United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
vvEPA     Public Notification
                Handbook for
                      Transient
               Noncommunity
               Water Systems
        Document updated and prepared for Transient Noncommunity Water
        Systems: EPA 816-R-09-009, March 2010

-------
(Original Public Notification Handbook Document:
EPA 816-R-00-010, June 2000)

(Document updated and prepared for Transient Noncommunity Water
Systems: EPA 816-R-07-004, March 2007)

(Revised Document updated and prepared for Transient Noncommunity Water
Systems: EPA 816-R-09-009, March 2010)
    Office of Water (4606)
    EPA-816-R-09-009
    www.epa.gov/safewater
    March 2010

-------
 This handbook provides guidance to states, public water systems, and the general public concerning
 how the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) interprets its public notification regulations.
 This document does not, however, substitute for the public notification regulations, nor is it a
 regulation itself. Thus, it cannot impose legally-binding requirements on EPA, states, or water suppliers
 and may not apply to a particular situation. This document is not intended, nor can it be relied upon, to
 create any rights enforceable by any party in litigation with the United States. EPA may decide to follow
 the guidance provided in this document, or to act at variance with the guidance based on its analysis of
 the specific facts present. This guidance may be revised without public notice to reflect changes in EPA's
 approach to implementing public notice, or to clarify and  update text.

 You should read the regulations thoroughly to ensure that you are in compliance. The public notification
 (PN) regulations are in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) under Chapter 40, Part 141, Subpart Q,
 beginning at section 40 CFR 141.201. The most recent version of the rule can be found at www.epa.gov/
 safewater/publicnotifi cation.
This document includes public notification requirements and information for all regulations through May
2009.

-------
This page intentionally left blank.

-------
Contents

Acronyms	iii

1. Introduction	1

2. How to Use this Handbook	3

3. Summary of Public Notification Requirements	5
   What kinds of violations and situations require public notice? 	5
   What information is required in my notice?	6
   Special notices	7
   When and  how do I need to notify my consumers?	9
   Deadlines for issuing public notice	10
   Required methods of delivery	10
   Are there formatting requirements for public notices?	11
   Will I need  to translate my notice?	11

4. Suggestions for Layout of the Notice	13
   How should the notice be formatted to get people's attention?	13
   How can I make a notice easier to read?	13
   How should I tailor the notice to my situation?	14

5. Suggestions for Effective Public Notice Delivery	15
   How can I make posting effective? 	15
   What other methods are available to reach all consumers?	15
   After providing the notice, what information must I provide my state?	16

Appendices
Appendix A Templates for Transient Noncommunity Water Systems	19
Appendix B NPDWR Violations and Other Situations	81
Appendix C Standard Health Effects Language for Public Notification	85
Appendix D Translated Phrases	91
Appendix E The Public Notification Rule (40 CFR Part 141 Subpart Q)	95

List of Tables
Table 1. Violations and Situations Requiring Public Notice	5
Table 2. Requirements for Issuing a Public Notice	9
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook                 i                                   March 2010

-------
                                     This page intentionally left blank.
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook                    ii                                         March 2010

-------
Acronyms
CFE          Combined Filter Effluent
CFR          Code of Federal Regulations
DBP          Disinfection Byproducts
EPA          United States (US) Environmental Protection Agency
FBRR         Filter Backwash Recycling Rule
FDA          United States (US) Food and Drug Administration
GWR         Ground Water Rule
HPC          Heterotrophic Plate Count
IESWTR       Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
LT1 ESWTR    Long Term 1  Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
LT2ESWTR    Long Term 2  Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
MCL         Maximum Contaminant Level
mg/l          Milligrams per Liter
MRDL        Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level
MRDLG       Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal
NPDWR       National Primary Drinking Water Regulation
NTU          Nephelometric Turbidity Unit
PN           Public Notification
PWS          Public Water System
Stage 1 DBPR Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
SWTR        Surface Water Treatment Rule
TCR          Total Coliform Rule
TT           Treatment Technique
UV           Ultraviolet Light
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook
                                                MI
March 2010

-------
                                     This page intentionally left blank.
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook                    iv                                         March 2010

-------
1. Introduction

The purpose of this handbook is to explain the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Public
Notification (PN) Rule and provide specific examples of public notices. This handbook is geared to the
specific needs of transient noncommunity water systems that must issue a notice when faced with a violation
or situation affecting their water supply. Transient noncommunity water systems provide drinking water
to a population that changes day to day. They include, among others, campgrounds, hotels, rest areas, and
restaurants with their own water supplies. The majority of these systems are very small, serving 500 people or
less.

The PN requirements are designed to protect public health. One of the best ways that water system
operators can contribute to public health protection is to make sure that as many people as possible
who consume water from a particular water system know about water quality issues and how to protect
themselves from potential risks.

While the risks associated with violations at transient noncommunity water systems (and the public
notification needs and delivery methods) are different than those for  other water system types, all water
system operators share an obligation to protect the health of their consumers. Regardless of the system type,
all consumers have the same general health risk concerns; what is unique about a transient noncommunity
water system's PN requirements is the limited scope of the necessary message and the delivery options.

Throughout this document you will find tips and suggestions to help you effectively meet the Public
Notification Rule requirements. The suggestions contained in this document are based on the guiding
principles for good risk communication and public education.

This handbook complements EPA's Revised Public Notification Handbook (EPA 816-R-09-013), which was
written for community water systems and non-transient noncommunity water systems. The  Revised Public
Notification Handbook provides more detail on risk communication and public education strategies, with a
focus on reaching large, diverse populations via a wide variety of communication  methods, including radio
and television. Transient noncommunity water system operators may benefit from reading that version as
well.

In addition to increasing the effectiveness of public notices, this handbook should make transient
noncommunity water system owners' and operators' jobs easier and help them comply with federal  and state
PN requirements. This handbook contains templates designed for posted notices  for several violations and
situations that are relevant to transient systems. The templates are located in Appendix A.

Throughout this document, the terms "state" and "states" are used to refer to all types of primacy agencies
including states, US territories, Native American tribes, and EPA Regions that maintain state primacy. Note
that the PN requirements described in this handbook are based on federal regulations. Citations provided
within the document refer to specific sections found in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (e.g., 40
CFR 141.201). States or tribes may have alternate public notice requirements or more stringent drinking
water standards. You should check with your state to make sure you meet its specific requirements.
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook                   1                                       March 2010

-------
                                  This page intentionally left blank.
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook                    2                                        March 2010

-------
2. How  to  Use this  Handbook

This handbook contains information to help you prepare and issue a public notice. Before you are faced
with a violation or situation requiring public notification, you should read this handbook. You should
also check with your state to determine if there are additional public notification requirements or if more
stringent public notification requirements apply. Listed below are the steps we recommend that you take to
respond to a drinking water violation or other situation requiring notice:

1.   Determine what tier of public notification your violation or situation requires.
    See Table  1 in Chapter 3 for violations or situations requiring public notice listed by Tier.

2.   Consult your state if required.

    For violations and situations requiring Tier 1 notice, consult with your state as soon as practical,
    but no later than 24 hours after you learn of the violation or situation [40 CFR I4l.202(b)]. You
    must issue the notice within 24 hours of learning of the violation, even if you are unable to contact the
    state.

    If you treat surface water or groundwater under the direct influence of surface water, and have a
    single exceedance of turbidity limits or a two-day turbidity maximum contaminant level (MCL)
    violation, immediately consult with your state when you learn of the  violation. Your state will
    determine whether the violation needs to  be elevated to Tier  1 [40 CFR I4l.203(b)].

3.   Review the requirements for public notices. Read Chapter 3 on "Summary of Public Notification
    Requirements," which describes content, mandatory language, formatting, and distribution requirements
    that are applicable to all notices.

4.   Determine the appropriate method(s) of delivery. For transient noncommunity water systems, this is
    generally posting or hand delivery,  plus another method. Table 2 in  Chapter 3 summarizes requirements
    for issuing a public notice. See Chapter 5  on "Suggestions for Effective Public Notice Delivery" for other
    ideas on appropriate delivery methods for different situations.

5.   Develop a notice; you can use the templates that fit your situation or  write your own. Templates
    for violations or situations are provided in Appendix A of this handbook.  The reverse of each template
    (the instructions) includes specific  suggestions for modifying each template. These templates are also
    available in Microsoft Word format on EPA's Web site at www.epa.gov/safewater/publicnotification/
    compliancehelp  templates.html. If there is no template for your violation  or situation, write your
    own notice using the list of 10 required elements provided in the "Required Elements of a Public
    Notice" box in Chapter 3. Chapter 4 provides tips for formatting an effective notice. In addition, EPA
    has developed a Web-based tool (PNiWriter) to create notices. You can access this program on the EPA
    Web site at http://www.pniwriter.com.

6.   Translate the notice. If a large proportion of the people who receive your water do not speak English
    [40 CFR  I4l.205(c)], translate the notice into the appropriate language(s). Templates NC-1A and NC-
    4A are Spanish versions of the nitrate and fecal coliformAE. coli violation templates.

7.   Provide your notice to persons served as soon as practical and within the  required time frame. Use
    the method of delivery chosen in step 4 above.

TNCWS Public Notification Handbook                   3                                      March 2010

-------
  Send a copy of each type of notice issued (including repeat notices) to your state within ten days
  after you distribute the notice, along with a statement certifying that all public notification requirements
  have been met [40 CFR I4l.31(d)].
   Plan In Advance For Public Notification

   Any advance work that you can do to prepare for a public notification effort will really pay off if you are
   faced with a violation or situation.

   >  Create a list of emergency contacts, including staff at the state, people who can help copy or
      distribute a notice on short order, or people who can translate your notice.

   >  Know in advance what languages are spoken by your customers.  In many areas of the country
      operators should plan on providing notices in English and Spanish, at a minimum. See the discussion
      of translations in Chapter 3.

   >  Think about methods of delivery that would most effectively reach your consumers. Posting will reach
      transient populations in many situations, but other methods may be needed.  See Chapter 5 for ideas.

   >  If your water system is "prone" to certain types of violations (e.g., nitrate exceedances in agricultural
      areas) be prepared to deal with  these, especially during the growing season, when fertilizers are
      applied.

   >  Prepare to have bottled water or an alternative water supply available if needed.
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook                    4                                        March 2010

-------
3. Summary of Public Notification Requirements
You should read this handbook before a violation or other situation occurs to familiarize yourself with
the public notification process and requirements. This chapter summarizes PN requirements for transient
noncommunity water systems. See Appendix E for a copy of this regulation. Also, check with your state to
see if they have stricter requirements.
What kinds of violations and situations require public  notice?
EPA has assigned each violation and situation requiring notice to one of three categories, or tiers, based on
the risk of adverse health effects. Table 1 summarizes the violations and situations requiring notice included
in each tier. For a list of violations and situations and their respective tiers that  are applicable to transient
noncommunity water systems, refer to Appendix B of this handbook.
               Table 1: Violations or Situations  Requiring Public Notice
                      Tier 1 Violations or Situations (40 CFR 141.202)
    Violations of the MCL for total coliforms when fecal coliform or E. coli are present, or failure to test for
    fecal coliform/E coli after any repeat sample tests positive for coliform.
    Nitrate, nitrite, or total nitrate and nitrite MCL violation or failure to take a confirmation sample within 24
    hours of the first exceedance.
    Exceedance of the nitrate MCL of 10 milligrams per liter (mg/l) (but not more than 20 mg/l) when
    permitted by the state (see special notice discussion in this Chapter).
    Chlorine dioxide maximum residual disinfectant level (MRDL) violation when one or more of the samples
    taken in the distribution system exceed the MRDL on the day after exceeding the MRDL at the entrance of
    the distribution system, or when required samples are not taken in the distribution system.
    Violation of turbidity MCL based on an average of two consecutive days for systems avoiding filtration, if
    elevated by state, or if a consultation does not occur.
    Treatment technique violation involving single exceedance of the maximum turbidity limit,  if elevated by
    state, or if a consultation does not occur.
    Detection of E. coli, enterococci, or coliphage in a ground water source sample.
    Waterborne disease outbreak or other waterborne emergency.
    Other violations or situations as determined by the state.
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook
March 2010

-------
                        Tier 2 Violations or Situations (40 CFR 141.203)
    All MCL, MRDL, and treatment technique violations not included in Tier 1.
    Monitoring violations as determined by the state.
    Violations of the conditions of a variance or exemption.
    For ground water systems providing 4-log treatment for viruses, failure to maintain treatment for more
    than 4 hours.
    Failure to take corrective action within the required timeframe or be in compliance with a state-
    approved corrective action plan and schedule for a fecal indicator-positive ground water source
    sample under the Ground Water Rule (GWR).
    Failure to take corrective action within the required timeframe or be in compliance with a state-
    approved corrective action plan and schedule for a significant deficiency under the Ground Water Rule
    (GWR). (See special notice discussion in this Chapter).
    Special public notice for repeated failure to conduct monitoring for Cryptosporidium (40 CFR 141.211).
                        Tier 3 Violations or Situations (40 CFR 141.204)
    Monitoring violations, except those in Tier 1  or 2.
    Failure to comply with testing procedures, except those in Tier 1.
    Operation under a variance or exemption.
What information  is required in my notice?
Your public notice must include specific information listed in the following text box in order to be
considered complete.
 Required Elements of a Public Notice [40 CFR 141.205(a)]
    1.  A description of the violation or situation.
    2.  When the violation or situation occurred (e.g., date the sample was collected or was supposed to be
       collected).
    3.  Potential adverse health effects, using required language in Appendix B to Subpart Q or language for
       monitoring and testing procedure violations [40 CFR 141.205(d)(2)].
    4.  Population(s) at risk.
    5.  Whether alternative water supplies should be used.
    6.  Actions consumers should take, including when they should seek medical help, if known.
    7.  What you are doing to correct the violation or situation.
    8.  When you  expect to return to compliance.
    9.  Name, business address, and phone number for additional information.
    10. Standard language encouraging distribution to all persons served, where applicable.
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook
March 2010

-------
To address the third element listed in the box above, a public notice must include the following
standard language [40 CFR I4l.205(d)]:

*  Health effects language. For violations of a maximum contaminant level (MCL), a maximum residual
   disinfectant level (MRDL), a treatment technique, or the conditions of a variance or exemption, you
   must include the health effects language specified in Appendix C of this handbook or Appendix B to
   Subpart Q [40 CFR I4l.205(d)(l)]. When no mandatory language is specified, you must develop
   wording to describe potential health effects for these other situations.

*  Standard language for monitoring and testing procedure violations. You must include the
   following language for all monitoring and testing procedure violations with blanks filled in
   [40CFRl4l.205(d)(2)]:

    We are required to monitor your drinking water for specific contaminants on a regular basis. Results of
    regular monitoring are an indicator of whether or not your drinking water meets health standards. During
    [compliance period], we ['did not monitor or test' or 'did not complete all monitoring or testing] for
    [contaminant(s)], and therefore cannot be sure of the quality of your drinking water during that time.

>  Standard language to encourage distribution. To address the tenth required element, encouraging
   distributions to all persons served, each public notice must include the following standard language
   [40CFRl4l.205(d)(3)]:

    Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may
    not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and
    businesses).  You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

Special notices

Some violations and situations that require public notice have special conditions of form, manner, and/or
content.
>  Special notice for nitrate MCL exceedances for noncommunity water systems only.

    Some noncommunity water systems may have been granted permission by the state to exceed the
    nitrate MCL (10 mg/1) up to a level of 20 mg/1. These systems must provide continuous posting in
    a conspicuous location of the fact that nitrate levels exceed 10 mg/1 and the potential  health effects
    of exposure (40 CFR  141.209). You must include the required content elements summarized in this
    handbook. Your state  may only grant permission to exceed the MCL if you can demonstrate that
    the water will not be available to children under 6 months of age [40 CFR I4l.209(b)].  See sample
    template NC-3 in Appendix A of this handbook for this situation.

>  Special notice for repeated failure to conduct monitoring of the source water for Cryptosporidium for
   surface water systems only [40 CFR 141.21 l(d)].  (The date to begin compliance for this requirement
   varies depending on your system size. You should check with your state to determine when this
   requirement applies to you.)

    Surface water systems that do not collect any 3 months of monitoring of the source water for
    Cryptosporidium, must provide notice within 30 days. The notice must be posted in a conspicuous

TNCWS Public Notification Handbook                    7                                       March 2010

-------
    location. In addition, you must use a second delivery method reasonable calculated to reach other
    people.  The notice must include a description of what the system is doing to correct the violation,
    when the system expects to return to compliance or resolve the violation, and the following
    mandatory language:
    We are required to monitor the source of your drinking water for Cryptosporidium. Remits of the
    monitoring are to be used to determine whether (treatmentplant name) is sufficient to adequately treat the
    water for Cryptosporidium. We are required to complete this monitoring and make this determination
    by (required bin determination date). We "did not monitor or test" or "did not complete all monitoring or
    testing" on schedule and, therefore, we may not be able to determine by the required date what treatment
    modifications, if any, must be made. Missing this deadline may, in turn, jeopardize our ability to have
    the required treatment modifications, if any, completed by the deadline required, (date).  For more
    information, please call (name of water system contact) of (name of water system) at (phone number).

    See sample template NC-15 in Appendix A of this handbook for this violation.

   Special notice for failure to determine a bin classification (filtered surface water systems) or mean
   Cryptosporidium level  (unfiltered surface water systems) [40 CFR 141.21 l(d)]. The date to begin
   compliance for this requirement varies depending on your system size.  You should check with your state
   to determine when this requirement applies to you.

    Surface water systems that filter and do not determine a bin classification and surface water systems
    that do not filter and do not determine a mean Cryptosporidium level, must provide notice within
    30 days. The notice must be posted in a conspicuous location as well as another delivery method
    reasonable calculated to reach other people. The notice must include a description of what the
    system is doing to correct the violation, when the system expects to return to compliance or resolve
    the violation, and the following mandatory language:

    We are required to monitor the source of your drinking water for Cryptosporidium in order to determine
    by (date) whether water treatment at the (treatmentplant name) is sufficient to adequately remove
    Cryptosporidium from your drinking water. We have not made this determination by the required date.
    Our failure to do  this may jeopardize our ability to have the required treatment modifications, if any,
    completed by the required deadline of (date).  For more information, please call (name of water system
    contact) of (name of water system) at (phone number).

    See sample templates NC-16 and NC-17 in Appendix A of this handbook for these violations.
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook                    8                                        March 2010

-------
  SPECIAL NOTICE  FOR UNCORRECTED SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES

  Special notice may be required under the Ground Water Rule, beginning December 1, 2009, if the state identifies a
  significant deficiency and it is uncorrected (after a specified amount of time).

  For nonco mm unity systems,  this special notice is required if the significant deficiency has not been completely corrected
  within 12 months of notification of the deficiency. This notice is required regardless of whether the violation listed in Table 1
  in this Chapter has occurred. This special notice is not a public notification requirement and therefore, the content and form
  and manner requirements do not apply. However, the special notice must include: the nature of the significant deficiency; the
  date it was identified by the state; the state-approved plan and schedule for correction including interim measures, progress
  to date, and any interim measures completed; and if you have a large proportion of non-English speaking consumers, as
  determined by the state, information  in the appropriate language(s) regarding the importance of the notice or a telephone
  number or address where consumers may contact you to obtain a translated copy of the notice or assistance in the appropriate
  language.
When and  how do I need to notify my consumers?
After you learn of a violation or situation, public notice must be provided. The deadlines for issuing public
notice and repeat notices, and the delivery methods, vary by tier and are summarized in Table 2.
                      Table 2: Requirements for Issuing a Public Notice
Violation
Tier
1
2
3
Deadline for
Initial Notice
24 hours**
30 days ***
1 year****
Repeated
Notices *
As directed
by the state
Every 3
months
Annually
Delivery Methods to Use
1 . Posting, hand delivery, radio and/or television. In
consultation with the state, additional methods may be
required.
1 . Posting, hand delivery, or mail
2. Plus any other method calculated to reach others not
reached by the first method such as publication in a local
newspaper or delivery to community centers.
1 . Posting, hand delivery, or mail
2. Plus any other method calculated to reach others not
reached by the first method such as publication in a local
newspaper or delivery to community centers.
* Repeated notices are required if the violation or situation persists, unless otherwise directed by the state.
** For Tier 1 notices, systems must also initiate consultation with the state within 24 hours.
*** Systems with turbidity MCL violations based on the average of samples over two days, or with turbidity single
exceedance treatment technique violations, must consult with the state within 24 hours after learning of the
violation.
**** EPA recommends consolidating all Tier 3 violations and situations occurring within a given year into an annual
notice.
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook
March 2010

-------
Deadlines for issuing public notice
As shown in Table 2, the deadline for issuing a public notice varies by tier.

>•  For Tier 1 public notices, you must provide the notice as soon as practical but no later than 24 hours
   after you learn of the violation or situation. In addition, you must contact the state within 24 hours to
   determine additional public notice requirements such as the length of time to the notice must be posted
   and if repeat notices are needed.

>•  For Tier 2 public notices, you must provide the notice as soon as practical but no later than 30 days after
   you learn of the violation or situation. If you post the notice, you must keep it posted for as long as the
   violation or situation lasts, but in no case for less than seven days (even if you resolve the violation or
   situation before seven days). You must repeat the notice every three months as long as the violation or
   situation lasts.

>•  For Tier 3 public notices, you must provide the notice no later than one year after you learn of the
   violation or situation. If you post the notice, you must keep it posted for as long as the violation or
   situation lasts, but in no case for less than seven days (even if you resolve the violation or situation before
   seven days). You must repeat the notice annually for as long as the violation or situation lasts.

Generally, a violation or situation is considered resolved when the system has returned to compliance as
defined by the regulation in question; however, you may wish to contact your state to determine whether a
violation or situation is considered resolved.

Required methods of delivery

As shown in Table 2, the delivery methods vary by tier as follows:

*  For violations and situations requiring Tier 1 notification, you must use one of the following methods to
   distribute required notices: posting, hand delivery, newspapers, or radio and/or television. You may need
   to use another method such as publication in a community newspaper or posting at a community center
   to reach other persons served  [40 CFR I4l.202(c)].

*  For violations and situations requiring Tier 2 or 3 notification, you must use posting, hand delivery, or
   mail, plus another method such as publication in a newspaper or posting at a community center to reach
   others if they would not normally be reached by the first method.

Posting will probably be the most effective delivery method for the vast majority of transient noncommunity
water systems. Your state may allow you to use a different method of delivery for any tier. See Chapter 5 on
"Suggestions for Effective Public Notice Delivery" for additional ideas  on how various types of businesses
can meet notice delivery requirements.

You must also post every notice for as long as the violation or situation exists to let visitors or new employees
know of the situation. If the violation or situation has already been resolved, Tier 2 and 3 notices must still
be posted for at least seven days  [40 CFR I4l.203(b); 40 CFR I4l.204(b)]. If you can reach all persons
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook                   10                                       March 2010

-------
served with the first method you choose, you may not need to use additional methods. At a gas station, for
instance, posting in the bathrooms and front door may be sufficient to reach all persons served.

Are there formatting requirements for public notices?

All public notices must meet certain formatting standards. These requirements will ensure that consumers
can easily read and understand the notice. Notices must:

>•  Be displayed in a conspicuous way (where printed or posted).
*  Not contain overly technical language or very small print.
>•  Not be formatted in a way that defeats the purpose of the notice.
*  Not contain language which nullifies the purpose of the notice.

Will I need to translate my notice?

You may also be required to translate part of your notice if a large proportion of the population served
does not speak English  [40 CFR I4l.205(c)]. If translations are needed, your notice must, at a minimum,
contain information in  the appropriate language(s) regarding the importance of the notice, or it must
provide a phone number or address where a translated notice, or information or assistance in the appropriate
language, is available. Your state may have established criteria for what constitutes a large proportion of the
people you serve; check with the state to be sure.

While the transient nature of your consumer base may make it difficult to find exact statistics about the
English proficiency of the people you serve, as a business owner, you should have a general "feel" for
the languages spoken  by your consumers. If you are unsure about this, ask staff who work directly with
customers about what languages they hear spoken by visitors.

To facilitate translations, especially for violations or situations requiring Tier 1 notification, establish contacts
with institutions and people who can translate notices into other languages for you in advance. Community
centers and universities can help provide translations. If your system is in an area  where a language other
than English is predominant (for example in the Southwest, where Spanish is commonly spoken), there is
a good chance that some of your employees may also speak that language. These employees can be valuable
assets if you need to translate a notice or respond to questions. Spanish-language  templates for nitrate and
fecal coliform violations are provided in Appendix A of this handbook (see templates NC-1A and NC-4A).
Appendix D provides translations of several useful phrases that convey the importance of the message and
the need to have it translated.
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook                   11                                       March 2010

-------
                                            Page Intentionally Left Blank.
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook                    12                                        March 2010

-------
4. Suggestions for Layout of the  Notice

In addition to meeting the formatting requirements discussed in Chapter 3, notices for transient
noncommunity water systems should be appropriate to the consumers' situation. For example, visitors at a
rest stop just need to be aware they shouldn't drink the water, rather than being told to boil it. See Templates
NC-1 through NC-28 in Appendix A of this handbook for examples of postings.
                                      Formatting Hints
    Limit the notice to one page.
    Display important elements in bold and/or large type and/or all upper case letters.
    List each of the most important elements on a separate line and center the text, leaving a blank line
    between each element.
    Other required elements, such as health effects and your corrective actions, can be provided in paragraph
    format, with a title for each paragraph if space permits.
How should the notice be formatted to get people's attention?

A person walking by a posted notice is unlikely to read the entire notice. Therefore, you should format the
notice so that consumers will see and read the most important information first. Posters should include a
title designed to catch people's attention. It should highlight the population at risk (if applicable), provide
actions consumers should take, state a very short description of the violation or situation, and tell where to
obtain alternative sources of water if alternative water supplies should be used.

How can I make a notice easier to read?

Assume that consumers will only read the top half of the notice (or what can be read in ten seconds). The
most important information, especially instructions to protect consumers' health,  should be placed on the
top half of the notice in large print. Bullets and bold text are also effective. Smaller type is appropriate for the
less critical elements, e.g., what the system is doing, an explanation of the  cause of the violation or situation,
etc. You must still include all the required elements in the notice.

Remember that some of your consumers may have limited reading abilities. It is important that notices do
not contain overly technical or confusing language. Whoever on your staff is responsible for responding to
questions about the notice should keep in mind that it may be necessary to read or explain the entire notice.
If many of the visitors to your system are young children, remember that they do not read at an adult level,
and their parents may not see a posted notice (for example, at a rest stop, children may use the bathrooms
while their parents wait outside).

If your system serves a large proportion of non-English speaking people, include the appropriate translated
phrases provided in Appendix D. Appendix D also includes simple pictures that convey the concept of "do
not drink the water," that would be understood by someone who cannot read. These pictures would also
grab the attention of people passing by.
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook                  13                                      March 2010

-------
How should  I tailor the notice to my situation?
If you are providing bottled or other sources of water:
>•  List the location from which you are distributing or selling it.
*  If you use water for cooking or ice making (e.g., at a restaurant), be sure to let customers know that you
   are using bottled water for this purpose.
>•  Confirm ahead of time and periodically reconfirm that available bottled water supplies meet the US Food
   and Drug Administration (FDA) or state safety standards by asking bottlers for their most recent testing
   results.

If your system supplies water to people for cooking (such as a campground), your notice should provide
instructions on how to use the water to cook. The following are examples for nitrate and fecal coliform or E.
coli violations:
*•  For a nitrate violation, instruct consumers that boiling the water will not make the water safe for infants
   as boiling only makes nitrates more concentrated. In this scenario, the water should not be provided to
   infants.
>  For a fecal coliform or E. coli violation, instruct consumers to use boiled water for brushing teeth,
   washing dishes, and food preparation.
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook                  14                                        March 2010

-------
5. Suggestions  for Effective Public Notice Delivery

Most transient noncommunity water systems can probably use some combination of posting and hand
delivery. For instance, a campground should post notices in bathrooms or at water pumps and hand out
flyers to campers as they register. A resort or hotel should hand deliver notices to guests' rooms or cottages,
as well as post notices in common areas.

How can I make posting effective?

Post notices at all water fountains, kitchen and bathroom sinks, ice machines, soda machines, coffee makers,
on bulletin boards, outside administrative offices, and at  any other appropriate central locations. Posted
notices must remain posted for as long as the violation or situation lasts, but in no case less than seven
days, even if the violation or situation is resolved [40 CFR I4l.203(b) and 40 CFR I4l.204(b)]. This is
especially important for transient systems, where consumers are continuously entering and leaving the area
served.

Be sure that the notice is durable. It should not blow away if posted outdoors. Consider laminating notices
that will be placed over sinks or outside, especially if they are likely to remain there for an extended time.
You can make door hangers for hand delivery. Knot  a rubber band through a hole punched in the notice
and put the rubber band around door knobs. This method will be useful at a hotel or a campground with
cabins.

What  other methods are available to reach all consumers?

You may also want to use some of these ideas, in addition to one of the required methods listed above:

>•  Spoken word — If you are hand delivering notices and time permits, take the time to explain the
   situation as you deliver the notice, or have a meeting to explain the situation to your employees, students,
   etc. For notifications at a hotel or campground; speak to guests as they register.

>•  Sound trucks — Sound trucks (or police cars with speakers) might be useful as a supplement to hand
   delivery for violations or situations that have potential for serious adverse health effects as a result of short
   term exposure. They are most appropriate for distribution at a time of day when most people are expected
   to be in a concentrated area such as a beach or campground.

*  Answering machines — Consider including public notice information on the greeting of your answering
   machine or voicemail. The greeting can be updated as you make progress in resolving the violation
   or situation. It also enables you to at least partially answer your customers' questions and address the
   violation at the same time.

*•  Community organizations — You might distribute multiple copies to nearby social service agencies or
   clinics. This way doctors or case workers will be informed if their patients or clients ask them about the
   implications of the violation or situation.

>•  Automatic dialers — Some phone systems can be programmed to send voicemail to every extension. This
   might be useful to notify guests at a hotel or resort.

>•  In-house/ Cable TV — Some hotels have in-house cable television systems in which you can put
   information about the violation on the "hotel information" station. For potentially serious adverse health
   effects as a result of short term exposure, ask a local TV station or cable company to put "scrollers" across
   the screen similar  to National Weather Service announcements for tornado watches.

TNCWS Public Notification Handbook                  15                                      March 2010

-------
After providing the notice, what information must I provide my state?

After you provide the notice to your consumers, you must, within ten days, send your state a copy of each type
of notice you distribute (e.g., newspaper article, press release to TV/radio, mail notices) and a certification that
you have met all the PN requirements [40 CFR I4l.31(d)]. You must send certifications for both initial and
any repeat notices.

A sample certification "box" with appropriate language is provided below. Although a certification is
mandatory, the example is only one suggested format. Contact your state; they may have a certification form
they require be submitted to them. If your state does not have a required certification form for you to use,
you may wish to copy this certification (with appropriate blanks filled in) onto the bottom or reverse of the
copy of the public notice you send to the state.
 PWS Name:    [give system name]	
 PWSID#:     [provide PWS numberl	
 For Violation:  [describe violation or situation]	
 Occurring on:  [insert date]	.

 The public water system (PWS) indicated above hereby affirms that public notice has been provided to
 consumers in accordance with the delivery, content, and format requirements and deadlines in [regulatory
 citation].

 D  Consultation with state (if required) on   [insert date]  .

 D  Notice distributed by  [insert method]    on  [insert date]

 D  Notice distributed by  [insert method]    on  [insert date]

 D  Content  - required elements.
 Signature of owner or operator                   Date
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook                   16                                       March 2010

-------
                                           Appendices
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook
17
March 2010

-------
                                            Page Intentionally Left Blank.
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook                    18                                        March 2010

-------
                                          Appendix A
                  Templates for Transient Noncommunity Water Systems

The pages that follow contain templates recommended for use by transient noncommunity water systems.
They are generally designed for posting, and are tailored to systems where consumers will not be able to boil
or otherwise treat their water. Along with each template are instructions on how to complete the template,
and suggestions for methods of delivery and modifying individual sections of the notice. These suggestions
are designed to supplement the handbook, so you may see much of the information repeated here.

Mandatory language on health effects or mandatory language on unknown risks for monitoring
violations, which must be included as written (with blanks filled in), is presented in italics in each
notice [40 CFR I4l.205(d)}.

You must also include the following italicized language in all notices, where applicable. This language will
encourage word-of-mouth communication of the problem. Use of this language does not relieve you of
your obligation to take steps reasonably calculated to notify persons served [40 CFR I4l.202(c), 40 CFR
I4l.203(c), 40 CFR I4l.204(c)]:

    Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may
    not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and
    businesses).  You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

Templates
Nitrate MCL Exceedance Notice -Template NC-1
Spanish Nitrate MCL Exceedance Notice -Template NC-1 A
Nitrate Failure to Take a Confirmation Sample Notice - Template NC-2
Noncommunity PWSs Allowed Up to 20 mg/L Nitrate Notice - Template NC-3
TCR Fecal Coliform or E. coli  Notice - Template NC-4
Spanish TCR Fecal Coliform or E. coli Notice - Template  NC-4A
Unresolved Total Coliform Notice - Template NC-5
Monitoring Violation Notice -Template NC-6
Problem Corrected Notice -Template NC-7
Waterborne Disease Outbreak  Notice - NC-8
IESWTR or LT1ESWTR CFE Maximum Turbidity Exceedance, or Turbidity Single Exceedance as Tier 1
Notice - NC-9
Stage 1 DBPR Chlorine Dioxide MRDL (Tier 1) Notice - NC-10
SWTR Failure to Filter Notice - NC-11
SWTRs Turbidity Exceedance  Notice - NC-12
SWTR Disinfection Treatment Notice - NC-13
LT2ESWTR Uncovered Finished Water Reservoir Treatment Technique Violation Notice - NC-14
LT2ESWTR Failure to Conduct Required Cryptosporidium Monitoring for Any Three Months Notice -
NC-15
LT2ESWTR Filtered System Failure to Determine and Report Bin Classification Notice - NC-16
LT2ESWTR Unfiltered System Failure to Calculate and Report Mean Cryptosporidium Level Notice -
NC-17
 TNCWS Public Notification Handbook                  19                                      March 2010

-------
                                           Appendix A
              Templates for Transient Noncommunity Water Systems Continued

  LT2ESWTR Failure to Provide or Install an Additional Level of Treatment Notice - NC-18
  LT2ESWTR Unfiltered System Failure to Achieve Required Inactivation Level Notice - NC-19
  LT2ESWTR Filtered System Failure to Achieve Required Treatment Credit Notice - NC-20
  LT2ESWTR Unfiltered System Failure to Maintain Required Inactivation Level Notice - NC-21
  LT2ESWTR Unfiltered System Failure to Install Second Disinfectant Notice - NC-22
  LT2ESWTR Monitoring Violation (Tier 3) Notice - NC-23
  Filter Backwash Recycling Rule Treatment Technique Violation Notice - NC-24
  GWR Fecal Indicator-Positive Source Sample Notice - NC-25
  GWR Failure to Take Corrective Action within Required Time Frame Notice - NC-26
  GWR Failure to Maintain 4-log Treatment of Viruses Notice - NC-27
  Failure to Develop a Profile and/or Calculate a Benchmark Notice - NC-28
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook                  20                                      March 2010

-------
        Instructions for Nitrate MCL Exceedance Notice - Template NC-1
                                      Template on Reverse

Since exceeding the nitrate maximum contaminant level of 10 mg/l requires Tier 1 notification, you must provide
public notice to persons served as soon as practical but no more than 24 hours from learning of the violation [40
CFR 141.202(b)]. During this time period, you must also contact your state. This template can also be used for
nitrite and total nitrate and nitrite violations. You must use one or more of the following methods to deliver the
notice to consumers [40 CFR 141.202(c)]:

       Posting  in conspicuous locations
       Hand or direct delivery
       Radio
       Television

You may need to use additional methods if needed to reach all persons served.

If you modify the notice, you must still include all required PN elements and leave the mandatory language
unchanged (see below).

Mandatory Language
Mandatory language on health effects (from Appendix B to Subpart Q) must be included as written (with blanks
filled in) and is presented in this notice in italics with an asterisk on either end.

This template also includes mandatory language encouraging further distribution to persons who may not have
received the notice [40 CFR 141.205(d)] and is presented in this  notice in italics and with an asterisk on either
end. However, if you post the  notice such that all possible users have access to the notice,  this language is not
applicable and can  be omitted.

Alternative Sources of Water
If you are selling or providing bottled water, your notice should say where it can be obtained. Remember that
bottled water can also be contaminated. If you are providing  bottled water, make  sure it meets US Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) and/or state  bottled water safety standards.

Repeat Notices
If this is a repeat notice, you may wish to include an explanation similar to the following:

   As you may recall, on [give date], you were also notified of high nitrate levels that occurred during the [give
   quarter e.g., first, second, third  or fourth] of the  year. Since that time the water system has been monitoring
   the nitrate concentration every three months. Seasonal fluctuations in nitrate concentrations have been
   observed due to nitrates contained in fertilizer. It appears the high nitrates occur during the later summer
   and fall.  Note that previous tests prior to [give year] show that we were meeting drinking water standards for
   nitrate.

Corrective Action
In your notice, describe corrective actions you are  taking. Listed below is some sample language describing
steps commonly taken by water systems with nitrate/nitrite violations. You can  use the following language, if
appropriate, or develop your own:

       We are investigating water treatment and other options. These may include drilling  a new well or mixing
       the water with low-nitrate water from another source.

After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your state  a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all the public
notification  requirements within ten days after issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].

It is a good idea to inform your consumers when the violation has been resolved, especially if you have regular
customers.  See Template NC-7 for a "problem corrected" notice template.

-------
              Nitrate MCL Exceedance Notice - Template NC-1
                    DRINKING WATER WARNING

      FOR PARENTS OF INFANTS 6 MONTHS AND YOUNGER

        DO NOT GIVE THE WATER TO INFANTS UNDER 6 MONTHS
           OLD OR USE  IT TO MAKE FORMULA OR JUICE

           High nitrate levels were detected on [give date].

    Bottled water should be used for infants. [We are providing
        bottled water for infants and their families at	].

   Adults and children  older than 6 months can drink the water.

On [give date], we received notice that the sample collected on [give date] showed a nitrate
concentration in the drinking water of [level and units]. This is above the nitrate standard, or
maximum contaminant level, of [state/federal MCL].

Possible Health Effects

*lnfants below the age of six months who drink water containing nitrate in excess of the
maximum contaminant level could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die. Symptoms
include shortness of breath and blue baby syndrome. * Blue baby syndrome is indicated by
blueness of the skin. Nitrate is a concern for infants because they can't process nitrates in the
same way adults can.

Symptoms in infants can develop rapidly, with health deteriorating over a period of days. If
symptoms occur in a child less than 6 months old, seek medical attention immediately. If you
are pregnant or have specific health concerns, you may wish to consult your doctor.

Steps We Are Taking

[Describe corrective action.]

We anticipate resolving the problem within [estimated time frame]. We will inform you when
this problem has been corrected. For more information, please contact [name of contact] of
[system] at [phone number] or [location/address].

  *Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those
  who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing
  homes, schools, and businesses).  You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or
  distributing copies by hand or mail. *

This notice is being sent to you by [system]. State Water System ID#:	.
Date distributed:

-------
 Instructions for Spanish Nitrate MCL Exceedance Notice - Template NC-1A
                                 Template on Reverse
The template on reverse is a Spanish translation of Template NC-1 for a nitrate violation. All the
instructions for Template NC-1 apply. If you modify the English template, you should modify this
template accordingly. Schools or universities may be able to provide low cost translations. See the
discussion on translations in Chapter 3 for suggestions on preparing multilingual notices.

-------
         Spanish Nitrate MCL Exceedance Notice - Template NC-1A
                 AVISO SOBRE SU AGUA POTABLE

    PARA LOS PADRES DE BEBES DE SEIS MESES DE EDAD Y
                                MENORES

 NO DE A BEBER EL AGUA A BEBES MENORES DE SEIS MESES
  DE EDAD, Nl LA USE PARA LA PREPARACION DE SU JUGO O
                           LECHE EN POLVO

        Altos niveles de nitratos fueron detectados en [date].

 Debera usarse agua em hotel la da para los bebes.  [Tenemos agua
     embotellada disponible para bebes y sus familias,  en	].

    Adultos y bebes mayores de seis  (6) meses de  edad pueden
                        tomar el agua del grifo.

Recibimos un aviso el (fecha) que la muestra tomada el (fecha la muestra fue tomada) demuestra una
concentracion de nitrato de (nivel unidades). Este nivel esta por encima de la norma, o nivel maximo
de contamination (NMC) de [state/federal MCL in Spanish].

Posibles Efectos a la Salud

*Bebes menores de seis (6) meses que ingieran agua con nitratos en exceso del nivel maximo de
contaminacion (NMC) se pueden enfermarde gravedady, de no sertratados,  pueden morir. Los
sintomas incluyen dificultad en respirary sindrome de bebe azul.*E\ sfndrome de bebe azul se refiere
al color azulado que toma la piel del bebe. Los nitratos son daninos para los bebes porque ellos no
pueden procesarlos en la misma manera que los adultos  pueden hacerlo.

Los sintomas en los bebes pueden desarrollarse con rapidez, con el deterioro de su salud en los dfas
subsiguientes. Si los sintomas ocurren en bebes menores de seis (6) meses de edad, busque atencion
medica inmediatamente. Si usted esta embarazada o tiene algun problema de salud en particular,
puede optar por hacer una consulta con su medico.

Lo Que  Estamos Haciendo Al Respecto

[Describe corrective action in Spanish.]

Anticipamos que resolveremos el problema  el [date of expected resolution in Spanish day-month-year].
Nosotros le informaremos cuando este problema haya sido corregido. Para mayor information,  por
favor pongase en contacto con [name of contact] de [system] al [phone number] o [location/address].

  *Por favor comparta esta informacion con todo aquel que puede que tome de esta agua, sea
  colocando este aviso en lugares visibles,  o remitiendolo por correo, o entregandolo manualmente.
  Es de particular interes distribuir este aviso ampliamente si usted lo recite representando un
  negocio, un hospital, hogar de infantes u  hogar de ancianos o comunidad residencial. *

Este aviso ha sido enviado a usted por [system]. Numero de Identification:	.
Fecha de distribution:

-------
    Instructions for Nitrate Failure to Take a Confirmation Sample Notice -
                                         Template NC-2
                                       Template on Reverse

Since failure to take a confirmation sample for nitrate within 24 hours after learning that an initial sample
exceeded the MCL is a Tier 1 violation, you must provide public notice to persons served as soon as practical but
no more than 24 hours from  learning of the violation [40 CFR 141.202(b)]. During this time period you must also
contact your state. You should also coordinate with your local health department. This template is also applicable
to nitrite and total nitrate and nitrite violations. You must use one or more of the following methods to deliver the
notice to consumers [40 CFR 141.202(c)]:

       Posting in conspicuous locations
       Hand or direct delivery
       Radio
       Television

You may need to use additional methods if needed to reach all persons served.

If you modify the notice, you  must still include all required PN elements  from 40 CFR 141.205(a) and leave the
mandatory language unchanged (see below).

Mandatory Language
Mandatory language for monitoring and testing procedure violations [40 CFR 141.205(d)] must be included as
written (with blanks filled in) and is presented in this notice in  italics with an asterisk on either end.

This template also includes mandatory language encouraging further distribution to persons who may not have
received the notice [40 CFR  141.205(d)] and is presented in this notice  in italics and with an asterisk on either
end. However, if you post the notice such that all possible users have access to the notice, this language is not
applicable and can  be omitted.

Alternative Sources of Water
If you are selling or providing bottled water, your notice should say where it can be obtained. Remember that
bottled water can also be contaminated. If you are providing bottled water, make  sure it meets US Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) and/or  state  bottled water safety standards.

Repeat Notices
If this is a repeat notice, you  may wish to include an explanation similar to the following:

   You were initially notified of our system's failure to take a confirmation sample following high nitrate level
   on [give date]. Since that time we have taken a confirmation sample  on [give date] that also resulted in
   a high nitrate level. We are currently monitoring the nitrate concentration every three months. Seasonal
   fluctuations in nitrate concentrations have been observed,  due to nitrates contained in fertilizer. It appears
   that high nitrates occur during the later summer and fall. Note that prior to [give year] we  were  meeting
   drinking water standards for nitrate.

Corrective Action
In your notice, describe corrective actions you are taking. Listed below is some sample language describing
steps commonly taken by water systems with nitrate/nitrite violations. You can use the following language, if
appropriate, or develop your own text:

       We are in the process of collecting a confirmation sample  to determine if we have high nitrate levels. If the
       sample shows we are meeting our drinking water standards, you will  not  receive another notice. However,
       if the sample shows that we do have high nitrate levels in  our water, another notification will be issued
       within 24 hours after we receive the results.

After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your state a copy of each type of notice and a  certification that you have  met all the public
notification requirements within ten days after issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].

It is a good  idea to inform your consumers when the violation  has  been  resolved, especially  if you have regular
customers.  See Template NC-7 for a "problem corrected" notice template.

-------
   Nitrate Failure to Take a Confirmation Sample Notice - Template NC-2
                     DRINKING WATER WARNING

       FOR PARENTS OF INFANTS 6 MONTHS AND YOUNGER

 DO NOT GIVE THE WATER TO INFANTS UNDER 6 MONTHS  OLD
          OR USE IT TO MAKE INFANT FORMULA OR JUICE

  [System] did not take a  confirmation sample to determine if the
                     water has high  levels of nitrate.

     Bottled water should be used for infants.  [We are providing
          bottled water for infants and their families at	].

   Adults and  children older than 6 months can drink the water.

*We are required to monitor your drinking water for nitrate on a regular basis. Results of regular
monitoring are an indicator of whether or not our drinking water meets health standards. During
[compliance period] we ['did not monitor or test' or 'did not complete all monitoring or testing'] for nitrate
and therefore cannot be sure of the quality of your drinking water during that time.*

On [give date], we received notice that the sample collected on [give date] showed nitrate levels above
the nitrate standard, or maximum contaminant level (MCL), of [MCL]. We were required to take a
confirmation sample within 24 hours. We did not complete the required confirmation sample monitoring.
Nitrate in drinking water is a serious health concern for infants less than six months old.

Possible  Health Effects

Infants below the age of six months who drink water containing nitrate in excess of the maximum
contaminant level could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die. Symptoms include shortness of
breath and blue baby syndrome. Blue baby syndrome is indicated by blueness of the skin. Nitrate is a
concern for infants because they can't process  nitrates in the same way adults can.

Symptoms in infants can develop rapidly, with health deteriorating over a period of days. If symptoms
occur in a child less than 6 months old, seek medical attention immediately. If you are pregnant or have
specific health concerns, you may wish to consult your doctor.

Steps We Are Taking

[Describe corrective action.]

We anticipate resolving the problem within [estimated time frame]. We will inform you when this
problem has been corrected. For more information, please contact [name of contact] of [system] at
[phone number] or [location/address].

  *Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who
  may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes,
  schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing
  copies by hand or mail. *

This notice is being sent to you by [system]. State Water System ID#:	.
Date  distributed:

-------
    Instructions for Noncommunity PWSs Allowed Up to 20 mg/L Nitrate
                                Notice - Template NC-3
                                   Template on Reverse

Noncommunity water systems that have received approval by their state to exceed the nitrate maximum
contaminant level of 10 mg/l but no more than 20 mg/l are required to provide Tier 1 notification. You do
not incur a violation but are still required to provide public notice to persons served as soon as practical
but no more than 24 hours from learning of the situation [40 CFR 141.202(b)]. You must use one or
more of the following methods to deliver the notice to consumers [40 CFR 141.202(c)]:

      Posting in conspicuous locations
      Hand or direct delivery
      Radio
   •   Television

You may need to use additional methods if needed to reach all persons served.

If you modify the notice, you must still include all required PN elements from 40 CFR 141.205(a) and
leave the mandatory language unchanged (see below).

Mandatory Language
Mandatory language on health  effects (from Appendix B to Subpart Q) must be included as written (with
blanks filled in) and is presented in this  notice in italics with an asterisk on either end.

This template  also includes mandatory  language encouraging further distribution to persons who may
not have received the notice [40 CFR 141.205(d)] and is presented in this notice in italics and with an
asterisk on either end. However, if you post the notice such that all possible users have access to the
notice, this language is not applicable and can be omitted.

Alternative Sources of Water
If you are selling or providing bottled water, your notice should say where it can be obtained.
Remember that bottled water can also be contaminated. If you are providing bottled water, make sure it
meets US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and/or state bottled water safety standards.

Continuous  Notices
As long as nitrate levels exceed 10 mg/L, continuous posting  of this notice is required [40 CFR
141.209(b)].

After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your state a copy  of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all the
public notification requirements within ten days after issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].

-------
   Noncommunity PWSs Allowed Up to 20 mg/L Nitrate Notice - Template
                                      NC-3
                      DRINKING WATER WARNING

       FOR PARENTS OF INFANTS 6 MONTHS AND YOUNGER

 DO NOT GIVE THE WATER TO INFANTS UNDER  6 MONTHS  OLD
          OR USE IT TO MAKE INFANT FORMULA OR JUICE

            High nitrate  levels were detected on [give date].

   Adults and children older than 6 months can drink the water.

Water sample results show nitrate levels of [level and units]. This is above the nitrate standard or
maximum contaminant level (MCL), of 10 mg/l. Nitrate in drinking water is a serious health concern for
infants less than six months old.

We have been given permission by [state] to provide water in excess of the standard as long as:

      Nitrate levels do not exceed 20 mg/l.
   •   The water is not made available to children under 6 months of age.
   •   We continuously post this notice meeting all public notice requirements.
      Local and state health officers are notified annually.
      No adverse health effects result.

Possible Health  Effects

*lnfants below the age of six months who drink water containing nitrate in excess of the maximum
contaminant level could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die. Symptoms include shortness of
breath and blue baby syndrome.* Blue baby syndrome is indicated by blueness of the skin. Nitrate is a
concern for infants because they can't process nitrates in the same way adults can.

Symptoms in infants can develop  rapidly, with health deteriorating over a period of days. If symptoms
occur in a child less than 6 months old, seek medical attention immediately. If you are pregnant or have
specific health concerns, you may wish to consult your doctor.

For more information, please contact [name of contact] at [phone number] or  [mailing address].

  *Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who
  may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes,
  schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing
  copies by hand or mail. *

This notice is being sent to you by [system]. State Water System ID#:	.
Date distributed:

-------
     Instructions for TCR Fecal Coliform or E. co/iNotice - Template NC-4
                                      Template on Reverse

This template is intended for systems where consumers will not be able to boil water. See the suggestions below
on how you can modify this template for other situations. Since exceeding the fecal coliform or £. coli maximum
contaminant level requires a Tier 1 notification, you must provide public notice to persons served as soon as
practical but no more than 24 hours from learning of the violation [40 CFR 141.202(b)]. During this time period
you must also contact your state. You must use one or more of the following methods to deliver the notice to
consumers [40 CFR 141.202(c)]:

       Posting in conspicuous locations
       Hand or direct delivery
       Radio
       Television

You may need to use additional methods if needed to reach all persons served.

If you modify the notice, you must still include  all required PN elements from 40 CFR 141.205(a) and leave the
mandatory language unchanged (see below).

Mandatory Language
Mandatory language on health effects (from Appendix B to Subpart Q) must be included as written (with blanks
filled in) and is presented in this  notice in italics with an asterisk on either end.

This template also includes mandatory language encouraging further distribution to persons who may not have
received the notice [40 CFR 141.205(d)] and is presented in this notice in italics and with an asterisk on either
end. However, if you post the notice such that all possible users have access to the notice, this  language is not
applicable and can  be omitted.

Instructions to Consumers
You may need to modify the instructions in the public notice based on your system type. For instance, at a
campground, you might tell consumers to boil  the water before drinking or using for food preparation.

Alternative Sources of Water
If you are selling or providing bottled water, your notice should say where it can be obtained. Remember that
bottled water can also be contaminated. If you are providing bottled water, make sure it meets US Food and Drug
Administration and state bottled water standards for bacteria and other contaminants.

Corrective Action
In your notice, describe corrective actions you are taking. Listed below are some steps commonly taken by
water systems with fecal coliform or £. coli violations. You can use one or more of the following  statements, if
appropriate, or develop your own text:

       We are chlorinating and  flushing the water system.
       We are increasing sampling for coliform bacteria to identify the source of contamination.
       We are repairing the wellhead seal.
       We are repairing, cleaning, and disinfecting the storage tank.

After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your state a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all the public
notification requirements within ten days after  issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].

It is a good idea to inform your consumers when the violation has been resolved, especially if you have regular
customers. See Template NC-7 for a "problem corrected" notice template.

-------
            TCR Fecal Coliform or E. co/iNotice - Template NC-4
                     DRINKING WATER WARNING

                     DO NOT DRINK THE WATER

 Fecal coliform [or E. coli] bacteria were found in the water supply
                             on [give date].

          Bottled water is available from [provide location].

Possible Health Effects
*Fecal conforms and E. coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may
be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause
diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special
health risk for infants, young children, and people with severely compromised immune
systems. *
People at increased risk should seek advice from their health care providers about
drinking this water.

Steps We Are Taking

[Describe corrective action.]

We will inform you when additional samples show no [fecal coliform/E. coli] bacteria
and you may drink the water. We anticipate resolving the problem within [estimated
time frame]. For more information, please contact [name of contact] of [system] at
[phone number] or [location/address].

  *Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water,
  especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people
  in apartments, nursing homes,  schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting
  this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail. *

This notice is being sent to you by [system].
State Water System ID#:	. Date distributed:	.

-------
   Instructions for Spanish TCR Fecal Coliform or E. co/iNotice - Template
                                        NC-4A
                                 Template on Reverse

The template on reverse is a Spanish translation of Template NC-4 for a Fecal Coliform or E. coli
violation. All the instructions for Template NC-4 apply. If you modify the English template, you should
modify this template accordingly. Schools or universities may be able to provide low cost translations.
See the discussion on translations in Chapter 3 for suggestions on multilingual notices.

-------
       Spanish TCR Fecal Coliform or E. ro/7Notice - Template NC-4A
                 AVISO SOBRE SU AGUA POTABLE

                          NOBEBAELAGUA

 Bacterias coliformes fecales [o E. coli] fueron encontradas en su
                   servicio de agua el dia de [date].

            Agua  embotellada esta disponible en	].

Posibles Efectos a la Salud
*Coliformes fecales y E. coli son bacterias cuya presencia indica que el agua esta
contaminada con desechos humanos o de animales. Microbios en estos desechos
pueden causar diarrhea, colicos, nausea, do/ores de cabeza u otros smtomas.
Presentan ademas un riesgo especial para la salud de bebes, ninos y ninas de corta
edad y personas con sistemas immunologicos en alto riesgo. *
Personas en situaciones de alto riesgo deben consultar con sus proveedores de
servicios medicos  sobre agua apta para beber.

Lo Que Estamos Haciendo Al Respecto
[Describe corrective action in Spanish.]

Nosotros le informaremos cuando muestras adicionales indiquen que no existen
bacterias coniformes presentes y que es permitido nuevamente beber de esta agua.
Anticipamos que resolveremos el problema el [date of expected resolution in Spanish
day-month-year]. Para mayor informacion, por favor pongase en contacto con [name of
contact] de [system] al [phone number] o [location/address].

  *Por favor comparta esta informacion con todo aquel que puede que tome de esta
  agua, sea colocando este aviso en lugares visibles, o remit! endolo por correo, o
  entregandolo manualmente. Es importante distribuir este aviso ampliamente en
  caso que Ud. lo reciba en representacion de un edificio de apartamentos, negocio,
  hospital, hogar de infantes, hogar de ancianos o comunidad residencial. *

Este aviso ha sido enviado a usted por [system].
Numero de Identification:           . Fecha de distribution:

-------
       Instructions for Unresolved Total Coliform Notice - Template NC-5
                                      Template on Reverse

This template is intended for systems where consumers will not need to boil their water or where they will not
have the facilities to do so. Since exceeding the total coliform bacteria maximum contaminant level requires a Tier
2 notification, you must provide public notice to persons served as soon as practical and within 30 days after you
learn of the violation [40 CFR 141.203(b)]. Persistent total coliform problems can pose a serious health risk, and
your state may elevate such situations to Tier 1. Check with your state to make sure you meet all its requirements.
You must issue a repeat notice every three months for as long as the violation persists.

Noncommunity water systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:

       Posting in conspicuous locations
       Hand or direct delivery
    •   Mail

You must also use another method reasonably calculated to reach others if they would not be reached by the first
method [40 CFR 141.203(c)].

If you modify the notice, you must still include all required PN elements from 40 CFR 141.205(a) and leave the
mandatory language unchanged (see below).

Mandatory Language
Mandatory language on health effects (from Appendix B to Subpart Q) must be included as written (with blanks
filled in) and is presented in this notice in italics with an asterisk on either end.

This template also includes mandatory language encouraging further distribution to persons who may not have
received the notice [40 CFR 141.205(d)] and is presented in this notice in italics and with an asterisk on either
end. However, if you post the notice such that all possible users have access to the notice, this language is not
applicable and can be omitted.

Description of the Violation
The template on the reverse is intended for use by systems taking fewer than 40 coliform bacteria samples a
month. You can modify the template using the following language if you are required to take 40 or more samples
per month:

   We routinely monitor for the presence of drinking water contaminants. During [provide month], [give
   percentage] percent of our samples showed the presence of total coliform bacteria. The standard  is that no
   more than 5 percent of samples may do so.

Corrective Action
In your notice, describe corrective actions you are taking. If you know what is causing the coliform problem,
explain this in the notice. Listed below are some steps commonly taken by water systems with total coliform
violations. You can use one or more of the following statements, if appropriate, or develop your own text:

       We are chlorinating and flushing the water system.
       We are increasing sampling for coliform bacteria to identify the source of contamination.
       We are repairing the wellhead seal.
       We are repairing, cleaning, and disinfecting the storage tank.
       We will inform you when additional samples show no coliform bacteria.

After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your state a copy of each type of notice and a  certification that you have met all the public
notification requirements within ten days after issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].

It is a  good idea to inform your consumers when the violation has been resolved, especially if you have regular
customers. See Template NC-7 for a "problem corrected" notice template.

-------
              Unresolved Total Coliform Notice - Template NC-5
                        DRINKING WATER NOTICE

         Tests Show Presence of Coliform Bacteria in Water

We routinely monitor for the presence of drinking water contaminants. We took [number]
samples during [month]. [Number] of those samples showed the presence of total coliform
bacteria. The standard is that no more than one sample per month may do so.

What This Means
This is not an emergency. Total coliform bacteria themselves are generally not harmful.
*Coliforms are bacteria which are naturally present in the environment and are used as an
indicator that other, potentially-harmful, bacteria may be present. Conforms were found in more
samples than allowed and this was a warning of potential problems. *
Usually, coliforms are a sign that there could be a problem with the system's treatment or
distribution systems.

You may drink the water. However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.

If you have a severely compromised immune system, have an infant, are pregnant, or are
elderly, you  may be at increased risk and should seek advice from your health care providers
about drinking this water.

Steps We Are Taking
[Describe corrective action.]

We will inform you when additional samples show no coliform bacteria. We anticipate resolving
the problem within [estimated time frame]. For more information, please contact [name of
contact] of [system] at [phone number] or [location/address].

   *Please share this information with  all the other people who drink this water, especially those
   who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing
   homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or
   distributing copies by hand or mail. *

This notice is being sent to you by [system]. State Water System ID#:	.
Date distributed:

-------
          Instructions for Monitoring Violation Notice - Template NC-6
                                      Template on Reverse

Since most monitoring violations are included in Tier 3, you must provide public notice to persons served within
one year after you learn of the violation [40 CFR 141.204(b)]. Multiple monitoring violations can be serious, and
your state  may have more stringent requirements. Check with your state to make sure you meet its requirements.

Noncommunity water systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.204(c)]:

       Posting in conspicuous locations
       Hand or direct delivery
   •   Mail

In addition, you must use another method reasonably calculated to reach others if they would not be reached by
the first method [40 CFR 141.204(c)].

You must post the notice until the violation is resolved. If the violation has already been resolved, you must post
the notice for at least seven days [40 CFR 141.204(b)]. If you mail, post, or hand deliver, you should print your
notice on your system's letterhead, if available.

The template on the reverse is appropriate for use as an annual notice combining notification for several
violations,  as well as for notices for individual violations. This template presents violations in a table; however, you
may write out an  explanation for each violation if you wish.

You may need to modify the notice if you had any monitoring violations for which monitoring later showed a
maximum contaminant level or other violation. In such cases, you should refer to the public notice you issued at
that time. If you do modify the notice, you must still include all required PN elements and leave the mandatory
language unchanged (see below).

Mandatory Language
Mandatory language for monitoring and testing procedure violations [40 CFR 141.205(d)] must be included as
written (with blanks filled in) and is presented in this notice in italics and with an asterisk on either end.

This template also includes mandatory language encouraging further distribution to persons who  may not have
received the notice [40 CFR 141.205(d)] and is presented in this notice in italics and with an asterisk on either
end. However, if you post the notice such that all possible users have access to the notice, this language is not
applicable and can  be omitted.

Corrective Actions
In your notice describe corrective actions you took or are taking. Listed below are some steps commonly taken by
water systems with monitoring violations. Choose the appropriate language,  or develop your own text:

       We have since taken the required samples, as described in the last column of the table above. The
       samples showed we are meeting drinking water standards.

       We have since taken the required samples, as described in the last column of the table above. The
       sample for [contaminant] exceeded the limit. [Describe corrective action;  use information from public
       notice prepared for violating the  limit.]

       We plan to take the required samples soon, as described in the last column of the table above.

After Issuing the Notice
Be sure to send your state a copy  of each type of notice and a  certification that you have met all the public
notification  requirements within ten days after issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].

-------
                  Monitoring Violation Notice - Template NC-6
                          DRINKING WATER NOTICE

             Monitoring Requirements Not Met for [System]

We violated a drinking water requirement. Even though this is not an emergency, as our customers, you
have the right to know what happened and what we are doing to correct this situation.

*We are required to monitor your drinking water for specific contaminants on a regular basis. Results of
regular monitoring are an indicator of whether or not our drinking water meets health standards. During
[compliance period] we ['did not monitor' or 'did not complete all monitoring'] for [contaminant(s)] and
therefore cannot be sure of the quality of our drinking water during that time.*

What This Means

There is nothing you need to do at this time. The table below lists the contaminant(s) we did not
properly test for, how often we are supposed to sample (frequency) and how many samples we are
supposed to take, how many samples we took, when samples should have been taken, and the date on
which follow-up samples were (or will be) taken.
Contaminant
Coliform (example)


Required
sampling
frequency
Two samples per
month


Number of
samples taken
1


When samples
should have
been taken
July 1, July 15,
August 1


When samples
were (or will
be) taken
July 1, August 1


Steps We Are Taking

[Describe corrective action.]

For more information, please contact [name of contact] of [system] at [phone number] or [location/
address].

   *Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who
   may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes,
   schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing
   copies by hand or mail. *

This notice is being sent to you by [system]. State Water System ID#:	.
Date distributed:

-------
          Instructions for Problem Corrected Notice - Template NC-7
                                  Template on Reverse

It is a good idea to issue a notice when a serious violation or situation has been resolved. Although EPA
regulations do not require such notices, your state may require you to issue one. You should coordinate
with your local health department as well. You should use the same delivery methods you used for the
original notice.

The template on the reverse is very general and can be used for any violation or situation. To help
restore consumers' confidence in the water system, you should modify the notice to fit your situation.
Although the public should have seen your initial notice, there may be additional information you
learned after the notice was issued. Therefore, you should describe the violation or situation again and
discuss how the problem was solved.

-------
                Problem Corrected Notice - Template NC-7
           DRINKING WATER PROBLEM CORRECTED

Customers of [system] were notified on [give date] of a problem with our drinking
water and were advised to [describe recommended action]. We are pleased to
report that the problem has been corrected and that it is no longer necessary to
[describe recommended action]. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank
you for your patience.

[Add further details here when appropriate.]

As always, you may contact [contact name] at [phone number] or [mailing
address] with any comments or questions.

  Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water,
  especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example,
  people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do
  this by posting this notice in  a public place or distributing copies by hand or
  mail.

This notice is being sent to you by [system].
State Water System ID#:	.
Date distributed:

-------
    Instructions for Waterborne Disease Outbreak Notice - Template NC-8
                                        Template on Reverse

This template is intended for systems where consumers will not be able to boil water. See the suggestions below on
how you can modify this template for other situations. Since a waterborne disease outbreak is a Tier 1 situation, you
must provide public notice to persons served as soon as practical but no more than 24 hours from learning of the
situation [40 CFR 141.202(b)]. You must contact your state during this time. You should coordinate with your local health
department as well. You must also issue a public notice if you are experiencing a waterborne emergency other than a
waterborne disease outbreak, such as one caused by flooding or treatment failure. In such cases, you may be able to
modify this template to apply to your situation. Check with your state for more direction. More information on waterborne
disease outbreaks and emergencies is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (http://www.cdc.
gov/healthywater/disease/index.html, 1-800-311-3435). For a waterborne disease outbreak or other emergency, you
must use one or more of the following methods to deliver the notice to consumers [40 CFR 141.202(c)]:

       Posting in conspicuous locations
       Hand or direct delivery
       Radio
       Television

You may need to use additional methods if needed to reach all persons served.

Instructions to Consumers
You may need to modify the instructions in the public notice based on your system type. For instance, at a campground,
you might tell consumers to boil the water before drinking or using for food preparation. Instructions should also depend
on whether your system has elevated nitrate levels; boiling water concentrates nitrates and makes levels higher. If
known, list any organisms detected, the number of affected people, any water treatment problems contributing to the
waterborne disease outbreak, and any sources of contamination, such as flooding. If you do modify the notice on the
reverse, you must still include all required PN elements from 40 CFR 141.205(a) and leave the mandatory language
unchanged (see below).

Mandatory Language
This template includes mandatory language encouraging further distribution to persons who may  not have received
the notice [40 CFR 141.205(d)] and is presented in this notice in italics and with  an asterisk on either end. However, if
you post the notice such that all possible users have access to the notice, this language is not applicable and can be
omitted.

No mandatory health effects language exists for waterborne disease outbreaks.  You may wish to  use the sentence
below, if appropriate, or contact your state or health department. These symptoms are common to many diseases
caused by microscopic organisms:

       Symptoms may include nausea, cramps, diarrhea, jaundice, and associated headaches and fatigue.

Alternative Sources of Water
If you are providing bottled water, your notice should say where it can be obtained. Remember that bottled water can
also be contaminated. If you are providing bottled water,  make sure it meets US Food and Drug Administration and
state bottled water standards for bacteria and other contaminants.

Corrective Action
In your notice, describe the corrective actions you are taking. Listed below are some steps commonly taken by water
systems with waterborne disease outbreaks. You can use one  or more of the following statements, if appropriate, or
develop your own text:

       We are repairing our filtration system.
       We are increasing sampling for disease-causing organisms.

After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your state a copy of each type of notice and a certification  that you have met all the public
notification requirements within ten days after issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].

It is a good idea to inform your consumers when the violation has been resolved, especially if you have regular
customers. See Template NC-7 for a "problem corrected" notice template.

-------
           Waterborne Disease Outbreak Notice - Template NC-8
                     DRINKING WATER WARNING

                      DO NOT DRINK THE WATER

    Disease-causing Organisms Have Entered [System's] Water
                                   Supply

          Bottled water is available from  [provide location].

These organisms are causing illness in people served by [system]. We learned of a waterborne
disease outbreak from [agency] on [give date].

Possible Health Effects

   •   [Describe symptoms of the waterborne disease.] Symptoms may include nausea,
      cramps, diarrhea, jaundice, and associated headaches and fatigue.
If you have a severely compromised immune system, have an infant, are pregnant, or are
elderly, you may be at increased risk and should seek advice from your health care providers
about drinking this water.

Steps We Are Taking

[Describe the outbreak, corrective action, and when the outbreak might end.] We will inform
you when this problem is corrected and you may drink the water. We anticipate resolving the
problem within [estimated time frame].

For more information, please contact [name of contact] of [system] at [phone number] or
[location/address].

  *Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially
  those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments,
  nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a
  public place or distributing copies by hand or mail. *

This notice is being sent to you by [system]. State Water System ID#:	.
Date distributed:

-------
 Instructions for  IESWTR or LT1ESWTR CFE Maximum Turbidity Exceedance,
         or Turbidity Single Exceedance as Tier 1  Notice - Template NC-9
                                         Template on Reverse

This template is intended for systems where consumers will not be able to boil water. If your state has designated this turbidity
single exceedance as a Tier 1 violation [40 CFR 141.202(a)], you must provide public notice to persons served within 24
hours after it has been designated Tier 1 [40 CFR 141.202(b)]. Turbidity violations are Tier 2 by default, but may frequently
be elevated to Tier 1 by your state. In addition, violations are automatically elevated if you are unable to consult with your
state within 24 hours. In such cases, you must issue a notice within the next 24 hours. You may elevate the violation to Tier
1 yourself as well. You should also coordinate with your local health department. You must use one or more of the following
methods to deliver the notice to consumers [40 CFR 141.202(c)]:

        Posting in conspicuous locations
        Hand or direct delivery
        Radio
        Television

You may need to use additional methods if needed to reach all persons served.

Instructions to Consumers
You may need to modify the instructions in the public notice based on your system type. For instance, at a campground, you
might tell consumers to boil the water before drinking or using for food preparation. If you do modify the notice, you must still
include all required PN elements from 40 CFR 141.205(a) and leave the mandatory language unchanged (see below).

Mandatory Language
Mandatory language on health effects (from Appendix B to Subpart Q) must be included as written (with blanks filled in) and is
presented in this notice in italics with an asterisk on either end.

This template also includes mandatory language encouraging further distribution to persons who may not have received the
notice [40 CFR 141.205(d)] and is presented in this notice in italics and with an asterisk on either end. However, if you post the
notice such that all possible users have access to the notice, this language  is not applicable and can  be omitted.

Alternative Sources of Water
If you are selling or providing bottled water,  your notice  should say where it can be obtained. Remember that bottled water
can also be contaminated. If you are providing bottled water, make sure it meets US Food  and Drug Administration and state
bottled water standards for bacteria and other contaminants.

Corrective Action
In your notice, describe corrective actions you are taking. Listed  below are some steps  commonly taken by water systems with
a single turbidity exceedance. You can use one or more of the following  statements, if appropriate, or develop your own text:

        We are adding chemicals that reduce turbidity.
        We are sampling both untreated and  treated water for the presence of coliform bacteria.
        We are monitoring chlorine levels and will adjust them as needed to compensate for filtration problems.
        We are inspecting and repairing the filters.

Source of the Problem
If you know why the turbidity is high, explain it in your notice. For instance, unusual conditions such as heavy rains and
flooding can overburden the water plant and treated water may therefore not meet the standards.  In addition, run-off from parts
of the watershed could contain increased concentrations of sediment and animal waste.

After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your state a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all the public notification
requirements within ten days after issuing the  notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].

It is a good idea to inform your consumers when the violation has been resolved,  especially if you have regular customers.
See Template NC-7 for a "problem corrected"  notice template.

-------
   IESWTR or LT1ESWTR CFE Maximum Turbidity Exceedance, or Turbidity
             Single Exceedance as Tier 1 Notice - Template NC-9
                      DRINKING WATER WARNING

                       DO NOT DRINK THE WATER

                   [System]  Has High Turbidity Levels

          Bottled water is available from [provide location].

We routinely monitor your water for turbidity (cloudiness). This tells us whether we are
effectively filtering the water supply. A water sample taken [give date] showed turbidity levels
of [number] turbidity units. This is above the standard of [standard] turbidity units. Because of
these high  levels of turbidity, there is an increased chance that the water may contain disease-
causing organisms.

Possible Health  Effects

*Turbidity has no health effects. However, turbidity can interfere with disinfection and provide
a medium for microbial growth. Turbidity may indicate the presence of disease causing
organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites, which can cause
symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches. * The symptoms
above are not caused only by organisms in drinking water. If you experience any of these
symptoms and they  persist, you may want to seek medical advice.

If you have a severely compromised immune system, have an infant, are pregnant, or are
elderly, you may be at increased risk and should seek advice from your health care providers
about drinking this water.

Steps We Are Taking

[Describe reason for the high turbidity, corrective action, and when the system expects to
return to compliance.] We will inform you when turbidity returns to appropriate levels and you
may drink the water.

For more information, please contact [name of contact] of [system] at [phone number] or
[location/address].

  *Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those
  who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing
  homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or
  distributing copies by hand or mail. *

This notice is being sent to you by [system]. State Water System ID#:	.
Date distributed:

-------
    Instructions for Stage 1 DBPR Chlorine Dioxide MRDL (Tier 1) Notice -
                                        Template NC-10
                                      Template on Reverse

When one or more of the samples taken in the distribution system exceeds the chlorine dioxide MRDL on the day
after a chlorine dioxide measurement taken at the entrance to the distribution system exceeds the MRDL, or when
required samples are not taken in the distribution system, you must provide Tier 1 public notice to persons served
as soon as practical but no more than 24 hours from learning of the violation [40 CFR 141.202(b)]. You must also
contact your state within 24 hours of learning of the violation or situation. You should also coordinate with your
local health department. You must use one or more of the following methods to deliver the notice to consumers
[40 CFR 141.202(c)]:

       Posting in conspicuous locations
       Hand or direct delivery
       Radio
       Television

You may need to  use additional methods if needed to reach all  persons served.

If you modify the notice, you must still include all required PN elements from 40 CFR 141.205(a) and leave the
mandatory language unchanged (see below).

Mandatory Language
Mandatory language on health effects (from Appendix B to Subpart Q) must be included as written (with blanks
filled in) and is  presented in this notice in italics with an  asterisk on either end.

This template also includes mandatory language encouraging further distribution to persons who may not have
received the notice [40 CFR 141.205(d)] and is presented in this notice in italics and with an asterisk on either
end.  However,  if you post the notice such that all possible users have access to the notice, this language is not
applicable and  can be omitted.

Alternative Sources of Water
If you are selling or providing bottled water, your notice  should say where it can be obtained. Remember that
bottled water can also be contaminated. If you are  providing bottled water, make sure it meets US Food and Drug
Administration and state bottled water standards for bacteria and other contaminants.

Population at Risk
The language on  the reverse lists "young children" as one of the groups at increased risk. Because the potential
health effects of chlorine dioxide are based on tests on  laboratory animals, there is no way to determine at exactly
what age the water is safe to drink. If your consumers have questions, encourage them to err on the side of
caution.

Corrective Action
In your notice, describe corrective actions you are taking. Listed below are some steps commonly taken by water
systems with chlorine dioxide violations. You can use one or more of the following statements, if appropriate, or
develop your own text:

       We are resetting the chlorine dioxide generator to generate the correct amount of chlorine dioxide.
       We are repairing the chlorine dioxide generator.
       We have  already fixed the problem but  it will take additional time for the extra chlorine dioxide to be
       flushed from the distribution system (pipes).

After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your state a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all the public
notification requirements within ten days after issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].

It is a good idea to inform your consumers when the violation has been resolved, especially if you have regular
customers. See Template NC-7 for a "problem corrected" notice template.

-------
   Stage 1 DBPR Chlorine Dioxide MRDL (Tier 1) Notice - Template NC-10
                      DRINKING WATER WARNING

    PREGNANT WOMEN AND YOUNG CHILDREN SHOULD NOT
                             DRINK THE WATER

           Bottled water is available from [provide location].

On [give date], we received notice that the sample collected on [give date] showed chlorine
dioxide levels of [level and units]. This is above the standard, or maximum residual disinfectant
level (MRDL) of 0.8 milligrams per liter. Chlorine dioxide is used for disinfection, but too much
of it over a short period of time may harm the development of children, infants, and fetuses.

Possible Health Effects

   •   *Some infants and young children who drink water containing chlorine dioxide in excess
      of the MRDL could experience nervous system effects. Similar effects may occur in
      fetuses of pregnant mothers who drink water containing chlorine dioxide in excess of the
      MRDL. Some people may experience anemia.
      The chlorine dioxide violations reported today include exceedances of the EPA standard
      within the distribution system which delivers water to consumers.  Violations of the
      chlorine dioxide standard within the distribution system may harm human health based
      on short-term exposures. Certain groups, including fetuses, infants, and young children,
      may be especially susceptible to nervous system effects from excessive chlorine dioxide
      exposure. There are no obvious symptoms, but chlorine dioxide can affect development
      of the nervous  system. *
   •   Water, juice, and formula for young children and for pregnant women should not be
      prepared with tap water. Adults who are not pregnant and older children can drink the
      tap water because their nervous systems are already developed.  However, if you have
      specific health  concerns, you may wish to consult your doctor.

Steps We Are Taking
[Describe corrective action.] We anticipate resolving the problem within [estimated time frame].
We will inform you when  this problem has been corrected.

For more information, please contact [name of contact] of [system] at [phone number]  or
[location/address].

  *Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those
  who may not have  received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing
  homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or
  distributing copies by hand or mail. *

This notice is being sent  to you by [system]. State Water System ID#:	.
Date distributed:

-------
        Instructions for SWTR Failure to Filter Notice - Template NC-11
                                   Template on Reverse

Since surface water treatment technique violations require Tier 2 notification, you must provide public
notice to persons served as soon as practical but within 30 days after you learn of the violation [40 CFR
141.203(b)]. You must issue a repeat notice every three months for as long as the violation persists.
Your state may have more stringent requirements for treatment technique violations (e.g., it may
require you to provide water from an alternate source). Check with your state to make sure you  meet all
requirements.

Noncommunity water systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:

       Posting in conspicuous locations
       Hand or direct delivery
       Mail

You must also use another method reasonably calculated to reach others if they would not be reached
by the first method [40 CFR 141.203(c)].

If you modify the notice, you must still include all required PN elements from 40 CFR 141.205(a) and
leave the mandatory language unchanged (see below).

Mandatory Language
Mandatory language on health effects (from Appendix B to Subpart Q) must be included as written (with
blanks filled in) and is presented in this notice in italics with an asterisk on either end.

This template also includes mandatory language encouraging further distribution to persons who may
not have received the notice [40 CFR 141.205(d)] and is presented in this notice in italics and with an
asterisk on either end. However, if you post the notice such that all possible users have access to the
notice, this language is not applicable and can be omitted.

Corrective Action
In your notice, describe corrective actions you are taking. Listed below are some steps commonly taken
by water systems with surface water treatment technique violations. You can use one or more of the
following statements, if appropriate, or develop your own text:

       Our treatment plant needs upgrades to meet the requirements.
   •   We are installing filtration. We expect that the filtration system will be operational by [month,
       year].
   •   We are monitoring for turbidity (cloudiness),  disinfectant levels, and the presence of bacteria.

After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your state  a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all the
public notification requirements within ten days after issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].

It is a good idea to inform your consumers when the violation has been resolved, especially if you have
regular customers. See Template NC-7 for a "problem corrected" notice template.

-------
                SWTR Failure to Filter Notice - Template NC-11
                       DRINKING WATER NOTICE

           [System] Does Not Meet Treatment Requirements

On [give date], the [state] ordered us to filter the water in addition to disinfecting. We are
required to install this filtration because we do not have an adequate watershed control
program in place. However, we have not yet installed a filtration system.

What This Means

This is not an emergency. We do not know of any cases of contamination. However, until
improvements are made, there is an increased chance that disease-causing organisms could
contaminate the water supply.

inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include
bacteria, viruses, and parasites which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea,
and associated headaches. *These symptoms, however, are not caused only by organisms
in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to
seek medical advice.

You may drink the water. However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.

If you have a severely compromised immune system, have an infant, are pregnant, or are
elderly, you  may be at increased  risk and should seek advice from you health care providers
about drinking this water.

Steps We Are Taking

Filtration is the best method for removing these organisms. [Describe corrective action.]

We anticipate resolving the problem within [estimated time frame]. Until filtration is installed,
you will receive a notice similar to this every three months. For more information,  please
contact [name of contact] of [system] at [phone number] or [location/address].

  *Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water,  especially those
  who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing
  homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or
  distributing copies by hand or mail. *

This notice is being sent to you by [system]. State Water System ID#:	.
Date distributed:

-------
     Instructions for SWTRs Turbidity Exceedance Notice - Template NC-12
                                         Template on Reverse

Since surface water treatment filtration treatment technique violations require Tier 2 notification, you must provide public notice
to persons served as soon as practical but within 30 days after you learn of the violation [40 CFR 141.203(b)]. You must issue
a repeat notice every three months for as long as the violation persists. Your state may have more stringent requirements for
treatment technique violations (e.g., it may require you to provide water from an alternate source). Check with your state to
make sure you meet all requirements. This template may also be adapted for use with turbidity MCL violations.
    For Exceedances of Single Turbidity Limits

 You must consult with your state as soon as
 practical but within 24 hours of learning of the
 violation. During the consultation, the state may
 choose to elevate your turbidity exceedance to Tier
 1.  If consultation does not occur, the violation is
 automatically elevated to Tier 1  (use Template NC-9).
 For a Tier 2 notice, describe your violation as follows in
 the second paragraph of the notice:

 "Normal turbidity levels at our plant are [number]
 turbidity units. A water sample taken [give date]
 showed levels of [number] turbidity units. This was
 above the standard of [standard] units. Because of
 these high levels of turbidity, there is an increased
 chance that the water may contain disease-causing
 organisms."
  For Exceedances of Monthly Turbidity Limits

Use the following language to describe your violation
and insert into the second paragraph of the template:

"Water samples for [month] showed that [percentage]
percent of turbidity measurements were over
[standard] turbidity units -the standard is that no more
than 5 percent of samples may exceed [standard]
turbidity units per month. The turbidity levels are
relatively low. However, their persistence is a concern.
Normal turbidity levels at our plant are [standard]
units."
Noncommunity water systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:

        Posting in conspicuous locations
        Hand or direct delivery
    •    Mail

You must also use another method reasonably calculated to reach others if they would not be reached by the first method [40
CFR141.203(c)].

If you modify the notice, you must still include all required PN elements from 40 CFR 141.205(a) and leave the mandatory
language unchanged (see below).

Mandatory Language
Mandatory language on health effects (from Appendix B to Subpart Q) must be included as written (with blanks filled in) and is
presented in this notice in italics with an asterisk on either end.

This template also includes mandatory language encouraging further distribution to persons who may not have received the
notice [40 CFR 141.205(d)] and  is presented in this notice in italics and with an asterisk on either end. However,  if you post the
notice such that all possible users have access to the notice, this language is not applicable and can be omitted.

Corrective Action
In your notice, describe corrective actions you are  taking. Listed below are some steps commonly taken by water systems with
filtration treatment technique violations. You can use one or more of the following statements, if appropriate, or develop your
own text:

        We added chemicals that reduce turbidity.
        We sampled both untreated and treated water for the presence of coliform bacteria.
        We monitored chlorine levels and adjusted them as needed to compensate for the filtration problems.
        We inspected and cleaned the filters.

After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your state a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have  met all the public notification
requirements within ten days after issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].

It is a good idea to inform your consumers when the violation has  been resolved, especially  if you have regular customers.
See Template NC-7 for a "problem corrected" notice template.

-------
            SWTRs Turbidity Exceedance Notice - Template NC-12
                       DRINKING WATER NOTICE

            [System] Did Not Meet Treatment Requirements

We routinely monitor your water for turbidity (cloudiness). This tells us whether we are
effectively filtering the water supply. [Insert appropriate description of the violation from
instructions on previous page].

What This Means

This is not an emergency. We do not know of any cases of contamination, and none of our
testing has shown disease-causing organisms in the drinking water.

*Turbidity has no health effects. However, turbidity can interfere with disinfection and provide
a medium for microbial growth. Turbidity may indicate the presence of disease causing
organisms.  These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites which can cause
symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches. * These symptoms
are not caused only by organisms in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms
and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice.

You may drink the water. However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.

If you  have a severely compromised immune system, have an infant, are pregnant, or are
elderly, you may be at increased risk and should seek advice from your health care providers
about  drinking this water.

Steps We Are Taking

A problem occurred with the treatment system at the water plant. [Describe the reason for high
turbidity, corrective actions, and when the system returned or expects to return to compliance.]

For more information, please contact [name of contact] of [system] at [phone  number] or
[location/address].

   *Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those
   who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing
   homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or
   distributing copies by hand or mail. *

This notice is being sent to you by [system]. State Water System ID#:	.
Date distributed:

-------
    Instructions for SWTR Disinfection Treatment Notice - Template NC-13
                                          Template on  Reverse

Since surface water treatment disinfection treatment technique violations require Tier 2 notification, you must provide public
notice to persons served as soon as practical but within 30 days after you learn of the violation [40 CFR 141.203(b)]. Some
disinfection problems may be serious. Your state may have more stringent requirements for treatment technique violations
(e.g., it may require you to provide water from an alternate source). Check with your state to make sure you meet all
requirements.

Noncommunity water systems must use one of the following  methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:

        Posting in conspicuous locations
        Hand or direct delivery
    •    Mail

You must also use another method reasonably  calculated to reach others if they would not be reached by the first method [40
CFR141.203(c)].

If you modify the  notice, you  must still include all required PN elements from 40 CFR 141.205(a) and leave the mandatory
language unchanged (see below).

Mandatory Language
Mandatory language on health effects (from Appendix B to Subpart Q) must be included as written (with blanks filled in) and is
presented in this  notice in italics with an asterisk on either end.

This template also includes mandatory language encouraging further distribution to persons who may not have received the
notice [40 CFR 141.205(d)] and  is presented in this notice in  italics and with an asterisk on either end. However, if you post the
notice such that all possible users have access to the notice, this language is not applicable and can be omitted.

Description of the Violation
Include one of the following descriptions of violations, and modify to fit your situation.

Not Enough Disinfection During Treatment - In order to ensure proper disinfection, water in the treatment plant must be in
contact with enough chlorine or a similar disinfectant for a minimum amount of time. On [give date], this did not occur.

Although chlorine quickly kills most bacteria,  it is less effective against organisms such as viruses and parasites. For this
reason, water needs to mix with  chlorine for a longer time period to kill such organisms. The amount of time necessary, or the
"contact time," depends on the amount of disinfectant in the water and the temperature of the water.

Disinfectant Residual - We routinely monitor for disinfectant residual in the distribution system. This measurement tells us
whether we are effectively disinfecting the water supply. Disinfectant residual is the amount of chlorine or related disinfectant
present in the pipes of the distribution system. If the amount of disinfectant is too low, organisms could grow in the pipes.

   Monthly exceedance - During the months of [give dates], disinfectant residual was undetectable in more than 5% of
   samples. The requirement is that disinfectant may be undetectable in no more than 5% of samples each month for two
   months in  a row.

   Single exceedance - On [give date], disinfectant levels dropped below 0.2 milligrams per liter for [give numbers of
   hours] hours. The requirement is that levels may not drop below 0.2 milligrams per liter for more than four hours.

Corrective Action
In your notice, describe corrective actions you are taking. Listed below are some steps commonly taken by water systems with
disinfection treatment technique violations. You can use one or more of the following statements, if appropriate, or develop
your own text:

        We are sampling/we sampled both untreated and treated water for the presence of coliform bacteria.
        We are sampling/we sampled disinfectant levels and will adjust/adjusted the amount of disinfectant added as
        necessary to  maintain adequate  levels.

After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your state a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all the public notification
requirements within ten days after issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].

It is a good  idea to inform your consumers when the violation has been resolved, especially if you have regular customers.
See Template NC-7 for a "problem corrected" notice template.

-------
            SWTR Disinfection Treatment Notice - Template NC-13
                       DRINKING WATER NOTICE

        [System] Does/Did Not Meet Treatment Requirements

[Describe the violation - use descriptions from instructions on reverse.]

What This Means

This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified within 24 hours. Tests
taken during this same time period did not indicate the presence of bacteria in the water.

inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include
bacteria, viruses, and parasites which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea,
and associated headaches.*These symptoms, however, are not caused only by organisms
in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to
seek medical advice.

You may drink the water. However,  if you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.

If you have a severely compromised immune system, have an infant, are pregnant, or are
elderly, you may be at increased risk and should seek advice from your health care providers
about drinking this water.

Steps We Are Taking

[Describe why the violation occurred and the corrective action.]

[Disinfectant residual levels/contact times] so far this month have met all requirements.

For more information, please contact [name of contact] of [system] at [phone number] or
[location/address].

  *Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially
  those  who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments,
  nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a
  public place or distributing copies by hand or mail. *

This notice is being sent to you by [system]. State Water System ID#:	.
Date distributed:

-------
  Instructions for LT2ESWTR Uncovered  Finished Water Reservoir Treatment
                       Technique Violation Notice  - Template NC-14
                                          Template on Reverse

A system's failure to cover an uncovered finished water reservoir, provide treatment of the reservoir's discharge, or be in
compliance with a state-approved schedule to cover the reservoir(s) or treat the reservoir(s) discharge by April 1, 2009,  is
a treatment technique violation and requires Tier 2 notification. You must provide public notice to persons served as soon
as practical but within 30 days after you learn of the violation [40 CFR 141.203(b)]. You must issue a repeat notice every
three months for as long as the violation  persists. Your state may have more stringent requirements for treatment technique
violations (e.g., it may require you to provide water from an alternate source). Check with your state to make sure you meet all
requirements.

Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:

        Posting in conspicuous locations
        Hand or direct delivery
        Mail

You must also use another method reasonably calculated to reach others if they would not be reached by the first method [40
CFR141.203(c)].

If you modify the notice, you must still include all required PN  elements from 40 CFR 141.205(a) and leave the mandatory
language unchanged (see below).

Mandatory Language
Mandatory language  on health effects (from Appendix B to Subpart Q) must be included as written (with blanks filled in) and  is
presented in this notice in italics with an asterisk on either end.

This template also includes mandatory language encouraging further distribution to persons who may not have received the
notice [40 CFR 141.205(d)] and is presented in  this notice in italics and with an asterisk on either end. However, if you post the
notice such that all possible users have access  to the notice, this language is not applicable and can be omitted.

Corrective Action
In your notice, describe corrective actions you are taking. Listed below are some steps commonly taken by water systems with
this type of Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2ESWTR) treatment technique violation. You can  use
one or more of the following statements,  if appropriate, or develop your own text:

        We are developing plans to cover our uncovered finished water storage reservoir. We expect to have the reservoir
        covered by [give date]. Until our finished water reservoir is covered, you will receive a notice similar to this every three
        months.

        We are developing plans to treat the water when it leaves our uncovered finished water storage reservoir. We expect
        to have the treatment in place by [give  date]. Until the water leaving our finished water reservoir is treated, you  will
        receive a notice similar to this every three months.

        We are currently working with state officials to revise our schedule for covering our uncovered finished water storage
        reservoir. We expect to have the state-approved schedule in  place by  [give date] and the reservoir covered by [give
        date]. Until our schedule receives state approval, you will receive a notice similar to this every three months.

        We are currently working with state officials to revise our schedule for treating the discharge from our uncovered
        finished water  storage reservoir. We expect to have the state-approved schedule in place by [give date] and  treatment
        in place by [give date]. Until the  schedule receives state approval, you will receive a notice similar to this every three
        months.

After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your state a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all the public notification
requirements within ten days after issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].

It is a good idea to inform your consumers when the violation  has been resolved, especially if you have regular customers.
See Template NC-7 for a "problem corrected" notice template.

-------
    LT2ESWTR Uncovered Finished Water Reservoir Treatment Technique
                     Violation Notice - Template NC-14
                      DRINKING WATER NOTICE

     Uncovered Finished Water Reservoir Violation at [System]

Water systems with uncovered finished water reservoirs are required to cover these
reservoirs, treat the discharge from these reservoirs, or be in compliance with a state-
approved schedule to cover the reservoir(s) or provide treatment by April 1, 2009. We
have failed to meet this requirement.

What This Means
This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified within 24 hours.
Uncovered finished water reservoirs are a pathway for contaminants to enter the
drinking water supply. Therefore, it is necessary to cover the reservoirs or treat the
discharge.

inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms
include bacteria, viruses, and parasites which can cause symptoms such as nausea,
cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches.*These symptoms, however, are not
caused only by organisms in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms
and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice.
You may drink the water. However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your
doctor.
If you have a severely compromised immune system, have an infant, are pregnant, or
are elderly, you may be at increased risk and should seek advice from your health care
providers about drinking this water.

Steps We Are Taking
[Describe corrective action.] We anticipate resolving the problem within [estimated time
frame].

For more information, please contact [name of contact] of [system] at [phone number]
or [location/address].

  *Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water,
  especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people
  in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting
  this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail. *

This notice is being sent to you by [system]. State Water System ID#:	.
Date distributed:

-------
  Instructions for LT2ESWTR Failure to Conduct Required Cryptosporidium
          Monitoring For Any Three Months Notice - Template NC-15
                                  Template on Reverse

A surface water system's failure to conduct required Cryptosporidium monitoring of its source water
for any three months is a monitoring violation that requires Tier 2 notification and special notice. (Note:
failure to collect one or two of the scheduled samples requires Tier 3 notification. See Template NC-23
for an example.) You must provide public notice to persons served as soon as practical but within 30
days after you learn of the violation [40 CFR 141.203(b)]. You must issue a repeat notice every three
months for as long as the violation persists. Your state may have more stringent requirements for this
monitoring violation (e.g., it may require you to provide water from an alternate source). Check with
your state to make sure you meet all requirements.

Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:

       Posting  in conspicuous locations
       Hand or direct delivery
       Mail
You must also use another method reasonably calculated to reach others if they would not be reached
by the first method [40 CFR 141.203(c)].

If you modify the notice, you must still include all required PN elements from 40 CFR 141.205(a) and
leave the mandatory  language unchanged (see below).

Mandatory Language
Mandatory special notice language [40 CFR 141.211(d)(1)] must be included as written (with blanks
filled in) and is  presented in this notice in italics and with an asterisk on either end.

Corrective Action
In your notice, describe corrective actions you are taking. Listed below are some steps commonly taken
by water systems with LT2ESWTR monitoring violations. You can use one or more of the following
statements, if appropriate, or develop your own text:

   •   We will begin  collecting the required source water monitoring samples on [give date].
   •   We have since taken the required samples for source water monitoring.

After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your state a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all the
public notification requirements within ten days after issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].

-------
  LT2ESWTR Failure to Conduct Required Cyrptosporidium Monitoring for
                 Any Three Months Notice - Template NC-15
                       DRINKING WATER NOTICE

            Monitoring Requirements Not Met for [System]

*We are required to monitor the source of your drinking water for Cryptosporidium. Results
of the monitoring are to be used to determine whether water treatment at the [treatment
plant name] is sufficient to adequately remove Cryptosporidium from your drinking water.
We are required to complete this monitoring and make this determination by [required bin
determination date]. We "did not monitor or test" or "did not complete all monitoring or testing"
on schedule and, therefore, we may not be able to determine by the required date what
treatment modifications, if any, must be made to ensure adequate Cryptosporidium removal.
Missing this deadline may, in turn, jeopardize our ability to have the required treatment
modifications, if any, completed by the deadline required, [give date].*
Cryptosporidium is a disease-causing microorganism that may be present in our raw water
source.

What This Means
This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified within 24 hours.

You may drink the water. However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.

If you have a severely compromised immune system, have an infant,  are pregnant, or are
elderly, you may be at increased risk and should seek advice from your health care providers
about drinking this water.

Steps We Are Taking
[Describe corrective action.] We will collect all required samples by [give date].

*For more information, please call (name of water system contact) of (name of water system)
at (phone number). *

  Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those
  who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing
  homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public  place or
  distributing copies by hand or mail.

This notice is being sent to you by [system]. State Water System  ID#:	.
Date distributed:

-------
     Instructions for LT2ESWTR Filtered System Failure to Determine and
                 Report Bin Classification Notice - Template NC-16
                                      Template on Reverse

A filtered system's failure to determine and report their bin classification by the required date is a treatment
technique violation that requires Tier 2 notification and special notice. The template on the reverse meets both
of these requirements. You must provide public notice to persons served as soon as practical but within 30 days
after you learn of the violation [40 CFR 141.203(b)]. You must issue a repeat notice every three months for as
long as the violation persists. Your state may have more stringent requirements for this monitoring violation (e.g.,
it may require you to provide water from an alternate source). Check with your state to make sure you meet all
requirements.

Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:

       Posting in conspicuous locations
       Hand or direct delivery
    •   Mail
You must also use another method reasonably calculated to reach others if they would  not be  reached by the first
method [40 CFR 141.203(c)].

If you modify the notice, you must still include all  required PN elements from 40 CFR 141.205(a) and leave the
mandatory language unchanged (see below).

Mandatory Language
Mandatory language on health effects  (from Appendix B to Subpart Q) and special notice language [40 CFR
141.211 (d)(2)] must be included as written (with blanks filled in) and are presented in this notice in italics with an
asterisk on either end.

This template also includes mandatory language encouraging further distribution to persons who may not have
received the notice [40 CFR 141.205(d)] and is presented in this notice in italics and with an asterisk on either
end. However, if you post the notice such  that all possible users have access to the notice, this language is not
applicable and can be omitted.

Corrective Action
In your notice, describe corrective actions you are taking. Listed below are some steps commonly taken  by water
systems with LT2ESWTR treatment technique violations. You can use the following language, if appropriate, or
develop your own text:

       We determined our bin classification on [give  date], and have notified the state.
       We are in the process of determining our bin classification and will notify the state upon completion.

After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your state a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all the public
notification requirements within ten days after issuing  the notice [40 CFR  141.31(d)].

It is a good idea to inform your consumers when  the violation has been resolved, especially if you have regular
customers.  See Template NC-7 for a "problem corrected" notice template.

-------
       LT2ESWTR Filtered System Failure to Determine and Report Bin
                    Classification Notice - Template NC-16
                       DRINKING WATER NOTICE

     [System]  Did Not Determine Required Treatment Based on
                          Cryptosporidium Level

*We are required to monitor the source of your drinking water for Cryptosporidium in order
to determine by [give date] whether water treatment at the [provide treatment plant name] is
sufficient to adequately remove Cryptosporidium from your drinking water. We have not made
this determination by the required date. Our failure to do this may jeopardize our ability to have
the required treatment modifications, if any, completed by the required deadline of [give date]*
Cryptosporidium is  a disease-causing microorganism that may be present in our raw water
source.

What This Means
This is not an emergency.  If it had been, you would have been notified within 24 hours.

inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include
bacteria, viruses, and parasites which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea,
and associated headaches.*These symptoms, however, are not caused only by organisms
in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to
seek medical advice.

You may  drink the water. However, if you  have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.

If you have a severely compromised immune system, have an infant, are pregnant, or are
elderly, you may be at increased risk and should seek advice from your health care providers
about drinking this water.

Steps We Are Taking
[Describe corrective action.] We anticipate resolving the problem within [estimated time frame]
(or the problem was resolved on [give date]).

Tor more information, please call (name of water system contact) of (name of water system)
at (phone number). *

  *Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water,  especially those
  who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing
  homes, schools,  and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or
  distributing copies by hand or mail. *

This notice is being sent to you by [system]. State Water System ID#:	.
Date distributed:

-------
    Instructions for LT2ESWTR Unfiltered System Failure to Calculate and
         Report Mean Cryptosporidium Level Notice - Template NC-17
                                     Template on Reverse

An unfiltered system's failure to calculate and report its mean Cryptosporidium level by the required date is a
treatment technique violation that requires Tier 2 notification and special notice. The template on the reverse
meets both of these requirements. You must provide public notice to persons served as soon as practical but
within 30 days after you learn of the violation [40 CFR 141.203(b)]. You must issue a repeat notice every three
months for as long as the violation persists. Your state may have more stringent requirements for this monitoring
violation (e.g., it may require you to provide water from an alternate source). Check with your state to make sure
you meet all requirements.

Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:

       Posting in conspicuous locations
       Hand or direct delivery
   •   Mail

You must also use another method reasonably calculated to reach others if they would not be reached  by the first
method [40 CFR 141.203(c)].

If you modify the notice, you must still include all required PN elements from 40 CFR 141.205(a) and leave the
mandatory language unchanged (see below).

Mandatory Language
Mandatory language on health effects (from Appendix B to Subpart Q) and special notice language [(40 CFR
141.211 (d)(2)] must be included as written (with blanks filled in) and are presented in this notice in italics with an
asterisk on either end.

This template also includes mandatory language encouraging further distribution to persons who may not have
received the notice [40 CFR 141.205(d)] and is presented in this notice in italics and with an  asterisk on either
end.  However, if you  post the notice such that all possible users have access to the notice, this language is not
applicable and can be omitted.

Corrective Action
In your notice, describe corrective actions you are taking. Listed below are some steps commonly taken by water
systems with LT2ESWTR treatment technique violations. You can use the following language, if appropriate, or
develop your own text:

      We determined our mean Cryptosporidium level on [give date], and have notified the state.
      We are in the process of determining our mean Cryptosporidium level and will notify the state upon
      completion.

After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your state a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all the  public
notification requirements within ten days after issuing the  notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].

It is a good idea to inform your consumers when the violation has been resolved, especially if you have regular
customers.  See Template NC-7 for a "problem corrected" notice template.

-------
     LT2ESWTR Unfiltered System Failure to Calculate and Report Mean
               Cryptosporidium Level Notice - Template NC-17
                       DRINKING WATER NOTICE

         [System] Did Not Determine Cryptosporidium Level

*We are required to monitor the source of your drinking water for Cryptosporidium in order
to determine by [give date] whether water treatment at the [provide treatment plant name] is
sufficient to adequately remove Cryptosporidium from your drinking water. We have not made
this determination by the required date. Our failure to do this may jeopardize our ability to have
the required treatment modifications, if any, completed by the required deadline of [give date]*
Cryptosporidium is a disease-causing microorganism that may be present in our raw water
source.

What This Means
This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been  notified within 24 hours.

inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include
bacteria, viruses, and parasites which can cause symptoms such as nausea,  cramps, diarrhea,
and associated headaches. *These symptoms, however, are not caused only by organisms
in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to
seek medical advice.

You may drink the water. However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.

If you have a severely compromised immune system, have an  infant, are pregnant, or are
elderly, you may be at increased risk and should seek advice from your health care providers
about drinking this water.

Steps We Are Taking
[Describe corrective action.] We anticipate resolving the problem within [estimated time frame]
(or the problem was resolved on [give date]).

Tor more information, please call (name of water system contact) of (name of water system)
at (phone number). *

  *Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those
  who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing
  homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or
  distributing copies by hand or mail. *

This notice is being sent to you by [system]. State Water System ID#:	.
Date distributed:

-------
  Instructions for LT2ESWTR Filtered System Failure to Provide or Install an
             Additional Level of Treatment Notice - Template NC-18
                                   Template on Reverse

A filtered system's failure to provide or install an additional level of treatment appropriate for its Long
Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule  (LT2ESWTR) bin classification by the required date,
is a treatment technique violation and requires Tier 2 notification. You must provide public notice
to persons served  as soon as practical  but within  30 days after you learn of the violation [40 CFR
141.203(b)]. You must issue a repeat notice every three months for as long as the violation persists.
Your state may have more stringent requirements for treatment technique violations (e.g., it may
require you to provide water from an alternate source). Check with your state to make sure you meet all
requirements.

Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:

       Posting in conspicuous locations
       Hand or direct delivery
       Mail
You must also use another method reasonably  calculated to reach others if they would not be reached
by the first method [40 CFR 141.203(c)].

If you modify the notice, you must still include all required PN elements from 40 CFR 141.205(a) and
leave the mandatory language unchanged (see below).

Mandatory Language
Mandatory language on health effects (from Appendix B to Subpart Q) must be included as written (with
blanks  filled in) and is presented in this notice in italics with an asterisk on either end.

This template also includes mandatory  language  encouraging further distribution to persons who may
not have received the notice [40 CFR 141.205(d)] and is presented in this notice in italics and with an
asterisk on either end. However, if you post the notice such that all possible users have access to the
notice,  this language is not applicable and can be omitted.

Corrective Action
In your notice, describe corrective actions you are taking. Listed below are some steps commonly taken
by water systems with LT2ESWTR treatment technique violations. You can use one or more of the
following statements, if appropriate, or develop  your own text:

   •   We are currently working to [install treatment/adjust our treatment processes] to achieve the
       required level of additional treatment.
   •   We are currently working with state officials to finalize plans for water treatment that will satisfy
       this requirement once it is installed.
   •   We have [installed treatment/made adjustments to our treatment processes] and are now
       achieving the required level of additional treatment.

After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your state a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all the
public notification requirements within ten days  after issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].

It is a good idea to inform your consumers when the violation has been resolved, especially if you have
regular customers. See Template NC-7 for a "problem corrected" notice template.

-------
 LT2ESWTR Filtered System Failure to Provide or Install an Additional Level
                    of Treatment Notice - Template NC-18
                       DRINKING WATER NOTICE

    [System] Did Not Provide the Appropriate Level of Treatment
                       Within Required Time Frame

Cryptosporidium is a disease-causing microorganism that has been found in our raw water
source. Our water system [give system name] was required to provide an additional level of
treatment to address Cryptosporidium by [provide date]. We failed to do this by the required
date.

What This Means

This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified within 24 hours. We
do not know of any cases of contamination. However, until we provide an additional level of
treatment, there is an increased chance that Cryptosporidium could contaminate the water
supply.

inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include
bacteria, viruses, and parasites which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea,
and associated headaches.*These symptoms, however, are  not caused only by organisms
in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and  they persist, you may want to
seek medical advice.

You may drink the water. However, if you have specific health  concerns, consult your doctor.

If you have a severely compromised immune system, have an infant,  are pregnant, or are
elderly,  you may be at increased risk and should seek advice from your health care providers
about drinking this water.

Steps We Are Taking

[Describe corrective action.] We expect to achieve this additional level of treatment by [give
date].

For more information, please contact [name of contact] of [system] at [phone number] or
[location/address].

  *Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those
  who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing
  homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or
  distributing copies by hand or mail. *

This notice is being sent to you by [system]. State Water System ID#:	.
Date distributed:

-------
  Instructions for LT2ESWTR Unfiltered System Failure to Achieve Required
                    Inactivation Level Notice - Template NC-19
                                   Template on Reverse

Based on Cryptosporidium monitoring results, unfiltered system's must meet inactivation requirements
for Cryptosporidium by a required date. Failure to do this is a treatment technique violation and requires
Tier 2 notification. You must provide public notice to persons served as soon as practical but within
30 days after you learn of the violation [40 CFR 141.203(b)]. You must issue a repeat notice every
three months for as long as the violation persists. Your state may have more stringent requirements
for treatment technique violations (e.g., it may require  you to provide water from an alternate source).
Check with your state to make sure you meet all requirements.

Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:

      Posting in conspicuous locations
      Hand or direct delivery
      Mail
You must also use another method reasonably calculated to reach others if they would not be reached
by the first method [40 CFR 141.203(c)].

If you modify the notice, you  must still include all required PN elements from 40 CFR 141.205(a) and
leave the mandatory language unchanged (see below).

Mandatory Language
Mandatory language on health effects (from Appendix B to Subpart Q) must be included as written  (with
blanks filled in) and is presented in this notice in italics with an asterisk on either end.

This template also includes mandatory language encouraging further distribution to persons who may
not have received the notice  [40 CFR 141.205(d)] and is presented in this notice in italics and with an
asterisk on either end. However, if you post the notice such that all possible users have access to the
notice, this language is not applicable and can be omitted.

Corrective Action
In your notice, describe corrective actions you are taking. Listed below are some steps commonly taken
by water systems with LT2ESWTR treatment technique violations. You can use one or more of the
following statements, if appropriate, or develop your own text:

   •  We are currently working to adjust our treatment processes to achieve the required level of
      treatment.
   •  We are currently working with state officials and our engineers to finalize plans for water
      treatment that will satisfy this requirement once it is installed.
   •  We have made adjustments to our treatment processes and are now achieving the  required
      level of treatment.

After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your state a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all the
public notification requirements within ten days after issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].

It is a good idea to inform your consumers when the violation has been resolved, especially if you have
regular customers. See Template NC-7 for a "problem corrected" notice template.

-------
    LT2ESWTR Unfiltered System Failure to Achieve Required Inactivation
                        Level Notice - Template NC-19
                       DRINKING WATER NOTICE

    [System] Did Not Provide the Appropriate Level of Treatment
                       Within Required Time Frame

Cryptosporidium is a disease-causing microorganism that may be in our raw water source.
Our water system [give system name] was required to provide a specified level of treatment to
address Cryptosporidium by [provide date]. We failed to do this by the required date.

What This Means

This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified within 24 hours. We do
not know of any cases of contamination. However, until we a specified level of treatment, there
is an increased chance that Cryptosporidium could contaminate the water supply.

inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include
bacteria, viruses, and parasites which can cause symptoms such  as nausea, cramps, diarrhea,
and associated headaches.*These symptoms, however, are not caused only by organisms
in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to
seek medical advice.

You may drink the water. However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.

If you have a severely compromised immune system, have an infant, are pregnant, or are
elderly, you may be at increased risk and should seek advice from your health care providers
about drinking this water.

Steps We Are Taking

[Describe corrective action.] We expect to achieve this specified level of treatment by [give
date].

For more information, please contact [name of contact] of [system] at [phone number] or
[location/address].

  *Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those
  who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing
  homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or
  distributing copies by hand or mail. *

This notice is being sent to you by [system].  State  Water System ID#:	.
Date distributed:

-------
   Instructions for LT2ESWTR Filtered System Failure to Achieve Required
                    Treatment Credit Notice - Template NC-20
                                   Template on Reverse

Based on Cryptosporidium monitoring results, some filtered systems are required to achieve additional
treatment credit using a microbial toolbox option. A filtered system's failure to achieve required
treatment credit to meet the bin classification requirements, is a treatment technique violation and
requires Tier 2 notification. You must provide public notice to persons served as soon as practical
but within 30 days after you learn of the violation [40 CFR 141.203(b)]. You must issue a repeat
notice every three months for as long as the violation persists. Your state may have more stringent
requirements for treatment technique violations (e.g., it may require you to provide water from an
alternate source). Check with your state to make sure you meet all requirements.

Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:

      Posting in conspicuous locations
      Hand or direct delivery
      Mail
You must also use another method reasonably calculated to reach others if they would not be reached
by the first method [40 CFR 141.203(c)].

If you modify the notice, you must still include all required PN elements from 40 CFR 141.205(a) and
leave the mandatory language unchanged (see below).

Mandatory Language
Mandatory language on health effects (from Appendix B to Subpart Q) must be included as written (with
blanks filled in) and is presented in this notice in italics with an asterisk on either end.

This template also includes mandatory language encouraging further distribution to persons who may
not have received the notice [40 CFR 141.205(d)] and is presented in this notice in italics and with an
asterisk on either end. However, if you post the notice such that all possible users have access to the
notice, this language is not applicable and can be omitted.

Corrective Action
In your notice, describe corrective actions you are taking. Listed below are some steps commonly taken
by water systems with LT2ESWTR treatment technique violations. You can use one or more of the
following statements,  if appropriate, or develop your own text:

   •  We are taking  steps to ensure the required level of treatment can be maintained at all  times.
   •  The reason for the lapse in treatment has been identified and addressed.

After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your state a copy of each type of notice and a  certification that you have met  all the
public notification requirements within ten days after issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].

It is a good idea to inform your consumers when the violation has been resolved, especially if you have
regular customers. See Template NC-7 for a "problem corrected" notice template.

-------
  LT2ESWTR Filtered System Failure to Achieve Required Treatment Credit
                            Notice - Template NC-20
                       DRINKING WATER NOTICE

     [System] Did Not Maintain the Required Level of Treatment

Cryptosporidium is a disease-causing microorganism that has been found in our raw water
source. Our water system [give system name] was required to maintain a specified level of
additional treatment to address Cryptosporidium. During [provide date range], our system fell
below this level.

What This Means

This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified within 24 hours. We do
not know of any cases of contamination. However, until we consistently maintain an additional
level of treatment, there is an increased chance that Cryptosporidium could contaminate the
water supply.

inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include
bacteria, viruses, and parasites which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea,
and associated headaches.*These symptoms, however, are not caused only by organisms
in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to
seek medical advice.

You may drink the water. However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.

If you have a severely compromised immune system, have an infant, are pregnant, or are
elderly, you  may be at increased risk and should seek advice from your health care providers
about drinking this water.

Steps We Are Taking

[Describe corrective action and when the system returned or expects to return to compliance.]

For more information, please contact [name of contact] of [system] at [phone number] or
[location/address].

  *Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those
  who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing
  homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a  public place or
  distributing copies by hand or mail. *

This notice is being sent to you by [system]. State Water System ID#:	.
Date distributed:

-------
 Instructions for LT2ESWTR Unfiltered System Failure to Maintain Required
                    Inactivation Level Notice - Template NC-21
                                  Template on Reverse

Based on Cryptosporidium monitoring results, an unfiltered system must maintain specified inactivation
levels to ensure adequate treatment for Cryptosporidium. Failure to do this is a treatment technique
violation and requires Tier 2 notification. You must provide public notice to persons served as soon
as practical but within 30 days after you learn of the violation [40 CFR 141.203(b)]. You must issue
a repeat notice every three months for as long as the violation persists.  Your state may have more
stringent requirements for treatment technique violations (e.g., it may require you to provide water from
an alternate source). Check with your state to make sure you meet all requirements.

Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:

      Posting in conspicuous locations
      Hand or direct delivery
      Mail
You must also use another method reasonably calculated to reach others if they would not be reached
by the first method [40 CFR 141.203(c)].

If you modify the notice, you must still include all required PN elements  from 40 CFR 141.205(a) and
leave the mandatory language unchanged (see below).

Mandatory Language
Mandatory language on health effects (from Appendix B to Subpart Q) must be included as written (with
blanks filled in) and is presented in this notice in italics with an asterisk on either end.

This template also includes mandatory language encouraging further distribution to persons who may
not have received the notice [40 CFR 141.205(d)] and is presented in this notice  in italics and with an
asterisk on  either end. However, if you post the notice such that all possible users have access to the
notice, this  language is not applicable and can be omitted.

Corrective Action
In your notice, describe corrective actions you are taking. Listed below are some steps commonly taken
by water systems with LT2ESWTR treatment technique violations. You can use one or more of the
following statements, if appropriate, or develop your own text:

   •  We are taking steps to ensure the  required level of treatment can be maintained at all times.
   •  The  reason for the lapse in treatment has been identified and  addressed.

After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your state a copy  of each type of notice and a  certification that you have met all the
public notification requirements within ten days after issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].

It is a good  idea to inform your consumers when the violation has been  resolved, especially if you have
regular customers. See Template NC-7 for a "problem corrected" notice template.

-------
   LT2ESWTR Unfiltered System Failure to Maintain Required Inactivation
                         Level Notice - Template NC-21
                       DRINKING WATER NOTICE

     [System] Did Not Maintain the Required  Level of Treatment

Cryptosporidium is a disease-causing microorganism that may be in our raw water source. Our
water system [give system name] was required to maintain a specified level of treatment to
address Cryptosporidium. During [provide date range], our system fell below this level.

What This Means

This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been  notified within 24 hours. We do
not know of any cases of contamination. However, until we consistently maintain the specified
level of treatment, there is an increased chance that Cryptosporidium could contaminate the
water supply.

inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include
bacteria, viruses, and parasites which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea,
and associated headaches.*These symptoms, however, are not caused only by organisms
in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to
seek medical advice.

You may drink the water. However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.

If you have a severely compromised immune system, have an  infant, are pregnant, or are
elderly, you  may be at increased risk and should seek advice from your health care providers
about drinking this water.

Steps We Are Taking

[Describe corrective action and when the system returned or expects to return to compliance.]

For more information, please contact [name of contact] of [system] at [phone number] or
[location/address].

  *Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those
  who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing
  homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or
  distributing copies by hand or mail. *

This notice is being sent to you by [system]. State Water System ID#:	.
Date distributed:

-------
    Instructions for LT2ESWTR Unfiltered System  Failure to Install Second
                         Disinfectant Notice - Template NC-22
                                      Template on Reverse

An unfiltered system's failure to install a second disinfectant to treat for Cryptosporidium by the required date is a
treatment technique violation and requires Tier 2 notification. You must provide public notice to persons served as
soon as practical but within 30 days after you learn of the violation [40 CFR 141.203(b)]. You must issue a repeat
notice every three months for as long as the violation persists. Your state may have more stringent requirements
for treatment technique violations (e.g., it may require you to provide water from an alternate source). Check with
your state to make sure you meet all requirements.

Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:

       Posting in conspicuous locations
       Hand or direct delivery
   •   Mail
You must also use another method reasonably calculated to reach others if they would not be reached by the first
method [40 CFR 141.203(c)].

If you modify the notice, you must still include all required PN elements from 40 CFR 141.205(a) and leave the
mandatory language unchanged (see below).

Mandatory Language
Mandatory language on health effects (from Appendix B to Subpart Q) must be included as written (with blanks
filled in) and is presented  in this notice in italics with an asterisk on either end.

This template also includes mandatory language encouraging further distribution to persons who may not have
received the notice [40 CFR 141.205(d)] and is presented in this notice in italics and with an asterisk on either
end. However, if you post the notice such that all possible users have access to the notice, this language is  not
applicable and can be omitted.

Corrective Action
In your notice, describe corrective actions you are taking. Listed below are some steps commonly taken by
unfiltered water systems with LT2ESWTR treatment technique violations. You can use one or more of the
following statements, if appropriate, or develop your own text:

       We will install a second disinfectant by [provide date] to satisfy this requirement.
       We are currently working with state officials and our engineers to finalize plans for water treatment that
       will  satisfy this requirement once it is installed.

After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your state a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all the public
notification requirements within ten days after issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].

It is a good  idea to inform your consumers when the violation has been resolved, especially if you have regular
customers.  See Template NC-7 for a "problem corrected" notice template.

-------
 LT2ESWTR Unfiltered System Failure to Install Second Disinfectant Notice -
                                Template NC-22
                       DRINKING WATER NOTICE

   [System] Failed to Provide the Appropriate Level of Treatment
                       Within Required Time Frame

Our unfiltered water system [give system name] was required to use a minimum of two
disinfectants to meet our treatment requirement by [give date]. We failed to have the new
[ultraviolet light (U.V.)/chlorine dioxide/ozone] disinfection system installed by the required
date.

What This Means

This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified within 24 hours. We do
not know of any cases of contamination. However, until the second disinfectant is installed,
there is an increased chance that disease-causing organisms could contaminate the water
supply.

inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include
bacteria, viruses, and parasites which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea,
and associated headaches.*These symptoms, however, are not caused only by organisms
in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to
seek medical advice.

You may drink the water. However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.

If you have a severely compromised immune system, have an infant, are pregnant, or are
elderly,  you  may be at increased risk and should seek advice from your health care providers
about drinking this water.

Steps We Are Taking

We expect to have the [U.V./chlorine dioxide/ozone] disinfection system installed by [give date].
We will also continue to disinfect the water with chlorine, as we have in the past.

For more information, please contact [name of contact] of [system] at [phone number] or
[location/address].

  *Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those
  who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing
  homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or
  distributing copies by hand or mail. *

This notice is being sent to you by [system]. State Water System ID#:	.
Date distributed:

-------
       Instructions for LT2ESWTR Monitoring Violation (Tier 3) Notice -
                                 Template NC-23
                                Template on Reverse

The template on the reverse is another example of a monitoring violation. The example in this
template is for Cryptosporidium monitoring under LT2ESWTR. If a system fails to conduct
Cryptosporidium monitoring of its source water for one or two months, they are required to
issue Tier 3 notification. (Note: failure to conduct required Cryptosporidium monitoring for
any three months requires Tier 2 notification and special notice. See Template NC-15 for an
example.) This notice can also be modified for E. coll or turbidity monitoring violations under
LT2ESWTR. All the instructions of Template NC-6 apply.

-------
      LT2ESWTR Monitoring Violation (Tier 3) Notice - Template NC-23
                      DRINKING WATER NOTICE

             Monitoring Requirements Not Met for [System]

*We are required to monitor your drinking water for specific contaminants on a regular
basis. Results of regular monitoring are an indicator of whether or not our drinking
water meets health standards. During [compliance period] we ['did not monitor or test'
or 'did not complete all monitoring or testing'] for Cryptosporidium and therefore cannot
be sure of the quality of your drinking water during that time. *
Cryptosporidium is a disease-causing microorganism that may be present in our raw
water source.

What This Means
This is not an emergency. There is nothing you need to do at this time.

Steps We Are Taking
[Describe corrective action.] We began collecting our monthly samples for
Cryptosporidium on [give date] and will continue to follow our required monitoring
schedule.

For more information,  please contact [name of contact] at [phone number] or [mailing
address].

  *Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water,
  especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people
  in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting
  this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail. *

This notice is being sent to you by [system]. State Water System ID#:	.
Date distributed:

-------
     Instructions for Filter Backwash  Recycling Rule Treatment Technique
                            Violation  Notice - Template NC-24
                                      Template on Reverse

Since failure to recycle spent filter backwash, thickener supernatant, and liquids from dewatering processes
before all processes of the direct filtration treatment train; failure to obtain state approval for the use of an
alternative recycle location; or failure to pursue capital improvements, are violations that require Tier 2 notice,
you must provide public notice to persons served as soon as practical but within 30 days after you learn of the
violation [40 CFR 141.203(b)]. You must issue a repeat notice every three months for as long as the violation
persists. Your state may have more stringent requirements for treatment technique violations; e.g., it may require
you to provide water from an alternate source. Check with your state to make sure you meet all requirements.

Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:

       Posting in conspicuous locations
       Hand or direct delivery
    •   Mail

You must also use another method reasonably calculated to reach others if they would not be reached by the first
method [40 CFR 141.203(c)].

If you modify the notice, you must still include all required PN elements from 40 CFR  141.205(a) and leave the
mandatory language unchanged (see below).

Mandatory Language
Mandatory language on health effects (from Appendix B to Subpart Q) must be included as written (with blanks
filled in) and is presented  in this notice in italics with an asterisk on either end.

This template also includes mandatory language encouraging further distribution to persons who may not have
received the notice [40 CFR 141.205(d)] and is presented in this notice in italics and with an asterisk on either
end. However, if you post the notice such that all possible users have access to the notice, this language is not
applicable and can  be omitted.

Corrective Action
In your notice, describe corrective actions you are taking. Do not use overly technical terminology when
describing treatment methods. You can use one or more of the following statements, if appropriate, or develop
your own text:

       On  [give date], we will no longer recycle our filter backwash and will not be in violation of this requirement.
       On  [give date], the filter backwash will be piped to the beginning of our water treatment process and we
       will  no longer be in violation of this requirement.
       On  [give date], the filter backwash and  all other current recycle flows will be discharged to waste as
       approved by the state.

After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your state a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all the public
notification  requirements within ten days after issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].

It is a good  idea to inform your consumers when the violation has been resolved, especially if you have regular
customers.  See Template NC-7 for a "problem corrected" notice template.

-------
   Filter Backwash Recycling Rule Treatment Technique Violation Notice -
                              Template NC-24
                      DRINKING WATER NOTICE

           [System] Did Not Meet Treatment Requirements

The Filter Backwash Recycling Rule requires water systems that recycle liquids used
for water treatment to recycle these liquids through the system's existing filtration
system or to an alternate location approved by the state. Our system did not return its
water treatment recycle flows to the required location or a state-approved location by
the required date of [give date].

What This Means
This is not an emergency. We do not know of any cases of contamination. However,
until improvements are made, there is an increased chance that disease-causing
organisms could contaminate the water supply.

inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms
include bacteria, viruses, and parasites which can cause symptoms such as nausea,
cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches. *
These symptoms, however, are not caused only by organisms in drinking water. If you
experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical
advice.
You may drink the water. However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your
doctor.
If you have a severely compromised immune system, have an infant, are pregnant, or
are elderly, you may be at increased risk and should seek advice from your health care
providers about drinking this water.

Steps We Are Taking
[Describe corrective action.] We anticipate resolving the problem within [estimated time
frame].

For more information, please contact [name of contact] of [system] at [phone number]
or [location/address].

  *Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water,
  especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people
  in apartments, nursing homes, schools,  and businesses). You can do this by posting
  this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail. *

This notice is being sent to you by [system]. State Water System ID#:	.
Date distributed:

-------
     Instructions for GWR Fecal Indicator-Positive Source Sample Notice -
                                        Template NC-25
                                      Template on Reverse

This template is intended for systems where consumers will not be able to boil water. See the suggestions below
on how you can modify this template for other situations. Since detection of a fecal indicator (£. coli, enterococci,
coliphage) in a ground water source sample is a situation requiring Tier 1  notice, you must provide public
notice to persons served as soon as  practical  but no more than 24 hours from learning of the violation [40 CFR
141.202(b)]. During this time period you must  also contact your state. You must use one or more of the following
methods to deliver the notice to consumers [40 CFR 141.202(c)]:

       Posting in conspicuous locations
       Hand  or direct delivery
       Radio
       Television

You may need to use additional methods if needed to reach all persons served.

Instructions to Consumers
You may need to modify the instructions in the public notice based on your system type. For instance, at a
campground, you might tell consumers to boil  the water before drinking or using for food preparation. If you
do modify the notice, you must still include all  required PN elements from 40 CFR 141.205(a) and leave the
mandatory language unchanged (see below).

Mandatory Language
Mandatory language on health effects (from Appendix B to Subpart Q) must be included as written (with blanks
filled in) and is presented in this notice in italics with an asterisk on either end.

This template also includes mandatory language encouraging further distribution to persons who may not have
received the notice [40 CFR 141.205(d)] and is presented in this notice in italics and with an asterisk on either
end. However, if you post the notice such that all possible users  have access to the notice, this language is not
applicable and can be omitted.

Alternative Sources of Water
If you are selling or providing bottled  water, your notice should say where it can be obtained. Remember that
bottled water can also be contaminated. If you are providing bottled water, make sure it meets US Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) and state bottled water standards for bacteria and other contaminants.

Corrective Action
In your notice, describe corrective actions you are taking. Listed  below are some steps commonly taken by
water systems that have detected a fecal indicator in their ground water source. You can use one or more of the
following statements, if appropriate, or develop your own text:

       We are increasing sampling at our sources to determine the source of the contamination.
       We are working with state officials  to implement corrective actions to ensure water supplies are protected
       against contamination.
       We are providing water from  an alternative source until the problem is resolved.
       We have discontinued use of the contaminated well and  will rely on our other sources to meet demand.
       We are abandoning the contaminated  well and will replace it with a well constructed to standards.
       We are pursuing treatment options for disinfection of the water from this source.
       We have installed temporary disinfection while we pursue long term treatment or other options to
       eliminate contamination from this source.

After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your state a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all the public
notification requirements within ten days after  issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].

It is a good idea to inform your consumers when the violation has been resolved, especially if you have regular
customers. See Template NC-7 for a "problem corrected" notice template.

-------
   GWR Fecal Indicator-Positive Source Sample Notice - Template NC-25
                   DRINKING WATER WARNING

                    DO NOT DRINK THE WATER

  [System]'s [Source] Tested Positive for Fecal Indicator (E. coll,
              Enterococci, Coliphage) on [Give Date].

         Bottled water is available from [provide location].

Possible Health Effects
*Fecal indicators are microbes whose presence indicates that the water may be
contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause
short-term health effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other
symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some
of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems. *
People at increased risk should seek advice from their health care providers
about drinking this water.

Steps We Are Taking
[Describe corrective action.]

We will inform you when you may drink the water. We  anticipate resolving the
problem within [estimated time frame]. For more information, please contact
[name of contact] of [system] at [phone number] or [location/address].

  *Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water,
  especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example,
  people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses).  You can do
  this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or
  mail. *

This notice is being sent to you by [system].
State Water System ID#:	. Date distributed:	.

-------
   Instructions for GWR Failure to Take Corrective Action Within Required
                          Time Frame Notice - Template NC-26
                                      Template on Reverse

A system's failure to take corrective action within the required timeframe or be in compliance with a state-
approved corrective action plan and schedule fora fecal indicator-positive ground water source sample or
significant deficiency under the Ground Water Rule (GWR) is a treatment technique violation and requires Tier 2
notification. You must provide public notice to persons served as soon as practical but within 30 days after you
learn of the violation [40 CFR 141.203(b)]. You must issue a  repeat notice every three months for as long as the
violation persists. Your state may have more stringent requirements for treatment technique violations. Check with
your state to make sure you meet all requirements.

If this notice is for failing to address a fecal indicator-positive source sample, a Tier 1 notice for detecting a fecal
indicator in the source water should have already been issued. Consider providing the history  of the situation in
this notice (i.e., what events lead to requiring corrective action) to avoid confusing the public when this second
notice is issued.

Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:

       Posting in conspicuous locations
       Hand or direct delivery
    •   Mail

You must also use another method reasonably calculated to  reach others if they would not be  reached by the  first
method [40 CFR 141.203(c)].

If you modify the notice,  you must still include all required PN elements from 40 CFR 141.205(a) and leave the
mandatory language unchanged (see below).

Mandatory Language
Mandatory language on  health effects (from Appendix B to Subpart Q) must be included as written (with blanks
filled in) and is  presented in this notice in italics with an asterisk on either end.

This template also includes mandatory language encouraging further distribution to persons who may not have
received the notice [40 CFR 141.205(d)] and is presented in  this notice in italics and with an asterisk on either
end. However,  if you post the  notice such that all possible users have access to the notice, this language  is  not
applicable and  can  be omitted.

Corrective Action
In your notice, describe corrective actions you are taking. Listed below are some steps commonly taken by
water systems with Ground Water Rule treatment technique violations. You can use one or more of the following
statements, if appropriate, or develop your own text:

       Although we did not meet our deadline, we are now in consultation with the state to develop a corrective
       action plan.
       The [source of contamination/significant deficiency] has been identified and addressed.
       We have implemented a short term plan to address the immediate issue while we pursue the long-term
       solution.

After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your state  a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all the public
notification requirements within ten days after issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].

It is a good  idea to inform your consumers when the  violation has been resolved, especially if you have regular
customers.  See Template NC-7 for a "problem corrected" notice template.

-------
     GWR Failure to Take Corrective Action Within Required Time Frame
                           Notice - Template NC-26
                       DRINKING WATER NOTICE

  [System] Failed to [Correct a Significant Deficiency/Address a Fecal
    Indicator-Positive Source Sample] Within Required Time Frame

Our water system [give system name] was required to take action to [correct a significant
deficiency/address a fecal-indicator positive source sample] by [give date]. However, we failed
to take action by the required date.

What This  Means

This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified within 24 hours. We do
not know of any cases of contamination. However, until the problem is corrected, there is an
increased chance that disease-causing organisms could contaminate the water supply.

inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include
bacteria, viruses, and parasites which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea,
and associated headaches. *These symptoms, however, are not caused only by organisms
in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you  may want to
seek medical advice.

You may drink the water. However,  if you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.

If you  have a severely compromised immune system, have an infant, are pregnant, or are
elderly, you may  be at increased risk and should seek advice from your health care providers
about  drinking this water.

Steps We Are Taking

[Describe corrective action.] We expect to have the [significant deficiency/source of fecal
contamination] corrected by [give date].

For more information, please contact [name of contact] of [system] at [phone number] or
[location/address].

  *Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those
  who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing
  homes, schools, and businesses).  You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or
  distributing copies by hand or mail. *

This notice is being sent to you by [system]. State Water System ID#:	.
Date distributed:

-------
     Instructions for GWR Failure to Maintain 4-log Treatment of Viruses
                                  Notice - Template NC-27
                                      Template on Reverse

Aground water system's failure to maintain required 4-log treatment of viruses fora period greater than 4 hours
is a treatment technique violation and requires Tier 2 notification. You must provide public notice to persons
served as soon as practical but within 30 days after you learn of the violation [40 CFR 141.203(b)]. You must
issue a repeat notice every three months for as long as the violation persists. Your state may have more stringent
requirements for treatment technique violations (e.g., it may require you to provide water from an alternate
source). Check with your state to make sure you meet all requirements.

Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:

       Posting in conspicuous locations
       Hand or direct delivery
       Mail

You must also use another method reasonably calculated to reach others if they would not be reached by the first
method [40 CFR 141.203(c)].

If you  modify the notice, you must still include all required PN elements from 40 CFR 141.205(a) and leave the
mandatory language unchanged (see below).

Mandatory Language
Mandatory language on health effects (from Appendix B to Subpart Q) must be included as written (with blanks
filled in) and is presented in this notice in italics with an asterisk on  either end.

This template also includes mandatory language encouraging further distribution to persons who may not have
received the notice [40 CFR 141.205(d)] and is presented in this notice in italics and with an asterisk on either
end. However, if you post the notice such that all possible users have access to the notice, this language is not
applicable and can be omitted.

Corrective Action
In your notice, describe corrective actions you are taking. Listed below are some steps commonly taken by
water systems with Ground Water Rule treatment technique violations. You can use one or more of the following
statements, if appropriate,  or develop your own text:

       We are increasing  disinfection to maintain our proper residual levels.
       We are pursuing improvements to our treatment system so that we can maintain  required treatment at all
       times.

After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your state a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all the public
notification requirements within ten days after issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].

It is a good idea to inform your consumers when the violation has been resolved, especially if you have regular
customers. See Template NC-7 for a "problem corrected" notice template.

-------
   GWR Failure to Maintain 4-log Treatment of Viruses Notice - Template
                                   NC-27
                      DRINKING WATER NOTICE

          [System] Failed to Meet Treatment Requirements

Our water system [give system name] is required to [treat/disinfect] our drinking water
source. From [give date] to [give date], we failed to provide the required [treatment/
disinfection].

What This Means
This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified within 24 hours.
We do not know of any cases of contamination. However, until we consistently provide
the required treatment, there is an increased chance that disease-causing organisms
could contaminate the water supply.

inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms
include bacteria, viruses, and parasites which can cause symptoms such as nausea,
cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches.*These symptoms, however,  are not
caused only by organisms in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms
and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice.
You may drink the water. However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your
doctor.
If you  have a severely compromised immune system, have an infant, are pregnant, or
are elderly, you may be at increased risk and should seek advice from your health care
providers about drinking this water.

Steps We Are Taking
[Describe corrective action.] We expect to have the problem resolved by [give date] (or
the problem was resolved on [give date]).

For more information, please contact [name of contact] of [system] at [phone number]
or [location/address].

   *Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water,
   especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people
  in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting
   this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail. *

This notice is being sent to you by [system]. State Water System ID#:	.
Date distributed:

-------
Instructions for Failure to Develop a Profile and/or Calculate a Benchmark
                              Notice - Template NC-28
                                   Template on Reverse

Failure to develop a disinfection profile for Giardia lamblia and viruses or calculate a benchmark prior to
making a significant change to your disinfection practice requires Tier 3 notification. A profile for viruses
may be applicable under Long Term 1 Enhanced  Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT1ESWTR) and is
required under Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2ESWTR). You must provide
public notice to persons served within one year after you learn of the violation [40 CFR 141.204(b)].
Failure to develop a profile or calculate a benchmark can be serious and your state may have more
stringent requirements. Check with your state to make sure you meet all requirements.

Noncommunity water systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.204(c)]:

          Posting in conspicuous locations
          Hand or direct delivery
       •   Mail

In addition, you must use another method reasonably calculated to reach others if they would not be
reached by the first method [40 CFR 141.204(c)].

You must post the notice until the violation is resolved. If the violation has been resolved, you must post
the notice for at least seven days [40 CFR 141.204(b)]. If you mail, post, or hand deliver, you should
print your notice on your system's letterhead, if available.

If you  modify the notice, you must still include all required PN elements from 40 CFR 141.205(a) and
leave the mandatory language unchanged (see below).

Mandatory Language
Mandatory language for monitoring and testing procedure violations [40 CFR 141.205(d)] must be
included as written (with blanks filled in) and is  presented in this notice in italics and with an asterisk on
either end.

This template also includes mandatory language  encouraging further distribution to persons who may
not have received the notice [40 CFR 141.205(d)] and is presented in this notice in italics and with an
asterisk on either end. However, if you post the notice such that all possible users have access to the
notice, this language is not applicable and can  be omitted.

Corrective Actions

In your notice, describe corrective actions you took, or are taking. Listed below is a step commonly
taken  by water systems with a profiling and benchmarking violation. You can use the following
language, if appropriate, or develop your own text:

   •  We are in the process  of developing our disinfection profile and will calculate a benchmark as
      soon as the profile is complete.

After Issuing the Notice

Be sure to send your state a copy of each notice and a certification that you have met all the public
notification requirements within ten days after issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].

-------
     Failure to Develop a Profile and/or Calculate a Benchmark Notice -
                              Template NC-28
                      DRINKING WATER NOTICE

           Monitoring Requirements Not Met for [System]

[Prior to making any change to our disinfection practices, we are required to develop
a year-long profile of our disinfection system to determine our inactivation levels for
certain pathogenic organisms. Development of a profile requires monitoring disinfection
parameters. We did not meet this requirement.] AND/OR
[Since we (are making/made) a change to our disinfection practice, we [are/were]
required to calculate a benchmark to determine our lowest monthly inactivation level
over the year. We did not calculate a benchmark.]
*We are required to monitor your drinking water for specific contaminants on a regular
basis. Results of regular monitoring are an indicator of whether or not our drinking
water meets health standards. During [compliance period] we did not complete all
monitoring or testing for the profile parameters and therefore cannot be sure of the
quality of our drinking water during that time. *

What  This Means
This is  not an emergency. There is nothing you need to do at this time.

Steps We Are Taking
We collected all required samples on [give  date]. [Describe corrective action.]

For more information, please contact [name of contact] of [system] at [phone number]
or [location/address].

  *Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water,
  especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people
  in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting
  this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail. *

This notice is being sent to you by [system].   State Water System ID#:	.
Date distributed:

-------
Appendix B
NPDWR Violations and Other Situations Requiring Public Notice1
(Excerpts from Appendix A of 40 CFR 141, Subpart Q dated July 1, 2008, that are Applicable
to Transient Noncommunity Water Systems)
Contaminant
MCL/MRDLATT Violations2
Tier of Public
Notice Required
Citation
Monitoring & Testing
Procedure Violations
Tier of Public
Notice
Required
Citation
I. Violations of National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR):3
A. Microbiological Contaminants
1. Total coliform
2. Fecal coliform/E. coli
3. Turbidity MCL
4. Turbidity MCL (average of 2
days' samples >5 NTU)
5. Turbidity (for TT violations
resulting from a single
exceedance of maximum
allowable turbidity level)
6. Surface Water Treatment
Rule violations, other than
violations resulting from
single exceedance of max.
allowable turbidity level (TT)
7. Interim Enhanced
Surface Water Treatment
Rule violations, other than
violations resulting from
single exceedance of max.
turbidity level (TT)
8. Filter Backwash Recycling
Rule violations
9. Long Term 1 Enhanced
Surface Water Treatment Rule
violations
10. LT2ESWTR violations
11. Ground Water Rule
violations
2
1
2
25, 1
25, 1
2
27
2
2
2
2
141.63(a)
141.63(b)
141.13(a)
141.13(b)
141.71(a)(2),
141.71(c)(2)(i),
141.73(a)(2),
141.73(b)(2),
141.73(c)(2),
141.73(d),
141.173(a)(2),
141.173(b),
141.551(b)
141.70-141.73
141.170-141.173,
141.500-141.553
141.76(c)
141.500-141.553
141.710-
141.720
141.404
3
14, 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
222, 3
3
141.21(a)-(e)
141.21(e)
141.22
141.22
141.74(a)(1),
141.74(b)(2),
141.74(c)(1),
141.174,
141.560(a)-(c),
141.561
141.74
141.172,
141.174,
141.530-
141.544,
141.560-
141.564
141.76(b), (d)
141.530-
141.544,
141.560-
141.564
141.701-
141.705 and
141.708-
141.709
141.402(h),
141.403(d)
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook
81
March 2010

-------
Appendix B
NPDWR Violations and Other Situations Requiring Public Notice1
(Excerpts from Appendix A of 40 CFR 141, Subpart Q dated July 1, 2008, that are Applicable
to Transient Noncommunity Water Systems)
Contaminant
MCL/MRDLATT Violations2
Tier of Public
Notice Required
Citation
Monitoring & Testing
Procedure Violations
Tier of Public
Notice
Required
Citation
B. Inorganic Chemicals (lOCs)
11. Nitrate
12. Nitrite
13. Total Nitrate and Nitrite
1
1
1
141.62(b)
141.62(b)
141.62(b)
1,312
1,312
3
141.23(a), (d)
141.23(f)(2)
141.23(a), (e)
141.23(f)(2)
141.23(a)
G. Disinfection Byproducts (DBFs), Byproduct Precursors, Disinfectant Residuals.
Where disinfection is used in the treatment of drinking water, disinfectants combine
with organic and inorganic matter present in water to form chemicals called disinfection
byproducts (DBPs).13
4. Chlorite
7. Chlorine dioxide (MRDL),
where any 2 consecutive
daily samples at entrance to
distribution system only are
above MRDL
8. Chlorine dioxide (MRDL),
where sample(s) in
distribution system the next
day are also above MRDL
2
2
•I 16
141.64(a)
141.65(a),
141.133(c)(3)
141.65(a),
141.133(c)(3)
3
215, 3
1
141.132(a)-(b)
141.132(a), (c)
141.133(c)(2)
141.132(3), (c)
141.133(c)(2)
III. Public Notification for Variances and Exemptions:
A. Operation under a variance
or exemption
B. Violation of conditions of a
variance or exemption
3
2
1415, 141618
1415, 1416, 142. 30719
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
IV. Other Situations Requiring Public Notification:
B. Exceedance of nitrate MCL
for noncommunity systems, as
allowed by state
D. Waterborne disease
outbreak
E. Other waterborne
emergency20
F. Source Water Sample
Positive for GWR Fecal
indicators: E. coli, enterococci,
or coliphage
G. Other situations as
determined by state
1
1
1
1
1,2, 321
141.11(d)
141.2,
141.71(c)(2)(ii)
N/A
141.402(g)
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook
82
March 2010

-------
Appendix B Endnotes

1. Primacy agencies may, at their option, also require a more stringent public notice tier
(e.g., Tier 1 instead of Tier 2 or Tier 2 instead of Tier 3) for specific violations and situations
listed in this Appendix, as authorized under §141.202(a) and §141.203(a).

2. MCL—Maximum contaminant level, MRDL—Maximum residual disinfectant level, TT—
Treatment technique.

3. The term Violations of National  Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR) is used here
to include violations of MCL,  MRDL, treatment technique, monitoring, and testing procedure
requirements.

4. Failure to test for fecal coliform  or E. coli is a Tier 1 violation if testing is not done after
any repeat sample tests positive for coliform. All other total coliform monitoring and testing
procedure violations are Tier  3.

5. Systems that violate the turbidity MCL of 5 NTU based on an average of measurements
over two consecutive days must consult with the state within 24 hours after learning of
the violation. Based on this consultation, the state may subsequently decide to elevate the
violation to Tier 1. If a system is  unable to  make contact with the state in the 24-hour period,
the violation is automatically elevated to Tier 1.

6. Systems with treatment technique violations involving a single exceedance of a  maximum
turbidity limit under the Surface Water Treatment Rule (SWTR), the Interim Enhanced Surface
Water Treatment Rule (IESWTR),  or the Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment
Rule (LT1ESWTR) are required to consult with the state within 24 hours after learning of
the violation. Based on this consultation, the state may subsequently decide to elevate the
violation to Tier 1. If a system is  unable to  make contact with the state in the 24-hour period,
the violation is automatically elevated to Tier 1.

7. Most of the requirements of the Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (63
FR 69477) (§§141.170-141.171,141.173-141.174) become effective January 1,  2002 for
Subpart H systems (surface water systems  and ground water systems under the  direct
influence of surface water) serving at least 10,000 persons. However, §141.172 has some
requirements that become effective as early as April 16, 1999. The Surface Water Treatment
Rule remains in effect for systems serving at least 10,000 persons even after 2002; the
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule adds additional requirements and does not
in many cases supersede the  SWTR.

12.  Failure to take a confirmation sample within 24 hours for nitrate or nitrite after an initial
sample exceeds the MCL is a  Tier 1  violation. Other monitoring violations for nitrate are Tier
3.

13.  Subpart H transient noncommunity systems serving fewer than 10,000 persons and
using only ground water not under the direct influence of surface water and using chlorine
dioxide as a disinfectant or oxidant must comply with the chlorine dioxide MRDL beginning
January 1, 2004.
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook                83                                  March 2010

-------
14. §§141.64(b)(1) 141.132(a)-(b) apply until §§141.620-141.630 take effect under the
schedule in §141.620(c).
15. Failure to monitor for chlorine dioxide at the entrance to the distribution system the day
after exceeding the MRDL at the entrance to the distribution system is a Tier 2 violation.

16. If any daily sample taken at the entrance to the distribution system exceeds the MRDL
for chlorine dioxide and one or more samples taken in the distribution system the next
day exceed the MRDL, Tier 1 notification is required. Failure to take the required samples
in the distribution system after the MRDL is exceeded at the entry point also triggers Tier 1
notification.

18. This citation refers to §§1415 and 1416 of the Safe Drinking Water Act. §§1415 and
1416 require that "a schedule  prescribed. . . for a public water system granted a  variance [or
exemption] shall require compliance by the system. . ."

19. In addition to §§1415 and  1416 of the  Safe Drinking Water Act, 40 CFR 142.307 specifies
the items and schedule milestones that must be included  in  a variance for small systems.

20. Other waterborne emergencies require a Tier 1 public  notice under §141.202(a) for
situations that do not meet the definition of a waterborne disease outbreak given in 40 CFR
141.2 but that still have the potential to have serious adverse effects on health as a result of
short-term exposure. These could include outbreaks not related to treatment deficiencies, as
well as situations that have the potential to cause outbreaks, such as failures or significant
interruption in water treatment processes,  natural disasters that disrupt the water supply or
distribution system, chemical spills, or unexpected loading of possible pathogens into the
source water.

21. Primacy agencies may place other situations in any tier they believe appropriate, based
on threat to public health.

22. Failure to collect three or more samples for Cryptosporidium analysis is a Tier 2 violation
requiring special notice as specified in §141.211. All other monitoring and testing procedure
violations are Tier 3.
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook                84                                  March 2010

-------
                                         Appendix C
               Standard Health Effects Language for Public Notification

  (Excerpts from Appendix B of 40 CFR 141, Subpart Q dated July 1, 2008, that are Applicable
                          to Transient Noncommunity Water Systems)
     Contaminant
 MCLG1
  mg/L
  MCL2
  mg/L
 Standard Health Effects Language for Public
                   Notification
 National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR):
 A. Microbiological Contaminants
 1a. Total coliform
Zero
See
footnote3
Coliforms are bacteria that are naturally present in the
environment and are used as an indicator that other,
potentially-harmful, bacteria may be present. Coliforms
were found in more samples than allowed and this was a
warning of potential problems.
 1b. Fecal coliform/E coli
Zero
Zero
Fecal coliforms and E. coli are bacteria whose presence
indicates that the water may be contaminated with
human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes
can cause short-term effects, such as diarrhea, cramps,
nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a
special health risk for infants, young children, some of the
elderly and people with severely compromised immune
systems.
 1c. Fecal Indicators (GWR)
 i. E. coli
 ii. enterococci
 iii.  coliphage
Zero
None
None
TT
TT
TT
Fecal indicators are microbes whose presence indicates
that the water may be contaminated with human or
animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause short-
term health effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea,
headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special
health risk for infants, young children, some of the
elderly, and people with severely compromised immune
systems.
 2a. Turbidity (MCL)4
None
  NTU5/
  NTU
Turbidity has no health effects. However, turbidity can
interfere with disinfection and provide a medium for
microbial growth. Turbidity may indicate the presence
of disease-causing organisms. These organisms include
bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause symptoms
such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea and associated
headaches.
 2b. Turbidity (SWTRTT)6
None
TT7
Turbidity has no health effects. However, turbidity can
interfere with disinfection and provide a medium for
microbial growth. Turbidity may indicate the presence
of disease-causing organisms. These organisms include
bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause symptoms
such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea and associated
headaches.
 2c. Turbidity (IESWTR and
 LT1 ESWTR TT)8
None
TT
Turbidity has no health effects. However, turbidity can
interfere with disinfection and provide a medium for
microbial growth. Turbidity may indicate the presence
of disease-causing organisms. These organisms include
bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause symptoms
such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea and associated
headaches.
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook
                      85
                                                     March 2010

-------
Appendix C
Standard Health Effects Language for Public Notification
(Excerpts from Appendix B of 40 CFR 141, Subpart Q dated July 1, 2008, that are Applicable
to Transient Noncommunity Water Systems)
Contaminant
MCLG1
mg/L
MCL2
mg/L
Standard Health Effects Language for Public
Notification
B. Surface Water Treatment Rule (SWTR), Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
(IESWTR), Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT1ESWTR), and the Filter
Backwash Recycling Rule (FBRR) violations
3. Giardia Iambi ia (SWTR/
IESWTR/
LT1 ESWTR)
4. Viruses (SWTR/I ESWTR/
LT1 ESWTR)
5. Heterotrophic plate
count (HPC) bacteria9
(SWTR/I ESWTR/
LT1 ESWTR)
6. Legionella (SWTR/
IESWTR/
LT1 ESWTR)
7. Cryptosporidium
(IESWTR/FBRR/
LT1 ESWTR)
Zero
TT10
Inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing
organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses,
and parasites which can cause symptoms such as nausea,
cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches.
C. Inorganic Chemicals (lOCs)
18. Nitrate
19. Nitrite
20. Total Nitrate and
Nitrite
10
1
10
10
1
10
Infants below the age of six months who drink water
containing nitrate in excess of the MCL could become
seriously ill and, if untreated, may die. Symptoms include
shortness of breath and blue-baby syndrome.
Infants below the age of six months who drink water
containing nitrite in excess of the MCL could become
seriously ill and, if untreated, may die. Symptoms include
shortness of breath and blue-baby syndrome.
Infants below the age of six months who drink water
containing nitrate and nitrite in excess of the MCL could
become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die. Symptoms
include shortness of breath and blue baby syndrome.
H. Disinfection Byproducts (DBFs), Byproduct Precursors, and Disinfectant Residuals: Where
disinfection is used in the treatment of drinking water, disinfectants combine with organic
and inorganic matter present in water to form chemicals called disinfection byproducts
(DBFs).18
83. Chlorite
0.08
1.0
Some infants and young children who drink water
containing chlorite in excess of the MCL could experience
nervous system effects. Similar effects may occur in
fetuses of pregnant women who drink water containing
chlorite in excess of the MCL. Some people may
experience anemia.
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook
86
March 2010

-------
                                          Appendix C
               Standard Health Effects Language for Public Notification

  (Excerpts from Appendix B of 40 CFR 141, Subpart Q dated July 1, 2008, that are Applicable
                          to Transient Noncommunity Water Systems)
     Contaminant
 MCLG1
  mg/L
  MCL2
  mg/L
 Standard Health Effects Language for Public
                   Notification
 86a. Chlorine dioxide,
 where any 2 consecutive
 daily samples taken
 at the entrance to the
 distribution system are
 above the MRDL
0.8
(MRDLG)
0.8
(MRDL)
Some infants and young children who drink water
containing chlorine dioxide in excess of the MRDL could
experience nervous system effects. Similar effects may
occur in fetuses of pregnant women who drink water
containing chlorine dioxide in excess of the MRDL. Some
people may experience anemia.

Add for public notification only: The chlorine dioxide
violations reported today are the result of exceedances
at the treatment facility only, not within the distribution
system which  delivers water to consumers. Continued
compliance with chlorine dioxide levels within the
distribution system minimizes the potential risk of these
violations to consumers.
 86b. Chlorine dioxide,
 where one or more
 distribution system
 samples are above the
 MRDL
0.8
(MRDLG)
0.8
(MRDL)
Some infants and young children who drink water
containing chlorine dioxide in excess of the MRDL could
experience nervous system effects. Similar effects may
occur in fetuses of pregnant women who drink water
containing chlorine dioxide in excess of the MRDL. Some
people may experience anemia.

Add for public notification only: The chlorine dioxide
violations reported today include exceedances of the EPA
standard within the distribution system which delivers
water to consumers. Violations of the chlorine dioxide
standard within the distribution system may harm human
health based on short-term exposures. Certain groups,
including fetuses, infants, and young children, may be
especially susceptible to nervous system effects from
excessive chlorine dioxide exposure.
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook
                      87
                                                     March 2010

-------
Appendix C Endnotes

1. MCLG - Maximum contaminant level goal

2. MCL - Maximum contaminant level

3. For water systems analyzing at least 40 samples per month, no more than 5.0 percent
of the monthly samples may be positive for total coliforms. For systems analyzing fewer
than 40 samples per month, no more than one sample per month may be positive for total
coliforms.

4. There are various regulations that set turbidity standards for different types of systems,
including 40 CFR 141.13, and the 1989 Surface Water Treatment Rule, the 1998 Interim
Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule and the 2002 Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water
Treatment Rule. The MCL for the monthly turbidity average is 1 NTU; the MCL for the 2-day
average is 5  NTU for systems that are required to filter but have not yet installed filtration
(40 CFR 141.13).

5. NTU - Nephelometric turbidity unit

6. There are various regulations that set turbidity standards for different types of systems,
including 40 CFR 141.13, and the 1989 Surface Water Treatment Rule, the 1998 Interim
Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule and the 2001 Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water
Treatment Rule. Systems subject to the Surface Water Treatment Rule (both filtered and
unfiltered) may not exceed 5 NTU. In addition, in filtered systems, 95 percent of samples
each month  must not exceed 0.5 NTU in systems using  conventional or direct filtration and
must not exceed 1  NTU in systems using slow sand or diatomaceous earth filtration or other
filtration technologies approved by the state.

7. TT - Treatment technique

8. There are various regulations that set turbidity standards for different types of systems,
including 40 CFR 141.13, the 1989 Surface Water Treatment Rule (SWTR), the 1998 Interim
Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (IESWTR) and the 2002 Long Term 1 Enhanced
Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT1ESWTR). For systems  subject to the IESWTR (systems
serving at least 10,000 people, using surface water or ground water  under the  direct
influence of surface water), that use conventional filtration or direct filtration, after January
1, 2002, the turbidity level of a system's combined filter effluent may not exceed 0.3 NTU in
at least 95 percent of monthly measurements, and the turbidity level of a system's combined
filter effluent must not exceed 1 NTU at any time. Systems subject to the IESWTR using
technologies other than conventional, direct, slow sand, or diatomaceous  earth filtration
must meet turbidity limits set by the state. For systems  subject to the LT1 ESWTR (systems
serving fewer than 10,000 people, using surface water  or ground water under the direct
influence of surface water) that use conventional filtration or direct filtration, after January
1, 2005, the turbidity level of a system's combined filter effluent may not exceed 0.3 NTU in
at least 95 percent of monthly measurements, and the turbidity level of a system's combined
filter effluent must not exceed 1 NTU at any time. Systems subject to the LT1 ESWTR using
technologies other than conventional, direct, slow sand, or diatomaceous  earth filtration
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook                88                                 March 2010

-------
must meet turbidity limits set by the state.

9. The bacteria detected by heterotrophic plate count (HPC) are not necessarily harmful.
HPC is simply an alternative method of determining disinfectant residual levels. The number
of such bacteria is an indicator of whether there is enough disinfectant in the distribution
system.

10.  SWTR, IESWTR, and LT1ESWTR treatment technique violations that involve turbidity
exceedances may use the health effects language for turbidity instead.

18.  Subpart H transient noncommunity systems serving >10,000 that use chlorine dioxide as
a disinfectant or oxidant must comply with the chlorine dioxide MRDL beginning January 1,
2002. All other transient noncommunity systems that use chlorine dioxide as a  disinfectant
or oxidant must comply with the chlorine dioxide MRDL beginning  January 1, 2004.

22.  MRDLG - Maximum residual disinfectant level goal.

23.  MRDL- Maximum residual disinfectant level.
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook                89                                 March 2010

-------
                                  This page intentionally left blank.
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook                   90                                        March 2010

-------
n
-O
C
O"
O
D
                                                                  Appendix D
                                                              Translated Phrases
    Fran:Washngkn Deportmentrfhkuiti (DOH RJtt. #331-240. Febnuvy3004}unjULUIUdkl^UradBlll
    TmsbfofE BIB prowled oairtEsy of fie SUE of Wsdingbn Department of hbrfti. None of Inez tansbfoiE turn been ntependenfly verified.
    English
                 This report contains important in&nnaliBH about
                 yoiir dimkins; water.
                 K ave someone translate it for you.
                 or speak until SOUKQUB who
                                                           BoiL your water before
                                                           QSHIE.
                                                                               Eton't     the water.
CMMtea     12      old.      not     the
inter.
Don't use- the     to make
                 J«l ITin ftfttrtwft-t
                                                                                                               hll
                                                                                                                             fin-
    Amharic
                        c L* ,_;£- •>-«4_A i
                                                                                                     i- 1 2 •
                                                                                                          •
    Arabic
                                 U
                                                                                                                                  As V
                                                                                                                                ^'i.rt'i 1 ,«LJ
<£>
    Cambodian
    (Khmer)
                                                                                           -i
                 jjniijinrsnt; I
                 :riiiiiniiiaiH!i Demnnn
                                                 ;|n
pi^ qjrS nimoifiijongiifiri;
    Chinese
    Simplified
    Chinese
    Traditional

                                                                                                    ^«  12
                                M S^*t
                                fci#& ^
                                1*3
                                                           ftffl '
                                                                                                         12
                                                                    il^f jf
    Farsi
                                             U-i
                                la- b
                                                                                                               , Ju-Jo
OJ
a
NJ
O
    Fnensdi
                                                                               Nepa tnbB L'cnL
                                                                                                                       ill

-------
                                                              Append be D
                                                          Tmslafcd Ptwases
English
This, report cotuains important infonnanon about
your dmking water.
Hai?e someone translate it for you.
or =.peai v\ith someoae wbo uadHstmite it.
                                                      Boifl yaw water before
                                                      using.
                    Don't     the water.
CHLdcen     12      eM      not     due
witer.
Don't use the     ID mate
Greek
             Avni n
                                pit: TO
            004. ZT|Tfjcrt£ e"xsi'i> Kftsoiov vfi
Bpft^ete to
Jtpiv TO
                                                              Mr|v Kivcte to vcpo.
             now
To icmfiid TOTW TOW 12 UTIVWV 6e^v
       va jrivovrv TO vepo. MTJ
                 TO vepo yia va
Hebrew
                                                   roi
          w .
                                                                                         MtflB
Hindi
Hmong
             u?      fl
                                                              m*il

                                         12
                                         (Slp
                                                                                                             m*il
        na kcvkm IHB txng OIF
    ii tMgpnb txfani mlq, Ins mgibtng ITBB
                                                                 J1O.W
                                                                                                                          EOF i
Japanese

                              -
 *«KLTfc^5*K
                            /f 5 ^*
                                                                                                 UTD
Korean
                          -5
                                                                                                                    fl

Laotian
                                                                                                        i   • '
                                                                                                I •-'.:-.'' A-,-.
                                                                                                             - n
Oromo
                         jUckni-pvr
                                                                                                                               itii

-------
                                                              Appendix D
                                                         Traisloted Ptmsca
English
Thi E. rep o n: caaasiBS i mporaar informa non about
your driakiiij* wrter.
Have someone tra ns La IE it far you.
BT speai with someone wbo undeiitandi it.
                                                      BDL! yoiir wacfti before
                                                      asmg.
                                                      Don't ditni [he water.
CHL&HL     12      old      nof     •
water.
D«t:"t use the     to
Polish
Punjabi
             W
  few
th fcft     ffflff K TFM?
      W? fff fn TPW 3175
                                                                    W3W
                                     fell
12 HT^ 3*
ti'JIt'M

' HrFri>TO TF
Russian
 B arrow coo6meiniH
             O BOflC, KOTOpJi'lO BM m*TC,
 OonpociiTC Koro-HMftyflb ncpc&ocTK jyis wtc
 aiw c«»meHne nrin iiuj^BOpH'i^e c
 £tej»BeKOM, KDTDuA noHHwaef ero
                                                                           HenettTe BOA}',
                                                              HCM
                                                                            J|CTHM B BOSpaCTC IO 1 2 MCCWUCB HC
                                                                            c.Tcnyer niJTb Bonj'. He Menoifciyfrre
                                                                    eio,
                                                                                                              (rt|X)pMyjlUP).
Samoan
Serbo-
Croatian
                                                                                               Tamli nn IBB e i bin n fe 13 m^ e Ic t
                                                                                                                            kvne!
                                                                                                     '•ipo'a fe pib no m ]
                                                                           Ncpijt
                                                                                  Diecmispad 12 if
                          ikHoiaql
Somali
                                                                                               .Jir la JBT KB ihi iny btfikfl
                                                                                                                HDfl.
Spanish
                 n^»j a lidik rfwi •bncnaiB la
                                                                                                                    . U
                                             qmgnki

-------
n
1/1
c

o'
•z.
O
OJ
D
a.
 "
o
o
 -
                                                                   Appendix D
                                                               Traisloted Ptvases
      English
             This repeal c o aia i ns iinporttnt iafomia non about
             ymir iJTinkrng water
              ai/e someone temskte it for you.
             or :.peai with someaae who Lindfiistands. it.
                                                            BDL! yQunvarei before
                                                            using.
                                       Dent dkiiik the waiter.
                    CMMrea      12       oM      not     Us
                    water.
                    Bwrt use the     to make
      Thai
                                                                                BihiliJihu
                                                                                                         12 i
Tigrigna
              wi
                           .  imn
                                                                                     n-wt
Ild4th.li0  Ml
      Ukrainian
              U,e noBiAOMJieHHS Mitrrmt
              iii4»pMaLti» npo sofly, jucy BH n'eie,
              OonpociTf* Koro-HcQynh ncpcsuracrtf BHM u.c
                    i.ieHHH afio tnntim>piTfc
                 poaywie ftoro
                                                                                 He
                         y ftini f\f> 12 Micani i
                       y. He KOpMCiryfliTecii
                                                                                       ni'jBMHMi mnm
<£>
      Vietnamese
              Tai lif u nay co tin lite quan ir^ng vc
              uong cua cjuy vi, Hay nhd ngrf&i dpch cho
              quy v[, hof e hot ngtfdi nao hieu tai li|u
              nay,
                   Dun s6i nildc tnfdc
                   klii dung.
Dtfng ufl'ng mftic
nay,
                                                                                                     Tri em dildi 12 thing       nfin
                                                                                                     nifdc nay. Bifng dung nift^c nay dc phi s
                                                                                                     formula.
The
                              mof be miJiJ in a posted nolne
                  seen by Hany ana Englsh Beating people
        •udbae lhat ttey shatdd not dnrif the i
NJ
O

-------
                                                 Appendix E
               The Public  Notification Rule (40 CFR Part 40 CFR 141, Subpart Q)
                 §141.201

                 than 2.0 NTU in two consecutive meas-
                 urements taken 15 minutes apart at
                 any time in each of two consecutive
                 months, the system must report the
                 filter number,  the turbidity measure-
                 ment, and the date(s) on which the ex-
                 ceedance occurred. In addition, the sys-
                 tem must arrange  for the  conduct of a
                 comprehensive performance evaluation
                 by  the State or a third party approved
                 by  the State no later than 30 days fol-
                 lowing  the  exceedance  and  have the
                 evaluation completed and submitted to
                 the  State no later than  90  days fol-
                 lowing the exceedance.
                   (c) Additional reporting  requirements.
                 (1) If at any time the turbidity exceeds
                 1 NTU in representative samples of fil-
                 tered water in a system using conven-
                 tional  filtration  treatment  or  direct
                 filtration, the system must inform the
                 State as soon as possible,  but no later
                 than the end of the next business day.
                   (2) If at any  time the  turbidity in
                 representative   samples  of  filtered
                 water exceeds the maximum level set
                 by the State under §141.173(1)) for filtra-
                 tion technologies  other than conven-
                 tional  filtration treatment,  direct fil-
                 tration, slow sand filtration, or diato-
                 maceous  earth  filtration, the  system
                 must inform the State as  soon as pos-
                 sible, but no later than the  end of the
                 next business day.
                 [63 FR 69516, Dec. 16, 1998, as  amended at 66
                 FR 3779, Jan. 16, 2001]

                  Subpqrt Q—Public Notification of
                      Drinking Water Violations

                   SOURCE: 65  FR 26035,  May  4,  2000, unless
                 otherwise noted.

                 §141.201  General  public  notification
                     requirements.
                   Public water systems  in States with
                 primacy for the public water  system
                 supervision   (PWSS)  program   must
                 comply with the  requirements in this
                 subpart no later than May 6, 2002 or on
                 the  date the  State-adopted rule be-
                 comes effective, whichever comes first.
                 Public water systems in  jurisdictions
                 where  EPA  directly  implements the
                 PWSS  program  must comply with the
                 requirements in this subpart on Octo-
                 ber 31, 2000.  Prior to these  dates, public
                 water systems must  continue to com-
            40 CFR Ch. I  (7-1-08 Edition)

  ply  with  the public  notice  require-
  ments in §141.32  of this part. The term
  "primacy agency" is used in this sub-
  part to refer to either EPA or the State
  or the  Tribe  in  cases where EPA,  the
  State,  or the Tribe  exercises  primary
  enforcement responsibility for  this sub-
  part.
    (a) Who must give public notice? Each
  owner  or operator  of  a public water
  system  (community water  systems,
  non-transient  non-community  water
  systems, and transient  non-community
  water systems) must give notice for all
  violations of  national  primary drink-
  ing water regulations (NPDWR) and for
  other situations, as  listed in  Table 1.
  The term "NPDWR violations" is used
  in this  subpart to include violations of
  the   maximum   contaminant   level
  (MCL),  maximum residual disinfection
  level  (MRDL),   treatment  technique
  (TT),  monitoring  requirements,   and
  testing procedures in this part 141.  Ap-
  pendix  A to this subpart identifies  the
  tier assignment for each specific viola-
  tion or situation requiring a public no-
  tice.

   TABLE 1 TO §141.201—VIOLATION CATEGORIES
    AND OTHER SITUATIONS REQUIRING A PUBLIC
    NOTICE

  (1) NPDWR violations:
      (i) Failure to comply with an applicable
        maximum contaminant level  (MCL) or
        maximum  residual  disinfectant  level
        (MRDL).
      (ii) Failure to comply with a prescribed
        treatment technique (TT).
      (iii) Failure to perform water quality mon-
        itoring, as required by the  drinking
        water regulations.
      (iv)  Failure to comply with testing proce-
        dures  as prescribed  by  a   drinking
        water regulation.
  (2) Variance and exemptions under sections
    1415 and 1416 of SDWA:
      (i) Operation under a variance or an ex-
        emption.
      (ii) Failure  to  comply  with the require-
        ments  of  any schedule that has been
        set under a variance  or exemption.
  (3) Special public notices:
      (i) Occurrence  of a waterborne disease
        outbreak  or  other waterborne emer-
        gency.
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook
95
March 2010

-------
                  Environmental Protection Agency
                                 §141.202
                   TABLE 1 TO §141.201—VIOLATION CATEGORIES
                    AND OTHER SITUATIONS REQUIRING A PUBLIC
                    NOTICE—Continued

                      (ii) Exceedance of  the nitrate  MCL by
                        non-community    water    systems
                        (NCWS), where granted permission by
                        the primacy agency under 141.11(d) of
                        this part.
                      (iii) Exceedance of  the secondary  max-
                        imum  contaminant  level  (SMCL) for
                        fluoride.
                      (iv)  Availability  of unregulated  contami-
                        nant monitoring data.
                      (v) Other violations and situations deter-
                        mined by the primacy  agency to re-
                        quire a public notice under this sub-
                        part, not already listed in Appendix A.

                    (b) What  type  of public  notice  is re-
                  quired for  each  violation  or situation?
                  Public notice requirements are divided
                  into three  tiers,  to take  into  account
                  the seriousness of the violation or situ-
                  ation  and   of  any   potential  adverse
                  health  effects  that  may  be involved.
                  The  public  notice  requirements  for
                  each violation or situation listed in
                  Table 1  of  this section  are  determined
                  by  the  tier  to  which  it  is assigned.
                  Table 2 of this section provides the def-
                  inition of each tier. Appendix A of this
                  part identifies  the tier assignment for
                  each specific violation or situation.

                   TABLE 2 TO §141.201—DEFINITION OF PUBLIC
                                NOTICE TIERS

                  (1) Tier 1 public notice—required for NPDWR
                    violations and situations with significant po-
                    tential to have  serious adverse effects on
                    human health as  a result of short-term ex-
                    posure.
                  (2) Tier 2 public notice—required for all  other
                    NPDWR violations and situations  with po-
                    tential to have  serious adverse effects on
                    human health.
                  (3) Tier 3 public notice—required for all  other
                    NPDWR violations and situations not in-
                    cluded in Tier 1 and Tier 2.

                    (c) Who must be notified?
                    (1)  Each  public water system  must
                  provide public notice to persons served
                  by  the  water  system, in  accordance
                  with this  subpart.  Public  water  sys-
                  tems that   sell  or  otherwise  provide
                  drinking water to other  public water
                  systems (i.e.,  to  consecutive systems)
   are required  to  give public  notice  to
   the owner or operator of the consecu-
   tive system; the consecutive  system is
   responsible for providing public notice
   to the persons it serves.
     (2) If a public water system  has a vio-
   lation  in a portion of the distribution
   system that  is  physically  or hydrau-
   lically isolated from other parts of the
   distribution system, the primacy agen-
   cy may allow the  system to  limit dis-
   tribution of the public notice to only
   persons served by that portion  of  the
   system which is  out  of  compliance.
   Permission by the primacy agency for
   limiting  distribution  of   the  notice
   must be granted  in writing.
     (3) A copy of the notice must also be
   sent to the primacy agency, in accord-
   ance  with  the  requirements  under
   §141.31(d).

   §141.202  Tier 1 Public Notice—Form,
      manner, and  frequency of  notice.
     (a) Which violations or situations re-
   quire a Tier 1 public notice? Table 1 of
   this  section  lists  the violation  cat-
   egories and other  situations  requiring
   a Tier 1 public  notice. Appendix A to
   this subpart identifies the tier assign-
   ment for each specific violation or  sit-
   uation.

   TABLE 1 TO §141.202—VIOLATION  CATEGORIES
     AND OTHER SITUATIONS REQUIRING A TIER 1
     PUBLIC NOTICE

   (1) Violation  of the MCL for total coliforms
     when fecal coliform or E. coli are present
     in the water distribution system  (as speci-
     fied in § 141.63(b)), or when the  water sys-
     tem fails to test  for fecal coliforms or E.
     coli when any repeat sample tests positive
     for coliform (as specified in § 141.21 (e));
   (2) Violation of the  MCL for nitrate, nitrite, or
     total  nitrate  and nitrite,  as defined  in
     § 141.62, or when the water system  fails to
     take a confirmation sample within 24 hours
     of the system's  receipt of the first sample
     showing  an exceedance of the nitrate or
     nitrite MCL, as specified in §141.23(f)(2);
   (3) Exceedance of  the nitrate MCL by non-
     community water systems, where permitted
     to exceed the MCL by the primacy agency
     under §141.11(d),  as  required  under
     §141.209;
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook
96
March 2010

-------
                  §141.203
             40 CFR Ch. I (7-1-08 Edition)
                   TABLE 1 TO §141.202—VIOLATION CATEGORIES
                    AND OTHER SITUATIONS REQUIRING A TIER 1
                    PUBLIC NOTICE—Continued

                  (4)  Violation  of the  MRDL for chlorine  diox-
                    ide, as defined in  §141.65(a), when one or
                    more samples taken in the distribution sys-
                    tem the day following  an exceedance of
                    the MRDL at the  entrance of the distribu-
                    tion system exceed  the  MRDL, or when
                    the water  system does not  take the re-
                    quired samples in the distribution system,
                    as specified in §141.133(c)(2)(i);
                  (5)  Violation  of  the turbidity  MCL  under
                    §141.13(b), where the primacy agency de-
                    termines after consultation that a Tier  1 no-
                    tice is required or where consultation  does
                    not take place within 24 hours after the
                    system learns of the violation;
                  (6)  Violation  of the Surface Water Treatment
                    Rule (SWTR),  Interim  Enhanced Surface
                    Water Treatment  Rule  (IESWTR) or  Long
                    Term  1  Enhanced Surface Water Treat-
                    ment  Rule (LT1ESWTR) treatment  tech-
                    nique requirement resulting from  a single
                    exceedance of the maximum allowable tur-
                    bidity  limit (as identified  in Appendix A),
                    where the primacy agency determines after
                    consultation that a Tier 1 notice is required
                    or where consultation does not take place
                    within 24  hours after the system learns of
                    the violation;
                  (7)  Occurrence of a waterborne disease out-
                    break, as defined  in §141.2, or other wa-
                    terborne emergency (such as a failure or
                    significant  interruption in  key water treat-
                    ment processes, a natural disaster that dis-
                    rupts the  water supply or distribution sys-
                    tem,  or a  chemical spill  or  unexpected
                    loading of  possible  pathogens  into the
                    source water  that significantly  increases
                    the potential for drinking water contamina-
                    tion);
                  (8)  Detection of  E. coli,  enterococci,  or
                    coliphage  in  source  water  samples as
                    specified in §141.402(a) and §141.402(b);
                  (9)  Other violations  or situations with signifi-
                    cant  potential to have serious adverse ef-
                    fects on human health as a result of short-
                    term  exposure, as determined by the pri-
                    macy agency either in its regulations or on
                    a case-by-case basis.

                    (b) When is the  Tier 1 public notice  to
                  be provided? What additional steps are
                  required? Public water systems must:
                    (1) Provide a public notice as soon  as
                  practical but  no later than  24  hours
   after  the system learns  of the viola-
   tion;
    (2) Initiate consultation with the pri-
   macy agency as soon as practical, but
   no later than 24 hours after the public
   water system learns of the violation or
   situation, to determine additional pub-
   lic notice requirements; and
    (3) Comply with any additional public
   notification   requirements  (including
   any repeat notices  or direction on the
   duration of the posted notices) that are
   established as a  result of the consulta-
   tion with the primacy agency. Such re-
   quirements may include  the  timing,
   form,  manner, frequency, and content
   of repeat notices (if any)  and other ac-
   tions  designed   to  reach  all persons
   served.
    (c) What is the form and manner  of the
   public  notice? Public   water  systems
   must  provide  the   notice  within  24
   hours in a form and manner reasonably
   calculated to reach all  persons served.
   The form and manner used by the pub-
   lic water system are to fit  the specific
   situation,  but  must  be  designed  to
   reach residential, transient,  and non-
   transient users of the water system.  In
   order  to reach all persons served, water
   systems are to use,  at a minimum, one
   or more of the following forms of deliv-
   ery:
    (1)  Appropriate   broadcast   media
   (such  as radio and television);
    (2)  Posting  of the  notice  in con-
   spicuous locations throughout the area
   served by the water  system;
    (3) Hand delivery of the  notice to per-
   sons served by the water system; or
    (4) Another delivery method approved
   in writing by the primacy agency.

   [65 FR 26035, May  4, 2000, as amended at 67
   FR 1836, Jan.  14,  2002; 71 FR 65652, Nov. 8,
   2006]

   §141.203  Tier 2 Public Notice—Form,
      manner, and frequency of notice.

    (a)  Which  violations  or  situations re-
   quire a  Tier 2 public notice? Table 1  of
   this  section  lists  the violation  cat-
   egories  and other situations  requiring
   a Tier 2 public notice. Appendix A  to
   this subpart identifies the  tier assign-
   ment  for each specific violation or sit-
   uation.
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook
97
March 2010

-------
                  Environmental Protection Agency
                               §141.203
                  TABLE 1 TO §141.203—VIOLATION CATEGORIES
                   AND OTHER SITUATIONS REQUIRING A TIER 2
                   PUBLIC NOTICE

                  (1)  All violations of the MCL,  MRDL, and
                   treatment technique  requirements, except
                   where a  Tier 1  notice  is required  under
                   §141.202(a) or where the primacy agency
                   determines that a Tier 1 notice is required;
                  (2)  Violations of the monitoring and testing
                   procedure requirements,  where  the  pri-
                   macy agency determines that a Tier 2 rath-
                   er than a Tier 3 public notice is required,
                   taking into account potential health impacts
                   and persistence of the violation; and
                  (3)  Failure to comply with the terms and con-
                   ditions of any variance  or exemption  in
                   place.
                  (4)  Failure to take corrective action or failure
                   to maintain at least  4-log treatment of vi-
                   ruses (using inactivation, removal,  or a
                   State-approved combination of 4-log virus
                   inactivation and removal) before or at the
                   first customer under § 141.403(a).

                   (b) When is the Tier 2 public notice to
                  be provided?
                   (1) Public water  systems  must pro-
                  vide the public notice  as soon as prac-
                  tical,  but  no later  than 30 days  after
                  the system learns  of the violation. If
                  the public notice is posted, the notice
                  must remain in place for as long as the
                  violation or situation persists, but in
                  no  case for less than seven days, even if
                  the violation or situation is resolved.
                  The  primacy  agency  may,  in appro-
                  priate circumstances, allow  additional
                  time for  the  initial notice of up to
                  three months from the date the system
                  learns of the  violation.  It is not appro-
                  priate for  the primacy agency to grant
                  an  extension  to the 30-day deadline for
                  any unresolved  violation  or to  allow
                  across-the-board extensions by rule or
                  policy  for other violations or  situa-
                  tions requiring a Tier 2 public notice.
                  Extensions granted by  the primacy
                  agency must be in writing.
                   (2) The public water  system must re-
                  peat the notice every three months as
                  long as the violation or situation per-
                  sists, unless the primacy agency deter-
                  mines that appropriate  circumstances
                  warrant a different repeat notice fre-
                  quency. In no  circumstance may the
                  repeat  notice  be given less frequently
                  than once per year.  It is  not appro-
                  priate for  the primacy agency to allow
  less frequent repeat notice for an MCL
  violation  under  the  Total  Coliform
  Rule or a treatment technique  viola-
  tion  under  the  Surface Water Treat-
  ment  Rule or Interim  Enhanced Sur-
  face Water Treatment Rule. It is also
  not appropriate for the primacy agency
  to  allow through  its rules or policies
  across-the-board reductions in the  re-
  peat notice frequency for other ongoing
  violations requiring a Tier 2 repeat no-
  tice.  Primacy  agency  determinations
  allowing repeat notices to be given less
  frequently   than  once   every  three
  months must be in writing.
    (3) For the turbidity violations speci-
  fied in  this paragraph,  public  water
  systems must consult with the primacy
  agency  as  soon  as  practical but  no
  later  than 24 hours  after the public
  water system learns of the violation, to
  determine whether a  Tier 1 public no-
  tice under §141.202(a) is required to pro-
  tect public health. When consultation
  does not take place within the 24-hour
  period,  the  water system must  dis-
  tribute a Tier 1 notice of the  violation
  within the next 24 hours  (i.e., no  later
  than 48 hours after the system learns of
  the violation), following the  require-
  ments under §141.202(b) and  (c).  Con-
  sultation with the primacy agency is
  required for:
    (i)  Violation of the  turbidity  MCL
  under §141.13(b); or
    (ii) Violation of the  SWTR, IESWTR
  or LT1ESWTR treatment  technique  re-
  quirement resulting from  a single ex-
  ceedance of  the  maximum allowable
  turbidity limit.
    (c)  What is the form and  manner of the
  Tier 2 public notice?  Public water sys-
  tems  must  provide the initial public
  notice and any repeat notices in a form
  and manner that is  reasonably cal-
  culated  to reach persons served in the
  required  time  period.  The  form  and
  manner  of the public notice may vary
  based on the specific situation and type
  of water system, but it must at a min-
  imum  meet  the  following   require-
  ments:
    (1)  Unless directed otherwise by the
  primacy agency in writing, community
  water systems must provide notice by:
    (i) Mail or other direct delivery to
  each customer receiving a bill and to
  other  service  connections  to which
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook
98
March 2010

-------
                  §141.204
            40 CFR Ch. I (7-1-08 Edition)
                  water is  delivered by the public water
                  system; and
                   (ii) Any other method reasonably cal-
                  culated to reach  other persons  regu-
                  larly  served by  the system, if they
                  would not normally be reached by the
                  notice required in paragraph (c)(l)(i) of
                  this section. Such persons may include
                  those who do not pay water bills or do
                  not have service connection  addresses
                  (e.g., house renters, apartment  dwell-
                  ers, university students, nursing  home
                  patients, prison inmates,  etc.).  Other
                  methods  may include: Publication in a
                  local newspaper; delivery of  multiple
                  copies  for  distribution  by customers
                  that provide their drinking  water  to
                  others (e.g., apartment building owners
                  or  large private  employers); posting in
                  public  places served by  the system  or
                  on the  Internet;  or delivery to commu-
                  nity organizations.
                   (2) Unless directed otherwise by the
                  primacy  agency in writing,  non-com-
                  munity water  systems  must provide
                  notice by:
                   (i) Posting the notice in conspicuous
                  locations throughout the  distribution
                  system frequented by persons  served by
                  the system, or by  mail or  direct deliv-
                  ery to  each customer and service con-
                  nection (where known); and
                   (ii) Any other method reasonably cal-
                  culated to  reach other persons served
                  by the system if they would  not nor-
                  mally  be reached by  the notice  re-
                  quired in paragraph (c)(2)(l) of this sec-
                  tion. Such persons may include  those
                  served who may not see a posted notice
                  because the posted notice is not in a lo-
                  cation  they routinely pass by.  Other
                  methods  may include: Publication in a
                  local newspaper or newsletter distrib-
                  uted to customers; use of E-mail to no-
                  tify employees or students;  or, delivery
                  of  multiple copies in central  locations
                  (e.g., community centers).

                  [65 FR 26035, May  4, 2000, as amended at 67
                  FR 1836, Jan. 14, 2002; 71 FR 65652, Nov. 8,
                  2006]

                  §141.204  Tier 3 Public  Notice—Form,
                     manner, and frequency of notice.
                   (a) Which violations  or situations re-
                  quire a Tier 3  public notice? Table 1  of
                  this  section lists  the  violation  cat-
                  egories and other situations  requiring
                  a Tier  3  public notice. Appendix A  to
                  this subpart identifies the  tier assign-
   ment for each specific violation or sit-
   uation.

   TABLE 1 TO §141.204—VIOLATION CATEGORIES
    AND OTHER SITUATIONS REQUIRING A TIER 3
    PUBLIC NOTICE

   (1)  Monitoring violations under 40 CFR part
    141, except where a Tier 1 notice is re-
    quired under § 141.202(a) or where the pri-
    macy agency determines that a Tier 2 no-
    tice is required;
   (2)  Failure to comply with a testing procedure
    established in 40 CFR part 141, except
    where a Tier 1  notice  is required under
    § 141.202(a)) or where the primacy agency
    determines that a Tier 2  notice is required;
   (3)  Operation under a variance granted under
    Section  1415 or an exemption granted
    under Section 1416 of  the Safe Drinking
    Water Act;
   (4)  Availability  of  unregulated contaminant
    monitoring  results,  as  required  under
    §141.207; and
   (5)  Exceedance of the  fluoride  secondary
    maximum contaminant  level (SMCL), as
    required under § 141.208.

    (b) When is the Tier 3 public notice to
   be provided?
    (1) Public water  systems  must pro-
   vide  the  public notice not later than
   one year after the public water system
   learns of the violation or  situation or
   begins  operating under a variance or
   exemption. Following  the  initial no-
   tice, the  public water  system must re-
   peat the  notice annually for as  long as
   the violation, variance, exemption, or
   other  situation  persists. If the public
   notice  is  posted, the  notice  must re-
   main in place for as long as the viola-
   tion, variance, exemption,  or other sit-
   uation persists, but in no case less than
   seven days (even if the violation or sit-
   uation is resolved).
    (2) Instead of individual Tier 3 public
   notices, a public water system may use
   an  annual report detailing  all viola-
   tions and situations that occurred dur-
   ing the  previous twelve  months,  as
   long as  the  timing  requirements of
   paragraph (b)(l) of this section are met.
    (c) What is the form and manner of the
   Tier 3 public  notice? Public water sys-
   tems must provide the initial notice
   and any  repeat notices in a form and
   manner that is reasonably calculated
   to  reach  persons served in the required
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook
99
March 2010

-------
                 Environmental Protection Agency
                               §141.205
                 time  period. The  form and manner of
                 the public notice may vary  based on
                 the specific situation and type of water
                 system,  but it must at  a  minimum
                 meet  the following requirements:
                   (1) Unless directed otherwise  by the
                 primacy agency in writing, community
                 water systems  must provide notice by:
                   (i) Mail  or other  direct delivery to
                 each  customer receiving  a bill  and to
                 other  service  connections  to   which
                 water is delivered by the public water
                 system; and
                   (ii)  Any other method reasonably cal-
                 culated to  reach  other persons regu-
                 larly  served by the system, if they
                 would not  normally be reached by the
                 notice required in paragraph (c)(l)(i) of
                 this section. Such persons may include
                 those who  do not pay water bills or do
                 not have service connection  addresses
                 (e.g.,  house renters,  apartment  dwell-
                 ers, university students, nursing home
                 patients,  prison inmates,  etc.).  Other
                 methods may include: Publication in a
                 local  newspaper; delivery of multiple
                 copies for distribution  by customers
                 that  provide their drinking  water to
                 others (e.g., apartment building owners
                 or large  private employers); posting in
                 public places or on the Internet; or de-
                 livery to community organizations.
                   (2) Unless directed otherwise  by the
                 primacy agency in  writing,  non-com-
                 munity  water  systems  must provide
                 notice by:
                   (i) Posting the notice in conspicuous
                 locations throughout  the distribution
                 system frequented by persons  served by
                 the system, or by mail or direct deliv-
                 ery to each customer and service con-
                 nection (where known); and
                   (ii)  Any other method reasonably cal-
                 culated to reach other persons served
                 by the system, if  they would not nor-
                 mally be  reached by  the notice re-
                 quired in paragraph (c)(2)(l) of this sec-
                 tion.  Such persons may include those
                 who may not  see a posted notice be-
                 cause the  notice is not in a location
                 they routinely pass by. Other methods
                 may  include:   Publication in a local
                 newspaper or newsletter distributed to
                 customers; use of E-mail  to notify em-
                 ployees  or students;  or,  delivery of
                 multiple  copies  in central   locations
                 (e.g.,  community centers).
                   (d)  In  what  situations may  the Con-
                 sumer Confidence Report be used  to meet
   the Tier 3 public notice requirements? For
   community water  systems, the  Con-
   sumer  Confidence  Report  (CCR) re-
   quired under  Subpart O of this part
   may be used as a vehicle for the initial
   Tier 3 public notice and all required re-
   peat notices, as long as:
     (1) The  CCR is provided  to persons
   served no  later than  12 months  after
   the system learns  of  the violation or
   situation as required under §141.204(b);
     (2) The Tier  3 notice contained in the
   CCR follows the  content requirements
   under §141.205; and
     (3) The CCR is distributed following
   the   delivery   requirements   under
   §141.204(c).

   [65 FR 26035,  May 4, 2000; 65 FR 38629, June 21,
   2000]

   § 141.205 Content of the public notice.

     (a) What  elements must be included in
   the public notice for violations of National
   Primary  Drinking  Water   Regulations
   (NPDWR) or other situations requiring a
   public notice? When a public water sys-
   tem violates a NPDWR or has a  situa-
   tion requiring public notification, each
   public  notice  must  include  the  fol-
   lowing elements:
     (1) A  description of  the violation or
   situation, including the contaminant(s)
   of concern, and (as applicable) the con-
   taminant level(s);
     (2) When the  violation or situation
   occurred;
     (3) Any  potential adverse health ef-
   fects  from  the violation or situation,
   including the  standard language  under
   paragraph  (d)(l)  or (d)(2) of  this sec-
   tion, whichever is applicable;
     (4) The population at risk, including
   subpopulations particularly vulnerable
   if exposed to the contaminant in  their
   drinking water;
     (5)  Whether alternative   water sup-
   plies should be used;
     (6)  What actions consumers  should
   take, including when they  should seek
   medical help, if known;
     (7) What  the system is doing to cor-
   rect the violation or situation;
     (8) When  the water system expects to
   return to compliance or resolve the sit-
   uation;
     (9) The name,  business address,  and
   phone  number  of  the  water system
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook
100
March 2010

-------
                 §141.205
             40 CFR Ch. I (7-1-08 Edition)
                 owner, operator, or designee of the pub-
                 lic water system as a source of addi-
                 tional information concerning the no-
                 tice; and
                   (10) A statement to encourage the no-
                 tice recipient  to distribute the public
                 notice to other persons served,  using
                 the standard language under paragraph
                 (d)(3) of this section, where applicable.
                   (b)  What elements  must be included in
                 the public notice for public water systems
                 operating under a variance or exemption?
                   (1) If a public water system has been
                 granted  a variance  or  an  exemption,
                 the public notice must contain:
                   (i) An explanation of the  reasons for
                 the variance or exemption;
                   (ii) The date on which the variance or
                 exemption was issued;
                   (ill) A brief status report  on the steps
                 the system is taking to install treat-
                 ment, find alternative sources of water,
                 or  otherwise comply with the terms
                 and schedules of the variance  or ex-
                 emption; and
                   (iv) A  notice of any opportunity for
                 public input in the  review  of the vari-
                 ance or exemption.
                   (2) If a public water system violates
                 the conditions of a variance or exemp-
                 tion,  the public  notice  must contain
                 the ten elements listed in paragraph (a)
                 of this section.
                   (c)  How is the  public  notice to be pre-
                 sented?
                   (1)  Each  public notice required by
                 this section:
                   (i)  Must   be  displayed   in  a  con-
                 spicuous way when printed or posted;
                   (ii) Must not contain overly technical
                 language or very small print;
                   (ill) Must not be formatted  in a way
                 that defeats the purpose of the notice;
                   (iv) Must not contain language which
                 nullifies the purpose of the  notice.
                   (2)  Each  public notice required by
                 this section must comply  with multi-
                 lingual requirements, as follows:
                   (i) For public water systems serving
                 a   large  proportion   of  non-English
                 speaking  consumers, as determined by
                 the primacy agency, the public notice
                 must contain information in the appro-
                 priate language(s) regarding the impor-
                 tance of the notice or contain a  tele-
                 phone number  or address where persons
                 served may  contact  the  water system
                 to obtain a translated copy of the no-
   tice or to request assistance in the ap-
   propriate language.
     (ii) In cases where the primacy agen-
   cy  has  not  determined  what  con-
   stitutes  a  large proportion  of  non-
   English speaking consumers, the public
   water system must include in the  pub-
   lic notice the same information as in
   paragraph   (c)(2)(i)  of  this  section,
   where appropriate to reach a large pro-
   portion of  non-English  speaking  per-
   sons served  by the water system.
     (d) What standard  language must  pub-
   lic water systems include in their public
   notice? Public  water  systems  are re-
   quired to include the  following stand-
   ard language in  their public notice:
     (1) Standard health  effects language
   for  MCL  or MRDL violations, treat-
   ment  technique  violations, and viola-
   tions  of the condition of a variance or
   exemption.  Public water systems must
   include  in   each  public  notice   the
   health effects language specified in Ap-
   pendix B to this subpart corresponding
   to each  MCL, MRDL, and treatment
   technique violation listed in  Appendix
   A to this subpart, and for each viola-
   tion of a condition of a variance or ex-
   emption.
     (2) Standard language for monitoring
   and testing procedure violations.  Pub-
   lic water systems must include the fol-
   lowing language in their notice, includ-
   ing the language necessary to  fill  in
   the blanks,  for all monitoring and  test-
   ing procedure violations listed in Ap-
   pendix A to  this subpart:
    We are required to monitor your drinking
   water for specific contaminants on a regular
   basis. Results of regular monitoring are an
   indicator  of  whether or  not  your  drinking
   water meets health standards. During [com-
   pliance period], we "did not monitor or  test"
   or "did not complete all monitoring or test-
   ing" for [contaminant(s)], and therefore can-
   not be sure of the quality of your drinking
   water during  that time.
     (3) Standard language  to encourage
   the distribution of the public notice to
   all persons  served.  Public water  sys-
   tems must  include in their notice the
   following language (where applicable):
    Please share this information with all the
   other people who drink this water, especially
   those who may not have received this notice
   directly (for example, people in apartments,
   nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You
   can do this by posting this notice in a public
   place or distributing copies by hand or  mail.
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook
101
March 2010

-------
                  Environmental Protection Agency
                                §141.208
                  § 141.206  Notice to new billing units or
                     new customers.
                    (a) What is the requirement for commu-
                  nity  water systems?  Community  water
                  systems must give a copy  of the most
                  recent public notice for any continuing
                  violation,  the  existence of a  variance
                  or exemption,  or  other ongoing  situa-
                  tions requiring a public notice to all
                  new  billing  units or  new customers
                  prior to or at the time service begins.
                    (b)  What is the requirement  for non-
                  community water systems? Non-commu-
                  nity  water systems  must continuously
                  post  the  public notice  in  conspicuous
                  locations  in  order to  inform new con-
                  sumers of any continuing violation,
                  variance or exemption,  or  other  situa-
                  tion  requiring a  public notice  for as
                  long as the violation,  variance, exemp-
                  tion, or other situation persists.

                  §141.207   Special  notice of the  avail-
                     ability of unregulated contaminant
                     monitoring results.
                    (a)  When is  the special  notice  to be
                  given? The owner or operator of a com-
                  munity water system  or non-transient,
                  non-community water system required
                  to monitor under §141.40 must  notify
                  persons served  by the  system  of  the
                  availability of the results of such sam-
                  pling no later than 12  months  after the
                  monitoring results are known.
                    (b) What is the form and manner of the
                  special notice? The form and manner of
                  the public notice must  follow the re-
                  quirements for  a  Tier 3 public  notice
                  prescribed in  §§141.204(c),  (d)(l),  and
                  (d)(3). The notice  must  also identify a
                  person and provide the telephone num-
                  ber to contact for information on the
                  monitoring results.

                  § 141.208  Special notice for exceedance
                     of the SMCL for fluoride.
                    (a)  When is  the special  notice  to be
                  given? Community water systems that
                  exceed  the  fluoride  secondary  max-
                  imum contaminant  level (SMCL) of 2
                  mg/1  as specified in §143.3  (determined
                  by the last single sample taken in ac-
                  cordance  with  §141.23),  but do not ex-
                  ceed the  maximum  contaminant level
                  (MCL) of  4 mg/1 for fluoride (as  speci-
                  fied in §141.62), must provide the public
                  notice in  paragraph (c) of this section
                  to persons served. Public notice must
                  be provided as soon  as practical but no
   later than 12 months from the day the
   water system learns of the exceedance.
   A copy of the notice must also be sent
   to all new  billing units and  new cus-
   tomers at the time service begins and
   to the State public health officer. The
   public water system must repeat the
   notice at least annually for as long as
   the SMCL is exceeded. If the public no-
   tice  is posted, the notice must remain
   in place for as long as the SMCL is ex-
   ceeded, but in no case less than seven
   days  (even  if the exceedance  is  elimi-
   nated). On a case-by-case basis, the pri-
   macy agency may require an initial no-
   tice  sooner than 12 months and repeat
   notices more frequently than annually.
     (b)  What is the form and manner of the
   special notice? The  form and manner of
   the public notice  (including repeat no-
   tices) must follow the requirements for
   a Tier 3 public notice in §141.204(c) and
   (d)(l) and (d)(3).
     (c)  What mandatory language must be
   contained in the special  notice? The no-
   tice  must contain the following lan-
   guage,  including  the  language  nec-
   essary to fill in the blanks:

    This is an alert about your drinking water
   and a cosmetic dental problem that might
   affect children under nine years  of age. At
   low levels, fluoride can help prevent cavities,
   but children drinking water containing more
   than 2 milligrams per liter (mg/1)  of fluoride
   may  develop cosmetic discoloration of their
   permanent  teeth  (dental  fluorosis).  The
   drinking water provided by your community
   water system  [name] has  a fluoride  con-
   centration of [insert value] mg/1.
    Dental fluorosis, in its moderate or severe
   forms, may result in a brown staining and/or
   pitting of the permanent teeth. This problem
   occurs only in developing teeth, before they
   erupt from the gums.  Children under nine
   should be provided with alternative sources
   of  drinking water or water that has been
   treated to remove the fluoride to avoid the
   possibility of staining  and pitting of their
   permanent teeth. You may also want to con-
   tact your dentist about proper use by young
   children  of   fluoride-containing  products.
   Older children and adults may safely drink
   the water.
    Drinking water containing more than  4
   mg/L  of  fluoride (the  U.S.  Environmental
   Protection Agency's drinking water stand-
   ard)  can increase  your risk  of developing
   bone disease. Your drinking  water does not
   contain  more than  4 mg/1  of  fluoride, but
   we're  required to notify you when we dis-
   cover that the fluoride levels in your drink-
   ing water exceed 2 mg/1 because of this cos-
   metic dental problem.
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook
102
March 2010

-------
                  §141.209
             40 CFR Ch. I (7-1-08 Edition)
                   For more information, please call [name of
                  water system contact] of [name of commu-
                  nity water system] at [phone number]. Some
                  home water treatment units are also avail-
                  able to remove fluoride from drinking water.
                  To learn more about available home water
                  treatment units, you may call NSF Inter-
                  national at 1-877-8-NSF-HELP."

                  §141.209   Special  notice   for  nitrate
                     exceedances above  MCL  by non-
                     community water  systems (NCWS),
                     where  granted permission by  the
                     primacy agency under § 141.11(d)
                   (a) When is  the  special notice  to be
                  given? The owner or operator of a non-
                  community water system granted per-
                  mission by the primacy agency under
                  §141.11(d) to exceed  the nitrate MCL
                  must provide  notice  to persons served
                  according  to  the requirements for  a
                  Tier 1  notice under §141.202(a) and  (b).
                   (b) What is the form and manner of the
                  special  notice?  Non-community water
                  systems granted permission by the  pri-
                  macy  agency  to  exceed  the  nitrate
                  MCL under §141.11(d) must provide con-
                  tinuous posting of the fact that nitrate
                  levels exceed 10 mg/1 and the potential
                  health  effects  of exposure, according to
                  the requirements for Tier 1 notice  de-
                  livery under §141.202(c) and the content
                  requirements under §141.205.

                  §141.210  Notice by primacy agency on
                     behalf of the public water system.
                   (a) May  the  primacy agency give  the
                  notice on behalf of the public water  sys-
                  tem? The primacy agency may give  the
                  notice  required by  this subpart on be-
                  half of the owner and operator of  the
                  public  water  system  if the  primacy
                  agency complies with the requirements
                  of this  subpart.
                   (b) What is  the responsibility  of  the
                  public water system  when notice is given
                  by  the primacy agency? The owner or op-
                  erator  of the  public water  system re-
                  mains responsible for ensuring that  the
                  requirements of this subpart are met.

                  §141.211   Special  notice for repeated
                     failure to conduct monitoring of the
                     source   water  for   Cryptosporidiutn
                     and for failure to  determine  bin
                     classification        or       mean
                      Cryptosporidiutn level.
                   (a) When is  the  special notice for  re-
                  peated failure to monitor to be given? The
                  owner  or operator  of  a community or
                  non-community water system that is
   required to monitor source water under
   §141.701 must notify persons served by
   the water  system that monitoring has
   not  been  completed as  specified  no
   later than 30 days after the system has
   failed to collect any 3 months of moni-
   toring as  specified in §141.701(c). The
   notice must be repeated as specified in
   §141.203(b).
     (b) When is the special notice for failure
   to determine  bin  classification or mean
   Cryptosporidium level to be  given? The
   owner or operator of a community or
   non-community water system that is
   required to determine  a bin classifica-
   tion under §141.710, or  to determine
   mean   Cryptosporidium   level   under
   §141.712,  must notify persons served by
   the water  system that the  determina-
   tion has not been made as required no
   later than 30 days after the system has
   failed  report  the   determination  as
   specified in §141.710(e) or §141.712(a), re-
   spectively.  The  notice  must  be  re-
   peated as  specified in §141.203(b). The
   notice is not required if the system is
   complying   with   a  State-approved
   schedule to address the violation.
     (c) What is the form and  manner of the
   special notice? The form and manner of
   the public notice must follow the re-
   quirements for a Tier 2 public notice
   prescribed in §141.203(c). The public no-
   tice must  be  presented as required in
   §141.205(c).
     (d) What mandatory language must be
   contained in the special notice? The no-
   tice must contain  the following lan-
   guage,  including  the language  nec-
   essary to fill in the blanks.
     (1) The  special notice  for  repeated
   failure  to conduct  monitoring must
   contain the following language:

     We are required to monitor the source of
   your drinking water for Cryptosporidium. Re-
   sults of the  monitoring are to be used to de-
   termine  whether water treatment at the
   (treatment plant name) is sufficient to ade-
   quately remove  Cryptosporidium from your
   drinking water. We are required to complete
   this monitoring  and make this determina-
   tion  by (required bin determination date).
   We  "did not monitor or  test" or  "did not
   complete  all  monitoring  or  testing"  on
   schedule and, therefore, we may not be able
   to determine  by the  required date what
   treatment  modifications, if  any,  must be
   made to ensure adequate Cryptosporidium re-
   moval.  Missing this deadline may, in turn,
   jeopardize our ability to  have  the required
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook
103
March 2010

-------
                   Environmental Protection Agency

                   treatment modifications, if any, completed
                   by the deadline required, (date).
                    For more information, please call (name of
                   water system contact) of (name of water sys-
                   tem) at (phone number).

                    (2)  The  special notice for failure to
                   determine  bin classification or  mean
                   Cryptosporidium level must contain the
                   following language:

                    We  are required  to monitor the source of
                   your  drinking water for Cryptosporidium in
                   order to  determine by  (date) whether water
                   treatment at the (treatment plant name) is
                   sufficient    to     adequately     remove
                   Cryptosporidium from  your drinking  water.
                                  §141.211

   We have not made this determination by the
   required  date. Our failure to do this may
   jeopardize our ability to have the required
   treatment modifications, if any, completed
   by the required deadline of (date). For more
   information, please call (name of water sys-
   tem  contact) of (name of water  system) at
   (phone number).

     (3) Each special notice must also in-
   clude  a description of what the system
   is doing to correct  the  violation and
   when  the system  expects to  return  to
   compliance or resolve the situation.

   [71 FR 768, Jan. 5, 2006]
TNCWS Public Notification Handbook
104
March 2010

-------