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Compliance Assurance (2201 A)
Washington, DC 20460
EPA 305-R-99-002
April 1999
Providing Safe Drinking
Water In America
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report and
Update on Implementation of the
1996 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments
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For sale by the U.S. Government Printing Office
Superintendent of Documents, Mail Stop: SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-9328
ISBN 0-16-050018-4
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Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Introduction i
Assessing PWS Compliance with Drinking Water Standards i
Results In Brief i
Activities Underway to Implement The SDWA Amendments of 1996 iv
Recommendations of Followup Activities vii
Background
Background 1
Statutory Requirements 1
National and State Public Drinking Water Programs 2
EPA Regulations 2
Public Water Systems 3
Public Water Systems In States lL_
PWS Compliance Data and Analysis 7
Data Analysis 7
Community Water Systems 9
Non-Community Water Systems 14
Variance and Exemptions 16
Quality of Data 16
Evaluation and Summary of State Reports 17
State Enforcement and Compliance Assistance Programs 18
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Table of Contents
April 1999
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Information on State Reports 19
State by State Summaries 19
Conclusions and Activities to Address Recommendations 19
Public Water Systems on Indian Reservations
Introduction 23
Role of Other Federal Agencies 23
Public Water Systems on Indian Reservations 23
Compliance Data 23
Compliance Analysis 24
Compliance Assistance and Enforcement 26
Financial Assistance 28
Conclusions and Recommendations 28
EPA Activities Underway to Implement The SDWA Amendments of 1996
Promoting Public Information and Involvement 31
Providing Tools to States, Tribes, and Water Systems to Improve Compliance 32
Helping Small Systems Provide Safe Drinking Water 34
Focusing Safely Standards on the Most Serious Health Risks 35
Exercising New Enforcement Authorities and Undertaking Compliance Assistance 36
Improving The Data that Describe America's Drinking Water 36
Appendix A
Glossary of Terms A-l
Appendix B
Summaries of State Annual Compliance Reports B-l
April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Table of Contents
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List of Tables
Table 1: Public Water System Inventory in Calendar Year 1997 4
Table 2: Summary of Drinking Water Regulations For PWSs 5
Table 3: Number of PWSs on Tribal Lands with Violations by Rule 27
Table 4: EPA Products to Support SDWA Implementation 35
Table A-l: Significant Monitoring Violations for
Annual State Public Waste System Reports A-4
Table B-l: Summary of Elements Reported by States B-3
List of Figures
Figure 1: Number of Systems (by System Size) 6
Figure 2: Population Served (by System Size) 6
Figure 3: Percentage of Community Water Systems In Violation of The SWTR 10
Figure 4: Percentage of Community Water Systems In Violation of The LCR 10
Figure 5: Percentage of Community Water Systems with Chemical Violations 11
Figure 6: Percentage of Community Water Systems in Violation of the TCR 12
Figure 7: Population Affected by Violations In Small Community Water Systems 12
Figure 8: Population Affected by Violations In Medium Community Water Systems 13
Figure 9: Population Affected by Violations In Large Community Water Systems 14
Figure 10: Percentages of NTNC Systems with Violations 15
Figure 11: Percentage of TNC Systems with Violations 16
Figure 12: Map of Indian Lands 24
Figure 13: Number of Tribal Public Water Systems Reporting Violations 25
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Table of Contents
April 1999
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Executive Summary
INTRODUCTION
This second annual national Public Water
Systems Compliance Report describes how well
States and the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) are meeting the goal of ensuring
the public receives safe drinking water from
public water systems and the steps we are
taking to improve the data that allow us to
measure our success. The Executive Summary
presents this information in brief. A
Background section provides information on
the Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
There is a section that focuses on Public Water
System (PWS) performance in States. Another
section discusses PWS performance on Indian
reservations. A final section discusses activities
under way that will further safeguard and
improve the quality of drinking water while
increasing the public's access to information
about the water it drinks.
The-nationalrTepOrt, and the annual State
reports that it summarizes and evaluates, are
mandated by Section 1414(c){3) of the Safe
Drinking Water Act, as amended, 1996. State
annual reports are released in July, six months
after the close of the reporting year. EPA issues
its annual national report six months after
receipt of the State reports.
ASSESSING PWS COMPLIANCE
WITH DRINKING WATER STANDARDS
This report presents compliance information
for 1997 using State and Tribal data from
EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System
(SDWIS/FED) and discusses ways to improve
both the data and overall compliance. SDWIS/
FED is an exceptions-based database, meaning
that only violations are recorded. The
information presented in this report is a
summary of data that States provide to EPA
through SDWIS/FED regarding violations of
regulations that 1) set safe levels (Maximum
Contaminant Levels) for contaminants in
drinking water, 2) specify techniques for
treating water to make it safe, and 3) set
monitoring and reporting requirements that
specify how and when water must be tested for
the presence of contaminants. Monitoring and
reporting violations concern EPA because in
the absence of monitoring, EPA, States, and
Tribes cannot know the quality of the water
delivered to consumers. Thus, consumers may
unknowingly be at risk, and consumers,
States, Tribes, and EPA cannot take
appropriate steps to safeguard public health.
RESULTS IN BRIEF
In 1997, the vast majority of people in the
nation received water from systems that
reported neither violations of MCL and
treatment technique requirements nor
significant violations of monitoring and
reporting requirements. While this report looks
at the compliance status of all types of public
water systems; its primary focus is on
community water systems, where most
Americans get their drinking water.
The data for calendar year 1997 show that
America's drinking water remains generally
safe. Compared to data for calendar year 1996,
the percentage of water systems with violations
fell between one and three percent in every
category. There was a 31 % reduction in the
aggregate number of MCL, treatment technique
and significant monitoring and reporting
violations at public water systems, the number
falling from 141,617 total violations in 1996 to
97,661 total violations in 1997. This reduction
of almost 44,000 violations even though the
percentage of systems reporting violations
remained essentially unchanged means that
there were fewer violations per violating public
water system in 1997potentially meaning
that millions fewer Americans were at risk of
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Executive Summary
April 1999 Page i
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drinking unsafe water. As this report makes
plain, however, more work needs to be done to
improve compliance in specific areas and to
improve the quality of data.
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Some of the most notable findings for 1997 are:
The nation's drinking water is generally safe
at 79% of all public water systems, there
were neither reported violations of heath-
based standards nor significant violations of
monitoring and reporting requirements.
77% of community water systems had
no reported violations of MCL or
treatment technique requirements and
no significant violations of monitoring
and reporting requirements.
76% of non-transient non-community
water systems had no reported
violations of MCL or treatment
technique requirements and no
significant violations of monitoring and
reporting requirements.
81 % of transient non-community water
systems had no reported violations of
MCL or treatment technique
requirements and no significant
violations of monitoring and reporting
requirements.
95% of America's public water systems
reported no violations of any health-based
drinking water standards.
92% of all community water systems,
serving 88% of the country's population,
had no reported MCL or treatment
technique violations.
Most reported MCL or treatment
technique violations were of either the
Total Coliform Rule or the Surface
Water Treatment Rule - rules that
protect against microbiological
contamination in drinking water.
Most violations were significant violations
of monitoring and reporting requirements
rather than violations of health-based
drinking water standards.
In 1997, there were 97,661 MCL,
treatment technique, and significant
monitoring and reporting violations
reported by 35,436 ofthe 170,376
public water systems in the nation.
15% were violations of MCL and
treatment technique requirements.
85% were significant violations of
monitoring and reporting requirements.
Only 2% of public water systems served
more that 10,000 people, but violations at a
few large systems potentially affected large
populations.
4% of the public water systems that
reported MCL or treatment technique
violations served more than 10,000
people. Violations of health-based
standards at these 375 large systems
potentially affected more than 26
million people.
95% of public water systems served 3,300 or
fewer people. Most violations of drinking
water standards occurred at a small system.
91 % of the public water systems that
reported MCL or treatment technique
violations served 3,300 or fewer people.
Violations of health-based standards at
these 8,477 small systems potentially
affected 2.7 million people.
Page ii April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Executive Summary
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98% of significant monitoring and
reporting violations at public water
systems occurred at systems that
served 3,300 or fewer people. These
28,396 small systems with a significant
monitoring and reporting violation
served 5.6 million people.
States and EPA continued to pursue
violators
In fiscal year 1997, the States issued a
total of 913 formal enforcement actions,
including 632 administrative orders
without penalty, 220 administrative
orders with penalty, 60 civil referrals,
and 1 criminal referral.
In fiscal year 1997, EPA issued 266
notices of violation, 392 Federal
administrative orders, 12 complaints for
penalty, and 4 referrals for civil judicial
action.
States and EPA offered compliance assistance
to public water systems.
States engaged in a wide range of
activities to facilitate the attempts of
public water systems to comply with
SDWIS, including, among other things,
onsite visits, operator training,
informational mailings, and financial
assistance through the State Revolving
Fund.
EPA conducted on-site visits to public
water systems, provided needed
compliance information and tools,
developed and distributed guidance for
water system operators and for
regulators, and supported State delivery
of compliance assistance.
At 46% of public water systems located on
Indian reservations, there were neither
reported violations of health-based standards
nor significant violations of monitoring and
reporting requirements.
48% of community water systems
located on Indian reservations had no
reported violations of MCL or treatment
technique requirements and no
significant violations of monitoring and
reporting requirements.
40% of non-transient non-community
water systems located on Indian
reservations had no reported violations
of MCL or treatment technique
requirements and no significant
violations of monitoring and reporting
requirements.
39% of transient non-community
systems located on Indian reservations
had no reported violations of MCL or
treatment technique requirements and
no significant violations of monitoring
and reporting requirements.
89% of public water systems located on
Indian reservations had no reported
violations of health-based MCL or treatment
technique requirements.
89% of community water systems
located on Indian reservations had no
reported MCL or treatment technique
violations.
89% of non-transient non-community
water systems located on Indian
reservations had no reported MCL or
treatment technique violations.
90% of transient non-community
systems located on Indian reservations
had no reported violations of MCL or
treatment technique requirements.
In all categories of water systems, the
health-based standard most frequently
violated (138 of 156 health-based
standard violations) was the MCL for
the Total Coliform Rule.
Most violations at public water systems on
Indian reservations were significant
violations of monitoring and reporting
requirements, not violations of health-based
drinking water standards.
In 1997, there were 1,040 MCL,
treatment technique, and significant
monitoring and reporting violations
reported by 500 of the 930 public water
systems located on Indian reservations.
156 (15%) were violations of MCL and
treatment technique requirements.
884 (85%) were significant violations of
monitoring and reporting requirements.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Executive Summary
April 1999 Page iii
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Even so, 66% of public water systems
located on Indian reservations had no
significant violations of monitoring and
reporting requirements.
68% of community water systems
located on Indian reservations had no
significant violations of monitoring and
reporting requirements.
57% of non-transient non-community
water systems located on Indian
reservations had no significant
violations of monitoring and reporting
requirements.
62% of transient non-community water
systems located on Indian reservations
had no significant violations of
monitoring and reporting requirements.
Violations of the monitoring and
reporting requirements of the Total
Coliform rule accounted for 723 of the
884 significant monitoring and
reporting violations at public water
systems on Indian reservations in 1997.
98% of all public water systems located on
Indian reservations served 3.3OO or fewer
people.
709 of the 728 community water
systems located on Indian reservations
served 3,300 or fewer people. Only one
community water system served more
than 10,000 people.
All 77 non-transient non-community
water systems located on Indian
reservations served fewer than 3,300
people
Only one of the 125 transient non-
community water systems located on
Indian reservations served more than
3,300 people.
EPA offered compliance assistance to public
water systems on Indian Reservations.
In 1997, EPA recorded 550 responses
other than formal administrative or
judicial enforcement to the 1040
violations at 500 violating public water
systems on Indian reservations.
EPA's compliance assistance to Tribes
included, among other things, circuit
riders, onsite visits, informational
mailings, and financial assistance.
EPA allotted $2.7 million for implementing
the Public Water System Supervision
program on Tribal lands in Fiscal Year 1997.
Additionally, a number of grants have
been awarded to Indian Tribes and
Tribal Organizations to address various
aspects of the drinking water program.
Budget set-asides in Fiscal Years 1998
and 1999 are to be used for: Public
Water System Supervision Program
Primacy Workshops, Capacity
Development, Source Water Protection,
and Operator Certification.
ACTIVITIES UNDERWAY
TO IMPLEMENT THE SDWA
AMENDMENTS OF 1996
The Clinton Administration has always
recognized that many tools and resources are
essential to ensure that Americans have
drinking water that meets all health standards.
The SDWA Amendments of 1996 provided
many new authorities to enable EPA to more
quickly meet its goal of safe drinking water.
Now, two and a half years after passage of the
1996 Amendments, EPA has exercised these
authorities and finalized every product required
in the law to date and has done so with
maximum stakeholder involvement.
1. PROMOTING PUBLIC INFORMATION AND
INVOLVEMENT
The public has a right to know what is in its
drinking water and to participate in decisions
affecting that drinking water. The 1996
Amendments include a strong and pervasive
ethic of public information and involvement,
and, in this second year of implementing the
Amendments, EPA and its partners have
produced major tools and undertaken a variety
of activities to ensure that the public is well
informed.
Page iv April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Executive Summary
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Consumer Confidence Reports: In
August 1998, EPA promulgated a rule
to require drinking water systems to
provide their customers annual reports
on the quality of their drinking water
supply. The information contained in
these reports will enable Americans to
make practical, knowledgeable
decisions about their health and their
environment. Systems will deliver the
first of these reports to their customers
before October 1999.
Ensuring Public Access to Additional
Information: EPA is acting to ensure
that new information tools are made
available to the public. This year, EPA
worked with States and other
stakeholders on ways to make the
results of upcoming source water
assessments available to the public.
EPA has formed a Public Right-to-Know
working group of the National Drinking
Water Advisory Council to discuss how
to make drinking water information
available to the public, and how to
involve all interested parties in the
decision-making process.
Using the Internet to Increase Public
Access: EPA has been working over the
past two years to make drinking water
information available to the public via
the Internet (http://www.epa. gov/
safewater). EPA has created and will
expand a geographic information site
where consumers will be able to get
information about their drinking water,
including information on violations of
drinking water standards, State
compliance reports, water system
consumer confidence reports, and State
drinking water information and
contacts.
2. PROVIDING TOOLS TO STATES, TRIBES,
AND WATER SYSTEMS TO IMPROVE
COMPLIANCE
The 1996 SDWA Amendments gave the nation a
new approach to drinking water protection
which focuses attention on the highest public
health priorities. This includes a holistic
approach to prevention and protection, an
emphasis on the public's right-to-know, and a
series of building blocks for States and water
suppliers that can help in implementation. Two
years after passage of the Amendments, most of
these building blocks are in place. They include:
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
(DWSRF)
Capacity Development
Water System Operator Certification
Source Water Protection
Proposed Regulation for Underground
Injection Control Class V Wells
Support for Indian Tribes
3. HELPING SMALL SYSTEMS PROVIDE SAFE
DRINKING WATER
Although they serve a small percentage of the
nation's population, water systems serving fewer
than 10,000 persons constitute the majority of all
community drinking water systems. Small
systems often do not have a full-time operator,
and their limited customer base often makes
compliance with public health standards difficult
due to affordability problems. The 1996
Amendments created several new tools to help
address the special needs of small systems.
List of Small System Compliance
Technologies
Variances and Exemptions Rule
Technical Assistance
These efforts will be of particular importance to
Tribes. None of the 930 PWSs on Indian
reservations in 1997 served more than 100,000
people, and only two served populations of
more than 10,000.
4. FOCUSING SAFETY STANDARDS ON THE
MOST SERIOUS HEALTH RISKS
Strengthening research to support development
of regulations based on sound science is one of
the most significant provisions in the 1996
Amendments. The first major products of that
increased scientific focus were produced in
1998. These products demonstrate the
principles of targeting and focusing research on
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Executive Summary
April 1999
Page v
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high risk contaminants. Products to date
include:
The Contaminant Candidate List
Strengthening Research
Microbial and Disinfectants/
Disinfection Byproducts Rules
5. EXERCISING NEW ENFORCEMENT
AUTHORITIES AND UNDERTAKING
COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE
EPA and the States are continuing to work
toward implementing the streamlined
enforcement provisions of the SDWA
Amendments, recognizing that credible, firm,
and fair enforcement responses play an
important role both in deterring noncompliance
and in maintaining a level playing field for the
regulated community.
EPA's current enforcement priorities focus on
those regulations and contaminants which
pose the greatest risk to public health, i.e., the
microbiological regulations (Total Coliform Rule
and Surface Water Treatment Rule), lead and
copper, and other acute contaminants (e.g.,
nitrate).
To complement its enforcement activities, EPA
also undertakes compliance assistance to help
increase public water systems' understanding
of, and compliance with, drinking water
requirements. The Agency conducted more
than 3,180 compliance assistance activities,
Including on-site visits to public water
systems and development and distribution of
compliance assistance tools. In September of
1998, the Agency opened a Compliance
Assistance Center, the Local Government
Environmental Assistance Network (LGEAN),
designed to help local government officials
stay abreast of the latest environmental
requirements and technologies, including
drinking water issues. LGEAN is coordinated
by a number of partners, such as drinking
water and governmental associations. The
network will help governments disseminate
information on drinking water to help systems
treat water more effectively and will field
questions on environmental compliance and
assistance information for State and local
officials, inspectors, and regulators. LGEAN
can be accessed at http://www.lgean.org, or
toll free at 1-877-TO LGEAN.
6. IMPROVING THE DATA THAT DESCRIBE
AMERICA'S DRINKING WATER
The nation needs reliable data in order to
ensure proper management of its drinking water
program. It is of great importance to EPA and its
partners to improve quality and accuracy of
drinking water data. EPA has collected data
from States for approximately 20 years on
violations of drinking water standards and
stored them in an EPA data system that has
recently been modernized and renamed the Safe
Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS/
FED). Portions of SDWIS/FED still under
development will better track compliance with
existing and future regulations, track drinking
water goals developed to meet the Government
Performance and Results Act, and also make
data recovery easier for the public.
In preparing the 1996 national report, EPA
identified numerous discrepancies between the
data some States reported in their annual State
reports and the data they reported to SDWIS/
FED. To ensure SDWIS/FED data reliability,
EPA has initiated a major effort to improve data
quality. In response to input received at three
public meetings, the effort includes
establishing a data quality goal, improving the
way drinking water data are presented in EPA's
publicly-accessible Envirofacts web site (http:/
7www.epa.gov/ enviro), characterizing and
quantifying the data quality problem, and
taking both interim and long-term steps to
improve data quality. These steps are outlined
in the recommendations described later in this
report.
SDWIS/FED data are also used by EPA's Center
for Environmental Information and Statistics
(CEIS) to prepare environmental profiles that are
available for each county, state, and territory in
the United States. The public can access these
profiles, as well as a digital library of reports on
environmental quality and an environmental
atlas, at http://www.epa.gov/ceis.
In addition to having information about actual
violations of drinking water standards for
treated drinking water, the nation also needs
information on the occurrence of contaminants
Pagevi April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Executive Summary
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in our sources of drinking water. The SDWA
Amendments of 1996 mandated that EPA
prepare a National Contaminant Occurrence
Database (NCOD) by August 1999 that will
contain information about the pollutants found
in sources of drinking water. NCOD will draw
on other databases from both inside EPA and
from partners such as the U.S. Geological
Survey, and will also include information from
forthcoming State source water assessments.
The database will give both managers and the
public information on the quality of water
which is subsequently treated to become our
drinking water.
The planned improvements to data in SDWIS/
FED as well as the new data available in 1999
through the NCOD will give the public and the
drinking water community a better picture of
the quality of our drinking water.
RECOMMENDATIONS AND
FOLLOW- UP ACTIVITIES
The SDWA Amendments of 1996 require that
the Administrator make "recommendations
concerning the resources needed to improve
compliance" within the national compliance
report. The first national PWS compliance
report, which was issued in September of 1998,
made general recommendations about where
States and EPA should direct their efforts,
based on existing resource levels and
appropriations, to improve compliance.
Because of the short interval between the 1996
and 1997 national reports, the
recommendations for the two reports are the
same.
Most of the recommendations involve
coordinated effort on the part of EPA and
States, or EPA and Indian Tribes, to address
violations of a specific type or to improve the
collection and maintenance of compliance data.
As detailed in the discussion that follows, many
of the activities underway to implement the
SDWA Amendments of 1996 are directly
responsive to these recommendations.
1. ENFORCEMENT AND COMPLIANCE
ASSISTANCE RECOMMENDATIONS
REGARDING PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS
IN STATES
States and EPA should work together
to address significant violations of
monitoring and reporting
requirements.
States and EPA should work together
to address violations of MCL and
treatment technique requirements.
States and EPA should work together
to address violations at non-
community water systems.
EPA and the States are working to address
these recommendations on a number of fronts.
Improving compliance requires a mix of
compliance assistance, capacity building
activities, and targeted enforcement activities.
A key part of improving compliance with both
health-based standards and monitoring and
reporting requirements is ensuring that
operators of public water systems have the
information and the training they need to do
their jobs properly. The 1996 Amendments
provided funding to support nine technology
assistance centers to help small systems with
training, technical assistance, and technology
demonstrations. Additionally, EPA and the
States facilitate compliance with existing
drinking water requirements by conducting
numerous compliance assistance activities,
such as on-site visits and development and
distribution of plain English guides and
checklists on regulatory requirements. EPA,
with its State and drinking water stakeholder
partners, are also working pro-actively to
ensure that the operators of public water
systems understand and are prepared to
comply with new requirements, like Consumer
Confidence Reports, and new standards, like
the Disinfection By-products Rule. EPA is
using the new Local Government
Environmental Assistance Network (LGEAN )as
an interactive platform to provide free
information on current and developing SDWA
requirements. LGEAN provides information and
compliance tools to anyone with Internet or
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Executive Summary
April 1999 Page vii
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telephone access, and gives anyone with
Internet or telephone access an avenue for
conveying questions and comments to EPA.
Making drinking water compliance information
readily available to the public is another aspect
of improving compliance at public water
systems. The annual public water systems
compliance reports prepared by States and by
EPA are just one aspect of this effort. The public
will also receive Consumer Confidence Reports
annually from their community water systems
and, if necessary, more timely notice of MCL or
treatment technique violations as required by
the Public Notification Rule. The three Internet
sites mentioned earlier in this report provide
public access to a wealth of drinking water
compliance information. Putting this
information on display both informs the public
and provides an incentive for the operators of
water systems and for drinking water regulators
to achieve and maintain the high levels of
compliance that the public demands.
Consistently achieving a high level of
compliance can be a greater challenge for small
public water systems that may lack the
financial, technical, or managerial resources
available to medium and large systems. By
developing new compliance assistance tools
created by the 1996 Amendments, EPA and the
States are helping small communities overcome
these impediments. Among the important new
developments: a list of approved small system
compliance technologies that allows more
flexibility in treating drinking water, and
revised variance and exemption rules that allow
EPA and States to provide small systems some
flexibility in how and when they will meet
drinking water requirements.
With capacity development programs,
particularly those tied to the Drinking Water
State Revolving Fund, EPA and the States are
helping small systems overcome tiie root
causes of noncompliancethe often intractable
problems of deficient infrastructure, untrained
operators, and inadequate financing. Financial
assistance from this fund will improve
compliance at the 46,473 small community
water systems and at the 115,602 non-
community water systems, 99.7% of which
serve fewer than 3,300 people. Congress
appropriated $2.8 billion through Fiscal year
1999 for the Drinking Water State Revolving
Fund this purpose. Diligent efforts by the
States ensured that every State had an
approved program for implementing its
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund in place
before the end of 1998 and had begun receiving
capitalization grants.
Enforcement will always be part of a credible
regulatory program. State and Federal
enforcement actions against noncomplying
public water systems both discourage
violations and level the playing field for those
systems that devote resources to remaining in
compliance. Although public water systems of
all types need to know that violations can and
will result in enforcement actions, EPA and the
States will target particular kinds of systems
and violations posing the greatest risks to
protect public health. Required source water
assessments are a potential tool to help EPA
and its partners identify and evaluate threats
to the sources of drinking water and address
them with appropriate compliance and
enforcement efforts.
EPA is meeting with States and other drinking
water stakeholders seeking input that will help
the Agency formulate the most effective
strategy for implementing the
recommendations in its first two annual
reports. EPA will refine its recommendations in
future annual reports by integrating the data
improvements that result from the ongoing
data reliability efforts discussed below. EPA
plans to incorporate the resulting
implementation commitments into its
Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) with EPA
Regions, and has identified the control of
microbial contamination as priority across all
enforcement programs. The Regions can in
turn use these priorities when negotiating
Performance Partnership Agreements with their
States.
2. ENFORCEMENT AND COMPLIANCE
ASSISTANCE RECOMMENDATIONS
REGARDING PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS ON
INDIAN RESERVATIONS
EPA should take action to improve
compliance of Public Water Systems
on Indian reservations.
Pagevili April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Executive Summary
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EPA should continue to improve its
collection and maintenance of
compliance data for Public Water
Systems on Indian reservations.
Many of the activities described in the preceding
section will also apply to the implementation of
the recommendations regarding public water
systems on Indian reservations, especially those
activities that focus on small systems and
developing small system capacity, as 75% of the
public water systems on Indian reservations
serve fewer than 500 people. A significant source
of building capacity is through grants provided
under the General Assistance Program.
EPA Regional offices provide additional support
to Tribes in the form of circuit rider programs
to help Tribes develop self-supporting PWSs on
Indian reservations, free laboratory analysis of
samples collected during monitoring, and
grants to address operator training and
wellhead protection. Rather than responding to
violations at tribal public water systems with
formal enforcement actions, EPA focuses on
informal enforcement responses and
compliance assistance to return these systems
to compliance. EPA's informal enforcement
responses typically include telephone calls and
site visits to counsel system operators,
compliance letters or warning letters, and
informal notices of violations.
The 1997 EPA Drinking Water Infrastructure
Needs Survey highlighted the needs for capital
improvements for public water systems on
Indian Reservations. Each year 1.5% of the
appropriation for the national Drinking Water
State Revolving Fund is set aside for grants to
improve infrastructure for water systems on
Indian reservations and in Alaska Native
Villages. In 1997, that set-aside was $19.25
million. Inadequate infrastructure is one of the
major reasons public water systems on Indian
reservations fail to meet SDWA requirements.
In Fiscal Year 1997, EPA used $2.7 million, 3%
of all Federal funding to implement the Public
Water System Supervision (PWSS) program, to
implement the PWSS program on tribal lands.
In Fiscal Years 1998 and 1999, EPA received
an additional $3.8 million to be used for Tribal
compliance assistance activities such as: Public
Water System Supervision program primacy
workshops, capacity development projects,
source water protection - EPA is providing
funds for Tribal source water protection
projects, and operator training and
certification.
To ensure that any unique needs of public
water systems on Indian reservations are met,
EPA is seeking input from Tribal stakeholders
as the Agency explores the most effective
options for implementing the recommendations
of EPA's annual reports. EPA has already
identified problems related to the collection and
entry into SDWIS/FED of information on
public water systems on Indian reservations.
Activities to address those problems and
ensure the completeness and reliability of this
data, although focused within EPA, will be
similar to those described in the next section.
Activities to implement the enforcement and
compliance recommendations will be
incorporated into Memoranda of Agreement
with EPA Regions that exercise primary
enforcement authority over tribal lands.
3. RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING DATA
QUALITY
EPA and drinking water stakeholders
should work cooperatively to improve
the quality of compliance data.
This is the recommendation on which EPA has
focused the most effort since the issuance of
the 1996 National Public Water Systems Report
in September of 1998. During preparation of
that report, EPA noted that compliance data in
many individual state reports differed from the
data reported to SDWIS/FED. In fall of 1998,
EPA held a series of stakeholder meetings that
help identify a number of interim and long-
term goals. EPA and its stakeholders have
agreed that the data quality goal should be
100% complete, accurate, and timely data
which portray the data submitted by public
water systems and primacy agencies,
consistent with SDWA reporting requirements.
This goal will be advanced through interim
milestones, which can be set once the current
level of quality is determined.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Executive Summary
April 1999 Page ix
-------
Improve the display of drinking water
data in Envirofacts: EPA and its
stakeholders have agreed to a number
of changes to improve the way drinking
water data are portrayed in Envirofacts
(an EPA web site where the public can
access information about the
performance of a public water system).
Changes which need to be made
include: displaying only data
subsequent to January 1, 1993 since
these data are more accurate than older
data, providing better description of the
data and explanations of violations,
listing MCL/treatment technique
violations separately from monitoring
violations, developing a better way to
link violation and follow-up actions, and
revising the compliance period date to
indicate more accurately the length of
the violation.
Characterize and quantify the data
quality problem: EPA and its
stakeholders together are better
defining the data quality problem.
Activities include comparing the data
submitted by States in their Annual
Compliance Reports with the data they
report to SDWIS/FED, comparing the
data in SDWIS/FED to the data in
Envirofacts, asking public water
systems to identify errors in the
SDWIS/FED data displayed in
Envirofacts, analyzing data verification
reports to identify generic problems and
the extent of their occurrence, analyzing
quarterly SDWIS/FED production
reports to identify data which are
rejected, and analyzing state
management structures to determine if
there is a relationship between
management structure and data
quality.
Take interim steps to improve data
quality: While the characterization and
quantification effort is underway, EPA
and its stakeholders agreed that there
are numerous activities which could be
undertaken to improve the quality of
data currently in SDWIS/FED and
newly entering data. Activities to
improve the quality of data feeding into
SDWIS/FED include: developing a
mechanism for utilities to review data
before states send data to SDWIS/FED;
streamlining reporting requirements for
upcoming rules; accelerating the
implementation of electronic reporting;
conducting more frequent data
verifications and following up on their
recommendations; involving data
management staff in rule development,
working with state and regional
management structures from the
perspective of maximizing data quality;
and improving record keeping and
reporting of compliance information on
Indian lands. Activities to improve
quality of data in SDWIS/FED include
correcting software bugs, accelerating
development and implementation of
SDWIS/STATE, providing additional
error check routines in SDWIS/FED,
improving existing data entry tools,
ensuring that quarterly submissions are
reviewed and errors are corrected,
issuing quality assurance manuals for
Regions and States, and facilitating
data retrieval.
Make long-term commitment to
achieve and maintain data quality
goals: Upon completion of the
characterization and quantification
effort, EPA and its partners will take the
actions identified as necessary to
ensure that the data quality goal that
the data in SDWIS/FED achieves 100%
completeness, accuracy, and timeliness
in portraying the data submitted by
public water systems and primacy
agencies. EPA and its partners will also
take the actions necessary to maintain
those levels.
This second annual national report shows that
there remains a need for improvements in both
compliance and reporting of drinking water
data. Compliance with drinking water
regulations is one of the primary goals for EPA
under the Government Performance and
Results Act. As described above, EPA has
already initiated activities to address the
findings and recommendations of the two
reports.
Page x April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Executive Summary
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Background
BACKGROUND
This section provides background information
on the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water
Act (SDWA). SDWA applies to all Public Water
Systems (PWS), whether the PWS is under the
jurisdiction of a State, territory or
commonwealth (collectively referred to as
"States"), located on an Indian reservation, or
located in a State that defers to EPA's exercise
of primary enforcement jurisdiction.
STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
Amendments of 1996 (PL 104-182) made
fundamental changes in the nature of the
drinking water program at the Federal, State,
Tribal and local levels. This report is the
second prepared to meet one of these new
requirements. The specific requirements of
Section 1414(c)(3) are:
States with primary enforcement
responsibility (primacy) must prepare
and submit to EPA an annual report on
PWS violations. States were required to
submit their first report by January 1,
1998, and annually thereafter. These
reports must address violations of
national primary drinking water
regulations with respect to maximum
contaminant levels (MCLs), treatment
requirements, significant monitoring
requirements, and variances and
exemptions. By agreement with EPA,
States submitted their second annual
reports in July of 1998, and will submit
subsequent reports in July of each year.
States with primacy must publish and
distribute summaries of their reports
and indicate where the full report is
available for review.
EPA must summarize and evaluate the
States' reports in an annual national
report, of which this is the second. This
report must make recommendations
concerning the resources needed to
improve compliance with SDWA. The
report must also address PWS
compliance on Indian reservations,.
enforcement activities undertaken, and
financial assistance provided by EPA to
Indian reservations.
In addition to requiring State and national
compliance reports, the Amendments include
two other provisions designed to give
consumers more information about the quality
of their drinking water. These are:
A requirement that community water
systems issue annual Consumer
Confidence Reports that contain
information on the source of the water
supply, the levels of detected
contaminants found in drinking water,
information on the health effects of
contaminants found in violation of
national standards, and information on
unregulated contaminants.
A provision that improves the
procedures for how and when public
water systems must notify their
customers when drinking water
regulations are violated.
The Consumer Confidence Report and the
public notification of drinking water
violations are a consumer's primary source of
specific and timely information about the
quality of the drinking water from his or her
PWS. The annual State and national reports
required by Section 1414(c)(3) of the SDWA
are intended to provide a summary of PWS
performance at the State and national level,
respectively.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Background
April 1999 " Page 1
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NATIONAL AND STATE PUBLIC
DRINKING WATER PROGRAMS
SDWA Intends EPA, States, and Tribes to work
as partners to ensure delivery of safe drinking
water to the public. Any State or Indian Tribe
can request responsibility for operation and
oversight of the drinking water program within
its borders. In order to receive this responsibility
(also called primary enforcement authority or
primacy), a State or Tribe must adopt
regulations that are at least as stringent as
Federal regulations and demonstrate its
capacity to enforce those regulations and to
implement other activities necessary to ensure
compliance. In the absence of State or Tribal
primacy, EPA assumes responsibility for
administering the drinking water program for
that area. Of the 56 eligible States (defined to
include Commonwealths, Territories, and the
District of Columbia), all but Wyoming and the
District of Columbia have primacy. EPA
Regional Offices administer the drinking water
program within these two jurisdictions and on
all Tribal lands.
EPA REGULATIONS
The Safe Drinking Water Act requires EPA to
establish national primary drinking water
regulations. These regulations set national
limits on contaminant levels in drinking water
to ensure that the water is safe for human
consumption. These limits, known as MCLs,
set the maximum permissible level of a
contaminant in water delivered to a user of a
PWS. At the Federal level, EPA has set drinking
water standards, or MCLs, for more than 80
contaminants. There are MCLs both for
contaminants that cause acute health effects
after a short-term exposure and for
contaminants that can cause chronic health
effects after long-term exposure. Additional
information on the health effects of specific
contaminants can be found on the EPA web
site (http:/ /www.epa.gov/safewater).
For some regulations, EPA establishes a
treatment technique requirement instead of an
MCL. Treatment techniques protect drinking
water where it is impractical to monitor and
determine the level of a particular
contaminant. The required treatment
techniques are designed to prevent known or
anticipated health effects. Treatment technique
requirements have been established under both
the Surface Water Treatment Rule and the
Lead and Copper Rule. A violation of a
treatment technique indicates that the system
failed to treat the water as specified to
minimize the presence of potentially harmful
contaminants.
EPA also sets monitoring, reporting, and record
keeping requirements that PWSs must follow. A
monitoring or reporting violation can occur
when a PWS either fails to take the required
number of samples or perform a required
analysis, or fails to report the results of an
analysis performed in a timely manner or as
required by law. SDWA requires States to
report only significant monitoring and reporting
violations in their annual PWS compliance
reports. A significant monitoring and reporting
violation occurs when a PWS collects none of
the samples or submits none of the reports
required by a particular regulatory provision. A
significant monitoring and reporting violation
can also occur if a PWS collects less than 90%
of the samples or submits less than 90% of the
reports required by the Surface Water
Treatment Rule. Appendix A contains
additional information about the definition and
application of significant monitoring and
reporting violations.
PWSs are required to report all monitoring
results to the primary enforcement authority.
States with primacy, or EPA where it
administers the program, analyze the
monitoring results, determine compliance, and
report violations to EPA on a quarterly basis.
EPA maintains records of these violations in
the national Safe Drinking Water Information
System (SDWIS/FED). Because SDWIS/FED is
an exceptions-based system, it records only
violations or instances of non-compliance.
SDWIS/FED does not record PWS monitoring
results that demonstrate compliance.
Page 2 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Background
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ACUTE contaminants: Short-term exposure to unsafe
levels may cause immediate adverse health effects.
Surface Water Treatment Rule All water systems
that get their water from a surface water source (a
Stiver, lake or reservoir) or a ground water source that
comes into contact with a surface water source must
disinfect and filter that water. The rule protects people
^against viruses, Giardia lambla, and other microbial
pathogens that can cause vomiting and dysentery.
Total Coliform Rule All water systems must test for
*the presence of harmless coliform bacteria, as their
presence may indicate the presence of other, harmful
cieria. Positive results for total cqfiform must be
..followed by tests for other microbial' pathogens, such
as e. coll, that can cause vomiting and dysentery.
Lead and Copper Rule Ail community and non-
rtransient non-community water systems must control
Jhe amount of lead and copper delivered to the tap,
^usually by maintaining a water pH level that will not
pleach these metals from pipes. Exposure to high lead
peveis can delay the physical or mental development of
^children. Adults may experience kidney problems and
relevated blood pressure. Short -term exposure to high
levels of copper may produce gastrointestinal
distress, while extended exposure can result in
jlarnage to the liver or kidneys.
Nitrates/Nitrates All water systems must test for
Jhese contaminants that can diminish the blood's
capacity to carry oxygen. High levels of nitrates in
Drinking water are of particular concern for infants
runder the age of six months.
f- ' ', " , * ''<ซ
CHRONIC contaminants: May cause adverse health
effects if ingested at unsafe levels over many years.
a
Radionuclides All community water systems must
"limit the levels of radioactive particles in drinking
pwater to reduce the risk of cancer.
Organic Chemicals All community water systems
;;must limit the levels of these contaminants (usually
^solvents or pesticides) in drinking water to reduce the
.risk of cancer and other adverse health effects.
Inorganic Chemicals All community and non-
etransient non-cornrnunity water systems must limit the.
Levels of these substances (e.g., asbestos and
:"cyanide) in drinking water to reduce the risk of cancer
and other adverse health effects.
''.'"., ,
'Total Trihalomethanes All large community water
^systems must limit the levels of these by-products of
"disinfection in drinking water to reduce the risk of cancer.
States with primacy, or EPA where it
administers the program, may grant a PWS a
variance or exemption from national primary
drinking water standards, provided that the
terms of the variance or exemption adequately
protect public health. As provided by SDWA,
variances are available to PWSs that cannot
comply with national primary drinking water
regulations (due to poor source water quality, or,
in the case of small systems, inadequate
financial resources). Variances generally allow a
PWS to comply with less stringent, but still
protective standards based on a specific EPA-
approved technology available to the system. An
exemption allows a PWS with compelling
circumstances (including economic
considerations) additional time to achieve
compliance with applicable SDWA requirements.
An exemption is limited to three years, although
extensions of up to six additional years are
available to very small PWS under certain
defined conditions.
PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS
The SDWA requirements described above apply
to public water systems (PWSs). A PWS is
defined as a system that has at least 15 service
connections or serves an average of at least 25
people for at least 60 days per year.
There are three types of PWSs:
_ ซ v*fซt* ^ V i V ~~y ป*te?K "d iw~^* * % s - ^ tsssS **
immunity systems serve at least 25 people
yearfround in their primary residences.
Community water systems'made 'upi less than a
Fthird of all PWSs, but served more than 91% of
She population served by PWSs.
on-transient Non-community systems serve at
Jgast 25 of the same persons for more than six *
Igiqnths in a year (e.g., schools or factories that ,
yiave their own water source).
*""*,ป- -*r^*e~.*,^ - ,- -m* ~l
^islent^flon-communjty^ systems do} nptjerve^
least 25 of the "same per&ons %r*more tharP" *
|งfx months in a year (e.g., campgrounds, highway
Erest stops that have their own water source).
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Background
April 1999 Page 3
-------
TABLE 1: PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM INVENTORY IN CALENDAR YEAR 1997
ii'ii! i: ' : "'i"" " iiiiiim !(' 'Jiiu /?,,ซ4
Water
!;;;; , , , SOUTC6
Surface
Ground
Total
Percent of
Total PWSs
Community Water Systems (CWS)
Number of
Systems
10,394
43,973
54,367
32%
Population Served
(millions)
167.5
85.0
252.5
*
Non-transient Non-community Water
Systems (NTNCWS)
Number of
Systems
754
19,501
20,255
12%
Population Served
(millions)
0.8
5.5
6.2
*
Transient Non-community Water
Systems (TNCWS)
Number of
Systems
1980
93,774
95,754
56.2%
Population Served
(millions)
0.83
15.9
16.8
*
* Populations for all three categories are not totaled, as many people consume water from more than one category of water system.
Source: EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System
In 1997, there were 170,376 public water
systems. Table 1 presents a breakdown of
these systems by type:
Community water systems: 54,367
systems serving 252.4 million people.
Non-transient non-community water
systems: 20,255 systems serving 6.2
million people.
Transient non-community water
systems: 95,754 systems serving 16.8
million people.
PWSs obtain their water from:
Surface water sources which include
rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.
Ground water sources that are supplied
from wells drilled into underground
aquifers.
Some PWSs obtain their water from a
combination of the two types of sources or
purchase their water from another PWS. In
1997, surface water served as the source for
approximately 8% of the PWSs serving
approximately 61 % of the total population
served by PWSs (Table 2). Ground water served
as a source for approximately 92% of the
PWSs, serving approximately 39% of the
population served by PWSs.
Each of the three types of public water
systems is regulated differently. Generally
speaking, community water systems must
comply with all regulations. Transient systems
do not have to comply with the regulations for
contaminants that cause chronic health
effects to occur. Table 2 provides a summary
of which drinking water regulations apply to
each category of PWS.
Page 4 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Background
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PWSs can also be classified according to the
size of the population that is being served. EPA
frequently analyzes compliance trends based
on three PWS size categories:
Small systems: serve 25 to 3,300
persons
Medium systems: serve 3,301 to
10,000 persons
Large systems: serve more than 10,000
persons
The number of community water systems in
each size classification in 1997 are shown in
Figure 1. The total population served by
community water systems in each size
classification is shown in Figure 2. These
figures illustrate that while most community
water systems (more than 95%) are small,
nearly four out of every five Americans receive
their drinking water from one of the relatively
few large systems.
TABLE 2: SUMMARY OF DRINKING WATER REGULATIONS FOR PWSs
Applicability of Current Regulations
Contaminant/Rule
Organic Contaminants
Total Trihalomethanes
(TTHM)
Inorganic Contaminants
Nitrate and Nitrite
Radionuclides
Total Coliform
Surface Water Treatment
Lead and Copper
Community Water Systems
All
Some
(Only systems serving
more than 10,000)
All
All
All
All
Some
(Only PWSs using
surface water sources
or ground water sources
under the direct influence
of surface water)
All
Non-transient Non-community
Water Systems
All
None
Some
(All except arsenic
and fluoride)
All
None
All
Some
(Only PWSs using
surface water sources
or ground water sources
under the direct influence
of surface water)
All
Transient Non-community
Water Systems
Some
(Only epichlorohydrin
and acrylamide)
None
None
All
None
All
Some
(Only PWSs using
surface water sources
or ground water sources
under the direct influence
of surface water)
None
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Background
April 1999 Page 5
-------
FIGURE 1: NUMBER OF COMMUNITY WATER SYSTEMS (by system size)
iSliili^
1..
Large
(over 16,000)
'' - ;
Number of systems (in thousands)
FIGURE 2: POPULATION SERVED (by system size)
" ' '
Population served (in millions)
l&iS-ia&aaSiS^^
Page 6 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Background
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Public Water Systems in States
PWS COMPLIANCE DATA
AND ANALYSIS
EPA has compiled and reviewed 1997 violations
data available from the annual State Public
Water Systems Reports and national public
water system (PWS) data from EPA's SDWIS/
FED database. The national analysis uses
SDWIS/FED data rather than data from the
State reports, primarily because EPA, in order
to conduct analyses at the national level, used
information reported in a consistent database.
Summaries of data from the State's reports
appear in Appendix B. In developing this
report, EPA and its partners have realized that
we have questions about the quality of some of
the data contained in SDWIS/FED.
Nonetheless, we believe that when the data are
viewed in the aggregate, it presents a reliable
overall compliance picture of PWSs nationwide.
A discussion of data quality concerns and
actions recommended to address these
concerns are presented later in this section.
DATA ANALYSIS
In the analysis that follows, compliance data
will be presented by type of water system to
prevent double counting the population when
presenting the number of people served by
systems reporting a violation. One person
|n JL997, there were ฃ70,376 public water
systems in America.
154,367 community water systems (32%) served
Inore than 252 million people.
20,255 non-transient non-community systems
1(12%) served more than 6 million people.
tT'-* *"" "J JL >>V* - " '-r
95,754 transient non-community systems (56%)
served almost 17 million people.
1
could drink water from three different sources
during a day by drinking water from her
residence (served by a community water
system), her school (served by a non-transient
non-community water system), and at a
campground or highway rest stop (served by a
transient non-community water system).
Including that same person three times in the
population figures would be misleading.
This report looks at the compliance status of all
types of public water systems. However, the
report focuses particular attention on
community water systems because those
systems are where the majority of the
population gets most of its drinking water.
Within the limitations of data quality, as
discussed in this report, some of the most
notable findings are:
The nation's drinking water is generally safe
at 79% of all public water systems, there
were neither reported violations of heath-
based standards nor significant violations of
monitoring and reporting requirements.
77% of community water systems had
no reported violations of MCL or
treatment technique requirements and
no significant violations of monitoring
and reporting requirements.
76% of non-transient non-community
water systems had no reported
violations of MCL or treatment
technique requirements and no
significant violations of monitoring and
reporting requirements.
81 % of transient non-community water
systems had no reported violations of
MCL or treatment technique
requirements and no significant
violations of monitoring and reporting
requirements.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Public Water Systems in States
April 1999 Page 7
-------
95% of America's public water systems
reported no violations of any health-based
drinking water standards.
92% of community water systems had
no reported MCL or treatment technique
violations. Most of the MCL or treatment
technique violations that were reported
were of the Total Coliform Rule or the
Surface Water Treatment Rule - rules
that protect against microbiological
contamination of drinking water.
95% of non-transient non-community
water systems had no reported MCL or
treatment technique violations. Most of
the MCL or treatment technique
violations that were reported were of the
Total Coliform Rule.
96% of transient non-community water
systems had no reported MCL or
treatment technique violations. As with
non-transient non-community water
systems, most of the MCL or treatment
technique violations that were reported
were of the Total Coliform Rule.
Most violations were significant violations
of monitoring and reporting requirements
rather than violations of heath-based
standards.
In 1997, there were 97,661 MCL,
treatment technique, and significant
monitoring and reporting violations
reported by 35,436 of the 170,376
public water systems in the nation.
15,054 (15%) were violations of health-
based MCL or treatment technique
requirements.
82,607 (85%) were significant violations
of monitoring and reporting
requirements.
Even so, 83% of all public water systems
had no significant violations of monitoring
and reporting requirements.
83% of community water systems had
no significant violations of monitoring
and reporting requirements.
79% of non-transient non-community
water systems had no reported significant
violations of monitoring and reporting
requirements.
83% of transient non-community water
systems had no violations of significant
monitoring and reporting requirements.
Although only 2% of public water systems
served more that 10,000 people, but
violations of health-based standards at a few
large systems potentially affected large
populations.
4% of the public water systems that
reported MCL or treatment technique
violations served more than 10,000
people. Violations of health-based
standards at these 375 large systems
potentially affected more than 26
million people.
All but two of the large systems reporting
MCL or treatment technique violations
were community water systems. The
health-based standards they most
frequently violated were the MCL or
treatment technique requirements for
the Total Coliform Rule and the Surface
Water Treatment Rule.
95% of all public water systems served fewer
than 3.3OO people. Most violations of
drinking water standards occurred at a small
system
91 % of the public water systems that
reported MCL or treatment technique
violations served 3,300 or fewer people.
Violations of health-based standards at
these 8,477 small systems had the
potential to affect 2.7 million people.
98% of significant monitoring and
reporting violations at public water
systems occurred at systems that
served 3,300 or fewer people. These
28,396 small systems with a significant
monitoring and reporting violation
served 5.6 million people.
Page 8 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Public Water Systems in States
-------
COMMUNITY WATER SYSTEMS
In 1997, there were 54,367 community water
systems in America that together served a
population of approximately 252.5 million
people. The remaining population received
residential water from individual wells or from
water systems that were too small to meet the
definition of a Federal public water system (i.e.
the system served fewer than 25 people).
ater Systems in 1997
J46,473 small* systems served 25 million people
4,303 medium systems served 25 million people
3,591 large systems served 202 million people
Figures 3-6 show the percentages of small,
medium, and large community water systems
reporting treatment technique and significant
monitoring and reporting violations of the
Surface Water Treatment Rule, Lead and
Copper Rule, chemical cluster (incorporating
violations of the organics, inorganics, nitrates/
nitrites, radionuclides, and total
trihalomethanes regulations), and Total
Coliform Rule, respectively. These figures also
display the absolute numbers of violations for
each size category, indicating that small
community water systems were responsible for
most of the reported violations. However, a
comparison with Figures 7-9, which show the
population potentially affected by the reported
violations, demonstrates that most people
potentially affected by violations received water
from a large community water system.
:-:T"---^TT^r m^'T!:::11;^^ "::,';' '.' :^'~'T:"T:'~rrr7zrr~T!"ia
i of community water systems~_were small. _j
irnafl commiMify wlrteT^stems'weW' '"""' ""
ible for 82% of all violations of health-
Usecl standards reportedI by community wafer
fsterns-^poteritiaily affecting 2 miillon people.
tot community water systems were large.
arge commurTfly; water^^ systen^ weVeTespons'iBTe ;
~~-..vt^^X!B-^lฐ"ฎ"ฐtj3ฎt'^''T?^^^ ?tandards 1
||^^Jjy'!^j^^^j^"'^^^p^^g-m''^: ;:"--ซ"""_.
j
Figures 3-5 demonstrate that compliance
rates for community water systems are better
than 95% for most drinking water
requirements. In all size categories, fewer than
2% of community water systems reported MCL
or treatment technique violations of the Lead
and Copper Rule or the chemical cluster, and
fewer than 4% violated the treatment technique
requirements of the Surface Water Treatment
Rule. In all size categories, fewer than five
percent of community water systems were
responsible for significant violations of
monitoring and reporting provisions of the
Surface Water Treatment Rule, the Lead and
Copper Rule, or the chemical cluster.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Public Water Systems in States
April 1999 Page 9
-------
FIGURE 3: PERCENTAGE OF COMMUNITY WATER
SYSTEMS IN VIOLATION OF THE SWTR
(Note: The absolute number presented on the bars represents the total number of violations for the systems.)
1 i i' j? I|J" :yr j
j tjfif ' '-h Hr * J
FIGURE 4: PERCENTAGE OF COMMUNITY WATER
SYSTEMS IN VIOLATION OF THE LCR
(Note: The absolute number presented on the bars represents the total number of violations for the systems.)
..... in^fisg ..... i ..... ;
f!^
M/R Violations
i jiu. iiEiUillsiitakiiLU iiiii rt'fciifasiiBi!! whU'vimitokiiii. iiyciuujicif
Page 10 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Public Water Systems in States
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FIGURE 5: PERCENTAGE OF COMMUNITY WATER
SYSTEMS WITH CHEMICAL VIOLATIONS
(Note: The absolute number presented on the bars represents the total number of violations for the systems.)
Medium
Large
MCL Violations
M/R Violations
Figure 6 reveals that the Total Coliform Rule is
the rule violated by the highest percentage of
community water systems, with 5% or more of
community water systems in all size categories
reporting MCL violations. Total Coliform Rule
MCL violations were reported by 5.7% of small
community water systems, and by 6% of both
medium and large community water systems.
Significant violations of Total Coliform Rule
monitoring and reporting requirements were
reported at slightly more than 12% of small
community water systems, but at only 2% of
medium and large community water systems.
Figures 7-9, which display the population
served by violating community water systems,
indicate that at small or medium community
water systems, reported violations of the Total
Coliform Rule potentially affected more people
than MCL or treatment technique violations of
all the other rules combined. Figures 7 and 8
show that 4.7% of the population served by
small community water systems and 6.6% of
the population served by medium systems were
served by systems that reported violations of
the Total Coliform Rule MCL. In 1997, the
population served by small and medium
systems in violation of the Total Coliform Rule
MCL was about 2.8 million people.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Public Water Systems in States
April 1999 Page 11
-------
FIGURE 6: PERCENTAGE OF COMMUNITY WATER
SYSTEMS IN VIOLATION OF THE TCR
(Note: The absolute number presented on the bars represents the total number of violations for the systems.;
IS^
fcgjdaiMii' ,":t HteiH^ww^ffliw.wpiiffi'ttW'ii'raliiiit ,:: Mi
I* IP '!ป!' ...... ..... : ..... ;v ...... i-vi'iM ........ vy;1.!'11 1'1 ........ ;i ^i" j t.: ..... v ",, ' ; ?;n; !.< .'' i """," ' u^11 M/ . , ป:i ,. " *;; x "i !:
! ....... i"E~!!T!?: Small Medium Large
; . J', .. *, , ,,,; ,!,,ซ# ...... ;, - ,, n ; J;n ' j n i: , , ^ i ;, , ,.'. y fl ,,, .,| ,,::'ซ, ;: ,,,^,, ' i ,r r h v i ,r ^ : fi - .f ^Ji|. ..... <'^'A'^",f^^f^^'-,^^.-^---^---T--,
.I" X Hri" .......... f,iซ, iiiili ..... |.vi: ......... i1 .l-'v U ..... 'ซ,!!!. ,; ," '.s; ....... ! ", .' '" ;,;' ,j "if',:*;!, tvy!, -M,,!,, ;, / id !.., //,,;. i;'/. ,,'^lp; ' .J.iir:; ..... r 'Jl^yt ,1,1 'ซ V, T r:1 .". ' v ,*' :' ' I'1 : n +,
: 1 ; ...... d.., ...... J ...... ;, .......... i!!.J .......... : ............. I;.C!U uhJiiiji ..... i!li|.,;;i ...... ..... ||| ...... i: ........... |r.l| ..... L:| ..... ;'!l,ir'!! Al,, ,,|i! ....... L i. ..... li , i ,.,: JjL'i.; ^hij-k ...... ft "j ,| ^ i^i; .' n - .1 ;| ,,; 'Ji, ,, ,'.; r *,
j'r MCL Violations M/R Violations
' ................................. ............ ' ..... liijiw^ .I'I'j!1*'
FIGURE 7: POPULATION AFFECTED BY VIOLATIONS IN
SMALL COMMUNITY WATER SYSTEMS
. or TRT Violation ^ M/R Violation
i | ป lifulj" ||f''. I ^:WiP||i!M ปi*r' i; ,i: !iซ:: ,rt) 3 (*f'',: , ,Ji 11 ,,,
Page 12 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Public Water Systems in States
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FIGURE 8: POPULATION AFFECTED BY VIOLATIONS IN
MEDIUM COMMUNITY WATER SYSTEMS
LCR SWTR
i MCL or TRT Violation
TCR Chemical
l| M/R Violation
As shown in Figure 9, simply by virtue of large
community water systems' size, violations at
these systems can potentially affect large
populations. In 1997, more than 7 million
people were served water by large systems that
reported MCL violations of the Total Coliform
Rule. Most of those 7 million Americans
received water from a handful of very large
systems.
Similarly, 93% of the more than 19 million
Americans whose community water system
reported a violation of the Surface Water
Treatment Rule treatment technique
requirements received their drinking water
from a large community water system.
However, few small and medium community
water systems rely of surface water as the
source of their drinking water, and most
community water systems subject to the
Surface Water Treatment Rule are large.
Because of the violations at our largest
community water systems have the potential
to affect large populations, EPA's regulations
sometimes impose additional requirements
on these systems. The Lead and Copper Rule
required all large systems to install corrosion
control. Small and medium systems are
required to install corrosion control only after
the level of lead or copper in their water is
shown to exceed an action level. The Lead
and Copper Rule gave large systems less time
than small and medium systems to meet its
requirements. The Surface Water Treatment
Rule focused on a number of the largest
water systems in America requiring these
systems to install filtration by 1993. For a
variety of reasons, including planning, design
and construction of the complex
infrastructure needed to install filtration, this
has taken longer than anticipated. As a
result, violations of the health-based
standards of either rule were more likely to
occur at large community water systems, and
the populations potentially affected by those
violations were inevitably large.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Public Water Systems in States
April 1999 Page 13
-------
FIGURE 9: POPULATION AFFECTED BY VIOLATIONS IN
LARGE COMMUNITY WATER SYSTEMS
li !'!
""""TC*R " " " """"cKemloII """" "
apis iiSiis;? SIRS' "ii, !:;?l
M/R Violation
pBMCBHCT'.SBtssKKpWSIJBWS"^-i{!wsf.'.'nijK*.KB;:.!s:.::i,'.,. .i'.DJi
iSni'ija'i^.l.liJnihii.E^hiijjji' 'V'M'uj '*H TIC' ^"'ii'-J1'1'l!.'ii'i 'JSli!-!^ !' i; '?.'.' '''^T'j'lI'V'/V' t'\'-*.:. ^.,'J" j.,'.. 'AJI
NON-COMMUNITY WATER SYSTEMS
Non-community water systems are classified as
either non-transient non-community systems
or transient non-community systems.
1. NON-TRANSIENT NON-COMMUNITY WATER
SYSTEMS
Approximately 76% of all non-transient non-
community water systems reported no MCL or
treatment technique violations and no
significant monitoring and reporting violations
in 1997. The vast majority (95%) of the 20,255
non-transient non-community water systems
operating during 1997 reported no violations of
health-based standards. More than 79% had
no significant violation of monitoring and
reporting requirements. As is apparent in
Figure 10, most of the violations that were
reported were significant violations of
monitoring and reporting requirements. If the
compliance rate for monitoring and reporting
were to improve, it is possible that more MCL
violations would be detected and the
percentage of non-transient non-community
systems that report violations of heath-based
standards would increase.
General findings for non-transient
non-community water systems are:
Of the MCL and treatment technique
requirements violations reported, more
systems violated the Total Coliform Rule
than the other rules, with nearly 4% of
the systems reporting an MCL violation
of the Total Coliform Rule.
Significant violations of the monitoring
and reporting requirements were more
common at non-transient non-
community water systems than at
community water systems, with 13% of
non-transient non-community systems
responsible for significant violations of
the monitoring and reporting
requirements of the Total Coliform Rule,
more than 8% responsible for
significant violations of monitoring and
reporting requirements of a chemical
Page 14 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Public Water Systems in States
-------
FIGURE 10: PERCENTAGE OF NTNC SYSTEMS WITH VIOLATIONS
(Note: The absolute number presented on the bars represents the total number of violations for the systems.)
I
a
I
0)
Q.
14 -,
1
10-
4-
2-
13.1
4.6
0-2
Chemical TCR
1 MCL or TT Violation
SWTR LCR
1 M/R Violation
2.
standard, and more than 4%
responsible for significant violations of
monitoring and reporting requirements
of the Lead and Copper Rule.
TRANSIENT NON-COMMUNITY WATER
SYSTEMS
Because people served water by transient non-
community water systems do not drink the
water regularly or for long periods, the nation's
95,754 transient non-community water
systems are required to comply with only those
standards that protect consumers from acute
health effectsthe Total Coliform Rule, some of
the chemical contaminant standards, and the
Surface Water Treatment Rules. Only 2.1% of
transient non-community water systems used
surface water as a source in 1997, and none
reported violations of the Surface Water
Treatment Rule.
As shown in Figure 11, almost 81% of transient
non-community systems reported neither MCL
or treatment technique violations, nor
significant violations of monitoring and
reporting requirements. 96% reported no
violations of MCL or treatment technique
requirements, and 83% had no significant
violations of monitoring and reporting
requirements.
The health-based standards for the
Total Coliform were those most
frequently violated by transient non-
community systems, 3.6% of which
reported a violation of the MCL.
7% of transient non-community water
systems had a significant violation of
the monitoring and reporting
requirements of a chemical standard.
As with non-transient non-community
water systems, improved compliance
with monitoring requirements could
lead to the detection of more MCL and
treatment technique violations, and an
increase in the percentage of systems
reporting violations of health-based
standards.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Public Water Systems in States
April 1999 Page 15
-------
FIGURE 11: PERCENTAGE OF TNC SYSTEMS WITH VIOLATIONS
(Note: The absolute number presented on the bars represents the total number of violations for the systems.)
ill!
ypR';1
. iiii && SiSi i JiBa'S Siai
MCL or TT Violation
VARIANCE AND EXEMPTIONS
There are very few PWSs currently operating
under a variance or exemption. Neither the
State PWS compliance reports for 1997 nor the
SDWIS/FED database reported any variance or
exemption violations during 1997.
QUALITY OF DATA
This report used compliance data taken from
EPA's' national SDWIS/FED database. States
are required to submit data to SDWIS/FED
quarterly. EPA assesses progress in the
implementation of regulations, develops its
national enforcement and compliance priorities
and strategies, and provides information to the
public based, in part, on analysis of the data in
SDWIS/FED.
Most States, on the other hand, develop a
database system that tracks more information
than that contained in SDWIS/FED. State data
systems often track monitoring results,
compliance assistance activities, and
enforcement actions. Most States used their
own data system in developing their State
compliance reports.
Because the SDWIS/FED database relies on
data provided by the States, one may expect
that these numbers should be comparable to
those in the States' own data systems.
Unfortunately, this was not the case with many
States. As with any large, complex database
network, there are numerous difficulties in
uploading data and correcting identified
problems.
Comparison of State and SDWIS/FED data
revealed both over and under-reporting by
States into SDWIS/FED across all rules, with
State data showing more violations than
SDWIS/FED on a national basis. State
chemical MCL and monitoring and reporting
violations were virtually identical to
information in SDWIS/FED. The rule with the
greatest discrepancy rate was the Lead and
Copper Rule. SDWIS/FED contained almost
Page 16 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Public Water Systems in States
-------
three times as many Lead and Copper
monitoring and reporting violations as the
State reports. Most of this discrepancy,
however, can be attributed to six States.
SDWIS/FED data for Lead and Copper
treatment technique violations is less than half
of what States reported for these violations.
EPA periodically conducts data verifications
(independent, on-site audits of State records) of
State programs to ensure that the State is
determining compliance in accordance with
Federal regulations and to detect differences
between data in the State database and
SDWIS/FED. Data verifications show larger
discrepancies by States in reporting on non-
community water systems than for other types,
particularly in the area of significant
monitoring violations.
There are many reasons for these data
discrepancies, including:
SDWIS/FED is a complex database.
Data entry procedures in SDWIS/FED
are cumbersome and data retrieval is
not user friendly.
States use different data systems and
designs.
Data management and analysis of
SDWIS/FED data is generally a lower
priority for some States and Regional
Offices. This lack of emphasis
frequently leads to insufficient training,
poor coordination among program and
data managers, and situations where
the responsibility for management of
data systems does not lie with the
people who use and need the data.
EPA is working with the States to improve the
reporting system and to reduce data
discrepancies to the maximum extent possible.
Some of the activities underway are:
EPA, in cooperation with the States, is
developing a State data system known
as SDWIS/STATE. It is intended to
improve data quality and data transfers
between States and EPA. Ten States
and four EPA regions currently have
SDWIS/ STATE installed. Within the
next year, nine more States, two
territories, and three more EPA Regions
will be using SDWIS/STATE to transfer
data to SDWIS/FED.
EPA is:
Improving data entry by updating
and streamlining documentation
and training materials.
Preparing Quality Assurance
manuals for use by States and
Regions.
Investigating mechanisms for
making data retrieval more user
friendly. EPA is also using the
database to track progress toward
meeting performance measures and
making SDWIS/FED information
publicly available through its web
site, Envirofacts. EPA is revising
how the data are displayed in
Envirofacts to make the data easier
to access. As the database is used
more, and becomes easier to use,
States will have a greater incentive
to improve the quality of data in it.
Conducting data verifications in
many States each year and following
up on the results to be sure the
recommendations are implemented.
One of the components of these
verifications is to identify
discrepancies between the State
system and SDWIS/FED.
EVALUATION AND SUMMARY
OF STATE REPORTS
EPA received 1997 Annual State Public Water
System Reports from 51 primacy States,
Commonwealths, and Territories. EPA prepared
reports for the District of Columbia and
Wyoming, and provided data on Indian Tribes,
because these areas do not have primary
enforcement responsibility for the drinking
water program.
This report presents the evaluation of these
annual reports in three subsections:
State enforcement and compliance
assistance programs
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Public Water Systems in States
April 1999 Page 17
-------
Information on the State reports
State-by-State summaries
STATE ENFORCEMENT AND
COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS
States engage in a variety of activities,
including formal enforcement actions, informal
actions, and compliance and technical
assistance to help PWSs remain in, and return
to, compliance. Additionally, SDWA requires
that States have operator certification
programs that require many PWS operators to
be licensed by the appropriate authorities.
State enforcement and compliance assistance
efforts may include:
Conducting on-site visits and sanitary
surveys at PWSs (i.e., an on-site review
of the water sources, facilities,
equipment, operations, and
maintenance of a PWS to evaluate the
adequacy of these elements for
producing and distributing safe
drinking water)
Helping systems invest in preventive
measures
Providing financial assistance for
system improvements through the
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
and other State funding programs
Reviewing water system plans and
specifications
Conducting training sessions
Holding public information meetings
Loaning specialized monitoring
equipment
Publishing informational bulletins and
newsletters on training events, etc.
Unless there is an immediate health risk
necessitating immediate action, formal
enforcement actions may be initiated several
months after the violation is detected and
reported. The reason for this delay is that,
when appropriate, States commonly undertake
a variety of informal actions and compliance
assistance measures to try to get PWSs back
into compliance as quickly as possible.
Informal actions may include the following
activities:
Compliance reminder letters or notices
of violations
Field visits
Telephone calls
Formal enforcement actions may include the
following activities:
Bilateral compliance agreements
Citations
Administrative orders
Criminal complaints with penalties
Civil referrals to State Attorneys
General or to the Department of Justice
Emergency orders
Criminal cases
Fines or administrative penalties
Other sanctions such as denying
permission for system expansion
In fiscal year 1997, the States issued a total of
913 formal enforcement actions, including 632
administrative orders without penalty, 220
administrative orders with penalty, 60 civil
referrals, and 1 criminal referral. During the
same period, EPA issued 266 notices of
violation, 392 Federal administrative orders, 12
complaints for penalty, and 4 referrals for civil
judicial action.
In conclusion, States can choose among a
number of formal and informal activities to
return violating systems to compliance and
ensure that the public has safe drinking water.
While EPA did not analyze compliance
assistance and enforcement data in its first two
national reports, it may do so in future reports.
EPA encourages States to include this
information in future reports to provide a more
complete picture of PWS compliance.
Page 18 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Public Water Systems in States
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INFORMATION ON STATE REPORTS
EPA reviewed each State report to determine
whether it met the requirements of the 1996
Amendments to SDWA. The contents of the
State reports are summarized in Table 4 in
Appendix B. The table indicates whether a
report was submitted to EPA, whether all
required elements of the report were included,
and whether the State included a list of PWSs
with MCL violations or treatment technique
violations. The chart also includes a column
indicating if information was provided on the
public availability and distribution of State
reports. Publication and distribution of
summaries of the report and indication of
where the full report is available for public
review is a statutory requirement of the 1996
SDWA Amendments. This summary chart also
indicates whether the State's report included
any additional information of interest to the
public, such as the number of public water
systems in the State, their sizes and types: the
size and type of violating systems, and the
compliance assistance and enforcement
activities undertaken in response to violations.
These State summaries in Appendix B
summarize, but do not interpret the data
submitted by the States. EPA does not confirm
that the States have fully reported all
violations. Readers should view the violations
data provided in the State summaries in the
context of each specific State and its
individual drinking water program. Although
PWSs are required to report all violations to
the State, States vary in the areas their
programs choose to emphasize. Thus, the fact
that a State reported a large number of
violations for a particular rule (e.g., the Lead
and Copper Rule), may only indicate that the
State devoted more attention and resources to
that rule than to other rules and, as such, the
data reported are more complete than the data
another State reported showing fewer
violations of the same rule.
A list of all PWSs having either MCL or
treatment technique violations in 1997 has also
been developed by many States and provided
by States to EPA. Copies of these lists will be
available from EPA's Safe Drinking Water
Hotline at (800) 426-4791.
STATE BY STATE SUMMARIES
EPA provides a State-by-State summary of
information reported in each State report in
Appendix B. The standardized format includes
an overall summary of the violations data
specified in Section 1414 of the 1996 SDWA
Amendments (i.e., violations with respect to
MCLs, treatment technique violations,
significant monitoring and reporting violations,
and variances and exemptions). Information on
how and where to obtain a copy of each State
report has been included on the respective
summary chart.
In some instances, the data reported by a State
in July of 1998 may not agree with data
currently in SDWIS/FED. EPA and the States
have been engaged in an ongoing SDWIS/FED
data reliability effort that has resulted in the
insertion since July of 1998 of updated and
corrected information into SDWIS/FED.
CONCLUSIONS AND ACTIVITIES
TO ADDRESS RECOMMENDATIONS
As stated above, the nation's drinking water is
generally safe. The vast majority of Americans
received water from systems that reported
violations of neither MCL and treatment
technique requirements nor significant
violations of monitoring and reporting
requirements.
The following recommendations address the
significant challenges that remain as EPA,
States, and Tribes work to improve compliance
with the SDWA Amendments of 1996. Because
only six months has elapsed since the issuance
of EPA's first national PWS Compliance report
for calendar year 1996, the recommendations
of the two reports are the same.
Most of the recommendations involve
coordinated effort on the part of EPA and
States, or EPA and Indian Tribes, to address
violations of a specific type or to improve the
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Public Water Systems in States
April 1999 Page 19
-------
collection and maintenance of compliance data.
As detailed in the discussion that follows, many
of the activities underway to implement the
SDWA Amendments of 1996 are directly
responsive to these recommendations.
1. ENFORCEMENT AND COMPLIANCE
ASSISTANCE RECOMMENDATIONS
REGARDING PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS IN
STATES
States and EPA should work together
to address significant violations of
monitoring and reporting
requirements.
States and EPA should work together
to address violations of MCL and
treatment technique requirements.
States and EPA should work together
to address violations at non-
community water systems.
EPA and the States are working to address
these recommendations on a number of fronts.
Improving compliance requires a mix of
compliance assistance, capacity building
activities, and targeted enforcement activities.
A key part of improving compliance with both
health-based standards and monitoring and
reporting requirements is ensuring that
operators of public water systems have the
information and the training they need to do
their jobs properly. The 1996 Amendments
provided funding to support nine technology
assistance centers to help small systems with
training, technical assistance, and technology
demonstrations. Additionally, EPA and the
States facilitate compliance with existing
drinking water requirements by conducting
numerous compliance assistance activities,
such as on-site visits and development and
distribution of plain English guides and
checklists on regulatory requirements. EPA,
with its State and drinking water stakeholder
partners, are also working pro-actively to
ensure that the operators of public water
systems understand and are prepared to
comply with new requirements, like Consumer
Confidence Reports, and new standards, like
the Disinfection By-products Rule. EPA is
using the new Local Government
Environmental Assistance Network (LGEAN )as
an interactive platform to provide free
information on current and developing SDWA
requirements. LGEAN provides information and
compliance tools to anyone with Internet or
telephone access, and gives anyone with
Internet or telephone access an avenue for
conveying questions and comments to EPA.
Making drinking water compliance information
readily available to the public is another aspect
of improving compliance at public water
systems. The annual public water systems
compliance reports prepared by States and by
EPA are just-one aspect of this effort. The
public will also receive Consumer Confidence
Reports annually from their community water
systems and, if necessary, more timely notice of
MCL or treatment technique violations as
required by the Public Notification Rule. The
three Internet sites mentioned earlier in this
report provide public access to a wealth of
drinking water compliance information. Putting
this information on display both informs the
public and provides an incentive for the
operators of water systems and for drinking
water regulators to achieve and maintain the
high levels of compliance that the public
demands.
Consistently achieving a high level of
compliance can be a greater challenge for small
public water systems that may lack the
financial, technical, or managerial resources
available to medium and large systems. By
enacting new compliance assistance tools
created by the 1996 Amendments, EPA and the
States are helping small communities overcome
these impediments. Among the important new
developments: a list of approved small system
compliance technologies that allows more
flexibility in treating drinking water, and
revised variance and exemption rules that allow
EPA and States to provide small systems some
flexibility in how and when they will meet
drinking water requirements.
With capacity development programs,
particularly those tied to the Drinking Water
State Revolving Fund, EPA and the States are
helping small systems overcome the root
Page 20 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Public Water Systems in States
-------
causes of noncompliancethe often intractable
problems of deficient infrastructure, untrained
operators, and inadequate financing. Financial
assistance from this fund will improve
compliance at the 46,473 small community
water systems and at the 115,602 non-
community water systems, 99.7% of which
serve fewer than 3,300 people. Congress
appropriated $2.8 billion through Fiscal year
1999 for the Drinking Water State Revolving
Fund this purpose. Diligent efforts by the
States ensured that every State had an
approved program for implementing its
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund in place
before the end of 1998 and had begun receiving
capitalization grants.
Enforcement will always be part of a credible
regulatory program. State and Federal
enforcement actions against noncomplying
public water systems both discourage
violations and level the playing field for those
systems that devote resources to remaining in
compliance. Although public water systems of
all types need to know that violations can and
will result in enforcement actions, EPA and the
States will target particular kinds of systems
and violations posing the greatest risks to
protect public health. Required source water
assessments are a potential tool to help EPA
and its partners identify and evaluate threats
to the sources of drinking water and address
them with appropriate compliance and
enforcement efforts
EPA is meeting with States and other drinking
water stakeholders seeking input that will help
the Agency formulate the most effective
strategy for implementing the
recommendations in its first two annual
reports. EPA will refine its recommendations in
future annual reports by integrating the data
improvements that result from the ongoing
data reliability efforts discussed below. EPA
plans to incorporate the resulting
implementation commitments into its
Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) with EPA
Regions, and has identified the control of
microbial contamination as priority across all
enforcement programs. The Regions can in
turn use these priorities when negotiating
Performance Partnership Agreements with their
States.
2. RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING DATA
QUALITY
EPA and drinking water stakeholders
should work cooperatively to improve
the quality of compliance data.
This is the recommendation on which EPA has
focused the most effort since the issuance of
the 1996 National Public Water Systems Report
in September of 1998. During preparation of
that report, EPA noted that compliance data in
many Individual state reports differed from the
data reported to SDWIS/FED. In fall of 1998,
EPA held a series of stakeholder meetings that
help identify a number of interim and long-
term goals. EPA and its stakeholders have
agreed that the data quality goal should be
100% complete, accurate, and timely data
which portray the data submitted by public
water systems and primacy agencies,
consistent with SDWA reporting requirements.
This goal will be advanced through interim
milestones, which can be set once the current
level of quality is determined.
Improve the display of drinking water
data in Envirofacts: EPA and its
stakeholders have agreed to a number
of changes to improve the way drinking
water data are portrayed in Envirofacts
(an EPA web site where the public can
access information about the
performance of a public water system).
Changes which need to be made
include: displaying only data
subsequent to January 1, 1993 since
these data are more accurate than older
data, providing better description of the
data and explanations of violations,
listing MCL/treatment technique
violations separately from monitoring
violations, developing a better way to
link violation and follow-up actions, and
revising the compliance period date to
indicate more accurately the length of
the violation.
Characterize and quantify the data
quality problem: EPA and its
stakeholders will work together to better
define the data quality problem.
Activities include comparing the data
submitted by States in their Annual
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Public Water Systems in States
April 1999 Page 21
-------
Compliance Reports with the data they
report to SDWIS/FED, comparing the
data in SDWIS/FED to the data in
Envirofacts, asking public water
systems to identify errors in the
SDWIS/FED data displayed in
Envirofacts, analyzing data verification
reports to identify generic problems and
the extent of their occurrence, analyzing
quarterly SDWIS/FED production
reports to identify data which are
rejected, and analyzing state
management structures to determine if
there is a relationship between
management structure and data
quality.
Take interim steps to improve data
quality: While the characterization and
quantification effort is underway, EPA
and its stakeholders agreed that there
are numerous activities which could be
undertaken to improve the quality of
data currently in SDWIS/FED and
newly entering data. Activities to
improve the quality of data feeding into
SDWIS/FED include: developing a
mechanism for utilities to review data
before states send data to SDWIS/FED;
streamlining reporting requirements for
upcoming rules; accelerating the
implementation of electronic reporting;
conducting more frequent data
verifications and following up on their
recommendations; involving data
management staff in rule development,
working with state and regional
management structures from the
perspective of maximizing data quality;
and improving record keeping and
reporting of compliance information on
Indian lands. Activities to improve
quality of data in SDWIS/FED include
correcting software bugs, accelerating
development and implementation of
SDWIS/STATE, providing additional
error check routines in SDWIS/FED,
improving existing data entry tools,
ensuring that quarterly submissions are
reviewed and errors are corrected,
issuing quality assurance manuals for
Regions and States, and facilitating
data retrieval.
Make long-term commitment to
achieve and maintain data quality
goals: Upon completion of the
characterization and quantification
effort, EPA and its partners will take the
actions identified as necessary to
ensure that the data quality goal that
the data in SDWIS/FED achieves 100%
completeness, accuracy, and timeliness
in portraying the data submitted by
public water systems and primacy
agencies. EPA and its partners will also
take the actions necessary to maintain
those levels.
Page 22 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Public Water Systems in States
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Public Water Systems on Indian Reservations
; i " ' ' ' - > J " "'>'ป"" * i , ป . s ' * - "?
INTRODUCTION
This section of the 1997 National Annual
Public Water Systems Compliance Report
provides information on the compliance status
of public water systems (PWSs) on Indian
reservations for calendar year 1997. This is the
second report issued pursuant to section
1414(c)(3)(B) of SDWA as amended in 1996.
EPA issued the first report on September 3,
1998, for calendar year 1996.
ROLE OF OTHER FEDERAL
AGENCIES
EPA is only one of the Federal agencies
implementing the drinking water program at
PWSs on Tribal reservations. Other agencies
involved in this process include the Indian
Health Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs,
and the Bureau of Reclamation. The Indian
Health Service provides a comprehensive health
services delivery system for American Indians
and Alaska Natives along with the opportunity
for maximum Tribal involvement in developing
and managing programs to meet health needs.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs is the primary
Federal agency fulfilling the United States' trust
responsibilities to Tribes and Native Villages.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs works with Tribal
managers in protecting and managing trust
resources. As the bureau expands its
involvement in environmental management, it
will work with Tribes, Alaska Native Villages,
and other Federal agencies, such as EPA and
the Indian Health Service, to help PWSs on
Indian reservations stay in compliance.
The Bureau of Reclamation provides technical
assistance to Indian Tribes in the management
of their resources. A number of projects have
been designed to improve water quality on
Indian reservations.
During calendar year 1997, there were 728
community water systems, 77 non-transient
^m^^mmuWfty'wa^r~s^em^a1iuri2S~"
transient non-community water systems located
tiese 930 public water systems 'served' a '"'
populationi of approximately 47^,000 jpeopfe. __'
(Most of these systems were small and served
ffewer than 500 people.
Jhere were no public water systems on Indian
lands that served more than 100,000 people.
Only two Tribal water systems served
populations of more than 10,000 people.
PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS ON
INDIAN RESERVATIONS
Tribes are eligible to receive primary
enforcement responsibility (primacy) to
administer their drinking water program.
Because no Tribe has received primacy to date,
EPA implements the drinking water program on
all Indian lands. (See Figure 12)
COMPLIANCE DATA
The national drinking water database, the Safe
Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS/
FED), was the primary source of information
for this report. The EPA Regional Offices are
responsible for updating the SDWIS/FED
database and keeping information in SDWIS/
FED accurate and up-to-date.
In developing the first report, EPA found that
inventory and violations data for 1996 were not
fully reported in SDWIS/FED. This was also
the case for 1997 data, but the ongoing efforts
of EPA's Regional Offices have resulted in a
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Public Water Systems on Indian Reservations
April 1999 Page 23
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FIGURE 12: MAP OF INDIAN LANDS
Indian Lands
much more complete and accurate database for
this second report. Data management for
compliance information is now an EPA priority.
To address this priority, EPA is working to
Improve its Tribal compliance data by
improving the inventory of PWSs located on
Indian reservations.
Compliance figures for Alaska Native Villages
are not included in this section of the report.
They are included in the State report for the
State of Alaska. Other Tribal systems may also
be included in State reports. Oklahoma
includes these systems in its State inventory.
However, the discussion on financial assistance
and conclusions and recommendations in this
section are applicable to all American Indian
and Alaska Native water systems.
COMPLIANCE ANALYSIS
In 1997, 500 of the 930 public water systems
on Indian reservations recorded violations. The
number PWSs violating provisions of the
chemical rules, the Total Coliform Rule, and
the Surface Water Treatment Rule are shown in
figure 13. No violations of the Lead and Copper
Rule were reported in 1997 at public water
systems on Indian reservations, of EPA's
analysis of the data produced the following
notable findings:
At 46% of public water systems located' on
Indian reservations, there were neither
reported violations of health-based
standards nor significant violations of
monitoring and reporting requirements.
48% of community water systems
located on Indian reservations had no
reported violations of MCL or treatment
technique requirements and no
significant violations of monitoring and
reporting requirements.
Page 24 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Public Water Systems on Indian Reservations
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FIGURE 13: NUMBER OF TRIBAL PUBLIC
WATER SYSTEMS REPORTING VIOLATIONS
JL= 250
200 -
150 -
100 -
50 -
Chemical
TCR SWTR
Type of Violation
I MCL M/R
40% of non-transient non-community
water systems located on Indian
reservations had no reported violations
of MCL or treatment technique
requirements and no significant
violations of monitoring and reporting
requirements.
39% of transient non-community
systems located on Indian reservations
had no reported violations of MCL or
treatment technique requirements and
no significant violations of monitoring
and reporting requirements.
89% of public water systems located on
Indian reservations had no reported
violations of health-based MCL or treatment
technique requirements.
89% of community water systems
located on Indian reservations had no
reported
MCL or treatment technique violations.
89% of non-transient non-community
water systems located on Indian
reservations had no reported MCL or
treatment technique violations.
90% of transient non-community
systems located on Indian reservations
had no reported violations of MCL or
treatment technique requirements.
In all categories of water systems, the
health-based standard most frequently
violated (138 of 156 health-based
standard violations) was the MCL for
the Total Coliform Rule.
Most violations at public water systems on
Indian reservations were significant
violations of monitoring and reporting
requirements, not violations of health-based
drinking water standards.
In 1997, there were 1,040 MCL,
treatment technique, and significant
monitoring and reporting violations
reported by 500 of the 930 public water
systems located on Indian reservations.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Public Water Systems on Indian Reservations
April 1999 Page 25
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156 (15%) were violations of MCL and
treatment technique requirements.
884 (85%) were significant violations of
monitoring and reporting requirements.
Even so, 66% of public water systems
located on Indian reservations had no
significant violations of monitoring and
reporting requirements.
68% of community water systems
located on Indian reservations had no
significant violations of monitoring and
reporting requirements.
57% of non-transient non-community
water systems located on Indian
reservations had no significant
violations of monitoring and reporting
requirements.
62% of transient non-community water
systems located on Indian reservations
had no significant violations of
monitoring and reporting requirements.
Violations of the monitoring and
reporting requirements of the Total
Coliform rule accounted for 723 of the
884 significant monitoring and
reporting violations at public water
systems on Indian reservations in 1997.
98% of all public water systems located on
Indian reservations served 3.30O or fewer
people.
709 of the 728 community water
systems located on Indian reservations
served 3,300 or fewer people. Only one
community water system served more
than 10,000 people.
All 77 non-transient non-community
water systems located on Indian
reservations served fewer than 3,300
people.
Only one of the 125 transient non-
community water systems located on
Indian reservations served more than
3,300 people.
COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE
AND ENFORCEMENT
EPA is responsible for ensuring PWS
compliance with SDWA regulations on Indian
reservations and uses multiple approaches to
facilitate compliance. This report also provides
information on EPA's compliance assistance
program not generally represented in the
SDWIS/FED database.
EPA's tribal compliance assistance program
includes training sessions for PWSs,
newsletters containing information specific to
Tribal PWS interests, field presence, and other
types of support activities that provided needed
information for compliance. Technical
assistance is a key component of EPA
compliance assistance activities. Technical
assistance includes circuit riders expert
operators who provide direct on-site support
to PWS operators and managers. This
assistance can include site visits, telephone
calls, mailings, and hotlines. A circuit rider
promotes knowledge of drinking water
regulations through his presence in the field,
provides technical assistance to Tribes, and
builds cooperative working relationships with
EPA.
EPA coordinates many of these compliance
assistance activities with the Indian Health
Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Rural
Water Association, and the Rural Community
Assistance Program. In many cases, EPA
provides information on updated monitoring
and reporting requirements, such as a yearly
monitoring requirement letter customized for
PWSs located within each reservation in a
Region.
EPA is also responsible for initiating
enforcement actions against owners or
operators of PWSs if a PWS is not in
compliance with SDWA. EPA uses several types
of formal enforcement actions against PWSs,
including administrative orders, settlement
agreements, and civil and criminal referrals to
the Department of Justice. EPA also uses
informal enforcement actions to return PWSs
to compliance.
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1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Public Water Systems on Indian Reservations
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The "EPA Policy for the Administration of
Environmental Programs on Indian
Reservations" guides the Agency's approach to
bringing administrative or judicial enforcement
actions on Indian reservations. Although EPA
does.initiate formal enforcement responses in
circumstances where such actions are
appropriate, in most cases, EPA relies on
informal enforcement actions and compliance
assistance to facilitate a Tribal public water
system's return to compliance.
EPA uses a wide array of informal enforcement
actions on Indian reservations to return PWSs
to compliance. These activities are directed
toward PWS operators, utility managers, and
tribal government officials. Typical informal
enforcement actions include:
Telephone calls and on-site visits by
EPA enforcement personnel to discuss
potential and actual violations;
Compliance letters or pre-warning
violation letters;
Informal notices of violations
Table 3 depicts the numbers of informal
enforcement actions in relation to the total
number of PWSs on Indian reservations. The
largest numbers of informal enforcement
actions are Federal Violation or Reminder
Notices. For calendar year 1997, EPA issued
375 Federal Violation or Reminder Notices.
TABLE 3: NUMBER OF PWSs ON TRIBAL LANDS WITH VIOLATIONS BY RULE
1996 PWSs AND VIOLATIONS
Total Number of PWSs
Total Number of Violations
Total Number of PWSs with Violations
TOTAL NUMBER
930
1040
500
ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS IN RESPONSE TO VIOLATIONS
.Federal Violation or Reminder Notice issued by the EPA Regional Offices
Federal public notification to consumers of a PWS regarding violations
Federal Public Notification requested by EPA Regional Offices to be sent
to consumers of a PWS regarding violations and health risk.
Federal Technical Assistance visit
Federal Notice of Violation issued by EPA Regional Offices. This is usually
a formal action, however, some Regions use it as an informal action with Tribes.
Federal Penalty Administrative Order issued
Federal Intentional No-Action
Federal 1431 Order
Federal Boil Water Order
Other
NUMBER ISSUED
375
71
49
12
4
3
3
2
2
1
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Public Water Systems on Indian Reservations
April 1999 Page 27
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FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
EPA provides financial assistance to PWSs on
Indian reservations in several ways. One
approach Is to build Tribal capacity to manage
the water systems in compliance with SDWA.
Capacity building entails providing Tribes with
grants, training, and program technical
assistance as they develop their own
environmental programs. A significant source
for building capability is through grants
provided under the General Assistance
Program. Under a second approach, EPA's
Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water
provides funding for specific program priorities.
Historically, 3% of the appropriations for State
implementation of the Public Water System
Supervision program is used for
implementation of the program on Tribal
Lands. The funds are used by EPA to operate
its Tribal Public Water System Supervision
program. About $2.7 million was allotted for
implementing the Public Water System
Supervision program on Tribal lands in Fiscal
Year 1997. Additionally, a number of grants
have been awarded to Indian Tribes and Tribal
Organizations to address various aspects of the
drinking water program.
In Fiscal Years 1998 and 1999, EPA received
$3.8 million, in addition to the 3% set-aside , to
be used for activities such as:
Public Water System Supervision
Program Primacy Workshops - EPA is
planning to provide general outreach
material to all Tribes eligible to pursue
primary enforcement responsibility.
Capacity Development - EPA is
providing funds for Tribal capacity
development projects.
Source Water Protection - EPA is
providing funds for Tribal source water
protection projects.
Operator Certification - EPA is
developing a voluntary Operator
Certification Program for Tribes and will
use funds to provide operator training
and certification to Tribal operators.
Examples of additional support provided by
Regional Offices include circuit rider programs
to help Tribes develop self-supporting PWSs on
Indian reservations, conducting laboratory
analysis of samples for monitoring, and
awarding grants to address operator training
and wellhead protection.
In the 1996 Amendments to SDWA, an
infrastructure funding program was
established to improve water supplies. Each
year, 1.5 percent of the appropriation for the
national Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
program will be set aside as grants to improve
infrastructure for water systems on Indian
reservations and in Alaska Native Villages. The
initial set-aside from the 1997 appropriation
amounted to $19.25 million, an additional
$10.87 million was set-aside from the 1998
appropriation, and $11.625 million was set-
aside from the 1999 appropriation. The 1995
EPA appropriations bill authorized drinking
water and wastewater grants to the State of
Alaska for the benefit of rural and Native
villages. Although the authorized $15 million
annual grant, for fiscal years 1997 through
2000, targets construction needs, a portion of
the funds can be used to support technical
assistance and training.
Additional technical assistance for small PWSs
is also provided under Section 1442(e) of SDWA,
which states that a portion of the funding
appropriated under the section shall be used to
provide technical assistance to small PWSs
owned or operated by Indian Tribe. For example,
EPA currently has two cooperative agreements
funded under Section 1442(e) of SDWA with the
National Rural Water Association and the Rural
Community Assistance Program to provide
support to PWSs.
CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
This report shows much the same compliance
situation as the 1996 report. Approximately
62% of the public water systems located on
Indian reservations had neither a reported
violation of a health-based standard nor a
Page 28 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Public Water Systems on Indian Reservations
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significant violation of a monitoring and
reporting requirement. Of the 930 public water
systems on Indian reservations, 91% of the
public water systems located on Indian
reservations reported no violations of MCL and
treatment technique requirements. Closely
matching the performance of non-Tribal public
water systems, 84% of the violations on Indian
reservations were significant violations of
monitoring and reporting requirements.
The short interval between the September 1998
release of the first national report and issuance
of this second national report gave EPA no
significant opportunity to implement these
recommendations, and the recommendations
for the two reports are the same.
EPA should take action to improve
compliance of PWSs on Indian
reservations
EPA should improve its collection
and maintenance of compliance data
for public water systems on Indian
reservations
Many of the activities described in the section
of EPA's national report discussing
implementation of enforcement and compliance
assistance recommendations regarding public
water systems in States will also apply to the
implementation of the recommendations
regarding public water systems on Indian
reservations. Those activities that focus on
small systems and developing small system
capacity will be particularly applicable, as 75%
of the public water systems on Indian
reservations serve fewer than 500 people. A
significant source of building capacity is
through grants provided under the General
Assistance Program.
EPA Regional offices provide additional support
to Tribes in the form of circuit rider programs
to help Tribes develop self-supporting PWSs on
Indian reservations, free laboratory analysis of
samples collected during monitoring, and
grants to address operator training and
wellhead protection. Rather than responding to
violations at tribal public water systems with
formal enforcement actions, EPA focuses on
informal enforcement responses and
compliance assistance to return these systems
to compliance. EPA's informal enforcement
responses typically include telephone calls and
site visits to counsel system operators,
compliance letters or warning letters, and
informal notices of violations.
The 1997 EPA Drinking Water Infrastructure
Needs Survey highlighted the needs for capital
improvements for public water systems on
Indian Reservations. Each year 1.5% of the
appropriation for the national Drinking Water
State Revolving Fund is set aside for grants to
improve infrastructure for water systems on
Indian reservations and in Alaska Native
Villages. In 1997, that set-aside was $19.25
million. Inadequate infrastructure is one of the
major reasons public water systems on Indian
reservations fail to meet SDWA requirements.
In Fiscal Year 1997, EPA used $2.7 million, 3%
of all Federal funding to implement the Public
Water System Supervision (PWSS) program, to
implement the PWSS program on tribal lands.
In Fiscal Years 1998 and 1999, EPA received
an additional $3.8 million to be used for Tribal
compliance assistance activities such as: Public
Water System Supervision program primacy
workshops, capacity development projects,
source water protection - EPA is providing
funds for Tribal source water protection
projects, and operator training and
certification.
To ensure that any unique needs of public
water systems on Indian reservations are met,
EPA is seeking input from Tribal stakeholders
as the Agency explores the most effective
options for implementing the recommendations
of EPA's annual reports. EPA will work
cooperatively with Tribal Councils and their
water system operators to improve compliance
with monitoring and reporting requirements,
particularly for Total Coliform Rule and
chemical contaminant requirements. This can
be accomplished through compliance
assistance efforts, such as increasing EPA's
field presence, conducting more frequent
sanitary surveys, and providing technical
assistance and enforcement, as appropriate.
EPA will also look for new ways to provide
effective compliance assistance and technical
assistance to Tribes, and will improve its own
inventory of PWSs located on Indian
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Public Water Systems on Indian Reservations
April 1999 Page 29
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reservations to facilitate development of
programs that foster the environmental
management infrastructure.
EPA has already identified problems related to
the collection and entry into SDWIS/FED of
information on public water systems on Indian
reservations. Activities to address those
problems and ensure the completeness and
reliability of this data, although focused within
EPA, will be similar to those described with
respect to the data quality activities underway
with respect to State data in SDWIS/FED.
Activities to implement the enforcement and
compliance recommendations will be
incorporated into Memoranda of Agreement
with EPA Regions that exercise primary
enforcement authority over tribal lands.
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EPA Activities Underway to Implement
the SDWA Amendments of 1996
The Clinton Administration has always
recognized that many tools and resources are
essential to ensure that Americans have
drinking water that meets all health standards.
The SDWA Amendments of 1996 provided
many new authorities to enable EPA to more
quickly meet its goal of safe drinking water.
Now, two and a half years after passage of the
1996 Amendments, EPA has exercised these
authorities and finalized every product required
in the law to date and has done so with
maximum stakeholder involvement. This
stakeholder participation included numerous
public meetings, public review and comment of
documents, and the help of the National
Drinking Water Advisory Council and its
associated working groups.
PROMOTING PUBLIC INFORMATION
AND INVOLVEMENT
The public has a right to know what is in its
drinking water and to participate in decisions
affecting that drinking water. The 1996
Amendments include a strong and pervasive
ethic of public information and involvement,
and in this second year of implementing the
Amendments, EPA and its partners have
produced major tools and undertaken a variety
of activities to ensure that the public is well
informed.
Consumer Confidence Reports:
Consumer confidence reports are the
centerpiece of the right-to-know
provisions in SDWA. In August 1998,
EPA promulgated a rule to require
drinking water systems to provide
annual reports to their customers on
the state of their drinking water supply.
The information contained in these
reports will enable Americans to make
practical, knowledgeable decisions
about their health and their
environment. The reports also provide a
way for the public to get more
information about other provisions
required by the 1996 Amendments such
as assessments of drinking water
source quality. Systems will deliver the
first of these reports to their customers
before October 1999.
Each report must provide consumers
with the following fundamental
information about their drinking water:
The source of the water; a brief
summary of its susceptibility to
contamination (based on assessments
of drinking water source quality that
States will complete over the next five
years); the level (or range of levels) of
any contaminant found in the drinking
water, compared with EPA's health-
based standard; the likely source of that
contaminant in the local drinking water
supply; the potential health effects of
any contaminant detected in violation of
an EPA health standard; an accounting
of any actions a system takes to restore
safe drinking water; an educational
statement for vulnerable populations,
such as children, and the effects of
certain contaminants; educational
information on nitrate, arsenic, or lead
in areas where these contaminants are
detected at levels more than 50% above
EPA's standard; and phone numbers for
additional sources of information,
including that of the water system and
EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline.
Ensuring Public Access to Additional
Information: EPA is acting to ensure
that new information tools are made
available to the public. This year, EPA
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - EPA Activities Underway
April 1999 Page 31.
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worked with States and other
stakeholders on ways to make the
results of upcoming source water
assessments available to the public.
EPA has formed a Public Right-to-Know
working group of the National Drinking
Water Advisory Council to discuss how
to make drinking water information
available to the public, and how to
involve all interested parties in the
decision-making process.
Using the Internet to Increase Public
Access: EPA has been working over the
past year to make drinking water
information available to the public via
the Internet (http://www.epa. gov/
safewater). EPA has created and will
expand a geographic information site
where consumers will be able to get
information about their water, including
their local drinking water supply. This
will include information on violations of
drinking water standards, State
compliance reports, water system
consumer confidence reports, and State
drinking water information and
contacts. EPA has also worked with
state organizations and every state to
create source water protection
homepages.
Preparing for Greater Public
Involvement: In its effort to develop
more effective and durable policies, EPA
has continued to uphold the SDWA
ethic of public involvement in its
decision-making processes by holding
public meetings and providing an
opportunity for public review of draft
documents. By maintaining this high
level of public involvement, resulting in
consensus building whenever possible,
EPA is demonstrating on a national
level the benefits of the types of public
involvement that the 1996 SDWA
Amendments also specify extensively for
States. While SDWA provides States
with flexibility and substantial Federal
funding to meet the challenging task of
building several important new
programs, it also adds a public
participation framework to enable
States to involve their residents in, and
strengthen the substantive content of,
their efforts. During the next year, a
working group will review material to be
developed for the public, and will
suggest ways to use this material to
educate and involve more consumers in
decisions about their drinking water.
Over the past two years, as EPA has worked
closely with States to provide guidance and
implement programs. The Agency has also
worked to advance statutorily required public
involvement in key areas such as: State
decisions on the use of the Drinking Water
State Revolving Fund for projects and
programs; development and implementation of
State source water assessment programs; the
framing of State programs to strengthen the
technical, financial, and managerial capacity of
water systems; and in State consideration of
variance and exemption requests.
PROVIDING TOOLS TO STATES,
TRIBES, AND WATER SYSTEMS
TO IMPROVE COMPLIANCE
The 1996 SDWA Amendments gave the nation
a new approach to drinking water protection
which focuses attention on the highest public
health priorities. This includes a holistic
approach to prevention and protection, an
emphasis on the public's right-to-know, and a
series of building blocks for States and water
suppliers that can help in implementation. Two
years after passage of the Amendments, most
of these building blocks are in place. These
activities will assist EPA and the States as they
work to assure compliance with drinking water
standards.
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
(DWSRF): The 1996 Amendments
created the DWSRF to enable States to
help water systems finance
infrastructure improvements that are
needed to solve compliance and public
health problems. States can also use
these funds to help systems protect
their source water and improve water
system management. Congress has
appropriated $2.8 billion for the DWSRF
through FY'99. By the end of FY'98,
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1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report EPA Activities Underway
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every State had a DWSRF program
approved by EPA, and had received at
least its first commitment of funds
("capitalization grant").
Capacity Development: Capacity refers
to the technical, financial, and
managerial capability of a water system
to plan for, achieve, and maintain
compliance with drinking water
standards. Capacity development is a
State effort to help drinking water
systems improve their finances,
management, infrastructure, and
operations so they can provide safe
drinking water consistently, reliably,
and cost-effectively. Many small
drinking water systems have difficulty
complying with some of the complex
provisions of SDWA because their
capacity is often constrained by their
limited economies of scale. The new
SDWA has several features with great
potential to increase system capacity,
and thereby correct and prevent
noncompliance. In August 1998, EPA
released guidance and information to
help States work together with water
systems to carry out new capacity
development provisions from the law,
Including a requirement that States
have authority to prevent the formation
of new public water systems that lack
the capability to operate and manage a
drinking water system. States must also
implement a strategy to help existing
systems develop the capability to
operate and maintain their system and
ensure long-term compliance.
Water System Operator Certification:
Operator competency is critical to the
protection of public health and
maintenance of safe, effective, and
reliable water treatment plants and
distribution lines. In March 1998, EPA
published in the Federal Register for
public comment a set of "Draft
Guidelines for the Certification and
Recertification of the Operators of
Community and Non-transient
Noncommuniry Public Water Systems."
These guidelines were developed
through a partnership with States,
water systems, and the public. In
February 1999, EPA issued final
guidelines for States to use in making
changes to their operator certification
programs.
Source Water Protection: The first step
in a multiple barrier approach to
drinking water protection is preventing
contamination of drinking water
sources. This avoids the need to pay for
costly treatment to remove
contamination after it occurs. In August
1997, EPA issued source water
assessment and protection guidance for
States to use to complete source water
assessments for their public water
systems. States, water systems, and the
public can work together using Federal
funding to protect the highest priority
sources identified in the assessments.
During this past year, States have been
working diligently to prepare their
assessment programs, which were due
to EPA by February 1999. The state of
Kentucky submitted a program which
EPA approved in September 1998.
Proposed Regulation for Underground
Injection Control Class V Wells: Some
shallow waste disposal wells pose a
threat to underground sources of
drinking water. On July 17, 1998, EPA
issued a proposal in the Federal
Register to regulate specific types of
high-risk wells, such as large cesspools,
motor vehicle wells, and industrial
wells, located in source water protection
areas for systems using ground water.
When finalized in 1999, this regulation
will give States a new tool for source
water protection efforts.
Support for Indian Tribes: The
problems facing public water systems
located on Indian reservations are
significant. Many of the systems face
challenges related to their small size
(75% of systems serve populations of
fewer than 500 people) and limited
sources of revenue. Many of the tools
discussed above include funding and
provisions to address the special
problems of these public water systems.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - EPA Activities Underway
April 1999 Page 33
-------
In addition, the 1996 SDWA
Amendments provided that 1.5% of the
amount appropriated for the DWSRF
program be made available to water
systems on Tribal lands in the form of
grants. This translated into $30 million
for fiscal years 1997 and 1998.
HELPING SMALL SYSTEMS PROVIDE
SAFE DRINKING WATER
Although they serve a small percentage of the
nation's population, water systems serving
fewer than 10,000 persons constitute the
majority of all drinking water systems. Small
systems often do not have a full-time operator,
and their limited customer base often makes
compliance with public health standards
difficult due to affordability problems. The
1996 Amendments created several new tools to
help address the special needs of small
systems.
List of Small System Compliance
Technologies: In August 1998, EPA
published a list of alternative
technologies that small systems may
use to remove or treat regulated
contaminants. These alternative
technologies give small systems more
flexibility in choosing the most cost-
effective methods to meet drinking
water standards.
Variances and Exemptions: In August
1998, EPA revised its variance and
exemption rule, which provides a
framework to help small systems
comply with drinking water standards.
Variances allow a small system that
cannot afford to comply with a drinking
water standard to deviate from the
standard under certain conditions, as
long as the drinking water is still
protective of public health. Exemptions
allow a water system extra time to
obtain needed financial assistance,
develop an alternative source of water,
engage in management or restructuring
changes, or make any other effort
needed to bring the system into
compliance.
Technical Assistance: EPA is now
supporting a total of nine technology
assistance centers, based at
universities, to help small drinking
water systems with training, technical
assistance, and technology
demonstrations. With grant support
from EPA, university-based
Environmental Finance Centers are
assisting States in developing and
implementing innovative programs to
help small systems build and maintain
their capacity. In addition, up to two
percent of a State's DWSRF
capitalization grant~may be used to
provide technical assistance to systems
serving fewer than 10,000 persons, and
SDWA requires that at least 15% of the
DWSRF be made available to small
systems.
Page 34 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report EPA Activities Underway
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TABLE 4: EPA PRODUCTS TO SUPPORT SDWA IMPLEMENTATION
Programs
1st year (August 1996-97)
2nd year (August 1997-98)
3rd year and Future
Public
Information
and
Involvement
Expansion of National
Drinking Water Advisory
Council (NDWAC)
Consumer Confidence Report
Regulation
Compliance Reports
National Contaminant Occurrence Database
Revised Public Notification
Right-to-Know NDWAC Working Group
Health Care Provider Outreach and Education
NDWAC Working Group
Local Drinking Water Information Internet page
Tools for
States and
Water
Systems
Drinking Water State
Revolving Fund Guidelines
Source Water Assessment
and Protection Guidance
Drinking Water
Infrastructure Needs
Survey
Alternative Monitoring
Guidance
Information on Operator
Certification
Capacity Development
Guidance
Environmental Finance Centers
Proposed Class V UIC Rule
Operator Certification Guidelines
Federal Support of State Source Water
Assessment Activities through the Clean
Water Action Plan
Final Class V UIC Rule
State Ground Water Protection Reports
Local Government Environmental Assistance
Network
Drinking Water Academy-training for states
Public meetings on data quality and
establishment of Data Reliability Workgroup
Small System
Needs
Treatment Technologies List
for Surface Water
Treatment Rule
Compliance Technologies List
Variance and Exemptions Rule
Technology Assistance Centers
NDWAC Small Systems Working Group
EPA to pay unregulated contaminant
monitoring costs for small systems
Risk-Based
Standards
Setting
Research Plans for
Microbial/Disinfection
Byproducts and for Arsenic
Contaminant Candidate List
National Contaminant Occurrence Database
Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule
New drinking water standards: Interim
Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule and
Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts Rules
FOCUSING SAFETY STANDARDS ON
THE MOST SERIOUS HEALTH RISKS
Strengthening research to support development
of regulations based on sound science is one of
the most significant provisions in the 1996
Amendments. The first major products of that
scientific focus were produced in 1998. These
products demonstrate the principles of
targeting and focusing research on high risk
contaminants and expanding public
involvement in the rulemaking process by
enhancing public access to data.
The Contaminant Candidate List: In
February 1998, EPA published its
Contaminant Candidate List (CCL),
which is the strategic blueprint for
future standards development and
public health decisions. The CCL is a
list of currently unregulated
contaminants that are known or
anticipated to occur in drinking water.
The list will help EPA, States, and water
systems focus their efforts on
contaminants that pose the greatest
risks to public health. Contaminants for
priority drinking water research,
occurrence monitoring, and guidance
development, including health
advisories, will be drawn from the CCL.
EPA will also use this list to outline a
plan of action, required by the year
2001, for making regulatory decisions
on developing standards for five or more
contaminants.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - EPA Activities Underway
April 1999 Page 35
-------
Strengthening Research: EPA has
expanded its research in occurrence
studies, health effects, analytical
methods, and treatment approaches to
support its standard-setting priorities
under the CCL. In addition, as required
by the 1996 Amendments, EPA has
developed, and is carrying out, its long-
term research plans for arsenic and the
microbial and disinfectants/
disinfection byproducts cluster of rules.
Microbial and Disinfectants/
Disinfection Byproducts Rules:
Congress and the Administration agree
that microbial contaminants in drinking
water, such as Cryptosporidium, pose
the greatest potential risk to human
health. The 1996 Amendments required
EPA to issue several rules to control
these contaminants and the byproducts
of chemicals used to control them. On
December 3, 1998, EPA dramatically
advanced public health protection by
issuing the first set of these rules, the
Interim Enhanced Surface Water
Treatment Rule and the Stage I
Disinfectants/ Disinfection Byproducts
Rule.
EXERCISING NEW ENFORCEMENT
AUTHORITIES AND UNDERTAKING
COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE
EPA and the States are continuing to work
toward implementing the streamlined
enforcement provisions of the SDWA
amendments, recognizing that credible, firm,
and fair enforcement responses play an
important role in both in deterring
noncompliance and maintaining a level playing
field for the regulated community.
EPA's current enforcement priorities focus on
those regulations and contaminants which
pose the greatest risk to public health, i.e., the
microbiological regulations (Total Coliform Rule
and Surface Water Treatment Rule), lead and
copper, and other acute contaminants (e.g.,
nitrate).
In fiscal year 1997, the States issued a total of
913 formal enforcement actions, including 632
administrative orders without penalty, 220
administrative orders with penalty, 60 civil
referrals, and 1 criminal referral. In the same
year, EPA issued 266 notices of violation, 392
Federal administrative orders, 12 complaints
for penalty, and 4 referrals for civil judicial
action.
To complement its enforcement activities, EPA
also undertakes compliance assistance to help
increase public water systems' understanding
of, and compliance with, drinking water
requirements. The Agency conducted more
than 3,180 compliance assistance activities,
including on-site visits to public water systems
and development and distribution of
compliance assistance tools. In September of
1998, the Agency opened a Compliance
Assistance Center, the Local Government
Environmental Assistance Network (LGEAN),
designed to help local government officials stay
abreast of the latest environmental
requirements and technologies, including
drinking water issues. LGEAN is coordinated
by a number of partners, such as drinking
water and governmental associations. The
network will help governments disseminate
information on drinking water to help systems
treat water more effectively and will field
questions on environmental compliance and
assistance information for State and local
officials, inspectors, and regulators.
IMPROVING THE DATA THAT
DESCRIBE AMERICA'S DRINKING
WATER
The nation needs reliable data in order to
manage its drinking water program. It is of
great importance to EPA and its partners to
improve the quality and accuracy of drinking
water data. EPA has collected data from States
for approximately 20 years on violations of
drinking water standards and stored them in
an EPA data system that has recently been
modernized and renamed the Safe Drinking
Water Information System (SDWIS/FED).
Portions of SDWIS/FED still under
development will better track compliance with
Page 36 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report EPA Activities Underway
-------
existing and future regulations, track drinking
water goals developed to meet the Government
Performance and Results Act, and also make
data recovery easier for the public.
In preparing the 1996 national report, EPA
identified numerous discrepancies between the
data some States reported in their annual State
reports and the data they reported to SDWIS/
FED. To ensure SDWIS/FED data reliability,
EPA has initiated a major effort to improve data
quality. The effort includes establishing a data
quality goal, improving the way drinking water
data are presented in EPA's Envirofacts web
site, characterizing and quantifying the data
quality problem, and taking interim steps to
improve data quality. The major steps EPA and
its partners will take in this effort are:
Improve the display of drinking water
data in Envirofacts
Characterize and quantify the data
quality problem
Take interim steps to improve data
quality
Make long-term commitment to
achieve and maintain data quality
goals
These steps are outlined in the activities
described on pages 21 and 22 of this report.
In addition to having information about actual
violations of drinking water standards for
treated drinking water, the nation also needs
information on the occurrence of contaminants
in our sources of drinking water. The SDWA
Amendments of 1996 mandated that EPA
prepare a National Contaminant Occurrence
Database (NCOD) by 1999 that will contain
information about the pollutants found in
sources of drinking water. NCOD will draw on
other databases from both inside EPA and from
partners such as the U.S. Geological Survey,
and will also include information from
forthcoming State and Tribal source water
assessments. The database will give both
managers and the public information on the
quality of water which is subsequently treated
to become our drinking water.
The planned improvements to data in SDWIS/
FED as well as the new data available in 1999
through the NCOD will give the public and the
drinking water community a better picture of
the quality of our drinking water.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - EPA Activities Underway
April 1999 Page 37
-------
-------
Appendix A
Glossary of Terms
-------
-------
Acute Contaminants
Short-term exposure to acute contaminants,
such as bacteria, protozoa, viruses, and
nitrate, may result in immediate illness and, in
some cases, death.
Administrative Order
Administrative orders are written documents,
considered to be formal enforcement actions,
which are issued by EPA or the States to
address the noncompliance of a public water
system, usually by means of a schedule with
enforceable milestone dates.
Bilateral Compliance Agreements
Bilateral compliance agreements are written
documents, considered to be formal
enforcement actions signed by the water
system and EPA or the State. They contain a
compliance schedule with enforceable
milestone dates.
Chronic Contaminants
Exposure to chronic contaminants, such as
organic chemicals (volatile and synthetic),
inorganic chemicals (e.g., metals, lead and
copper) and radionuclides, may result in severe
health effects that can recur frequently or
develop slowly as a result of long-term
exposure.
Coliform Bacteria
Microorganisms found in nature, in any
decaying substance and also in the intestinal
tract of humans and animals. Their presence in
water can indicate a lapse in treatment and
potential contamination by pathogens.
Community Water System
A community water system (CWS) is a public
water system that serves at least 15 service
connections used by year-round residents or
regularly serves at least 25 year-round
residents (e.g., homes, apartments and
condominiums that are occupied year-round as
primary residences).
Cryptosporidium
Cryptosporidium is a protozoa that causes the
gastrointestinal disease cryptosporidiosis. The
most serious, and sometimes deadly,
consequences of cryptosporidiosis tend to be
focused among members of the population with
compromised immune systems.
Disinfection
Disinfection is a type of drinking water
treatment, where microbiological
contamination is inactivated by using chlorine,
chloramines, and chlorine dioxide or ozone.
Inorganic Chemicals
These are non-carbon based, mostly naturally-
occurring compounds, such as metals, nitrates,
and asbestos. EPA has established MCLs for 15
inorganic contaminants.
Lead and Copper Rule
Compliance with the Lead and Copper Rule
indicates that a public water system has taken
steps to minimize the risk of exposure to lead
and copper from drinking water by monitoring
for these contaminants and installing corrosion
control where required.
Maximum Contaminant Level
A maximum contaminant level (MCL) is the
maximum permissible level of a contaminant in
water delivered to any user of a public water
system.
Monitoring and Reporting
EPA established monitoring and reporting
schedules, or contaminant-specific minimum
testing schedules and operational reporting
requirements, for public water systems.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Appendix A
April 1999 Page A-l
-------
Nitrate and Nitrite
Nitrate and nitrite are inorganic compounds
that can enter water supplies from fertilizer
runoff and sanitary wastewater discharges.
Nitrates in drinking water are associated with
methemoglobinemia, or blue baby syndrome,
where nitrate reduces the blood's ability to
carry oxygen.
Non-transient Non-community Water
System
A non-transient non-community water system
(NTNCWS) is a public water system that serves
at least 25 of the same persons for over six
months per year. A typical example of a non-
transient non-community water system is a
school or an office building that has its own
water source, such as a drinking water well.
Notice of Violation
A notice of violation (NOV) is a written
document, usually considered to be a formal
enforcement action, issued by EPA or the
States regarding a public water system's
violations of applicable drinking water
standards or schedule requirements. The
notice of violation specifically describes the
violations and seeks a return to compliance.
Pathogens
These are microorganisms (e.g., bacteria,
viruses, or parasites) that can cause disease in
humans and animals.
Public Water System
A public water system (PWS) is a system that
provides piped water for human consumption
and serves at least 25 persons or has at least
15 service connections. A public water system
can be either a community water system, a
non-transient non-community water system, or
a transient non-community water system.
Radionuclides
Radioactive particles, such as radium-226,
radium-228, gross alpha, and beta particle/
photon radioactivity, can occur naturally in
water or may result from human activity. EPA
has established MCLs for beta/photon
emitters, alpha emitters, and combined radium
226/228.
Regional Offices
Regional Offices are responsible for
Environmental Protection Agency Regional
programs within their respective jurisdictions.
Regional Offices cooperate with Federal, State,
interstate, and local agencies, as well as with
industry, academic institutions, and other
private groups to ensure that Regional needs
are addressed and that Federal environmental
laws are upheld.
Significant Monitoring Violations
Section 1414 of the 1996 SDWA Amendments
requires States and EPA to report on
"significant" monitoring and reporting
violations, as determined by the Administrator.
For purposes of this report, "significant"
monitoring violations are classes of monitoring
violations reported to the Safe Drinking Water
Information System (SDWIS/FED) that can be
segregated from other monitoring violations
reported to SDWIS/FED and must be listed in
a State's annual report. These violations occur
when, during a relevant compliance period, a
public water system collects none of the
samples or submits none of the reports
required by a particular regulatory provision.
Significant Monitoring Violations vary with
different contaminant rules (e.g., Total Coliform
Rule, Surface Water Treatment Rule, Lead and
Copper Rule, Total Trihalomethanes, and
Radionuclides).
Page A-2 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Appendix A
-------
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Compliance with the Surface Water Treatment
Rule (SWTR) indicates that a public water
system has taken steps to reduce exposure to
microbiological contamination through
filtration and disinfection or disinfection and
watershed control.
Total Coliform Rule
The Total Coliform Rule establishes limits on
coliform bacteria in water distribution systems.
Although coliform bacteria usually are not
pathogenic, they may indicate the presence of
pathogens.
Transient Non-community Water
System
A transient non-community water system
means a non-community water system that
does not regularly serve at least 25 of the same
persons over six months per year.
Treatment Technique
These are treatment methods required by EPA
to minimize the level of a contaminant in
drinking water. In cases where EPA has
determined it is not technically or economically
feasible to establish an MCL, EPA can instead
specify a treatment technique.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Appendix A
April 1999 Page A-3
-------
TABLE A-l: SIGNIFICANT MONITORING VIOLATIONS
FOR ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM REPORTS
;: ' .Rule
Total
CoIIform
Rule
Surface
Water
Treatment
Rule
Lead and
Copper Rule
Phase 1, II, MB,
and V Rules
Total
Trliaiomethanes
Radlonuclides
Violation Type
Major routine
Major repeat
Major (filtered)
Major (unfiltered)
Initial lead and
copper tap
Follow-up or routine
lead and copper tap
Regular monitoring
Regular monitoring
Regular monitoring
Description
No samples collected during
a compliance period
No follow-up samples
collected after a positive
total coliform sample or no
speciation
Collected less than 90% of
samples required during a
compliance period
Collected less than 90% of
samples required during a
compliance period
Failure to collect the initial tap
samples followed by a failure
to correct that omission within
3 months for large systems, 6
months for medium systems,
and 12 months for small
systems, or failure to submit
the associated report
Failure to collect 1 or more
required samples
Failed to collect any required
samples2
Failed to collect any required
samples
Failed to collect any required
samples
SDWIS
Violation Code1
23
25
31
36
51
52
By contaminant
03
03
SDWIS
Contaminant
Code
3100
3100
None
None
2950
4000,
4101, 4010
1 The Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS/FED) makes no distinction between the sampling violations and the
reporting violations associated with a sample collection requirement. Both violations are reported under the same
SDWIS/FED violation code.
2 As described in the consolidated summary, failure to collect "any samples" means none of the required samples were
collected.
Page A-4 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Appendix A
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Appendix B
Summary of State Annual
Compliance Reports
-------
-------
CONTENTS
Alabama B-5
Alaska B-6
American Samoa B-7
Arizona B-8
Arkansas B-9
California B-10
Colorado B-ll
Connecticut B-12
Delaware B-13
District of Columbia B-14
Florida B-15
Georgia B-16
Guam B-17
Hawaii B-18
Idaho B-19
Illinois B-20
Indiana B-21
Iowa B-22
Kansas B-23
Kentucky B-24
Louisiana B-25
Maine B-26
Maryland B-27
Massachusetts B-28
Michigan B-29
Minnesota B-30
Mississippi B-31
Missouri B-32
Montana B-33
Nebraska B-34
Nevada B-35
New Hampshire B-36
New Jersey B-37
New Mexico B-38
New York B-39
North Carolina B-40
North Dakota B-41
Northern Mariana Islands B-42
Ohio B-43
Oklahoma B-44
Oregon B-45
Pennsylvania B-46
Puerto Rico B-47
Rhode Island B-48
South Carolina B-49
South Dakota B-50
Tennessee B-51
Texas B-52
Utah B-53
Vermont B-54
Virgin Islands B-55
Virginia B-56
Washington B-57
West Virginia B-58
Wisconsin B-59
Wyoming B-60
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Appendix B
April 1999
Page B-l
-------
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) developed summaries from the State
reports. Those summaries, which are included
as this appendix, use a standardized format
that includes an overall summary of the
violations data specified in Section 1414 of the
1997 Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
Amendments (i.e., violations with respect to
maximum contaminant levels (MCLs),
treatment technique violations, significant
monitoring and reporting requirements, and
variance and exemptions).
EPA has not interpreted the data in this section
and does not pass judgement on whether the
States have fully reported all violations. EPA's
evaluation of the State reports and compliance
and data issues is discussed as part of the
findings and recommendations in Section 2.
Violations for 1997
MCL, treatment technique, and significant
monitoring violations data were summarized
into four categories:
Violations of specific contaminant
requirements
Violations for the Total Coliform Rule
Violations of the Surface Water
Treatment Rule
Violations for the Lead and Copper
Rule.
Where data for violations or systems in
violation are not available from the State
reports, data from the Federal version of the
Safe Drinking Water Information System
(SDWIS/FED) have been included.
The numbers of violations and the number of
individual PWSs in violation for the State were
summarized for these four categories for MCL,
treatment technique, and significant
monitoring requirements violations.
1997 Totals
The total number of systems, the total number
of violations reported, and the total number of
PWSs in violation in 1997 are also given.
Systems in Violation
Systems in Violation is denned as the number
of different systems with a reported violation of
this type. If there is a possibility that the State
has counted systems with various violations
more than once, the number in the box is
marked by the following symbol, A. If the state
report did not include the number of systems
in violation, the box is marked NR.
Variances and Exemptions
There were no reported violations of variances
and exemptions in 1997.
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual Public
Water Systems Report
Available information is provided on obtaining
a copy of the State or Territorial report.
I For this report, "significant" monitoring and reporting violations occur when a public water system (PWS)
collects none of the samples or submits none of the reports required by a particular regulatory provision, or
collects less than 10% of the samples or submits less than 10% of the reports required by the Surface Water
Treatment Rule. A comprehensive definition of significant monitoring and reporting violations including
exceptions to the definition for the Total Coliform Rule and Lead and Copper Rule is included in the report
glossary in Appendix A.
2 MCL and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and
nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants.
Page B-2 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Appendix B
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TABLE B-l: SUMMARY OF ELEMENTS REPORTED BY STATES
State
Alabama
Alaska
American Samoa
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
District of Columbia
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Guam
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Submitted
Report
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Reported On
Violations
Categories
MCL
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
M/R
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
TT
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Reported
on V/E*
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Report
Identified
Each
System
with MCL
and TT
Violations
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Provided
Information
to Public on
Availability
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Report
Provided
Additional
Information
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Identified
Size and
Type of
Violating
Systems
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Discussed
Compliance
and
Enforcement
Responses
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Provided
Inventory
Information
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Appendix B
April 1999 Page B-3
-------
State
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Northern Matiana Islands
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virgin Islands
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Submitted
Report
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Reported On
Violations
Categories
MCL
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
M/R
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
TT
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Reported
on V/E*
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Report
Identified
Each
System
with MCL
andTT
Violations
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Provided
Information
to Public on
Availability
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Report
Provided
Additional
Information
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Identified
Size and
Type of
Violating
Systems
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Discussed
Compliance
and
Enforcement
Responses
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Provided
Inventory
Information
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Page B-4 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Appendix B
-------
State of Alabama 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
MCL
Violations
2
36
Systems in
Violation
2
34
Treatment Technique
Violations
4
0
Systems in
Violation
1
0
Significant Monitoring
Violations
190
70
NR
23
Systems In
Violation
NR
49
NR
21
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
770
NR
325
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Alabama's State Report is available by accessing the State's Web site at www.adem.state.al.us/viorep97.html
and by written request to ADEM, Water Supply Branch, P.O. Box 301463, Montgomery, Alabama 36130-1463 or
at e-mail address tsd@adem.state.al.us.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Appendix B
April 1999 Page B-5
-------
State of Alaska 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Treatment Technique
Significant Monitoring
I
Violations Category
Systems In
Violation
Violations Systems in
Violation
Systems in
Violation
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
1695
890
4865
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Alaska's State Report is available by accessing the State's Web site at www.state.ak.us/local/akpages/
ENV.CONSERV/deh/water/dwvio97.htm or by contacting James Weise, Drinking Water/Waste Water Program
Manager, Department of Environmental Conservation, 555 Cordova Street, Anchorage, AK 99501, phone (907)
269-7647.
PageB-6 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Appendix B
-------
American Samoa 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
MCL
Violations
0
0
Systems in
Violation
0
0
Treatment Technique
Violations
14
0
Systems In
Violation
14
0
Significant Monitoring
Violations
0
0
0
0
Systems in
Violation
0
0
0
0
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
21
14
14
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
EPA generated these data from SDWIS/FED.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Appendix B
April 1999 Page B-7
-------
State of Arizona 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Treatment Technique
Significant Monitoring
Systems in
Violation
Systems in
Violation
Systems in
Violation
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Conform Rule
Surface water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
N/A = as reported by state
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
NR
NR
425*
* This number does not include Lead and Copper Rule violations since the State did not provide information in
this category.
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Arizona's State Report is available by contacting the Drinking Water Section, Arizona Department of
Environmental Quality, 3033 N. Central, Room 200, Phoenix, AZ 85012-2809, phone (602) 270-4644.
Page B-S April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Appendix B
-------
State of Arkansas 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
MCL
Violations
17
70
-- :
Systems in
Violation
12
66
Treatment Technique
Violations
87
1
Systems in
Violation
29
1
Significant Monitoring
Violations
0
324
70
0
Systems in
Violation
0
209
36
0
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
1264
NR
569
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Arkansas' State Report is available by accessing the State's Web site at www.health.state.ar.us/eng/doe.htm
or by contacting Usman Patel at Arkansas Department of Health, Division of Engineering, 4815 West Markham,
Little Rock, AR 72205-2032, phone (501) 661-2623, fax (501) 661-2032, or upatel@mail.doh.state.ar.us
(electronic mail).
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Appendix B
April 1999 Page B-9
-------
State of California 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Treatment Technique
Significant Monitoring
Systems in
Violation
Systems in
Violation
Systems in
Violation
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
8688*
246
350
* 5000 PWSs are regulated by the counties in which they are located. The other 3688 are regulated by the
state. Only data on the 3688 are included in the report.
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
California's State Report is available by contacting the State at California Department of Health Services,
Division of Drinking Water and Environmental Management, phone (916) 323-6111.
Page B-10 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Appendix B
-------
State of Colorado 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
WICL
Violations
19
65
Systems in
Violation
14
45
Treatment Technique
Violations
52
5
Systems in
Violation
23
4
Significant Monitoring
Violations
76
455
24
26
Systems in
Violation
74
331
13
26
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
2217
463
722
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Colorado's State Report is available by contacting the State at Compliance Monitoring-Data Management,
WQCO-CMDM-B2, 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver, CO 80246-1530.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report- Appendix B
April 1999 Page B-ll
-------
State of Connecticut 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Treatment Technique
Significant Monitoring
Systems in Violations Systems In Violations
Violation I I Violation
Systems in
Violation
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
4619
418
2913
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Connecticut's State Report is available for review at the public library or at the Water Supplies Section,
Department of Public Health, 450 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06134. To schedule an appointment to review
thfs document at the Water Supplies Section call (860) 509-7333.
Page B-12 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Appendix B
-------
State of Delaware 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
MCL
Violations
NA*
43
Systems in
Violation
NA
39
Treatment Technique
Violations
NA**
NA
Systems in
Violation
NA**
NA
Significant Monitoring
Violations
NA
NA
NA
55
Systems in
Violation
NA
NA
NA
34
* State has set NA as the subtotal for these categories. However, based on review, there are numbers in the
table that add to 48 violations.
** State has set NA as the subtotal for these categories. However, based on review, there are numbers in the
table that add to 1 violation at 1 system.
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
563
151
147
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Information on Delaware's public water systems may be found on the Internet in EPA's Envirofacts web page at
the following address: www.epa.gov/enviro/html/sdwis/sdwis_ov.html. Delaware's State Report is available by
contacting Ed Hallock or Chad Hall at the Division of Public Health, P.O. Box 639, Dover, DE 19903.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Appendix B
April 1999 Page B-13
-------
District of Columbia 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
MCL
Treatment Technique
Significant Monitoring
Violations
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
0
Systems in
Violation
Violations Systems in
Violation
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
2
0
0
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
The District of Columbia's State Report is available by contacting: George Rizzo, DC PWSS Program Manager,
Drinking Water Branch (3WP22), U.S. EPA Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029, Telephone
(215) 814-5781, Fax: (215) 814-2318, E-mail: rizzo.george@epamail.epa.gov.
Page B-14 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Appendix B
-------
State of Florida 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
MCL
Violations
16
359
-----
Systems in
Violation
16A
311A
Treatment Technique
Violations
--".-:-.- ---
0
1
Systems in
Violation
0
1
Significant Monitoring
Violations
248
1282
0
4
Systems in
Violation
8
940
0
4
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
7000*
1275A
1920
This number is an approximation provided by the state.
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Florida's State Report Summary, State rules, forms, and drinking water inventory are available by accessing the
State's Web site (www.dep.state.fi.us/water/Wf/dw/dw.htm).
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Appendix B
April 1999 Page B-15
-------
State of Georgia 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Significant Monitoring
Treatment Technique
Systems in
Violation
Systems In
Violation
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
NR
NR
1163
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Georgia's State Report is available by contacting Doug Davenport, Department of Natural Resources,
Environmental Protection Division, Drinking Water Program, Information Management Unit, 205 Butler St., SE
Suite 1362, Atlanta, GA 30334, Phone (404) 651-5162. Website: www.dnr.state.ga.us/dnr/environ/
Page B-16 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Appendix B
-------
Guam 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
MCL
Violations
0
0
-
Systems in
Violation
0
0
Treatment Technique
Violations
0
0
Systems in
Violation
0
0
Significant Monitoring
Violations
0
0
0
0
Systems in
Violation
0
0
0
0
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
12
0
0
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
EPA generated these data from SDWIS/FED.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Appendix B
April 1999 Page B-17
-------
State of Hawaii 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
!-:: Violations Catejgory
ill! "' '' ' ,' " ' 'i!l1
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
MCL
Violations
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
Systems in Violations
Violation
Treatment Technique
Systems in Violations
Violation
Significant Monitoring
Systems in
Violation
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
144
15
123
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Hawaii's State Report is available by contacting William Wong at the Safe Drinking Water Branch, Department of
Health, 919 Ala Moana Blvd., Room 300, Honolulu, HI 96814-4920, phone (808) 586-4258, fax (808) 586-
4370, email (waterbill@aol.com).
Page B-18 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Appendix B
-------
State of Idaho 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
MCL
Violations
0
403
-
Systems in
Violation
0
336
Treatment Technique
Violations
291
NA
Systems in
Violation
37
NA
Significant Monitoring
Violations
420
1090
0
NA
Systems in
Violation
NR
676
0
NA
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
2088
NR
2204
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Idaho's State Report is available by accessing the State's web site (www.state.id.us/deq/water/acrsum.pdf)
and by contacting the Idaho Division of Environmental Quality's six Regional Offices or the State's seven district
health departments.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Appendix B
April 1999 Page B-19
-------
State of Illinois 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
MCL
Violations
Systems in
Violation
Treatment Technique
Violations
Systems in
Violation
Significant Monitoring
Violations
Systems in
Violation
Chemical Contaminant Group
272
152
im
2746
65
Total Coliform Rule
135
114
I I
491
315
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
10
19
17
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
6061
576
3673
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Illinois' State Report is available by contacting the Illinois EPA's Division of Public Water Supplies, #13, P.O. Box
9276, Springfield, IL 62794-9276.
Pago B-20 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Appendix B
-------
State of Indiana 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
MCL
Violations
50
250
Systems in
Violation
21
221
Treatment Technique
Violations
<-', -
10
0
Systems in
Violation
6
0
Significant Monitoring
Violations
2526
2821
3
62
Systems in
Violation
701
1579
1
57
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
4287
1783
5722
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Indiana's State Report is available via the Indiana Department of Environmental Management web-site at
www.ai.org/idem/owm/ or by contacting the Drinking Water Branch at (317) 308-3280.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Appendix B
April 1999 Page B-21
-------
State of Iowa 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
M!li" 'lnป ,,'i|, '' -'! n'l If:*1 UJJiUHhili '"!,' M.I' ''<, ป '
Violations Category
1 ' " ' ' ''
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
MCL
Violations
67
128
|ll|": "f^ffi. ;
,J^:j'$fe!LlSV.'
'iViVwe^ 5t;i".l
1|1^
Systems in
Violation
36 A
109
:.,;..:,:*', >ซ;<>
'jitfi'^WJ;; '.
'ti^t; i^'h
il;i'"li^;^v;";
", '' ,!"'"''
Treatment Technique
Violations
-', M)
I
10
8
Systems in
Violation
,
I1 '
3
8
Significant Monitoring
Violations
31
80
0
27
Systems in
Violation
22A
28
0
23
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
1920
218A
351
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Iowa's State Report is available by accessing the State's web site at www.state.ia.us/government/dnr/
organiza/epd/wtrsuply/pwscmp97.htm or by contacting the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Water
Supply Section, Wallace State Office Building, 900 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50319-0034.
Page B-22 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Appendix B
-------
State of Kansas 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
MCL
Violations
98
68
Systems in
Violation
46
55
Treatment Technique
Violations
21
4
Systems in
Violation
14
4
Significant Monitoring
Violations
4
124
12
15
Systems in
Violation
4
61
8
15
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
1122
228
346
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Kansas's State Report is available by accessing the State's web site at www.state.ks.us/public/kdhe/bow.html
or by contacting the State at Public Water Supply Section, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Bldg.
283 Forbes Field, Topeka, KS 66620, Attn: Peter Armesto, phone (785) 296-6297.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Appendix B
April 1999 Page B-23
-------
State of Kentucky 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Treatment Technique
Significant Monitoring
Systems in
Violation
Violations | Systems in Violations
Violation
Systems in
Violation
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Tota Cohform Ru e
Surface Water Treatment Ru e
Lead and Copper Rule
* State lists a subtotal of 90. Actual numbers add to 38.
** State lists a subtotal of 54. Actual numbers add to 33.
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
728
203***
157****
*** Number explicitly reported in narrative, although constituent numbers above do not yield this figure.
**** Sum of subtotals provided by the state.
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Kentucky's State Report is available by accessing the State's Web site at water.nr.state.ky.us/dow/
compsum.htm and contacting the Kentucky Division of Water, Drinking Water Branch, 14 Reilly Road, Ash
Building, Frankfort, Kentucky, 40601, phone (502) 564-3410.
Page B-24 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Appendix B
-------
State of Louisiana 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
MCL
Violations
NR
288
Systems in
Violation
NR
227
Treatment Technique
Violations
NR(3)
0
Systems in
Violation
NR(3)
0
Significant Monitoring
Violations
NR
22
NR
0
Systems in
Violation
NR
5
NR
0
The numbers in parentheses were not reported by the state. These numbers were derived through analysis of
raw data submitted by the state.
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
2000*
244
320**
* This number is an estimate provided by the state.
** This number, reported by the state, does not equal the number of violations found by counting them
individually. That number is 252.
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
A specific source for obtaining a copy of this report has not been provided. General information on its
availability may be obtained from: Division of Environmental and Health Services, Louisiana Department of
Health and Hospital, Office of Public Health, P.O. Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160, phone (504) 568-5100.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Appendix B
April 1999 Page B-25
-------
State of Maine 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
ii! !, I || III
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
MCL
Violations
5
217
15
0
Systems in
Violation
NR
NR
NR
NR
Treatment Technique
Violations
, ,>'(,,'
1
| ||H ซ
I
26
0
Systems in
Violation
'! i '
"Vi' 1"
m n
if-
VT"1 '
l'i"i
NR
0
Significant Monitoring
Violations
50
1010
3
26
Systems in
Violation
NR
NR
NR
NR
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
2293
NR
1355
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Maine's State Report is available by accessing the State's web site at www.state.me.us/dhs/eng/water/
water.htm or by contacting the State at Drinking Water Program, 10 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333,
phone (207) 287-2070.
Page B-26 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Appendix B
-------
State of Maryland 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
MCL
Violations
14
196
Systems in
Violation
14
167
Treatment Technique
Violations
60
3
Systems In
Violation
12
3
Significant Monitoring
Violations
8
109
0
5
Systems in
Violation
8
62
0
5
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
3583
NR
409
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Maryland's State Report and additional information on the Maryland program are available by contacting Nancy
Reilman, MDE - Water Supply Program at (410) 631-3729.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Appendix B
April 1999 Page B-27
-------
State of Massachusetts 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
| Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
MCL
Violations
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
Treatment Technique
Systems in Violations Systems in
Violation Violation
Significant Monitoring
Violations
Systems in
Violation
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
1584
552
6127
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
A specific source for obtaining a copy of this report has not been provided. Additional information about the
Massachusetts Drinking Water Program is available by accessing the state's web site
(www.magnet.state.ma.us/dep/brp/). For specific questions on this report call the Massachusetts Drinking
Water Program at (617) 292-5770.
Page B-28 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Appendix B
-------
State of Michigan 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
MCL
Violations
24
508
-:-'-:- :
Systems in
Violation
23
413
Treatment Technique
Violations
:.---- :.-"..-. '
5
0
Systems in
Violation
5
0
Significant Monitoring
Violations
1408
3866
0
284
Systems in
Violation
1182
2723
0
242
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
12,490*
3681
6095
* This number is an approximation provided by the state.
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Michigan State Report is available by accessing the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Drinking
Water and Radiological Protection Division web page at www.deq.state.mi.us/us/dwr/. It can also be obtained
by contacting the State at Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Drinking Water & Radiological
Protection Division, Lansing, MI 48909-8130.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Appendix B
April 1999 Page B-29
-------
State of Minnesota 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
MCL
Violations
Systems in
Violation
Treatment Technique
Violations
Systems in
Violation
Significant Monitoring
Violations
Systems in
Violation
Chemical Contaminant Group
22
22
Total Coliform Rule
242
241
iff
no
97
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
16
14
0
13
8
12
18
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
8900
381
413
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Minnesota's State Report is available by contacting the Drinking Water Protection Section, Minnesota
Department of Health, Box 64875, St. Paul, MN 55164-0975.
Page B-30 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Appendix B
-------
State of Mississippi 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
WICL
Violations
0
79
0
0
Systems in
Violation
0
67
0
0
Treatment Technique
Violations
NR
NR
Systems in
Violation
NR
NR
Significant Monitoring
Violations
0
38
0
0
Systems in
Violation
0
32
0
0
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
1411
97*
117
* Total calculated from raw data.
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Mississippi's State Report is available by accessing the State's web site at www.msdh.state.ms.us/OHR/
watersup/wshome.htm or by contacting the Mississippi State Department of Health, Water Supply Division, P.O.
Box 1700, Jackson, MS 39215-1700.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Appendix B
April 1999 Page B-31
-------
State of Missouri 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Significant Monitoring
Treatment Technique
Systems in
Violation
Violations Systems in
Violation
Systems in
Violation
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Conform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
2692
923
2075
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Missouri's State Report and additional information regarding Missouri's PWSs are available by contacting the
Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Public Drinking Water Program, P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO
65102, phone (573) 751-5331.
PageB-32 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Appendix B
-------
State of Montana 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
MCL
Violations
30*
125
:-
Systems in
Violation
NR
125
Treatment Technique
Violations
-
-..
218
114
Systems in
Violation
38
114
Significant Monitoring
Violations
633
1608
524
405
Systems in
Violation
NR
740
32
178
* The state reported 30 violations; data provided by state actually add to 31.
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
1950
NR
3658
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Montana's State Report is available on the Montana Department of Environmental Quality's web site at
www.deq.mt.gov or by contacting the State at Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Box 200901,
Helena, MT 59620-0901.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Appendix B
April 1999 Page B-33
-------
State of Nebraska 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
MCL
Violations
Systems in
Violation
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
Treatment Technique
Violations | Systems in
Violation
Significant Monitoring
Violations
Systems in
Violation
Chemical Contaminant Group
27
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
1340
NR
283
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Nebraska's State Report is available by accessing the State's website (www.hhs.state.ne.us/pws/
pws7index.htm) or by contacting the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Regulation and
Licensure, 301 Centennial Mall South, Lincoln, NE 68509, (402) 471-2541.
PageB-34 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Appendix B
-------
State of Nevada 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
MCL
Violations
9
76
Systems in
Violation
9
NR
Treatment Technique
Violations
5
0
Systems in
Violation
NR
0
Significant Monitoring
Violations
47
124
0
193
Systems in
Violation
47
113
0
170
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
NR
NR
457
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Nevada's State Report is available by contacting the Nevada State Health Division at 1179 Fairview Drive, Suite
101, Carson City, Nevada 89701, or the full summary report may be viewed at county libraries throughout the
State.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Appendix B
April 1999 Page B-35
-------
State of New Hampshire 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Significant Monitoring
Treatment Technique
Systems in
Violation
Systems in
Violation
Systems in
Violation
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
2144
435
2021
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
New Hampshire's State Report is available by contacting Laurie K. Cullerot at Department of Environmental
Services, Water Supply Engineering Bureau, 6 Hazen Drive, P.O. Box 95, Concord, NH 03302-0095.
PageB-36 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Appendix B
-------
State of New Jersey 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
MCL
Violations
68
137
Systems in
Violation
38
109
Treatment Technique
Violations
9
0
Systems in
Violation
2
0
Significant Monitoring
Violations
18,334
2195
5
18
Systems in
Violation
NR
1216
4
9
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
4712
NR
20,766
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
New Jersey's State Report and Drinking Water Standards chart are available by contacting the State at New
Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, P.O. Box 426, Trenton, NJ
08625-0426. The report will also be sent to the State library for distribution through its system, and to the
county and local health officers.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Appendix B
April 1999 Page B-37
-------
State of New Mexico 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
MCL
Violations
Systems in
Violation
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
Treatment Technique
Violations Systems in
Violation
Significant Monitoring
Violations
Systems in
Violation
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
1376
288
407
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
A specific source for obtaining a copy of this report has not been provided. General information on its
availability may be obtained from: Keith Melton, Program Manager, Drinking Water Program, New Mexico
Environment Department, 525 Camino De Los Marquez, Suite 4, P.O. Box 26110, Santa Fe, New Mexico
87502, Phone (505) 827-7536, e-mail: keith_melton@nmev.state.nm.us.
Page B-38 * April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Appendix B
-------
State of New York 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
MCL
Violations
19
88
Systems in
Violation
18
80
Treatment Technique
Violations
108
2
Systems in
Violation
80
2
Significant Monitoring
Violations
1027
946
0
30
Systems in
Violation
1017
674
0
30
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
10,740
NR
2220
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
New York's State Report is available by contacting the State at BPWSP - NYSDOH, 1215 Western Ave., Albany,
NY 12203.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Appendix B
April 1999 Page B-39
-------
State of North Carolina 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Treatment Technique
Significant Monitoring
Systems in
Violation
violations | Systems in
Violation
Systems in
Violation
Cnemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
* Some of the figures contributing to these totals were estimated by the state.
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
8262
NR
23,686
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
North Carolina's State Report is available by contacting the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-
4791.
Pago B-40 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Appendix B
-------
State of North Dakota 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
MCL
Violations
9
37
Systems in
Violation
NR
28
Treatment Technique
Violations
1
9
3
Systems in
Violation
1
6
3
Significant Monitoring
Violations
9
133
1
4
Systems in
Violation
9
93
1
4
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
586
NR
198
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
North Dakota's State Report is available by contacting the North Dakota Department of Health, Division of
Municipal Facilities, P.O. Box 5520,1200 Missouri Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58506-5520, Attention: Jeni Walsh
(701) 328-5231 (phone) or (701) 328-5200 (fax). A summary of the Report is available at the following
website: www.health.state.nd.us/ndhd/environ/mf/pubs/97acrsum.pdf.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report- Appendix B
April 1999 Page B-41
-------
Northern Mariana Islands 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Treatment Technique
Significant Monitoring
Systems in Violations Systems in
Violation Violation
Systems in
Violation
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
43
0
0
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
EPA generated these data from SDWIS/FED.
Page B-42 * April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Appendix B
-------
State of Ohio 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
MCL
Violations
18
1541
p- -
*~
Systems in
Violation
13
756
Treatment Technique
Violations
r\;_ ::-.-._.-:
ฃ-----
&*. .
263
15
Systems in
Violation
50
15
Significant Monitoring
Violations
7538
2141
21
256
Systems in
Violation
1690
1371
10
248
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
6137
2911
11,793
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
A summary of Ohio's State Report is available by writing to the State of Ohio at PWS Annual Compliance
Report, Ohio EPA - DDAGW, P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, OH 43216-1049. In addition, this summary report has
been posted on the Ohio EPA's website at www.epa.state.oh.us/ddagw/annualreports.html.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Appendix B
April 1999 Page B-43
-------
State of Oklahoma 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Treatment Technique
Significant Monitoring
Systems in Violations
Violation
Systems in
Violation
Systems In
Violation
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
1693*
NR
873
* This is the total number of systems meeting the Federal definition of a PWS. The state reports a total of
2355 regulated systems, 662 of which do not meet the Federal definition of a PWS.
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Oklahoma's State Report is available by contacting the State at Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality
Office at 1000 NE 10th Street, Oklahoma City, OK.
Page B-44 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Appendix B
-------
State of Oregon 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
MCL
Violations
5
209
Systems in
Violation
5
175
Treatment Technique
Violations
248
0
Systems in
Violation
88
0
Significant Monitoring
Violations
898
2273
361
63
Systems in
Violation
898
1104
83
63
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
2719
1611
4057
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Oregon's State Report is available by contacting Diane Weis at the Oregon Health Division, 800 NE Oregon
Street, Portland, OR 97232.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Appendix B
April 1999 Page B-45
-------
State of Pennsylvania 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
MCL
Violations
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
94
Treatment Technique
Systems in Violations Systems in
Violation I Violation
Significant Monitoring
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
10,600
NR
7,211
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Pennsylvania's State Report, the list of public water systems having MCL violations during 1997, and additional
Information about the Pennsylvania Safe Drinking Water Program are available by contacting: Department of
Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply Management, P.O Box 8467, llth Floor RCSOB, Harrisburg,
PA 17105-8467, Phone (717) 787-5017. Website: www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/watermgt/WSM/
WSM_DWM/lnfoServ/Comp_Rpt/PWS_CompRpt_97.htm
Page B-46 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Appendix B
-------
Puerto Rico 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
MCL
Violations
6
966
- -
Systems in
Violation
5
NR
Treatment Technique
Violations
400
0
Systems in
Violation
NR
0
Significant Monitoring
Violations
1123
1489
1106
48
Systems in
Violation
NR
240
NR
43
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
486
NR
5138
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Puerto Rico's Report is available at the following addresses:
Department of Health
Public Water Supply Supervision Program
Ramon Fernandez Marina Hospital - Third Floor
Bo. Monacillos, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico
Department of Health
Public Water Supply Supervision Program
PO Box 70184
Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico 00936
Telephone: (787) 754-6010 or (787) 754-6370
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Appendix B
April 1999 Page B-47
-------
State of Rhode Island 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Significant Monitoring
Systems in
Violation
Systems in
Violation
Systems in
Violation
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Conform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
NR
NR
41
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Additional information about Rhode Island's drinking water program is available on the State's website at
www.health.state.ri.us or by contacting the Rhode Island Department of Health, Office of Drinking Water Quality,
3 Capitol Hill, Room 209, Providence, Rl 02908, phone (401) 222-6867.
PageB-48 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Appendix B
-------
State of South Carolina 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
MCL
Violations
12
105
Systems in
Violation
7
95
Treatment Technique
Violations
10
18
Systems in
Violation
10
18
Significant Monitoring
Violations
0
222
6
43
Systems in
Violation
0
106
3
36
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
1569
234
416
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
South Carolina's State Report and the 1996 report are available by contacting Ms. Angela Mettlen with
SCDHEC's Bureau of Water at (803) 734-532 or by fax at (803) 734-4661 or by e-mail at
mettleag@columb32.dhec.state.sc.us or by writing to 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC, 29201. The report will
also be made available on the Internet through the EQC home page at 222.state.sc.us/dhec/pws97.htm.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Appendix B
April 1999
Page B-49
-------
State of South Dakota 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
; Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
Significant Monitoring
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
756
NR
778
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
South Dakota's State Report is available by contacting the State at DENR, Drinking Water Program, 523 E.
Capitol St., Pierre, SD 57501-3181.
PageB-50 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Appendix B
-------
State of Tennessee 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
MCL
Violations
0
64
Systems In
Violation
0
57 A
Treatment Technique
Violations
159
0
Systems in
Violation
25A
0
Significant Monitoring
Violations
121
158
7
7
Systems In
Violation
118 A
109
2
7A
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
1145
318A
515
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Tennessee's State Report is available by contacting the Division Water Supply Central Office at: Division of
Water Supply - Central Office, 401 Church Street, 6th Floor, L&C Tower, Nashville, TN 37423-1549, phone (615)
532-0152; or any of the six field offices: Division of Water Supply, Suite 550-State Office Building, 540 McCallie
Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37402-2013, phone (423) 634-5745; Division of Water Supply, 1221 South Willow,
Cookeville, TN 38502, phone (931) 432-4015; Division of Water Supply, 362 Carriage House Drive, Jackson, TN
38305-2222, phone (901) 661-6200; Division of Water Supply, 2305 Silverdale Road, Johnson City, TN 37601-
2162, phone (423) 854-5400; Division of Water Supply, Suite 220-State Plaza, 2700 Middlebrook Pike,
Knoxville, TN 37219, phone (423) 594-6035; Division of Water Supply, 537 Brick Church Park Drive, Nashville,
TN 37423-1550, phone (615) 226-6918. Copies of Tennessee's State Report are also located in each county
health department and in most public libraries in Tennessee.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Appendix B
April 1999 Page B-51
-------
State of Texas 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
MCL
Violations
Systems in
Violation
Treatment Technique
Violations
Systems in
Violation
Significant Monitoring
Violations
Systems in
Violation
Chemical Contaminant Group
157*
134
NA**
NA**
Total Coliform Rule
489
302
Surface Water Treatment Rule
266
77
Lead and Copper Rule
41
40
* The state reported 157 violations, data provided by state actually add to 171.
** Since the State conducts most chemical monitoring for the chemical rules, violations are minimal in this
category.
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
6757
NR*
1221
* This number is derived by adding state totals from above. Data provided by state actually add to 1235.
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
A specific source for obtaining a copy of this report has not been provided. General information on its
availability may be obtained from: Water Utilities Division, Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission,
P.O. Box 13087, Austin, TX 78711-3087, phone (512) 239-6020.
Page B-52 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Appendix B
-------
State of Utah 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
MCL
Violations
15
123
Systems in
Violation
NR
80
Treatment Technique
Violations
11
NA
Systems in
Violation
2
NA
Significant Monitoring
Violations
3323
NA
36
19
Systems in
Violation
NR
NA
3
16
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
NR
NR
3527
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Utah's State Report is available by contacting the State at Utah Division of Drinking Water, P.O. Box 144830,
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4830, Attention: Ken Bousfield, phone (801) 536-4207.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Appendix B
April 1999 Page B-53
-------
State of Vermont 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
MCL
Violations
4
70
iMi!iL$
iiJ' }::%'i!':Hr: :;:'i
Systems in
Violation
NR
50
, ;,,; ,i*> W -;
;;,$Wi'. "
ml I! hi::"'
ft' :!$fei;:'!;:
Treatment Technique
Violations
I' !'':!. pirtfl if;;:!!
-M '!|l:
^'^tii&i
v.>-!S vsm
wy^$$
20
10
Systems in
Violation
FI:HI
ฎ.W
III
r*;:ffl
I ^3
W'tf?: \
11;;::,:;,;
I!'-::;;" ;
:|f '';;;'>'
20
10
Significant Monitoring
Violations
48
222
22
134
Systems in
Violation
NR
157
4
134
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
1426
NR
530
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Vermont's State Report is available by contacting the State Water Supply Division, 103 S. Main St., Waterbury,
VT 05671-0403, phone (802) 241-3400. It is also available on the Internet at the following address:
www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/watersup/vtrptl997.pdf.
Page B-54 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Appendix B
-------
Virgin Islands 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
MCL
Violations
0
80
NR
Systems in
Violation
0
67
NR
Treatment Technique
Violations
0
0
Systems in
Violation
0
0
Significant Monitoring
Violations
0
46
0
0
Systems in
Violation
0
30
0
0
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
460
NR*
125
* This number was not reported by the state. Raw data provided by the state indicate 94 systems in violation.
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
The Virgin Islands Report can be obtained by contacting Austin Moorehead, Director, Division of Environmental
Protection, Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Building 111, Apartment 114,
Watergut Homes, Christiansted, St. Croix, USVI, 00820, phone (340) 775-0565.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Appendix B
April 1999 Page B-55
-------
State of Virginia 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
MCL
Violations
Systems in
Violation
Treatment Technique
Violations
Systems In
Violation
Significant Monitoring
Violations
Systems in
Violation
Chemical Contaminant Group
NR
NR
Total Coliform Rule
131
98
357
214
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
0
32
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
4145
304
590
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
A summary of Virginia's state report is available by accessing the following site: http://www.vdh.state.va.us/
owp/97report.htm. A complete copy of the report may be obtained by contacting one of the 6 field offices:
Office of Water Programs, Abingdon Reid Office - Field 1, 454 East Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210, phone
(540) 676-5650 and fax (540) 676-5659; Office of Water Programs, Lexington Field Office - Field 2,131 Walker
Street, Lexington, VA 24450, phone (540) 463-7136 and fax (540) 463-3892; Office of Water Programs,
Southeast Virginia Reid Office - Reid 3, 5700 Thurston Avenue - Suite 203, Virginia Beach, VA 23455, phone
(757) 363-3876 and fax (757) 363-3955; Office of Water Programs, East Central Field Office - Field 4, 300
Turner Road, Richmond, VA 23225, phone 1(804) 674-2880 and fax (804) 674-2815; Office of Water
Programs, Danville Reid Office - Reid 5, 1347 Piney Forest Road, Danville, VA 24540, phone (804) 836-8416
and fax (804) 836-8424; Office of Water Programs, Culpeper Reid Office - Field 6, 400 South Main Street - 2nd
Floor, Culpeper, VA 22701-3318, phone (540) 829-7340 and fax (540) 829-7337.
Page B-56 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Appendix B
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State of Washington 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
MCL
Violations
NA*
658
Systems in
Violation
NA
498
Treatment Technique
Violations
185
NA
Systems in
Violation
53
NA
Significant Monitoring
Violations
NA
1570
40
61
Systems in
Violation
NA
883
9
61
* NA = Not Available (as reported by the state)
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
4204*
1355
2514
* This is the number of systems meeting the Federal definition of a PWS. The state reports a total of 16,250
systems.
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Washington's State Report is available by accessing the State's Website at www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/dw/
an_rpt97.doc or by contacting the Department of Health, Division of Drinking Water, P.O. Box 47822, Olympia,
Washington 98504-7822.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Appendix B
April 1999 Page B-57
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State of West Virginia 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Treatment Technique
Significant Monitoring
Systems in
Violation
Systems in
Violation
Systems In
Violation
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
1501
496
>2916*
* The state reports more than 2916 violations. Data provided by state actually add to 1141.
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
West Virginia's State Report is available by contacting the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-
4791.
PageB-58 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Appendix B
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State of Wisconsin 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
MCL
Violations
86
523
-
Systems in
Violation
75
462
Treatment Technique
Violations
0
6
Systems in
Violation
0
6
Significant Monitoring
Violations
2639
1085
0
143
Systems in
Violation
907
996
0
133
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
11,895
1802
4357
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Washington's State Report is available by contacting the Bureau of Drinking Water and Groundwater, State of
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, Wl 53707, telephone (608) 266-6669.
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report - Appendix B
April 1999 Page B-59
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State of Wyoming 1997 PWS Compliance Report
Violations for 1997
Violations Category
Chemical Contaminant Group
Total Coliform Rule
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
Significant Monitoring
Violations Systems in
Violation
Total Number of Regulated Systems
Total Number of Systems in Violation
Total Number of Violations
800*
NR
557
* This number is an approximation provided by the state.
Where to Obtain 1997 Annual State Public Water Systems Report
Wyoming's State Report is available from: John Gillis, EPA Region 8, 999 18th Street, Suite 500, Denver, CO
80202-2466, phone (303) 312-6229.
Page B-60 April 1999
1997 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report Appendix B
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