Local and State health authorities are the best source for information concerning alternate
  sources of drinking water for infants.  You will receive notice as soon as a determination has been
  made that the drinking water is safe.

  EPA has set  the drinking water standard at 10 parts per million (ppm) for nitrate to protect
  against the  risk of these  adverse effects. Drinking water which meets the  EPA standard  is
  associated with little  to none of this risk and should be considered safe with respect to  nitrate.

                                                                     (continued on page 2)
                      o
        The circled numbers on the example correspond to Items found in the Checklists
of Public Notice Requirements, Appendix D.  NA means not applicable in this situation.
  Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems
                          4-3

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                             Section 4  Types and Examples of Public Notice
   EXAMPLE!  Formal Letter or Bill Stuffer with Recommended  Health
               Effects Language
   Trumble Water District VII
   page 2


   Parents should find other sources of drinking water for children under one year of age.  Parents
   should give babies bottled water and use bottled water in making formula. All area doctors and
   hospitals have been notified of the problem, and free supplies of bottled water are available from
   the Cermaine County Health Department.  DO NOT BOIL WATER BEFORE DRINKING IT,
   because boiling only increases the concentration of nitrate.

   The high nitrate levels are probably due to faulty installation of one of the new city wells, and
   should be corrected by drilling a new well within the next two weeks.  Because nitrate is'
   extremely difficult to remove from water, the Department has  no choice  but to use the existing
   well until a new one is drilled. When the problem is corrected, customers will  be  notified
   through the newspaper and by letter.  In the meantime, if you have questions  or concern about
   nitrate in your water supply, please contact me at 555-2859 any time between the  hours of
   9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

                                                      Sincerely,


                                                      Robert Hill,  Manager
                                                     Trumble Water Department
NA
              ^recommended health effects language.  Substitute mandatory language when published.

                     W general items pertaining to the notice as a whole.
 * » u.t, c,!rcled numl>ers on the example correspond to Items found In the Checklists
of Public Notice Requirements, Appendix D. NA means not applicable in this situation.


                                               Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems

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                           Sect/on 4 Types and Examples of Public Notice
  Notices by Hand Delivery
     Another method of notification is the use of doorknob flyers: flyers with specially designed
 paper hooks that fit over doorknobs.  The same general guidelines for
                           •  Type style
                           •  Size
                           •  Layout

apply to both doorknob flyers and mail notices.  In fact, the same
information and design can often be used for both.  Local printers
should be able to provide the paper necessary for use in doorknob
flyers.
  Public
Notification

 Hp Vinyl
 Chloride
  Levels
    in
 Drinking
  Water
  6
Water System
City, State
555-5555
                                                                    Sam Shurf,
                                                                    System Manager
An example of a Doorknob Flyer follows on the next page.
Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems
                                                                                              4-5

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                                 Section 4  Types and Examples of Public Notice
                  Doorknob Flyer—front
                                   West Hills Water District
                                         Route 5
                                  Batesville, Pennsylvania 23333
                                       (100)555-2121
                    July 2,1989
                   TESTS SHOW WEST HILLS WATER HIGH IN VINYL CHLORIDE

                   SITUATION

                     Recent tests show that water samples from the West Hills Water District
                     contain the chemical vinyl chloride in amounts that are higher than those
                     allowed by the State Department of Health.  Measurements taken July 1
                     showed that water contained 0.003 parts per million of vinyl chloride.
                     The drinking water standard for vinyl chloride is 0.002 parts per million.

                   GENERAL  INFORMATION

                     The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking
                     water standards and has determined that vinyl chloride  is a health
                     concern at certain levels of exposure. This chemical is used in industry
                     and is found in drinking water as a result of the breakdown of related
                     solvents.  The solvents are used as cleaners and degreasers of metals
                     and generally get into drinking water by improper waste disposal. This
                     chemical has been associated with significantly increased risks of cancer
                     among certain industrial workers who were exposed to relatively large
                     amounts of this chemical during their working careers.  This chemical has
                     also been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals when the animals
                     are exposed at high  levels over their lifetimes.  Chemicals that cause
                     increased risk of cancer among exposed industrial workers and in
                     laboratory animals also may increase the risk of cancer in humans who are
                     exposed at lower levels over long periods of time.  EPA has set the
                     enforceable drinking water standard for vinyl chloride at 0.002 parts per
                     million (ppm) to reduce the risk of cancer or other adverse health  effects
                    which have been observed in humans and laboratory animals. Drinking
                    water which meets this standard is associated with little to none of this risk
                    and should be considered safe.

                    The vinyl chloride is the result of accidental discharges upstream from the
                    water intake in the White River.  Accidental levels of vinyl chloride in
                    drinking water are expected to decrease during the coming week since
                    the cause of the discharge has been eliminated.
     «f P KiiM*«o  n"mb€r$ on the «*ample correspond to items found in the Checklists
     of Public Notice Requirements, Appendix D.  NA means not applicable in this situation.
4-6
                                                   Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems

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                         Section 4  Types and Examples of Public Notice
EXAMPLE!  Doorknob Flyer—back
                                                  West Hills Water District
                                                       Route 5
                                                 Batesville, Pennsylvania 23333
                                                     (100)555-2121
                 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

                 The West Hills Water District will continue monitoring water samples
                 closely during the next week.  Officials do not believe that
                 contamination levels pose a serious threat to the general
                 population and do not recommend that residents seek
                 alternative water supplies. However, workers who have
                 been exposed to high levels of vinyl chloride may want to
                 use bottled water for drinking until further testing is
                 done.
                        For more information please contact:
                                      John We 11 way
                                West Hills Water District
                                     (100)555-0548

                                  9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
NA

NA
                         tsl, ts/, w general items pertaining to the notice as a whole.
        The circled numbers on the example correspond to items found In the Checklists
of Public Notice Requirements, Appendix D. NA means not applicable In this situation.
Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems
         4-7

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                               Section 4  Types and Examples of Public Notice
        Notices by
                                     Posting
      muctnnt,  th        ! 'T 6r meth°d °f informin9 the P^lic about violations. These notices
      must contain the requ.red information about the type of violation, health effects, steps taken to
      remedy the situation, a source of more information, and so on. Like mailed and hand-delivered
      notices, these posted notices should be designed to attract attention.  Consider using

           • Drawings
           • Large amounts of white space around
             the type
           • Bold-face
           • Other type faces as necessary

      A common problem with posted notices is using type
      that is too small to read comfortably at a distance.
      The headings of notices should be no smaller than
      18-point type.  The body of the notice should be 12
      point or larger. Avoid type smaller than 10 point.

          These posters must be placed in prominent
      locations so that customers have  the best chance of
      noticing and reading them.  Placing posters in
      obscure locations defeats the purpose of public
      notification.
          24 point
A common problem

            18 point
    A common problem
             12  point
        A common problem
             10 point
         A common problem
                                                                      8 point
                                                                   A common problem
     An example of a Posted Notice follows on the next page.
4-8
                                                Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems

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                               Section 4  Types and Examples of Public Notice
               Posted Notice with  Recommended  Health  Effects  Language
          June 1,1989
            TURNPIKE WATER SYSTEM ENCOUNTERS DELAY IN LOWERING NITRATE LEVELS
                                       Briber Way Turnpike Authority
           WATER  FROM THIS  LOCATION SHOULD  NOT  BE  GIVEN  TO CHILDREN
           UNDER  ONE YEAR OF AGE.
SITUATION
                    j
         HEALTH
      INFORMATION
The Amber Way Turnpike Authority has announced a delay in installation of water-
treatment equipment for this rest stop. As a result:

     Water available at this rest stop may be slightly higher in nitrates than
     recommended and should not be given to children under one year of age, or
     used in making baby formula.
                The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking water standards
                and has determined that nitrate poses an acute health concern at certain levels of
                exposure. This inorganic chemical is used in fertilizer, and is associated with sewage
                and wastes from farm animals. It generally gets into water from sewage or as a result of
                agricultural fertilizing activity.

                Excessive levels of nitrate in drinking water have caused serious illness (and sometimes
                death) in young children under one year of age.  Infants are at the greatest risk. The
                serious illness in children is caused because nitrate is converted to nitrite in the body and
                nitrite interferes with the oxygen carrying capacity of the child's blood.  This is an acute
                disease  because the child can exhibit symptoms within hours of consuming water.
                Symptoms include shortness of breath and blueness of the skin. Clearly, expert medical
                advice should be sought immediately if these symptoms occur.  However, they do not
                always occur. The purpose of this notice is to encourage parents and other responsible
                parties to provide children with an alternate source of drinking water. Local and State
                health authorities are the best source for information concerning alternate sources of
                drinking water for infants. You will receive notice as soon as a determination has been
                made that the drinking water is safe.

                EPA has set the drinking water standard at 10  parts per million (ppm) for nitrate to
                protect against the risk of these adverse effects.  Drinking water which meets the EPA
                standard is associated with little to none of this risk and should be considered safe with
                respect to nitrate.
                    See second page of this notice for additional information.
 * o u,,T!!,e C.irCled number$ on the example correspond to items found  in the Checklists
of Public Notice Requirements, Appendix D.  NA means not applicable in this  situation.
Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems
                                                                                                         4-9

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                                  Section 4  Types and Examples of Public Notice
                   Posted Notice with  Recommended  Health Effects Language  (continued)
                Page 2 of posted notice.
                                                      .mber Way Turnpike Authority	

            GENERAL
           INFORMATION
Water measured at this rest stop contained 12 milligrams of nitrate per liter of water.
That is slightly higher than the nitrate limit of 10 milligrams per liter, established by the
State Health Department. The Turnpike Authority has ordered special water treatment
equipment that is designed to lower nitrate levels, and was scheduled to have the
equipment installed by June, 1989.  The Turnpike Authority was granted an exemption by
the State Health Department to meet that deadline. However, because of installation
delays, the equipment will not be installed until August. An application has been made to
the State Health Department to approve that schedule.

     Water available at this rest stop may be slightly higher in nitrates than
     recommended and should not be given to children under one year of age  or
     used in making baby formula.
                  Safe Water Available
                           Low-nitrate, safe water is available from the restaurant in the southeast corner of
                           the rest-stop area.
                           The Turnpike Authority regrets the inconvenience. If you have questions regarding
                           nitrates or the schedule for completing this work, please contact:

                                                            Bob Paterson,
                                                            Amber Way Turnpike Authority
                                                            (417)555-8686
o
                                                                                                        NA
                     recommended health effects language.  Substitute mandatory language when published.

                    i/, 6), HP general items pertaining to the notice as a whole.
      * »  ,_,,The clrcled num»«rs on the example correspond to items found in the Checklists
     of Public Notice Requirements, Appendix D.  NA means not applicable In this situation.
4-10
                                                       Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems

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                                Section 4  Types and Examples of Public Notice
               Posted  Notice—Spanish
                      La Autoridad de las Autopistas "Via Ambar"      1 de Junio, 1.989


                   EL SISTEMA DE AGUA DE LAS AUTOPISTAS ENCUENTRA RETRASO EN
                                    BAJAR LOS NIVELES DE NITRATO
             NO SE DEBE DAR AGUA DE  ESTE SITIO A LOS NINOS DE MENOS DE UN
             ANO DE EDAD.
    C
Situacibn
        Informacibn
         General
J
En esta parada, la Autoridad de Autopistas "Via Ambar" ha anunciado un retraso en la
instalacion de la maquinaria para tratar el agua.

El resultado es:
                             El agua de este sitio pudiera tener niveles de nitrato un poco m$s altos que
                             los recomendados y no se les debe dar a los niflos de menos de un afto de
                             edad, ni usarse para preparar f6rmula para los bebe's.
               La Agenda de Proteccion del Medio Ambiente de los Estados Unidos, (E.P.A.), establece
               las caracteristicas que debe tener el agua para ser considerada potable y ha  '
               determinado que, a ciertos niveles de exposici6n, el nitrato crea un serio riesgo para la
               salud. Este producto quimico inorga"nico se usa en fertilizantes y esta" asociado con
               aguas fecales y deposiciones de animates de granja.  Generalmente llega al agua desde
               el alcantarillado o como resultado de las actividades de fertilizaci6n agrlcola  Niveles
               excesivos de nitrato en agua potable han causado seria enfermedad, (y a veces muerte)
               en niflos menores de un aflo de edad.  Los niflos presentan el mayor riesgo   La grave
               enfermedad en niflos es causada porque el nitrato es convertido en nitrito en el cuerpo
               y el nitrito interfiere con la capacidad de transporte de oxigeno en la sangre del nifio
               Esta es  una enfermedad grave porque el niflo puede presentar sintomas unas horas
               despues de consumir el agua. Los sintomas incluyen respiracion acelerada y color
               azulado  de la piel.  Evidentemente debe buscarse consejo medico inmediatamente si
               estos sintomas se presentan. Sin embargo, los sintomas no siempre se dan  El
               proposito de este anuncio es impulsar a los padres y otras personas responsables a que
               proporcionen a los niflos una fuente alternativa de agua para beber.  Las autoridades de
               salud pubhca locales y estatales son la  mejor fuente de informacion sobre fuentes
               alternativas de agua potable para los niflos.  Seran Uds. informados tan pronto como se
               determine que el agua para beber no tiene peligro.

               E.P.A. ha establecido  10 partes por millon (ppm) de nitrato como nivel m^ximo en agua
               potable,  para proteccibn contra el riesgo de estos efectos  perjudiciales.  El agua potable
               que sigue las normas  de E.P.A. tiene poco o ningun riesgo y no debe ser considerada
               peligrosa con respecto al nitrato.
           Lea la segunda pagina de este anuncio si desea obtener mas Informacion.
«f p,,KnTMe.C,IrClod numb€r$ on the «*ample correspond to items found in  the Checklists
of Public Notice Requirements, Appendix D.  NA means not applicable in this situation!
Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems
                                                                                                        4-11

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                                   Section 4  Types and Examples of Public Notice
                   Posted Notice—Spanish  (continued)
                Pagina 2
                                            La Autoridad de las Autopistas "Via Ambar"
                            El agua de esta parada fue medida y se encontrb que contenia 12 miligramos de nitrato
                            por litro de agua. Este nivel es un poco m£s alto que el de 10 miligramos por litro que fue
                            establecido como limite por el Departamento de Salud del Estado.  La autoridad de las
                            autopistas ha ordenado maquinaria para bajar los niveles de nitrato y los planes son para
                            instalarla en Junio de 1.989. El Departamento de Salud le concedio una exenci6n a la
                            Autoridad de autopistas para terminar el proyecto en esa fecha.  No obstante, debido a
                            retrasos en la instalacion, la maquinaria no sera puesta en funcionamiento hasta Agosto.
                            La autoridad ha hecho solicitud al Departamento de Salud para aprobar estos planes.

                                 El agua de este sitio pudiera tener niveles de nitrato un poco mas altos que los
                                 recomendados y no se les debe dar a los niftos de menos de un afto de edad,
                                 ni usarse para preparar f6rmula para los beb6s.
                  Agua Sin Riesgo Disponible En
                            Agua potable con bajo nivel en nitrato se puede obtener en el restaurante en la
                            esquina Sureste de esta parada.
        C
Informaclbn
J
La Autoridad de Autopistas slente los inconvenientes.  Si tiene preguntas acerca de
los nitratos o del programa para realizar este trabajo, puede llamar a:

                               Bob Paterson,
                               Autoridad de las Autopistas "Via Ambar"
                               Tel. (417)555-8686
                                                                                                       «rs on the example correspond to items found in the Checklists
     of Public Notice Requirements, Appendix D.  NA means not applicable in this situation.
4-12
                                                        Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems

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                         Section 4  Types and Examples of Public Notice
   Notices for Newspapers
Newspaper
Th« Timas
=- =• =^
i
    Plewspapers are probably the most common means of public notice  Newspapers
generally considered a credible source of news by readers, and are an important means of
communication in many local communities.
                                                                          are
      The requirement for newspaper notice can be satisfied by:
            Buying space In the newspaper, usually in the legal
      notices or classified ads section.
            A story by a reporter, If it has all the required
     information.
            A news release that Is printed In the newspaper
     provided that the printed version includes all required '
     information.
   When giving newspaper notice, public water systems usually buy space in the
The DAILY sr^5
CLflSSIFIED
ZZT = -^-" 	
M
rC
Legal Notice
Notice related to
Contamination of
Drinking Water
from the Greenville
Water Department

•^««— ^—BM
™^^"™"^™^™"^^
111 1^
The DAILY ^
LOCAL WATER
TESTED 	
•••MBHI
n
CD
                                                                       notices or
                                       ssss^tss

          "     "    '  * ™* C°ntain "" °f the lnf°rmation reuired   the "bH
                                                                      noon
An example of a Newspaper Notice follows on the next page.
Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems
                                                                                 4-13

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                               Section 4  Types and Examples of Public Notice
                 Newspaper Notice
                                Greenville Water Department
                                       10 Star Avenue
                                  Greenville, Florida 99999

                Notice of a Violation of the Water-Testing Schedule

     The Greenville Water Department is required by state and federal regulations to test four water
     samples per month for coliform bacteria.  Due to a scheduling problem, only three samples
     were taken during June, 1988, resulting in a violation.  More recent testing, done according to
     the required schedule, shows that Greenville water is safe to drink, that there is no contamination
     problem, and customers do not need to seek alternative  water supplies.  The Greenville Water
     Department regrets the mistake and will work to make sure that the testing schedule is observed
     in the future.

     Customers with questions or concern about bacteriological contamination, or any other water
     problem, should contact James Brooks, Public Information Officer, Greenville Water
     Department, 303-555-1212, during the hours of 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
             mandatory language is not required for monitoring violations.

             no special segment of the population is at risk.

            , ©, ©, w general items pertaining to the notice as a whole.
o
                                                                                         0 NA

                                                                                         © NA

                                                                                         SNA
           The circled numbers on the example correspond to items found in the Checklists
   of Public Notice Requirements, Appendix D.  NA means not applicable in this situation.
4-14
                                                 Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems

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                           Section 4 Types and Examples of Public Notice
       In some cases, particularly in smaller towns where competition for

                            ***** prwlded ^ <"
                           GENERAL N£WS RELEASE INFORMATION
                If you use a news release for public notice, present the
                information in order of importance.  Readers may not
                follow the entire story; the first few paragraphs can attract
                audience interest and thus increase the chance that they
                will read the rest of the story. The first few paragraphs
                should tell readers what kind of violation has occurred and
                give some sense of its seriousness.  If the violation is a
                threat to health, that information should be given early in
                the story. Less important information can generally wait
                until later. However, information presented late in a story
                may be cut out during the editing process at a newspaper
  Steps for Writing a News Release:
                                       West Hills Water District
                                             Route 5
                                      Batesville, Pennsylvania 23333
                                          (100)555-2121
                     DATE OF RELEASE:  March 25,  1989
                     SOURCE:  John Wellway, Water District Manager
                              (100)555-2121
f thertorf ^ ° headl"le~'
                                                                          -rds as
                 IBIS SHOW WEST HILLS' WATER HIGH IN VINYL CHLORIDE
Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems
                                                                                    4-15

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                           Section 4 Types and Examples of Public Notice
               The news release should begin by showing the location of the story.  That is, if the water
        system is located in Batesville, the town's name should be indented and shown in capital letters,
        as follows:

                               BATESVILLE—Recent tests show that water
                           samples from the West  Hills...
               After the location is shown, the story itself can begin. Some news reporters try to
        include everything about a story in the first sentence. In a technical story, however, that is
        generally difficult. The first sentence (known as the "lead" in news writing) often  becomes
        too long and unwieldy.  In general, it is sufficient to put the most important information at
        the beginning of a story, followed by an attribution, which shows the source of the story
                     	                                       I
                               BATESVILLE—Recent tests show that water
                           samples from the West Hills Water District contain
                           the chemical vinyl chloride in amounts that are
                           higher than those allowed by the state department
                           of health, according to water district manager
                           John  We 11 way.
               The paragraph after the lead could contain more specific information about the violation.
        For example:

                               The average of the analytical results for four
                           quarterly samples taken between January 1, 1988
                           and December 31, 1989 shows that water from West
                           Hills contained an average of 0.003 milligrams per
                           liter (mg/l) of vinyl chloride. The  drinking water
                           standard for vinyl chloride is 0.002 mg/l.


        It is suggested that this paragraph include the mandatory language about the health
    effects of the contaminant involved, and information about the cause and remedy of the
    situation. Additional local information would be helpful.
    The finished News Release for Tier 1 violations, then, should look like the one on the following page.
4-16
                                             Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems

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                            Section 4  Types and Examples of Public Notice
 EXAMPLE:  News Release for Tier 1 Violation
                 West Hills Water District
                       Route 5
                Batesville, Pennsylvania 23333
                    (100)555-2121
   DATE OF RELEASE:  July 5, 1989
   FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:  John Wellway, Water District Manager
                                         (100)555-2121


                TESTS SHOW WEST HILLS' WATER HIGH IN VINYL CHLORIDE

       BATESVILLE—Recent tests show that water samples from the West Hills District contain the
   chemical vinyl chloride in amounts that are higher than those allowed by the state department of
   health, according to water district manager, John Wellway.

       The average of the analytical results for four quarterly samples taken between January 1
   1988 and December 31, 1989 shows that water from West Hills contained an average of 0 003
   milligrams per liter (mg/l) of vinyl chloride. The national EPA drinking water standard for vinvl
   chloride is 0.002 mg/l.                                                               y

       The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking water standards and
   has determined that vinyl chloride is a health concern at certain levels of exposure. This chemical
   is used in industry and is found in drinking water as a result of the breakdown of related solvents
   The solvents are used as cleaners  and degreasers of metals and generally get into drinking water
   by improper waste disposal.  This chemical has been associated with significantly increased risks
   of cancer among certain industrial workers who were exposed to relatively large amounts of this
   chemical during their working careers.  This chemical has also been shown to cause cancer in
   laboratory animals when the  animals are exposed at high levels over their lifetimes. Chemicals
   that cause increased risk of cancer among exposed industrial workers and in laboratory animals
   also may increase  the risk of cancer in humans  who are  exposed at lower levels over long periods
   of time. EPA has set the enforceable drinking water standard for vinyl chloride at 0 002 parts per
   million (ppm) to reduce the risk of cancer or other adverse health effects which have been
   observed in humans and laboratory animals.  Drinking water which meets this standard is
   associated with little to none  of this risk  and should be considered safe.

       According to Wellway, the vinyl chloride is the result of an accidental discharge upstream
  from the water intake in the White River. Levels of this contaminant in drinking water are
  expected to decrease during the coming week, as the source of the vinyl chloride has been
  eliminated.  Further testing is scheduled.

  ™- .T.he .Water District will continue monitoring water samples closely during the next week
  Officials do not believe that contamination levels pose a serious threat to health, and do not
  recommend that residents seek alternative water supplies.  However, workers who have been
  exposed to high levels of vinyl chloride may want to use bottled water for drinking until further
  testing is done.  The District is currently  evaluating treatment options,  including the use of
  granular activated  carbon, should  levels of vinyl chloride continue to exceed the drinking water
  standard.

  «r i?H,m?re.lnformatlon contact John Wellway at the West Hills Water District
  555-2121  during the hours  of 9:00  am to 5:00 pm.

                                            -30-
                    general items which pertain to the notice as a whole.
o
   NA
  MOTE
••CJ The circled numbers on the example correspond to items found in the Checklists
of Public Notice Requirements, Appendix D.  NA means not applicable in this situation.

Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems

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                            Section 4 Types and Examples of Public Notice
         In the case of Tier 2 violations, which are less serious, language in news releases should make it
     clear that no immediate health threat necessarily exists, but that certain monitoring or exemption
     violations have taken place.  For example,

                                BON—The Valley Water Department  has been
                            informed by the Indiana Department of Environ-
                            mental  Management that it has violated federal
                            regulations for testing turbidity of the city's water
                            supply.

         The release should go on to include the remaining items from the checklist.


     A sample News Release for a Tier 2 turbidity violation is presented on the following page:
4-18
                                              Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems

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                           Section 4  Types and Examples of Public Notice
             News Release for Tier 2 Violation
                                            Valley Water Department
                                  231 River Road Valley • Bon, Indiana 77777
                                          Telephone - (101)555-0548
   DATE OF RELEASE:   January 3, 1989
   FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:  Hal Wider, Department Manager
                                        (101)555-0548


                     WATER COMPANY VIOLATES TESTING PROCEDURE

       BON— The Valley Water Department has been informed by the Indiana Department of
   Environmental Management that it has violated federal regulations for testing the turbidity of the
   city's water supply.                                                             y

       The violation does not pose a threat to the quality of the city's water. Residents should not
   be alarmed and do not need  to seek alternative water supplies.

       For the past several months, the Water Company has inadvertently used improper
   equipment to measure turbidity.  Turbidity is a measure of the amount of suspended particles in
   drinking water.  High-turbidity water often appears cloudy. Tests with  recently purchased  proper
   equipment show that the Valley water supply meets all state and federal regulations regarding
   turbidity.                                                                   ^    a

       High turbidity can be a problem because those suspended particles can interfere with
   disinfecting agents before they  can do their job by preventing those agents from contacting all
   microorganisms that adhere to  the particles.                                         y
  ,*MJ   /r W3ter customers witn questions or concerns about the violation should contact Hal
  Wider (555-9001) during business hours between 8:00 am-5:00 pm.
          mandatory health effects language not required for notification of testing procedures.

          no special segment of the population is affected.

         , \s/, \g), UP general items pertaining to the notice as a whole.
o
                                                                                         f NA

                                                                                           NA
                                                                                           NA
«f p,.KiJ!!?*|lrCl?1 n"mber$ °" the examPle correspond to items found in the Checklists
of Public Notice Requirements, Appendix D.  NA means not applicable in this situation!
Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems
                                                                                         4-19

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                               Section 4 Types and Examples of Public Notice
      Notices for  Radio  and Television
         Public notification must also be made to broadcast media—radio and television
     stations—under certain situations.  It is generally difficult to convey technical and complex
     information through these outlets.  However, they are important because studies have shown that
     Americans increasingly rely on television as a primary news source.  Also, in an emergency, television
     and particularly radio are the fastest means of notifying customers of a drinking water problem.
         News releases for radio and television can be written in much  the same way as for newspapers.
     Because  most stations make relatively little broadcast time available  for news, it becomes even more
     important to summarize the situation in the first few paragraphs of  the news release.  Also, because
     listeners  cannot refer to an earlier paragraph or technical definition, releases for broadcast media
     should probably be even  less technical and less complex than for newspapers.
         In many cases, the same release will work for newspapers, radio, and television.  However, some
     stations prefer that the text of the release  be written in all upper-case letters.  Pronunciation
     guides are sometimes helpful to broadcasters who must be able to pronounce unfamiliar terms and
     words.  Also, all abbreviations should be spelled out so that the story is written just the way the
     words would be read.
                                            Pronunciation Guide

                                     Trichloroethlylene — tr'i, klo-ro-'eth-e-, len

                                     Dichloroethane — dl, klor-o-'eth-an
    The finished Broadcast News Release, then, should look like the one on the following page.
4-20
Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems

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                       Sect/on 4 Types and Examples of Public Notice
           Broadcast News Release with Mandatory Health Effects Language
        ural Water District IV - Route 3 • Farmville, Texas 88888
                            (108)555-6284

  FOR RELEASE:  JUNE 2, 1989
  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  BOB THOMPSON, MANAGER
                                    (108)555-6284

  WATER  DISTRICT VIOLATES DISINFECTANT REQUIREMENTS;  CUSTOMERS
  SHOULD BOIL THEIR WATER OR SEEK ALTERNATIVE WATER SUPPLIES.
      FARMVILLE RURAL WATER DISTRICT IV HAS BEEN NOTIFIED BY THE STATE
  DEPARTMENT  OF HEALTH THAT IT HAS VIOLATED  REGULATIONS FOR DISINFECTING ITS
  WATER SUPPLY.
      BOB THOMPSON, WATER DISTRICT MANAGER, SAID THAT THE DISTRICT'S
  DISINFECTANT EQUIPMENT HAS NOT BEEN OPERATING PROPERLY.  THE PROBLEM WAS
  DISCOVERED MAY 30TH.  SINCE THAT TIME  THE WATER HAS NOT HAD ADEQUATE
  DISINFECTION  AND MAY POSE A RISK FOR WATER-DISTRICT CUSTOMERS. THOMPSON
  RECOMMENDED THAT ALL DISTRICT CUSTOMERS BOIL THEIR WATER BFFQRF
  CONSUMPTION OR USE BOTTLED WATER FOR DRINKINQ UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
     ACCORDING TO THOMPSON, THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
 AGENCY (EPA) SETS DRINKING WATER STANDARDS AND HAS DETERMINED THAT THE
 PRESENCE OF MICROBIOLOGICAL CONTAMINANTS ARE A HEALTH CONCERN AT
 CERTAIN LEVELS OF EXPOSURE. IF WATER IS INADEQUATELY TREATED,
 MICROBIOLOGICAL CONTAMINANTS IN THAT WATER MAY CAUSE DISEASE. DISEASE
 SYMPTOMS MAY INCLUDE DIARRHEA, CRAMPS, NAUSEA, AND POSSIBLY JAUNDICE,
 AND ANY ASSOCIATED HEADACHES AND FATIGUE.

                                — MORE —
Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems
O
                                                                          4-21

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                           Section 4  Types and Examples of Public Notice
     ADD ONE
     RURAL WATER DISTRICT IV

     THESE SYMPTOMS, HOWEVER, ARE NOT JUST ASSOCIATED WITH DISEASE-CAUSING
     ORGANISMS IN DRINKING WATER, BUT ALSO MAY BE CAUSED BY A NUMBER OF
     OTHER FACTORS OTHER THAN YOUR DRINKING WATER. EPA HAS SET ENFORCEABLE
     REQUIREMENTS FOR TREATING DRINKING WATER TO REDUCE THE RISK OF THESE
     ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS.  TREATMENT SUCH AS FILTERING AND DISINFECTING THE
     WATER REMOVES OR DESTROYS MICROBIOLOGICAL CONTAMINANTS.  DRINKING
     WATER WHICH IS TREATED TO MEET THE EPA REQUIREMENTS IS ASSOCIATED WITH
     LITTLE TO NONE OF THIS RISK AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED SAFE.
         THE DISTRICT IS REPLACING THE FAULTY EQUIPMENT AND SHOULD HAVE THE
     EQUIPMENT CORRECTED BY LATE TOMORROW AFTERNOON, JUNE 3.  THOMPSON SAID
     HE WOULD NOTIFY CUSTOMERS WHEN THEY COULD RETURN TO USING THEIR
     NORMAL WATER SUPPLY.
         RESIDENTS WHO WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SITUATION
     SHOULD CONTACT THOMPSON AT THE WATER DISTRICT OFFICES BETWEEN 8:00 AM
     AND 5:00 PM.  HIS PHONE NUMBER IS 555-6284
                                         ###
             ADD ONE'' is used to indicate a continuation of information for release.
            ### indicates end of information to be released.
                                                                                     NA
              recommended health effects language. Substitute mandatory language when published.
                       general items pertaining to the notice as a whole.
           The circled numbers on the example correspond to items found in the Checklists
    of Public Notice Requirements, Appendix D.  NA means not applicable in this situation.
4-22
                                           Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems

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                           Section 5 Special Public Notice for Fluoride
 SECTION 5     Special  Public Notice for Fluoride
                •  Primary and Secondary Standards for Fluoride

                •  Public Notification Requirements for Exceedances
                    of tte Secondary Standard lor fluoride

                •  Violations of Primary MCt for Fluoride
  Primary and Secondary Standards for Fluoride


 Background

     There are two drinking water standards for fluoride: a primary standard, called a maximum
 ^r!?"?? K^/MCuL)/,and 3 secondary standard, called a secondary maximum contaminant level
 (SMCL).  The MCL is the legally enforceable numerical standard which has been established to
 protect the public from adverse health effects.  The SMCL is a numerical federal guideline for the
 protection of the public welfare.

     You are probably most familiar with the MCL for fluoride, which has been set at 4 milligrams per
 Nter (mg/l) to protect against bone changes which result in crippling skeletal fluorosis, an adverse
 health  effect. However, in addition to the increased risk of crippling skeletal fluorosis associated with
 finished waters that exceed the MCL, EPA has determined that the cosmetic effects of fluoride
 associated with waters containing levels of fluoride below the MCL of 4 mg/l but above 2 ma/1
 adversely affect the public welfare, as exposure to these waters results in the formation of cosmetically
 objectionable dental fluorosis (discoloration and/or pitting of teeth).  Therefore, EPA has set an SMCL
 for fluoride of 2 mg/l and has established a public notification  requirement for community water
 systems  that exceed this level.



  Public Notification Requirements for Exceedances of the
  Secondary  Standard for Fluoride


     Public notification requirements for fluoride are slightly different than for other contaminants  If
 a community water system exceeds the  secondary maximum contaminant level for fluoride
 (2 mg/l),  but does not  exceed the primary MCL (4 mg/l), it must notify its customers using the
 following  notice. This notice  must be provided

                  •  Annually to all customers,
                  •  To new customers at the time service begins, and
                  •  To the state public health officer.

The following notice from §143.5 of the National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations with the
appropriate information about your water  system (see footnotes © and © in notice)  must be sent to
the parties above without any changes or  additional language.

Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems


-------
                             Section 5  Special Public Notice for Fluoride
       Dear User,

           The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires that we send you this
       notice on the level of fluoride in your drinking water. The drinking water in your
       community has a fluoride concentration of _ milligrams © per liter (mg/l).

           Federal regulations require that fluoride, which occurs naturally in your water
       supply, not exceed a concentration of 4.0 mg/l in drinking water.  This is an
       enforceable standard called a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL),  and it has been
       established to protect the public health.  Exposure to drinking water levels above
       4.0 mg/l for many years may result in some cases of crippling skeletal fluorosis,
       which is a serious bone disorder.

           Federal law also requires that we notify you when monitoring  Indicates that
       the fluoride In your drinking water exceeds 2.0 mg/l. This Is intended to alert
       families about dental problems that might affect children under nine years of age.
       The fluoride concentration of your water exceeds this federal guideline.

           Fluoride in children's drinking water at levels of approximately 1 mg/l reduces
       the number of dental cavities.  However, some children exposed to levels of
       fluoride greater than about 2.0 mg/l may develop dental fluorosis.  Dental
       fluorosis, in its moderate and severe forms, Is a brown staining and/or pitting of
       the permanent teeth.

           Because dental fluorosis occurs only when developing teeth (before they erupt
       from the gums) are exposed to elevated fluoride levels, households without
       children are not expected  to be affected by this level of fluoride. Families with
       children under the age of  nine are encouraged to seek other sources of drinking
       water for their children to avoid the possibility of staining and pitting.

           Your water supplier can lower the concentration of fluoride in your water so
       that you will still receive the benefits of cavity prevention while the possibility of
       stained and pitted teeth Is minimized. Removal of fluoride may increase your
       water costs. Treatment systems are also commercially available for home use.
       Information on such systems is  available at the address given below.  Low fluoride
       bottled drinking water that would meet all standards Is also commercially
       available.
           For further information, contact _ ® at your water system.


                                                         Yours truly,
                                                          Robert Jones
                                                          Utilities Director
              PVVS shaf! Insert the compliance result which triggered notification under
              this
              PWS shall insert the name, address, and telephone number of a contact
              person at the
5-2
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                           Section 5 Special Public Notice for Fluoride
 Violations of Primary MCt for Fluoride


     When a community or non-community public water system

         • Violates the primary standard for fluoride (MCL)
         • Operates under a variance or exemption from the fluoride MCL
         • Fails to comply with a schedule prescribed under a variance or exemption for fluoride

the notice must consist of the public notice (letter) given above  plus a description of any steps the
system is taking to correct the problem.
        The notice must be given In the same manner and frequency as for a Tier 1
non-acute violation as described In Section 2 of this Handbook.
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                                Section 6  Proof of Publication
 SECTION 6     Proof  of  Publication

                          •  What Constitutes Proof 
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                  Section 7 Annual Summary of Violations: A Recommendation
SECTION  7     Annual  Summary of Violations:
                  A  Recommendation
    Although it's not a regulatory requirement, EPA recommends that public water system owners,
operators and managers consider providing their customers with an annual summary of the overall
compliance status of their system.  Consumers may overlook mail inserts or fail to realize the
significance of sporadically received public notices. An annual summary would give consumers
"the big picture" as to how their water system is performing.

    EPA believes that an annual summary of violations—or, better, a report of no violations—would
have a significant impact on consumers.  It would not only inform them as to how well their system is
performing, but would also help them develop a greater awareness of the problems faced by their
system. Hopefully, the summary would engender a greater willingness to support solutions to any
problems faced by their system.
Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems                                            7_1

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                      Section 8 Notification for Unregulated Contaminants
SECTION  8     Notification for  Unregulated
                  Contaminants
                         Notification for unregulated contaminants

                                        IS NOT
                     the same as public notification for regulated
                     contaminants (contaminants fc* which Maximum
                     Contaminant Levels (MCts) or treatment technique
                     requirements have been established).
    Section 1414 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) requires "the owner or operator of a public
water system to give notice to the persons served by it of contaminant levels of any unregulated
contaminant required to be monitored under section 1445(a) [Monitoring for Unregulated
Contaminants]."
    On July 8, 1987 EPA published the  final requirements for monitoring for unregulated
contaminants in drinking water (40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 141, Section 141.40).


            This rule promulgate monitoring requirement* for 51 synthetic
            organic chemicals for which maximum contaminant levels (MCLs)
            or treatment technique requirements have not been established.

Section 141.35(d) requires that:
    "The owner or operator shall notify persons served by the system of the availability of the
    results of sampling conducted under Section 141.40 [Special monitoring for organic
    chemicals] by including  a notice in the first set of water bills issued by the system after the
    receipt of the results or written notice within three months.  The notice shall identify a
    person and supply the telephone number to contact for information on the monitoring
    results."
    As you can see, notice  for unregulated contaminants is not the same as for regulated
contaminants.

           For unregulated contaminants, all you are required to do is send
           a NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY 0* MONITORING RESULTS tO your
           customers.

    You can, if you want to, send a copy of the results, but this is not required.  The notice of
availability must

                • Be sent within  three months of your receiving the results
                • Contain the name and telephone number of a contact person who
                  can respond to customer questions
        States may establish more stringent notice requirements.  Contact your primacy
agent to make sure that your notice for unregulated contaminants meets ALL the
requirements.

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     AoDendices
     im WHk ^f^i^ ^^P^^ ^IP^1 ^* ^* ^(Pr^w ^m ^HP ^QB& ^jjr
Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems

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                                         Appendix A
APPENDIX  A.
Glossary of Terms
ACUTE — Certain violations such as nitrate and fecal coliform bacteria can pose acute (immediate) risk
to human health.  MCL violations that are acute violations are defined by regulation, and require
additional notice by electronic media (only for community water systems).  Currently, EPA only defines
the violation of the nitrate standard as an acute violation.  However, your State may define additional
violations as acute violations.

MCL — Maximum Contaminant Level, the maximum permissible level of a contaminant in drinking
water which is delivered to any user of a public water system.  MCLs are established by the National
Primary Drinking Water Regulations.

NPDWR — National  Primary Drinking Water Regulation, the standards for drinking water quality. Each
NPDWR contains an MCL or treatment technique, and monitoring and reporting requirements for a
contaminant of  concern.

PRIMACY AGENCY — The agency that is responsible for regulation of water supply systems in states
and on Indian lands.  In most cases, this is the state agency that regulates water supply systems.  In
states and on Indian lands where no designated agency administers the public drinking water program,
EPA is the primacy agency.

PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM — A system that provides piped water for human consumption if such
system has at least 15 service connections or regularly serves an average of 25 individuals 60 or more
days out of the  year.  Such a system includes: (1) any collection, treatment, storage and distribution
facilities under the control of the operator of such system and used primarily in connection with such
system, and (2) any collection or pretreatment storage facilities not under such control which are used
primarily in connection with such system.   A public water system is either a community water
system or a non-community water system and can be publicly or privately owned.

        1.  COMMUNITY  WATER SYSTEM — A public water system that pipes water for human
           consumption to at least 15 service connections used by year-round residents,  or one that
           regularly  serves at least 25 year-round residents (e.g., municipality, subdivision, mobile
           home park).

        2.  NON-COMMUNITY WATER SYSTEM — A public water system that pipes water for
           human consumption to at least 15 service connections used by individuals other than year-
           round  residents for at least 60 days a year,  or serves 25 or more people at least 60 days a
           year (e.g., schools, factories, rest stops,  interstate carrier conveyances).

           a.  NON-TRANSIENT NON-COMMUNITY WATER SYSTEM — A non-community water
               system that serves at least 25 of the same persons over six months per year (e.g.,
               schools, factories, industrial parks, office buildings).

           b.  TRANSIENT  NON-COMMUNITY WATER SYSTEM — A non-community water system
               that does not meet the definition of a non-transient non-community water system
               (e.g., highway rest stops, restaurants, motels, golf courses, parks).

SDWA — Safe  Drinking Water Act, the act  that establishes standards for drinking water safety.
Amended in 1986.

TIER 1 VIOLATIONS — More serious violations, including failure to comply with an MCL (see Max-
imum Contaminant Level); failure to comply with prescribed treatment techniques; and failure to meet
variance or exemption schedules.
 Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems                                                A-l

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                                                Appendix A
      TIER 2 VIOLATIONS — Less serious violations, including failure to comply with monitoring
      requirements; failure to comply with a testing procedure prescribed by a NPDWR; and operatinq under
      a variance or exemption.


      VOCs — Volatile synthetic organic chemicals.
A-2
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APPENDIX  B
                                          Appendix B
Mandatory Health Effects Information
     The following language must be included, word for word, in any notice involving a
violation related to one of the twelve following  contaminants.  Language for additional
contaminants is being developed and should be added  to this section as it is promulgated.

1)  1,1-Dichloroethylene:  The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking
water standards and has determined that 1,1-dichloroethylene is a health concern at certain levels of
exposure. This chemical is used in industry and is found in drinking water as a result of the
breakdown of related solvents. The solvents are used as cleaners and degreasers of metals and
generally get into drinking water by improper waste disposal.  This chemical has been shown to cause
liver and kidney damage in laboratory animals such as rats and mice when the animals are exposed at
high levels over their lifetimes. Chemicals which cause  adverse effects in laboratory animals also may
cause adverse health effects in humans who are exposed at lower levels over long periods of time.  EPA
has set the enforceable drinking water standard for 1,1-dichloroethylene at 0.007 parts per million
(ppm) to reduce the risk of these adverse health effects which have been observed in  laboratory
animals.  Drinking water which meets this standard is associated with little to none of this risk and
should be considered safe.

2)  1,1,1-Trlchloroethane:  The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking
water standards and has determined that 1,1,1-trichloroethane is a health concern at certain levels of
exposure. This chemical is used as a  cleaner and degreaser of metals. It generally gets into drinking
water by improper waste disposal.  This  chemical has been shown to damage the liver, nervous system,
and circulatory system of laboratory animals such as rats and mice when the animals are exposed at
high levels over their lifetimes. Some industrial workers who were exposed to relatively large amounts
of this chemical during their working careers also suffered  damage to the liver, nervous system, and
circulatory system.  Chemicals which  cause adverse effects among exposed industrial workers and in
laboratory animals also may cause adverse health effects in humans who are exposed  at lower levels
over long periods of time. EPA has set the enforceable drinking water standard for 1,1,1-
trichloroethane at 0.2 parts per million (ppm)  to protect against the risk of these  adverse health effects
which have been observed in humans and laboratory animals.  Drinking water which  meets this
standard is associated with little to none of this risk and should be considered safe.

3)  1,2-DIchloroethane: The  United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking
water standards and has determined that 1,2-dichloroethane is a health concern at certain levels  of
exposure.  This chemical is used as a cleaning fluid for  fats, oils, waxes,  and resins.  It generally gets
into drinking water by improper waste disposal.  This chemical has been shown to cause cancer in
laboratory animals such as rats and mice when the animals are exposed at high levels over their
lifetimes. Chemicals that cause cancer in laboratory animals also may increase the risk of cancer  in
humans who are  exposed at lower levels over long periods of time. EPA has set the enforceable
drinking water standard for 1,2-dichloroethane at 0.005 parts per million (ppm) to reduce the  risk of
cancer or other adverse health effects which have been observed in laboratory animals. Drinking water
which meets this standard is associated with little to none of this risk and should  be considered safe.

4)  Benzene: The United States  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking water standards
and has determined that benzene is a health concern at certain levels of exposure.  This chemical is
used as  a solvent and degreaser of metals. It is also a  major component of gasoline.  Drinking water
contamination generally results from  leaking underground gasoline and petroleum tanks or improper
waste disposal. This chemical has been  associated with significantly increased risks of leukemia among
certain industrial  workers who were exposed to relatively large amounts of this chemical during their
working careers.  This chemical has also been  shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals when the
animals  are exposed at high levels over their lifetimes.  Chemicals that cause  increased risk of cancer
among exposed industrial workers and in laboratory animals also may increase the risk of cancer in
 Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems                                                 B-1

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B-2
                                                Appendix B
      4)  Benzene continued.

      humans who are exposed at lower levels over long periods of time.  EPA has set the enforceable
      drinking water standard for benzene at 0.005 parts per million (ppm) to reduce the risk of cancer or
      other adverse health effects which have  been observed in humans and laboratory animals.  Drinking
      water which meets this standard is associated with little to none of this risk and should be considered
      safe.

      5)  Carbon tetrachlorlde: The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking
      water standards  and has determined that carbon tetrachloride is a health concern at certain levels of
      exposure.  This chemical was once a popular household cleaning fluid.  It generally gets into drinking
      water by improper waste disposal.  This  chemical has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory
      animals such as  rats and mice when the animals are exposed at high levels over their lifetimes.
      Chemicals that cause cancer in laboratory animals also may increase the risk of cancer in humans who
      are exposed at lower levels over long periods of time.  EPA has set the  enforceable drinking water
      standard for carbon tetrachloride at 0.005  parts per  million (ppm) to reduce the risk of cancer or other
      adverse health effects which  have been observed in laboratory animals.  Drinking water which meets
      this standard is associated with little to none of this risk and should be considered safe.

      6)  Fecal collforms/f. coll: The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking
      water standards  and has determined that the presence of fecal coliforms or E. coli is a serious health
      concern. Fecal coliforms and f. coli are generally not harmful themselves, but their presence in
      drinking water is serious because they usually are associated with  sewage or animal wastes.  The
      presence of these bacteria in drinking water is generally a result of a problem with water treatment or
      the pipes which  distribute the water, and indicates that the water may be contaminated with
      organisms that can cause disease. Disease symptoms may include diarrhea, cramps, nausea, and
      possibly jaundice, and associated headaches and fatigue. These symptoms, however, are not just
      associated with disease-causing organisms in drinking water, but also may be caused by a number of
      factors other than your drinking water.  EPA has set an enforceable drinking water standard for fecal
      coliforms and f.  coli to  reduce the risk of these  adverse health effects.  Under this standard all  drinking
      water samples must be free of these bacteria. Drinking water which meets this  standard is associated
      with little or none of this risk and should be considered safe.  State and local health authorities
      recommend that consumers  take the following  precautions:  [To  be inserted by  the public water
      system, according to instructions from State or local  authorities].  Effective December 31, 1990.

      7) Fluoride:  (See Section 5 and Appendix H.)

     8) Microbiological contaminants: The United States Environmental Protection Agency  (EPA) sets
     drinking water standards and has determined that the presence of microbiological contaminants are  a
     health concern at certain  levels of exposure.  If  water is inadequately treated, microbiological
     contaminants in  that water may cause disease.  Disease symptoms may include diarrhea, cramps,
     nausea,  and possibly jaundice, and any associated  headaches and fatigue.  These symptoms, however,
     are not just associated with disease-causing organisms in drinking water, but also may be caused by a
     number of factors other than your drinking water.  EPA has set enforceable requirements for treating
     drinking water to reduce the risk  of these adverse health effects.  Treatment such as filtering and
     disinfecting the water removes or destroys microbiological contaminants. Drinking water which is
     treated to meet EPA requirements is  associated with little to none  of this risk and should  be considered
     safe. Effective December 31, 1990.

     9) Para-dichlorobenzene:  The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking
     water standards and has determined that para-dichlorobenzene is  a health concern at certain levels of
     exposure.  This chemical is a  component of deodorizers, moth balls, and pesticides.  It generally gets
     into drinking water by improper waste disposal.  The chemical has been shown to cause liver and
     kidney damage in laboratory  animals such as rats and mice when  the animals are exposed at high
     levels over their lifetimes.  Chemicals which cause adverse effects  in laboratory animals also may cause
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                                           Appendix B
9) Para-dichlorobenzene continued.

adverse health effects in humans who are exposed at lower levels over long periods of time.  EPA has
set the enforceable drinking water standard for para-dichlorobenzene at 0.075 parts per million (ppm)
to reduce the risk of  these adverse health effects which have been observed in laboratory animals.
Drinking water which meets this standard is associated with little to none of this risk and should be
considered  safe.

10)  Total  conforms:  The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking water
standards and has determined that the presence of total coliforms is a possible health concern. Total
conforms are common in the environment and are generally not harmful themselves. The presence of
these bacteria in drinking water,  however, generally is a result of a problem with water treatment or
the  pipes which distribute the water, and indicates that the water may be contaminated with
organisms that can cause disease. Disease symptoms may include diarrhea, cramps, nausea,  and
possibly jaundice, and any associated headaches and fatigue.  These symptoms, however, are not just
associated with  disease-causing organisms in drinking water, but also may be  caused by a number of
factors other than your drinking water.  EPA has set an enforceable drinking water standard for total
coliforms to reduce the risk of these adverse health effects.  Drinking water which meets this standard
is usually not associated with a health risk from disease-causing bacteria  and should be  considered safe.
Effective December 31, 1990.

11)  Trlchloroethylene:  The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking
water standards and  has determined that trichloroethylene is a health concern at certain levels of
exposure.  This chemical is a  common metal cleaning and dry cleaning fluid.  It generally gets into
drinking water by improper waste disposal. This chemical has been shown to cause cancer in
laboratory  animals such as rats and mice when the animals are exposed at high levels over their
lifetimes. Chemicals  that cause cancer in laboratory animals also  may increase the risk of cancer in
humans who are exposed at lower levels over long periods of time.  EPA has set forth the enforceable
drinking water standard for trichloroethylene at 0.005 parts per million (ppm) to reduce the  risk of
cancer or other adverse health effects which have been observed  in laboratory animals.  Drinking water
which meets this  standard is associated with little to none of this  risk and should be considered safe.

12)  Vinyl chloride: The United States  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking water
standards and has determined that vinyl chloride is a health concern at certain levels of exposure.
This chemical is used in industry and is found in drinking water as a result of  the breakdown of related
solvents. The solvents are used as cleaners and degreasers of metals and generally get into drinking
water by improper waste disposal.  This chemical has been associated with significantly increased risks
of cancer among  certain industrial workers who were exposed to relatively large amounts of  this
chemical during their working careers.  This chemical has also been shown to cause cancer in
laboratory  animals when the  animals are exposed at high levels over their lifetimes. Chemicals that
cause increased risk of cancer among exposed industrial workers and in  laboratory animals also may
increase the risk of cancer in  humans who are exposed at lower levels over long periods of time.  EPA
has set the enforceable drinking  water standard for vinyl chloride at 0.002 parts per million (ppm) to
reduce the risk of cancer or other adverse health effects which have been observed in humans and
laboratory  animals.   Drinking water which meets this standard is associated with little to none of this
risk and should be considered safe.
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                                          Appendix C


APPENDIX   C.  I  Recommended Health  Effects Language
     EPA is in the process of developing final mandatory health effects language for additional
contaminants.  Until such language is promulgated, recommended language is provided below. This
recommended language is used in the sample public notices in Section 4 for contaminants for  which
no mandatory language has been finalized.

1) 2,4-D:  The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking water standards and
has determined that 2,4-0 is a health concern at certain levels of exposure.  This organic chemical is
used to control algae in reservoirs.  It generally leaches into groundwater or runs off into surface water
after application as a weed  killer. This chemical has been shown to produce adverse effects
characterized by damage to the liver and kidney of laboratory animals such as rats exposed at  high
levels during their lifetimes.  Some humans who were exposed to  relatively large amounts of this
chemical also suffered damage to the nervous system.  EPA has set the drinking water standard for 2,4-
D at 0.1  parts per million (ppm) to protect against the risk of these adverse health effects.  Drinking
water which meets the EPA standard is associated with little to none of this risk and should  be
considered safe with  respect to 2,4-D.

2) 2,4,5-TP:  The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking water standards
and has determined that 2,4,5-TP is a health concern at certain levels of exposure.  This organic
chemical is used as a herbicide.  It generally gets  into water by runoff into surface water or leaching
into ground water.  This chemical has been  shown to damage the liver and kidney of laboratory
animals such as rats and dogs exposed to high levels during their lifetimes.  Some industrial workers
who were exposed to relatively large  amounts of  this chemical during working careers also  suffered
damage to the nervous system.  EPA has set the drinking water standard for 2,4,5-TP  at 0.01 parts per
million (ppm) to  protect against the risk of these  adverse health effects.  Drinking water which meets
the EPA standard is associated with little to none  of this risk and should be considered safe  with respect
to 2,4,5-TP.

3)  Barium:  The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking water standards
and has determined  that barium is a  health concern at certain levels  of exposure.  This inorganic
chemical occurs naturally in some types of minerals that may serve as sources of ground water. It is
also used in oil and gas drilling muds, automotive paints,  bricks,  tiles and jet fuels.  It generally gets
into drinking water after dissolving from naturally occurring minerals in the ground. This chemical has
been shown to damage the heart and cardiovascular system, and is associated with high blood
pressure in laboratory animals such as rats exposed to high levels during their lifetimes.  EPA has set
the drinking water standard for barium at 1.0 parts per million (ppm) to protect against the risk of
these  adverse health effects.  Drinking water which meets the EPA standard is associated with little to
 none  of this risk and should be considered safe with respect to barium.

4)  Cadmium:  The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking water
standards and has determined that cadmium is a health concern at certain levels of exposure.
 Smoking of tobacco is a common source of general exposure. This inorganic metal is a contaminant in
the metals used to galvanize pipe. It generally gets into water by corrosion of galvanized pipes or by
 improper waste disposal.  This chemical has been shown to damage  the kidney in animals  such as rats
 and mice when the animals are exposed at high  levels over their  lifetimes. Some  industrial workers
who were exposed to  relatively large amounts of this chemical during working careers also suffered
 damage to the kidney.  EPA has set the drinking water standard for cadmium at 0.010 parts per million
 (ppm) to protect against the risk of these adverse health effects.   Drinking water which  meets the EPA
 standard is associated with little to none of this risk and should be considered safe with respect to
 cadmium.
 Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems                                                 C-1

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C-2
                                                Appendix C
 5) Chromium: The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking water
 standards and has determined that chromium is a health concern at certain levels of exposure.  This
 inorganic metal occurs naturally in  the ground and is often used in  the electroplating of metals.  It
 generally gets into water from runoff from old mining operations and improper waste disposal from
 plating operations.  This chemical has been shown to damage the kidney, nervous system, and the
 circulatory system of  laboratory animals such as rats and mice when the animals are exposed at high
 levels over their lifetimes. Some humans who were exposed to this chemical suffered liver and kidney
 damage, dermatitis and  respiratory problems. EPA has set the drinking water standard for chromium
 at 0.05 parts  per million (ppm) to protect against the risk of these adverse health  effects.  Drinking
 water which meets the EPA standard is associated with little to none of this risk and should be
 considered safe with  respect to chromium.

 6) Lead:  The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking water standards and
 has determined that lead is a health concern at certain exposure levels.  Lead is a  soft, dull, gray metal
 that has frequently been used in water supply plumbing materials, especially flux,  solder, pipes, and
 brass and bronze fixtures.  Lead usually contaminated drinking water as a result of the corrosion of
 these plumbing materials by the water they carry.  Lead has been shown to cause a variety of adverse
 health effects in humans and animals.  In humans, lead has been shown to interfere with the formation
 of red blood cells (heme synthesis), cause anemia, cause kidney damage, impair reproductive function,
 reduce  birth weight, cause premature birth, delay physical and mental development in babies and
 young children, impair mental abilities in children, and increase blood pressure in  adults.  Many of
 these effects have been observed at relatively low exposure levels.  Studies on animals indicated  that
 lead may also cause cancer at high  doses.  EPA has set the drinking  water standard for lead at 0.05
 ppm (parts  per million) to protect against the risk of these adverse health effects.  Drinking water
 which meets the EPA  standard is associated with little of this risk and should be considered safe to
 drink.

 7) Lindane:  The  United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking water standards
 and has determined that lindane is  a health concern  at certain levels of exposure.  This organic
 chemical is  used as a  pesticide.  It generally gets into  drinking water by runoff  into surface water or
 leaching into  ground  water after application to crops. This chemical has been  shown to damage the
 liver,  kidney, nervous  system, and immune system of laboratory animals such as rats, mice and dogs
 exposed at high levels during their  lifetimes.  Some humans who were exposed to relatively large
 amounts of this chemical also suffered damage to the nervous system and circulatory system.  EPA has
 established the drinking water standard for lindane at 0.004 parts per million (ppm) to protect against
 the risk of these adverse  health effects.  Drinking water which meets the EPA standard is associated
 with little to none of  this risk and should be considered safe with respect to lindane.

 8)  Mercury:  The  United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking water standards
 and has determined that mercury is a health concern at certain levels of exposure. This inorganic
 metal is used in electrical equipment and some water pumps.  It usually gets into water as a result of
 improper waste disposal. This chemical has been shown to damage the kidneys of laboratory animals
 such as rats when the animals are exposed  at high levels over their lifetimes. EPA  has set the drinking
 water standard for mercury at 0.002 parts per million  (ppm) to protect against  the risk of these
 adverse health effects. Drinking water which  meets the EPA standard is associated with little to none of
 this risk and should be considered safe with respect to mercury.

 9) Methoxychlor:  The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  sets drinking water
 standards and has determined that methoxychlor is a health concern at certain  levels of exposure. This
 organic  chemical is used  as a pesticide.  It generally gets into water by runoff into  surface water or
 leaching into ground water.  This chemical has been shown to damage the liver, kidney, nervous
 system,  and circulatory system of laboratory animals such  as rats exposed at high levels during their
 lifetimes. It  has also been shown to produce growth  retardation in rats.  EPA has set the drinking
water standard for methoxychlor at  0.1 parts per million (ppm) to protect against  the risk of these
 adverse  health effects.  Drinking water which meets the EPA standard is associated  with little to none of
this risk  and should be considered safe with respect to methoxychlor.


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                                           Appendix C
10)  Nitrate: The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking water standards
and has determined that nitrate poses an acute health concern at certain levels of exposure. This
inorganic chemical is used in fertilizer, and is associated with sewage and wastes from farm animals.  It
generally gets into water from sewage or as a result of agricultural fertilizing activity.  Excessive levels of
nitrate in drinking water have caused serious illness and sometimes death in young children under one
year of age.  Infants are at the greatest risk. The serious illness in children is caused because nitrate is
converted to nitrite in the body and nitrite interferes with the oxygen carrying capacity of the child's
blood. This is an acute disease in that the child can  exhibit symptoms within hours of consuming
water. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blueness of the skin.  Clearly,  expert medical advice
should be sought immediately if these symptoms occur. However, they do not always occur. The
purpose of this notice is to encourage parents and other responsible parties to provide children with an
alternate source of drinking  water.  Local and State health authorities are the best source for
information concerning alternate sources of drinking water for infants.  You will receive notice as soon
as a determination has been made  that the drinking water is safe. EPA has set the drinking water
standard at 10 parts per million (ppm) for nitrate to protect against the risk of these adverse effects.
Drinking water which meets the EPA standard is associated with  little to none of this risk and should be
considered safe with respect to nitrate.

11)  Selenium:  The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking water
standards and has determined that selenium is a health concern at certain  high levels of  exposure.
Selenium is also an essential nutrient at low levels of exposure.  This inorganic chemical is found
naturally in soils and is  used in electronics, photocopy operations, the manufacture of glass, chemicals,
drugs, and as a fungicide and a feed additive. This chemical has been shown to damage the kidney,
nervous system, and the circulatory system  of laboratory animals such as rats and mice when the
animals are exposed at high levels  over their lifetimes. Some industrial workers who were exposed  to
relatively large amounts of this chemical  during working careers also suffered damage to the liver,
nervous system, and circulatory system.  EPA has set the drinking water standard for selenium  at 0.01
parts per million (ppm) to protect  against the risk of these adverse health effects.  Drinking water
which meets the EPA standard  is associated with little to none of this risk and should be  considered
safe with respect to selenium.

12) Toxaphene:  The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking water
standards and has determined  that toxaphene is a health  concern at certain levels of exposure. This
organic chemical was once  a pesticide widely used on cotton, corn,  soybeans, pineapples and other
crops. It generally gets into drinking water by runoff into surface water or leaching  into ground water.
This chemical has been shown to cause cancer in  laboratory animals such as rats and mice when the
animals are exposed at high levels  over their lifetimes. Chemicals that cause cancer in laboratory
animals also may increase the risk of cancer in humans who are exposed over long periods of time.
EPA has set the drinking water standard for toxaphene at 0.005  parts per million (ppm) to reduce the
risk of cancer or other adverse health effects which have been observed in laboratory animals.
Drinking water which meets this standard is associated with little to none of this risk and should be
considered safe with respect to toxaphene.

13)  Turbidity: The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking water
standards and has determined that the turbidity of water is a health concern at certain levels of
exposure.  The turbidity, or cloudiness, of drinking water is a measure of the minute particles
suspended  in the water that can interfere with disinfection and with testing for bacteria.  Excessive
turbidity can allow disease-causing organisms to survive.  EPA has set the enforceable drinking water
standard for turbidity at 1 turbidity unit  (TU) as determined by a monthly average of daily results, and
5 TU  based  on an average  of two consecutive days, to reduce the risk of health effects associated with
particles suspended in water. Drinking water which meets this standard  is associated with little to none
of this risk and should be considered safe.
 Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems                                                  C-3

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APPENDIX
                Appendix D


Checklists for Community and Non-Community
Public Water Systems for Tter I  and Her 2
Violations
    Use the checklist for your type of system as you develop your public notice to be sure that all
requirements for public notification have been met.
 Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems
                                                          D 1

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                                           Appendix D
                  Checklist  of Public Notification  Requirements
                                              for
                            COMMUNITY  WATER SYSTEMS
               Determine your notification requirements for each violation by circling all that
     apply.  Read footnotes carefully.
                             Public Notification  Requirements

Violation
Category
Type
TIER 1
1. MCL
2. Treatment
Technique
3. Variance or
Exemption
Schedule
Violation

TIER 2
1 . Monitoring3
2. Testing
Procedure
3. Variance or
Exemption
Issued
Mandatory
Health
Effects
Information
Required
(All PWSs)

Yes
Yes

Yes





No
No
Yes



Notice to
New Billing
Units
(CWSs Only)

Yes
Yes

Yes





No
No
No



Type of
PWS
Community










Community



Time Frame Within Which Notice Must be Given (Box Indicates
time frame for initial notice, and is followed by the frequency of
repeat notice until the violation Is resolved)
.Yjola- 72 7 14 45 3 Annual
tfoh hours days days days months
Acute Violations:
W^ind Radio | NP Repeat
Newspaper1 No Repeat
Mart or Hand Delivery* j

Non-Acute Violations;

^ 	 •• 	 ''• 	 	 1
Mart or Hand Delivery*
Newspaper1








Quarterly Repeat




Quarterly Repeat
Repeat fay
Matter
0**ff



    Footnotes

    'If no newspaper of general circulation is available, posting or hand delivery is required as specified in
       §141.32(a)(3)(i) and §141.32(b)(3)(i).                                      K
    2May be waived in accordance with §141.32(a)(1)(ii).
    3Less frequent notice (but no less than annual) to be required as in §142.16(a).
                                                                              on following page.
D-2
                                               Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems

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                                       Appendix D
Checklist of Public Notification Requirements (continued)
                        COMMUNITY WATER  SYSTEMS
           Check each Item below that appears In the notice you have prepared.  When
all appropriate Items have been checked, your notice should  meet the requirements
established for General Public Notification.
                                     Notice Contents
   •    The notice provides a clear and readily understandable explanation of the
   Q     1 .   violation
   Q     2.   potential adverse health effects (mandatory health effects language)
   Q     3.   population at risk
   Q     4.   steps the system is taking to correct the violation
   Q     5.   necessity of seeking alternative water supplies (if any)
   Q     6.   preventive measures the consumer should take until the violation is corrected

   •    The notice
   Q     7.   is clear and conspicuous in  design
         8.   contains non-technical language
         9.   uses print that is easily read
        1 0.   content creates no problems that would frustrate the purpose of public notification
Q
Q
Q
Q
        11.   contains the telephone number of the owner, operator, or designee of the public water
             system as a source of additional information
   Q    1 2.   contains multi-lingual information, where appropriate
 Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems
                                                                                        D-3

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                                          Appendix D
                 Checklist of  Public Notification Requirements
                                             for
                        NON COMMUNITY WATER  SYSTEMS
               Determine your notification requirements for each violation by circling all that
    apply. Read footnotes carefully.
                            Public Notification Requirements


Violation
Category
Type
TIER 1
1. MCL
2. Treatment
Technique

3. Variance or
Exemption
Violation


TIER 2
1 . Monitoring
2. Testing
Procedure
3. Variance or
Exemption
Issued

Mandatory
Health
Effects
Information
Required
(All PWSs)

Yes
Yes


Yes




No
No

Yes



Notke to
New Billing
Units
(CWSs Only)





Not
Applicable





Not
Applicable





Type of
PWS





Non-
Community





Non-
Community1



Time Frame Within Which Notice Must be Given (Box Indicates
time frame for initial notice, and Is followed by the frequency of
repeat notice until the violation is resolved)
.Viola- 72 7 14 45 3 Annual
tfoh hours days days days months
Option 1:
Notice as for Community W*t«r Systems
w

Option 2:
Acute Violations:
H^DeHvery Continuous/Quarterly Repeat*
I: M1 	 n i . (
Non-Acute Violations?
Porting or Hand Delivery : tontinuaus/Quarterly Repeat*
Option 1:
Notice as for Community Water Systems
4V
Option 2:

Potting or Hand Delivery |»MSM.KIU#
	 	 1 Quarterly


    Footnotes

    Includes both transient non-community public water systems and non-transient non-community public water
      systems.
    2Less frequent notice (but no less than annual) to be required as in §142.l6(a).
    ^Continuous repeat required if posting is used; quarterly repeat required if hand delivery is used.
D-4
                                               Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems

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                                       Appendix D
Checklist of Public Notification  Requirements (continued)
                    NON COMMUNITY  WATER  SYSTEMS
           Check each item below that appears in the notice you have prepared.  When
all appropriate Items have been checked, your notice should meet the requirements
established for General Public Notification.
                                     Notice Contents
  •   The notice provides a clear and readily understandable explanation of the
  Q     1.  violation
  Q     2.  potential adverse health effects (mandatory health effects language)
  Q     3.  population at risk
  Q     4.  steps the system is taking to correct the violation
  Q     5.  necessity of seeking alternative water supplies (if any)
  Q     6.  preventive measures the consumer should take until the violation is corrected

  •   The notice
  Q     7.  is clear and conspicuous in design
  Q     8.  contains non-technical language
  Q     9.  uses print that is easily read
  Q   10.  content creates no problems that would frustrate the purpose of public notification
  Q   11.  contains the telephone number of  the owner, operator, or designee of the public water
            system as a source of additional information
  Q   12.  contains multi-lingual information,  where appropriate
 Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems
D-5

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                                         Appendix E
APPENDIX  E.
Safe Drinking Water Act * Section 1414(c):
Enforcement of Drinking Water Regulations,
General Public Notification Requirements
ENFORCEMENT OF DRINKING WATER REGULATIONS

SEC. 1414(c)  Each owner or operator of a public water system shall give notice to the persons served
by it-

     (1) of any failure on the part of the public water system to-
           (A) comply with an applicable maximum contaminant level or treatment technique
           requirement of, or a testing procedure prescribed by, a national primary drinking water
           regulation, or
           (B) perform monitoring required by section 1445(a), and

     (2) if the public water system is subject to a variance granted under section  1415(a)(1)(A) or
     1415(a)(2) for an inability to meet a maximum contaminant level requirement or is subject to an
     exemption granted  under section 1416, of-
           (A) the existence of such variance or exemption, and
           (B) any failure to comply with the requirements of any schedule prescribed pursuant to the
           variance or exemption.

The Administrator shall by regulation  prescribe the form, manner,  and frequency for giving notice
under this subsection.  Within 15 months after the enactment of the Safe Drinking Water Act
Amendments of 1986, the Administrator shall amend such regulations to provide  for different types
and frequencies of notice based on the  differences between violations which are intermittent or
infrequent and violations which are continuous or frequent.  Such regulations shall also take into
account the seriousness of any potential adverse health effects which may be involved.  Notice of any
violation of a maximum contaminant level or any other violation designated by the Administrator as
posing a serious potential adverse health effect shall be given as soon  as possible, but in no case later
than 14 days after the violation.  Notice of a continuous violation of a regulation  other than a
maximum contaminant level shall be given no less frequently than every 3 months. Notice of
violations judged to be less serious shall be given no less frequently  than annually. The Administrator
shall specify the types of notice to be used to provide information as promptly and effectively as
possible taking into account both the seriousness of any potential adverse health effects and the
likelihood of reaching  all affected persons. Notification of violations shall include  notice by general
circulation newspaper serving the area and,  whenever appropriate, shall also include a press release to
electronic media and individual mailings.  Notice under this subsection shall provide a clear and readily
understandable explanation of the violation, any potential adverse health effects, the steps that the
system is taking to correct such violations, and the necessity for seeking alternative water supplies, if
any, until the violation is corrected.  Until such  amended  regulations are promulgated, the regulations
in effect on the date of the enactment  of the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1986 shall
remain in effect.  The  Administrator may also require the  owner or operator of a public water system
to give notice to the persons served by it of contaminant levels of any unregulated contaminant
required to be monitored under section 1445(a). Any person who violates this subsection or
regulations issued under this subsection shall be subject to a civil  penalty of not to exceed $25,000.
 Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems                                                E-1

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                                             Appendix F
APPENDIX
F.
National Primary Drinking Water  Regulations *
Section  14132; General Public Notification
Requirements •  October 28, 1£&7 • Including
Technical Amendments of April  17,  1989 and the
Surface  Water Treatment and Total Coliform
Regulations of June 29,  1989
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 141,142, and 143
[WH-FRL-3254-6]

Drinking Water Regulations; Public
Notification

AGENCY: Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This action under section
1414(c] of the Safe Drinking Water Act
(SDWA), 42 U.S.C. 300f et seq., amends
the general public notification
regulations found at 40 CFR 141.32, and
amends the public notification
requirements for exceedances of the
National Secondary Drinking Water
Regulations for fluoride found at 40 CFR
143.5, to make them consistent with the
new general public notification
requirements. These changes apply to
owners and operators of public water
systems which fail to comply with
certain requirements of the National
Primary Drinking Water Regulations
(NPDWRs), or certain monitoring
requirements, and owners or operators
of public water systems which have a
variance or exemption. EPA is
establishing requirements regarding the
manner, form, content and frequency of
the public notice.
  In addition, EPA is promulgating new
public notification requirements
regarding lead contamination of
drinking water to implement section
1417(a)(2) of the SDWA. The new public
notification requirements for lead
require public water systems to identify
and provide notice to persons who may
be affected by lead contamination in
their drinking water, where such
contamination results from the use of
lead in the construction materials of the
distribution system.  These notification
requirements, which apply to owners
and operators of community and non-
transient non-community water systems,
apply in addition to  the general public
notification requirements for lead. EPA
is today establishing requirements
regarding the content, form, manner, and
frequency of the lead notice.
                       Finally. EPA is amending the State
                     implementation regulations found at 40
                     CFR Part 142, Subpart B to require
                     States to adopt, at a minimum, the
                     general public notification requirements
                     found in revised § 141.32, and
                     procedures for implementing
                     § 141.32(b)(3)(iii), which allows States to
                     extend the public notification time
                     frames for certain Tier 2 monitoring
                     violations from three months to one
                     year.
                     EFFECTIVE DATE: The amended general
                     public notice requirements under new 40
                     CFR 141.32, will take effect April 28,
                     1989. The public notice requirements for
                     lead found at 40 CFR 141.34, the
                     amended public notification
                     requirements for violations of the
                     Secondary Maximum Contaminant
                     Level (SMCL) for fluoride found at 40
                     CFR 143.5, and the amended State
                     implementation requirements found at
                     40 CFR Part 142, Subpart B will take
                     effect November 27,1987. The
                     redesignation of 40 CFR 141.32 as 40
                     CFR 141.36 and the new introductory
                     text are effective November 27,1987.
                     Section 141.36 expires April 28,1989. In
                     accordance with 40 CFR 23.7, this
                     regulation shall be considered final
                     Agency action for the purposes of
                     judicial review at 1:00 p.m. eastern time
                     on November 12,1987.

                     §141.32  Public notification.
                       The requirements in  this section are
                     effective April 28,1989. The
                     requirements of § 141.36 apply until
                     April 28,1989.
                       (a) Maximum contaminant level
                     (MCL), treatment technique, and
                     variance and exemption schedule
                     violations. The owner or operator of a
                     public water system which fails to
                     comply with an applicable MCL or
                     treatment technique established by this
                     part or which fails to comply with the
                     requirements of any schedule prescribed
                     pursuant to a variance or exemption,
                     shall notify persons served by the
                     system as follows:
                        (1) Except as provided in paragraph
                     (a)(3) of this section, the owner or
                     operator of a public water system must
                     give notice:
                                                   (i) By publication in a daily
                                                 newspaper of general circulation in the
                                                 area served by the system as soon as
                                                 possible, but in no case laterJhan 14
                                                 days after the violation or failure. If the
                                                 area served by a public water system is
                                                 not served by a dailyTtewspaper qf
                                                 general circulation, notice shall instead
                                                 be given-by publication in a weekly
                                                 newspaper of general circulation serving
                                                 the area: and
                                                   fii) By mail delivery (by direct mail or
                                                 with the water bill), or by hand delivery,
                                                 not later than 45 days after the violation
                                                 or failure. The State may waive mail or
                                                 hand delivery if it determines that the
                                                 owner or operator of  the public water
                                                 system in violation has corrected the
                                                 violation or failure within the 45-day
                                                 period. The State must make the waiver
                                                 in writing and within the 45-day period;
                                                 and
                                                   (iii) For violations of the MCLs of
                                                 contaminants that ?na.y pose an acute
                                                 risk to human health, by furnishing a
                                                 copy of the notice  to  the radio and
                                                 television stations serving the urea
                                                 served by.the public  water system as
                                                 soon as possible but  in  no case later
                                                 than 72 hours after the violation. The
                                                 following violations are acute violations:
                                                   (A) Any violations specified by the
                                                 State as posing an acute risk to human
                                                 health.
                                                    (B)  Violation of the MCL for nitrate as
                                                 defined in § 141.11(b) and determined
                                                 according to § 141.23(d).
                                                    (C) Violation of the MCL for total
                                                  coliforms, when fecal coliforms or E.
                                                  co/i arc present in the water distribution
                                                  system, as specified  in § 141.63(b).
                                                    (Dj Occurrence of  a waterborne
                                                  disease outbreak, as  defined in § 141.2,
                                                  in an unfiltered system subject to the
                                                  requirements of Subpart H of this part.
                                                  after December 30,1991 (see
                                                  § 141,71(b)(4)).
                                                    (2) Except as provided in paragraph
                                                  (a)(3) of this section, following the initial
                                                  notice given under paragraph (a)(l) of
                                                  this section, the owner or operator of the
                                                  public water system must give notice at
                                                  least once every three months by mail
                                                  delivery (by direct mail or with the
                                                  water bill) or by hand delivery, for as
                                                  long as the violation or failure exists.
 Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems
                                                                                     F 1

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                                                      Appendix F
         (3) (i) In lieu of the requirements of
      paragraphs (a) (1) and (2) of this section,
      the owner or operator of a community
      water system in an area that is not
      served by a daily or weekly newspaper
      of general circulation must give notice
      by hand delivery or by continuous
      posting in conspicuous places within
      the area served by the system. Notice
      by hand delivery or posting must begin
      as soon as possible, but no later than 72
      hours after the violation or failure for
      acute violations (as defined in paragraph
      (a) (1) (iii) of this section), or 14 days
      after the violation or failure (for any
      other violation).  Posting must
      continue for as long as the violation or
      failure exists. Notice by hand delivery
      must be repeated at least every three
      months for as long as the violation or
      failure exists.
        (ii) In lieu of the requirements of
      paragraphs (a) (1) and (2) of this section,
      the owner or operator of a non-
      community water system may give
      notice by hand delivery or by
      continuous posting in conspicuous
      places within the area served by the
      system. Notice by hand delivery or
      posting must begin as soon as possible,
      but no later than 72 hours after the
      violation or failure for acute violations
      (as defined in paragraph (a) (1) (iii) of
      this section, or 14 days after the
      violation or failure (for any other
      violation). Posting must continue for
      as long as the violation or failure exists.
      Notice by hand delivery must be
      repeated at least every three months for
      as long as the violation  or failure exists.
         (b) Other violations, variances,
      exemptions. The owner or operator of a
      public water system  which fails to
      perform monitoring required by section
      1445(a) of the Act (including monitoring
      required by the National Primary
      Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWRs)
      of this part), fails to comply with a
      testing procedure established by this
      part, is subject to a variance granted
      under section 1415(a)(l)(A) or 1415(a)(2)
      of the Act. or is subject to an exemption
      under section 1416 of the Act. shall
      notify persons  served by the system as
      follows:
        (1) Except as provided in paragraph
      (b)(3) or (b)(4) of this  section, the owner
      or operator of a public water system
      must give notice within three months of
      the violation or granting of a variance or
      exemption by publication in a daily
      newspaper of general circulation in the
      area served by the system. If the area
      served by a public water system is not
      served by a daily newspaper of general
      circulation, notice shall  instead be given
      by publication in a weekly newspaper of
      general circulation serving the area.
    (2) Except as provided in paragraph
  (b)(3) or (b)(4) of this section, following
  the initial notice given under paragraph
  (b)(l) of this section, the owner or
  operator of the public water system
  must give notice at least once every
  three months by mail delivery (by direct
  mail or with the water bill) or by hand
  delivery, for as long as the violation
  exists. Repeat notice of the existence of
  a variance or exemption must be given
  every three months for as long as the
  variance or exemption remains in effect.
    (3) (i) In lieu of the requirements of
  paragraphs (b)(l) and  (b)(2) of this
  section, the owner or operator of a
  community! water system in an area that
  is not served by a daily or weekly
  newspaper; of general circulation must
  give notice; within three months of the
  violation or granting of the variance or
  exemption, by hand delivery or by
  continuous posting in conspicuous
  places with the area served by the
  system. Posting must continue for as
  long as the violation exists or a variance
  or exemption remains in effects. Notice
  by hand delivery must be repeated at
  least every three months for as long as
  the violation exists or a variance or
  exemption remains in effect.
   (ii) In lieu of the requirements of
  paragraphs (b)(l) and (b)(2) of this
  section, the owner or operator of a non-
  community water system may give
  notice, within three months of the'
  violation or the granting of the variance
  or exemption, by hand delivery or by
  continuourposting in conspicuous
  places within the area served by the
  system. Posting must continue for as
  long as the violation exists, or a
 variance or exemption remains in effect.
 Notice by hand delivery must be
 repeated at least every three months for
 as long as the violation exists or a
 variance or exemption remains in effect.
   (4) In lieu of the requirements of
 paragraphs (b)(l). (b)(2). and (b)(3) of
 this section, the owner or operator of a
 public water system, at the discretion of
 the State, may provide less frequent
 notice for minor monitoring violations as
 defined by the State, if EPA has
 approved the State's application for a
 program revision under § 142.16. Notice
 of such violations must be given no less
 frequently than annually.
  (c)  Notice to new billing unite. The
 owner or operator of a community water
 system must give a copy of the most
 recent public notice for any outstanding
 violation of any  maximum contaminant
 level, or any treatment technique
 requirement, or any variance or
exemption schedule to all new billing
units or new hookups prior to or at the
time service begins.
    (d) General content of public notice.
  Each notice required by this section
  must provide a clear and readily
  understandable explanation of the
  violation, any potential adverse health
  effects, the population at risk, the steps
  that the public water system is taking to
  correct such violation, the necessity for
  seeking alternative, water supplies, \\
  any, and any preventive measures the
  consumer should take until the violation
  is corrected. Each notice shall be
  conspicuous and shall not contain
  unduly technical language, unduly small
  print, orsimilar problems that frustrate
  the  purpose of the. notice. Each notice
  shall include the telephone number of
  the  owner, opera tpr, or designee of the
  public water system as a source of
  additional information concerning the
  notice. Where appropriate, the notice
  shall be: multi-lingual.
    (e) Mandatory health effects
  language. When providing the
  information on potential adverse health
  effects required by paragraph (d) of :this
  section in notices of violations of
  maximum contaminant levels or
  treatment technique requirements, or
  notices of the granting or the qorUirtued
  existence of,exemptions or variances, or
  notices of failure to comply with a
  variance or exemption schedule, the
  owner or operator of a public ivater
  system shall-indude .the language
  specified below for each contaminant.
  (If language for a particular contaminant
  is  not specified below at the time notice
  is  required, this paragraph does not
  apply.)
    (I) Twcti/oroethylene: The United
 States Environmental Protection Agency
 (EPA) sets drinking water standards and
 has determined that triohloroethylene is
 a health concern at certain levels of
 exposure. This chemical, is a common
 metal cleaning and dry cleaning fluid. It
 generally gets into drinking water by
 improper waste disposal. This chemical
 has been shown to cause cancer in
 laboratory animals such as rats and
 mice  when the animals.are exposed at
 •high'levels over their lifetimes.
 Chemicals that'cause cancer in
 laboratory animals also may increase
 the risk of cancer in humans who are
 exposed at lower levels over long
 periods of time. EPA has set forth the
 enforceable drinking water standard for
 trichloroethylene at 0.005 parts per
 million (ppmj to reduce the risk of
 cancer or other adverse health effects
 which have been  observed  in laboratory
animals. Drinking water which meets
this standard is associated with little to
none of this risk and should be
considered safe.
F-2
                                                          Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems

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                                                        Appendix F
   (2) Carbon tetrachloride. The United
 States Environmental Protection.Agency
 (EPA)  sets drinking water standards and
 has determined.that cacbon
 tetrachloride is a hiwHh-concernst
 certain levels of exposure. This chemical
 was once-a popular household cleaning
 fluid. It .generally gets into drinking
 water  by improper waste disposal. This
 chemical has been shown to cause.
 cancer Jn.laboratory animals such as
 rats and mice when the animals are
 exposed-at high levels over their
 lifetimes. Chemicals that  cause cancer in
 laboratory animals also may Increase
 the risk of cancer in humans who are
 exposed at lower levels over long
 periods of of time. EPATias set the
 enforceable drinking water standard for
 carbon tetrachloride at 0.005 parts per
 million:(ppm) to reduce the risk of
 cancer or other adverse health effects
 which  have been observed in laboratory
 animals. Drinking water whichmeets
 this standard is associated-with little to
 none-of this ris-k and should be
 considered safe.
   (3) 7,2-Z7/cA/OT-aetf?a/je. The United
 States  EnvironmentaTProtection Agency
 (EPA)  sets drinking water standards Bird
 ha« determined that 1,2-dichloroetrrarre
 is a health concern at certain levels-of
 exposure. This chemical is used BS a
 cleaning fluid Tor fats, oils, waxes, and
 resins. It generally gets into -drinking
 water  from improper waste -dispersal.
 This chemical has been shown to cause
 cancer in laboratory animals such as
 rats and mitre when'the animals are
 exposed at high levels over then-
 lifetimes. Chemicals that cause cancer in
 laboratory animals also may increase
 the risk of cancer .in humans  who are
 exposed at lower levelsrwer long
 periods of time. EPA has set the
 enforceable drinking water-standard for
 1,2-dichloroethane at 0.005-parts per
 million (ppm) to reduce the jisk of
 cancer.or other adverse;health effects
 which  have been observed in laboratory
 animals. Drinking water which meets
 this standard is associated with little to
 none of this risk and should be
 considered safe.
  (4) Vinyl chloride. The United States ,
 EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA)
 sets drinking water standards and has
 determined that vinyl chloride is a
 health  concern at certain levels of
 exposure. This.chemicaUs.used in
 industry and is found in. drinking water
 as a result of the breakdown  of related
 sol vents. The solvents are used as
 cleaners- and degreasers of metals and
generally get into.drinking water by
 improper waste disposal. This chemical
has been associated with significantly
increased risks of cancer among certain
 industrial workers who w«re exposed to
 relatively large amounts of this chemical
 during their working careers. This
 chemical has also been shown to cause
 cancenin,laboratory animals when the
 animals are exposed tit high levels over
 their;lifetimes,'GhemicQls'that cause
 increased risk of cancer-among-exposed
 industrial .workers and in laboratory
 animals also mH,y increase the risk of
 cancer in humans who are exposed at
 lower levels over long periods of time.
 EPA haslet the-enforceable, drinking
 water standard for vinyl chloride at
 0.002 part penmillion (ppm) tone. The United
 States Environmental Protection Agency
 (EPA) sets drinking water standards and
 has-determined:that para-
 dichlorobenzene is a health concern at
 certain levels of exposure. This chemical
 is a component of deodorizers, moth
 balls, and pesticides. It generally gets
 into drinking water by improper waste
 disposal. This chemical has been shown
 to cause.liver and kidney damage in
 laboratory animals such as rats and
 mice when the animals are exposed to
 high levels over their lifetimes.
 Chemicals which cause adverse effects
 in laboratory animals also may cause
 adverse health effects in humans who
 are exposed at lower levels over long
 periods of  time. EPA has set the
 enforceable drinking water standard for
 para-dichlorobenzene at 0.075.parts per
 million (ppm) to reduce the risk of  these
 adverse health effects which have  been
 observed in laboratory animals.
 Drinking water which meets  this
 standard is associated with little to none
 of this risk and should be considered
 safe.
  (8) 1,1.1-Trichloroethane. The United
 States Environmental Protection Agency
 (EPA) sets  drinking water standards and
 has determined that the 1,1,1-
 trichloroethane is a health concern at
 certain levels of exposure. This chemical
 is used as a cleaner and degreaser  of
 metals. It generally gets into drinking
 water by improper waste disposal. This
 chemical has been shown to damage the
 liver, nervous system, and circulatory
 system of laboratory animals such  as
 rats and mice when the animals are
 exposed at high levels over their
 lifetimes. Some industrial workers who
 were exposed to relatively large
amounts of this chemical during their
working careers also suffered damage to
 the liver, nervous system, and
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                                                                           F-3

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                                                     Appendix F
      circulatory system. Chemicals which
      cause adverse effects among exposed
      industrial workers and in laboratory
      animals also may cause adverse health
      effects  in humans who are exposed at
      lower levels over long periods of time.
      EPA has set the enforceable drinking
      water standard for 1.1.1-trichloro-
      ethane  at 0.2 parts per million (ppm)
      to protect against the risk of these
      adverse health effects which have been
      observed  in humans and laboratory
      animals. Drinking water which meets
      this standard is associated with little to
      none of this risk and should be
      considered safe.
       (9) Fluoride.
       [Note.—EPA is not specifying language
      that must be included in a public notice for
      a violation of the fluoride maximum
      contaminant level in this section because
      § 143.5 of this part includes the necessary
      information. See paragraph (f) of mis
      section.]
       (ID) Microbiological contaminants
      (for use when there is a violation  of
      the treatment technique requirements
      for filtration and disinfection in
      Subpart H of this part). The United
      States Environmental Protection
      Agency (EPA) sets  drinking water
      standards and has determined that the
      presence of microbiological
      contaminants are a  health concern at
      certain  levels of exposure. If water is
      inadequately treated, microbiological
      contaminants in that water may cause
      disease. Disease symptoms may
      include diarrhea, cramps, nausea,  and
      possibly jaundice, and any associated
      headaches and fatigue. These
      symptoms, however, are not just
      associated with disease-causing
      organisms in drinking water, but also
      may be caused by a number of factors
      other than your drinking water. EPA
      has set  enforceable  requirements for
      treating drinking water to reduce the
      risk of  these adverse health effects.
      Treatment such as filtering and
      disinfecting the water removes or
      destroys microbiological contaminants.
      Drinking water which is treated to
      meet EPA requirements is associated
      with little to none of this risk and
      should be considered safe.
       (11) Total coliforms (To be used
      when there is a violation of
      § 141.63(a), and not a violation of
      § 141.63(b)). The United States
     Environmental Protection Agency
     (EPA) sets drinking water standards
     and has determined  that the presence
     of total  coliforms is a possible health
     concern. Total coliforms are common
     in the environment and are generally
     not  harmful  themselves. The presence
     of these bacteria in drinking  water,
     however, generally is a result of a
 problem with water treatment or the
 pipes which distribute the water, and
 indicates that the water may be
 contaminated with organisms that can
 cause disease. Disease symptoms may
 include diarrhea, cramps, nausea, and
 possibly jaundice, and any associated
 headaches and fatigue. These
 symptoms, however, are not just
 associated with disease-causing
 organisms in drinking water, but also
 may be caused by a number of factors
 other than your drinking water. EPA
 has set an  enforceable drinking water
 standard for total coliforms to reduce
 the risk of these adverse health effects.
 Under this standard, no more than 5.0
 percent of the samples collected during
 a month can contain these bacteria,
 except that systems collecting fewer
 than 40 samples/month that have one
 total coliform-positive sample per
 month are not violating the standard.
 Drinking water which meets this
 standard is usually not associated with
 a health risk from disease-causing
 bacteria  and should be considered safe.
  (12) Fecal Coliforms/E. coli (To be
 used when there is a violation of
 § 141.63(b) or both § 141.63(a) and
 (b)). The United States Environmental
 Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking
 water standards and has determined
 that the presence of fecal coliforms  or
 E.  coli is a serious health concern.
 Fecal coliforms and E. coli are
 generally not harmful themselves, but
 their presence in drinking water is
 serious because they usually are
 associated with sewage or animal
 wastes. The presence  of these bacteria
 in drinking water is generally a result
 of a problem with water treatment or
 the pipes which distribute the water,
 and indicates that the  water may be
 contaminated  with organisms that can
 cause disease. Disease symptoms may
 include diarrhea, cramps, nausea, and
 possibly jaundice, and associated
 headaches  and fatigue. These
 symptoms, however, are  not just
 associated  with disease-causing
 organisms  in drinking water, but also
 may be caused by a number of factors
 other than your drinking  water. EPA
 has set an enforceable drinking water
 standard for fecal coliforms and E.
 coli to reduce the risk of these adverse
 health effects. Under this standard all
 drinking water samples must be free of
 these bacteria. Drinking water which
 meets this standard is  associated with
 little or none of this risk and should  be
considered safe. State  and local health
authorities recommend that consumers
take the following precautions: [To be
inserted by the public  water system,
according to instructions from State  or
local authorities].
   (f) Public notices for fluoride.
 Notice of violations of the maximum
 contaminant level for fluoride, notices
 of variances and exemptions from the
 maximum contaminant level for
 fluoride, and notices of failure to
 comply with variance and exemption
 schedules for the maximum
 contaminant level for fluoride shall
 consist of the public notice prescribed
 in §  143.5(b), plus a description of
 any steps which the system is taking
 to come into compliance.
   (g) Public notification  by the State.
 The State may give notice  to the
 public required by this section on
 behalf of the owner or operator of the
 public water system if the State
 complies with the requirements of this
 section. However, the owner or
 operator of the public water system
 remains legally responsible for
 ensuring that the requirements of this
 section are met
 §143.5  Compliance with secondary
 maximum contaminant  level and
 public notification for fluoride.
   (a) Community water systems, as
 defined in 40 CFR 141.2(e)(i) of this
 title that exceed  the secondary
 maximum contaminant level for
 fluoride as determined by the last
 single sample taken in accordance with
 the requirements of §  141.23 of this
 title or any equivalent  State law, but
 do not exceed the maximum
 contaminant level  for fluoride as
 specified by § 141.62 of this title or
 any  equivalent State law, shall provide
 the notice prescribed in paragraph (b)
 of all billing units annually, all new
 billing units at the time service begins,
 and  the State public heajth officer.
   (b) The notice required by paragraph
 (a) shall  contain the following
 language including the language
 necessary to replace the superscripts:
 §  142.16 Special primacy
 requirements.

  (a) State public notification
 requirements. If  a State exercises the
 option specified  in § 142.32(b)(4) to
 authorize less frequent notice for
 minor monitoring violations, it must
 adopt a program revision enforceable
 under State authorities which
 promulgates rules specifying either:
 (1) whicn monitoring violations are
 minor and the frequency  of public
notification for such violations; or (2)
by establishing criteria for determining
which monitoring violations are minor
and the frequency of public
notification.
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                                        Appendix C
APPENDIX
G.
Explanation of the Footnotes for the Summary
of Public Notification Requirements Chart  in
Section 1  and Public  Notification Checklists in
Appendix D
               FOOTNOTE 1
         Alternate
         procedure to
         be used when
         there Is no
         dally or
         weekly
                     of
         general
         circulation.
                 Section 141.32(a)(3)(i), which applies to Tier 1 violations,
                 states that "... the owner or operator of a community water
                 system in an area that is not served by a daily or weekly
                 newspaper of general circulation must give notice by hand
                 delivery or by continuous posting in conspicuous places
                 within the area served by the system. Notice by hand
                 delivery or posting must begin as soon as possible, but no
                 later than  72 hours after the violation or failure for acute
                 violations (as defined in paragraph (a)(1 )(iii) of this section)
                 or 14 days after the violation or failure (for any other
                 violation).  Posting must continue for as long as the violation
                 or failure exists. Notice by hand delivery must be repeated
                 at least every three  months for as long as the violation or
                 failure exists. Notice by hand delivery must be repeated at
                 least every three months for as long as the violation or failure
                 exists."

                 Section 141.32(b)(3)(5), which applies to Tier 2 violations,
                 states that "... the owner operator of a community water
                 system in  an area that is not served by a daily or weekly
                 newspaper of general circulation must give notice, within
                 three months of the violation or granting of the variance or
                 exemption, by  hand delivery or by continuous posting in
                 conspicuous places with the  area served by the system.
                 Posting must continue  for as long as the violation exists or a
                 variance or exemption  remains in effect.  Notice by hand
                 delivery must be repeated at least every three months for as
                 long as the violation exists or the variance or exemption
                 remains in effect."
               FOOTNOTE 2
         Waiver of
         notice by ntall
         or band
         delivery for
         Tfcrl
         violations.
                  Section 141.32(a)(1)00 states, "... The State may waive mail
                  or hand delivery if it determines that the owner or operator
                  of the public water system in violation has corrected the
                  violation or failure within the 45-day period. The State must
                  make the waiver in writing and within the 45-day period..."
               NOTE:  A supplier cannot forgo the notice on the assumption that the state will waive
               notice.
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                                                                              G1

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                                               Appendix C
                     FOOTNOTE 3
               Involves both
               transient and
               non-transient
               non-com-
               munity water
               systems.
 Indicates that the term "non-community system" includes
 both transient and non-transient non-community water
 systems. The definition of non-transient non-community
 public water system (Rules for Volatile Organic Chemicals, 40
 CFR 141.2  is as follows:
    "A public water system that is not a community water
    system and that regularly serves at least 25 of the same
    persons over six months per year" (e.g., schools,
    factories).
                     FOOTNOTE 4
              Circumstances
              where less
              frequent
              notke is
              allowed*
 Section 142.16(a). "State public notification requirements,"
 states, "If a State exercises the option...to authorize less
 frequent notice for minor monitoring violations, it must
 adopt a program revision enforceable under State authorities
 which promulgates rules specifying either:  (1) which
 monitoring violations are  minor and  the frequency of public
 notification for such violations; or (2) by establishing criteria
 for determining which monitoring violations are minor and
 the frequency of public notification."
                    NOTE:  In this case a public water system would have to contact the primacy agent to
                    see whether this provision is in effect for that state.
                    FOOTNOTE 5
              Repeat notice
              for HOI*-
              community
              waiter systems
              depends upon
              the manner
              of notke.
If posting is selected as the manner of notice by a non-
community water system, posting must be continuous until
the violation is resolved.  If hand delivery is selected as the
manner of notice, notice by hand delivery must be repeated
quarterly until the violation is resolved.
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APPENDIX  H
                                        Appendix H
National  Secondary  Drinking Water Regulations
* Section 143,5:   Compliance with the Secondary
Maximum Contaminant Level and Public
Notification for Exceedances of the Secondary
Standard for Fluoride
    § 143.5 Compliance with secondary maximum contaminant level and public
notification for fluoride.
    (a) Community water systems, as defined in 40 CFR 141.2(e)(i) of this title, that exceed the
       secondary maximum contaminant level for fluoride as determined by the last single sample
       taken in accordance with the requirements of §141.23 of this title or any equivalent State law,
       but do not exceed the maximum contaminant level for fluoride as specified by §141.62 of this
       title or any equivalent State law, shall provide the notice prescribed in paragraph (b) of all
       billing units annually, all new billing units at the time service begins and the State public
       health officer.
    (b) The notice required by paragraph (a) shall contain the following language including the
       language necessary to replace the superscripts:

                                   PUBLIC NOTICE
    Dear  User,
    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires that we send you this notice on the level  of
fluoride  in your drinking water.  The drinking water in your community has a fluoride concentration of
	milligrams vL) per liter (mg/l).
    Federal regulations require that fluoride, which occurs naturally in your water supply, not exceed a
concentration of 4.0 mg/l in drinking water.  This is an enforceable standard called a  Maximum
Contaminant Level (MCL), and it has been established to protect the public health.  Exposure to
drinking  water levels above 4.0 mg/l for many years may result in some cases of crippling skeletal
fluorosis, which is a serious bone disorder.
    Federal law also requires that we  notify you when monitoring indicates that the fluoride in your
 drinking  water exceeds 2.0 mg/l.  This is intended to  alert families about dental problems that might
 affect children under nine years of age.  The fluoride concentration of your water exceeds this federal
 guideline.
    Fluoride in children's drinking water at levels of approximate 1 mg/l reduces the number of dental
 cavities.  However, some children exposed to levels of fluoride greater than about 2.0 mg/l may
 develop  dental fluorosis.  Dental fluorosis, in its moderate and severe forms, is a brown staining and/or
 pitting of the permanent teeth.
    Because dental fluorosis occurs only when developing teeth (before they erupt from the gums) are
 exposed  to elevated fluoride levels, households without children are not expected to  be affected by
 this level of fluoride.  Families with children under the age of  nine are encouraged to seek other
 sources of drinking water for their children to avoid the possibility of staining and pitting.
    Your water supplier can lower the concentration of fluoride in your water so that you will still
 receive the benefits of cavity prevention while the possibility of stained and pitted teeth is minimized.
 Removal of fluoride may increase your water costs.  Treatment systems are also commercially available
 for home use. Information on such  systems is available at the address given below.  Low fluoride
 bottled drinking water that would meet all standards  is also commercially available.
    For further information contact	v2/ at your water system.
    ^P PWS shall insert the compliance result which triggered notification under this part.
    2) PWS shall insert the name, address, and telephone number of a contact person at the PWS.
     (c) The effective date of this section is May 2, 1986.

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                                               Appendix I
APPENDIX  I.
Environmental  Protection Agency  Regional
Offices
                     U.  S.  ENVIRONMENTAL  PROTECTION  AGENCY
                                       REGIONAL ORGANIZATION
 EPA Regional Offices
 EPA Region 1
 Water Supply Branch
 JFK Federal Building
 Boston, MA 02203
 (61 7) 565-0361C
 Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine,
 New Hampshire,  Rhode Island,
 Vermont

 EPA Region 2
 Drinking Water/Groundwater
   Protection Branch
 26 Federal Plaza
 New York, NY  10278
 (212) 264-1800
 New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico,
 Virgin Islands

 EPA Region 3
 Drinking Water/Groundwater
   Protection Branch
 841 Chestnut Street
 Philadelphia, PA 19107
 (215) 587-8227
 Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania,
 Virginia, West Virginia, District of
 Columbia
              EPA Region 4
              Office of Drinking Water
              345 Courtland Street, N.E.
              Atlanta, GA  30365
              (404) 347-2913
              Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,
              Mississippi, North Carolina, South
              Carolina, Tennessee

              EPA Region  5
              Safe Drinking Water Branch
              230 South Dearborn Street
              Chicago, IL  60604
              (312) 353-2650
              Illinois, Indiana, Michigan,
              Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin

              EPA Region  6
              Water Supply Branch
              1445 Ross Avenue
              Dallas, TX  75270
              (214) 655-7150
              Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico,
              Oklahoma, Texas

              EPA Region  7
              Drinking Water Branch
              726 Minnesota Avenue
              Kansas City, KS  66101
              (913)236-2815
              Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska
EPA Region 8
Drinking Water Branch
999 18th Street Suite 500
Denver, CO  80202-2405
(303) 293-1407
Colorado, Montana, North Dakota,
South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming

EPA Region 9
Drinking Water Branch
215 Fremont Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 974-0912
Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada,
American Samoa, Guam,  Common-
wealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands

EPA Region 10
Drinking Water Branch
1200 Sixth Avenue
Seattle, WA  98101
(206) 442-4092
Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington
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                                        Appendix J
APPENDIX  J
State Public  Drinking Water Program
Offices
Alabama
Water Supply Branch
Department of Environmental Management
1751 Congressional W. L Dickinson Drive
Montgomery, Alabama 36130

Alaska
Alaska  Drinking Water Program
Wastewater and Water Treatment Section
Department  of Environmental Conservation
Post Office Box O
Juneau, Alaska  99811 -1800

Arizona
Field Services Section
Office  of Water Quality
2655 East Magnolia Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85034

Arkansas
Division of Engineering
Arkansas Department of Health
4815 West Markham  Street
Little Rock, Arkansas 72205-3867

California
Public Water Supply Branch
California Department of Health Services
 714 P Street, Room 692
Sacramento, California 95814

Colorado
 Drinking Water Unit
Colorado Department of Health
4210 East 11th Avenue
 Denver, Colorado 80220

 Connecticut
 Water Supplies Section
 Connecticut Department of Health Services
 150 Washington Street
 Hartford, Connecticut 06106

 Delaware
 Office of Sanitary Engineering
 Delaware Division of Public Health
 Robbins Building
 Post Office Box 637
 Dover, Delaware 19903
                           District of Columbia
                           Washington, DC (not a primacy agency)
                           Water Hygiene Branch
                           Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs
                           5010 Overlook Avenue, S.W.
                           Washington, DC 20032
                           The primacy agency for the District of Columbia is
                           EPA Region 3.

                           Florida
                           Drinking Water Program
                           Department of Environmental Regulation
                           Twin Towers Office Building
                           2600 Blair Stone Road
                           Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400

                           Georgia
                           Water Resource Management Branch
                           Environmental Protection Division
                           Department of  Natural Resources
                           270 Washington Street, S.W.
                           Atlanta, Georgia 30334

                           Hawaii
                           Drinking Water Program
                           Sanitation Branch
                           Environmental Protection and Health Services
                             Division
                           Post Office Box 3378
                           Honolulu, Hawaii 96801

                           Idaho
                           Bureau of Water Quality
                           Division of Environment
                           Idaho Department of Health  and Welfare
                           Statehouse
                           Boise, Idaho 83720

                           Illinois
                           Division of Public Water Supplies
                           Illinois Environmental  Protection Agency
                           2200 Churchill Road
                           Post Office Box  19276
                           Springfield, Illinois 62794-9276
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                                               Appendix J
      Indiana (not a primacy agency)
      Public Water Supply Section
      Office of Water Management
      Indiana Department of Environmental
        Management
      5500 West Bradbury Avenue
      Indianapolis, Indiana 46241
      The primacy agency for Indiana is EPA Region 5.

      Iowa
      Environmental Protection Division
      Iowa Department of Natural  Resources
      Wallace State Office Building
      900 East Grand Street
      Des Moines, Iowa 50319

      Kansas
      Bureau of Water Protection
      Kansas Department of Health and the
        Environment
      Forbes Field
      Building 740
      Topeka, Kansas 66620

      Kentucky
      Division of Water
      Department of Environmental Protection
      18 Reilly Road, Fort Boone Plaza
      Frankfort,  Kentucky 40601

      Louisiana
      Office of Public Health
      Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals
      Post Office Box 60630
      New Orleans, Louisiana 70160

      Maine
      Drinking Water Program
      Division of Health Engineering
      Maine Department  of Human Services
      State House (STA 10)
     Augusta, Maine 04333

     Maryland
     Water Supply Program
     Maryland Department of the Environment
     Point Breeze  Building 40, Room 8L
     2500 Broening Highway
     Dundalk, Maryland  21224

     Massachusetts
     Division of Water Supply
     Department of Environmental Quality
      Engineering
     One Winter Street, 9th  Floor
     Boston, Massachusetts 02108
 Michigan
 Division of Water Supply
 Michigan Department of Public Health
 Post Office Box 30195
 Lansing, Michigan 48909

 Minnesota
 Section of Public Water Supplies
 Minnesota Department of Health
 717 Delaware Street
 Post Office Box 9441
 Minneapolis, Minnesota  55440

 Mississippi
 Division of Water Supply
 State Board  of Health
 Post Office Box 1700
 Jackson, Mississippi 39215-1700

 Missouri
 Public Drinking Water Program
 Division of Environmental Quality
 Post Office Box 176
 Jefferson City, Missouri 65102

 Montana
 Water Quality Bureau
 Department  of Health and Environmental
  Sciences
 Cogswell Building, Room A206
 Helena, Montana 59620

 Nebraska
 Division of Environmental Health and Housing
  Surveillance
 Nebraska Department of Health
 P.O.  Box 95007
 Lincoln, Nebraska 68509

 Nevada
 Public Health Engineering
 Nevada Department of Human Resources
 Consumer Health Protection Services
 505 East King Street, Room 103
 Carson City, Nevada 89710

 New Hampshire
Water Supply Engineering Bureau
 Department of Environmental Services
 Post Office Box 95,  Hazen Drive
Concord, New Hampshire 03302-0095
J2
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                                         Appendix}
New Jersey
Bureau of Safe Drinking Water
Division of Water Resources
New jersey Department of Environmental
  Protection
Post Office  Box CN-029
Trenton, New Jersey 06825

New Mexico
Drinking Water Section
New Mexico Health and Environment
  Department
1190 St. Francis Drive
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87503

New York
Bureau of Public Water Supply Protection
New York Department of Health
Room 406 University Place
Albany,  New York 12203-3399

North Carolina
Public Water Supply Branch
Division of  Health Services
Department of Human Resources
1330 Step St. Mary's Street
Post Office Box 2091
Raleigh, North Carolina 27602-2091

North Dakota
Division of Water Supply and Pollution Control
ND State Department of Health and
  Consolidated Laboratories
1200 Missouri Avenue
Post Office Box 5520
Bismarck, North Dakota 58502-5520

Ohio
Office of Public Drinking Water
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
 1800 Watermark Drive
 Post Office Box 1049
Columbus, Ohio 43266-0149

 Oklahoma
Water Facility Engineering Service
 Oklahoma  State Department of Health
 Post Office Box 53551
 Oklahoma  City, Oklahoma 73152

 Oregon
 Drinking Water Program
 Health Division
 Department of Human Resources
 1400 S.W.  Fifth Avenue, Room 611
 Portland, Oregon 97201
Pennsylvania
Division of Water Supplies
Department of Environmental Resources
Post Office Box 2357
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120

Rhode Island
Division of Drinking Water Quality
Rhode Island Department of Health
75 Davis Street, Cannon Building
Providence, Rhode Island 02908

South Carolina
Bureau of Drinking Water Protection
Department of Health and Environmental
  Control
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

South Dakota
Office of Drinking Water
Department of Water and Natural Resources
Joe Foss Building
523 Capital Avenue, East
Pierre, South Dakota 57501

Tennessee
Division of Water Supply
Tennessee Department of Health  and
  Environment
150 9th Avenue, North
Nashville, Tennessee 37219-5404

Texas
Bureau of Environmental Health
Texas Department of Health
1100 West 49th Street
Austin, Texas 78756-3199

Utah
Bureau of Drinking Water/Sanitation
Utah  Department of Health
Post Office Box 16690
Salt Lake City, Utah 84116-0690

Vermont
Environmental Health Division
Vermont Department of  Health
60 Main Street
Post Office Box 70
Burlington, Vermont 05402
 Public Notification Handbook for Public Water Systems

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                                               Appendix ]
      Virginia
      Division of Water Supply Engineering
      Virginia Department of Health
      James Madison Building
      109 Governor Street
      Richmond, Virginia 23219

      Washington
      Drinking Water Program Section
      Department of Social and Health Services
      Mail Stop  LD-11, Building 3
      Airdustrial Park
      Olympia, Washington 98504

      West Virginia
      Environmental Engineering Division
      Office of Environmental Health Services
      State Department of Health
      Room 554
      1800 Washington Street,  East
      Charleston, West Virginia 25305
   Wisconsin
   Bureau of Water Supply
   Department of Natural Resources
   Post Office  Box 7921
   Madison, Wisconsin 53707

   Wyoming  (not a primacy agency)
   DEQ - Water Quality
   Herschler Building
   4th Floor West
   Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002
   The primacy agency for Wyoming is EPA Region 4.
                                          Insular Areas
     Department of Natural Resources
     Government of Virgin Islands
     179 Altona Welgunst
     Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands 00802

     Water Supply Supervision Program
     Puerto Rico Department of  Health
     Post Office Box 70184
     San |uan, Puerto Rico  00936

     American Samoa Environmental Protection
       Agency
     Office of the Governor
     American Samoa Government
     Pago Pago, AS 96799

     Division of Environmental Quality
     Commmonwealth of the Northern Mariana
       Islands
     Dr. Torres Hospital
     P.O. Box 1304
     Saipan, MP 96950
   Guam Environmental Protection Agency
   IT&E Harmon Plaza
   Complex Unit D-107
   130 Rojas Street
   Harmon, Guam 96911

   Department of Human Resources
   Federated States of Micronesia
   P.O. Box 312
   Kolonia,  Pohnpei FM 96941

   Environmental Protection Authority
   Republic of the  Marshall Islands
   P.O. Box 1322
   Majuro, MH 96960

   Palau Environmental Quality Protection Board
   Republic of Palau
   P.O. Box 1484
   Koror, Republic of Palau 96940
                                         Indian Tribes
    As of August, 1989, the EPA is the primacy agency for Indian Tribes.  See Appendix I for addresses of
    EPA Regional Offices.
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