vvEPA Revised Public
Notification
Handbook
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
2nd Revision of Document: EPA 816-R-09-013, March 2010
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(Original Document: EPA 816-R-00-010, June 2000)
(Revised Document: EPA 816-R-07-003, March 2007)
(2nd Revision of Document: EPA 816-R-09-013, March 2010)
Office of Water (4606)
EPA-816-R-09-013
www.epa.gov/safewater
March 2010
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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 under Chapter 40, Part 40 CFR 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/publicnotification. A copy of Subpart Q of the Federal Register notice for the final PN rule (May
4, 2000) is in Appendix D.
This document includes public notification requirements and information for all regulations through May,
2009.
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Contents
Acronyms v
1. Introduction 1
Why is Effective Public Notification Important? 1
2. How to Use This Handbook 3
Appropriate Use of the Templates 4
3. Summary of Requirements 5
What kinds of violations and situations require public notice? 5
What information do I need to include in each notice for a violation or situation? 7
When and how do I need to notify my consumers? 8
Whom must I inform when a violation or situation occurs? 11
What if I selI water to other systems? 11
Does every notice need to be sent to everyone in my system? 12
What standard language do I have to include in my notices? 12
What information do I need to include for special notices for fluoride SMCL exceedances? 12
What do I need to include for special notices for unregulated contaminant monitoring? 13
What information do I need to include for special notices if my primacy agency has allowed my
noncommunity system to exceed the nitrate standard up to 20 mg/l? 13
What information do I need to include for special notice for repeated failure to conduct required
Cryptosporidium monitoring? 13
What information do I need to include for special notice for failure to determine my bin
classification or my mean Cryptosporidium level? 13
What if I have been issued a variance or exemption? 13
Are there formatting requirements for public notices? 14
Will I have to provide notices in languages other than English? 14
What information must I provide to my primacy agency? 15
4. Making Public Notification Work - Plan In Advance 17
Planning in Advance for Public Notification 17
Assemble Your Response Team 17
Understand Your Audience and How to Reach Them 18
Create Your Communication Channels 19
Prepare Your Messages 20
Make a Notice Easy to Read 22
Consider Contingencies 23
During a Violation or Situation Requiring Public Notification 23
Have Materials Readily Available 23
Help the Media to Distribute an Accurate Notice 24
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Other Steps 26
Preventing Overreaction to a Public Notice 26
Follow-up After the Situation is Resolved 27
5. Tier 1 Notice Requirements and Suggestions 29
What is the deadline for issuing a Tier 1 notice? 30
Which methods of delivery must I use? 30
Suggestions for Effective Public Notification Delivery 31
Suggestions for Layout of the Notice 33
Tier 1 Templates 35
Nitrate MCL Exceedance Notice-Template 1-1 38
Spanish Nitrate MCL Exceedance Notice - Template 1-1A 40
Nitrate Failure to Take a Confirmation Sample Notice-Template 1-2 42
Noncommunity PWSs Allowed Up to 20 mg/L Nitrate Notice -Template 1-3 44
TCR Fecal Coliform or £ coli Notice-Template 1-4 46
Spanish TCR Fecal Coliform or £ coli Notice -Template 1-4A 48
Waterborne Disease Outbreak Notice-Template 1-5 50
"Problem Corrected" Notice-Template 1-6 52
IESWTR or LT1ESWTR CFE Maximum Turbidity Exceedance, or Turbidity Single Exceedance as
Tier 1 Notice-Template 1-7 54
Stage 1 DBPR Chlorine Dioxide MRDL (Tier 1) Notice -Template 1-8 56
GWR Fecal Indicator-Positive Source Sample Notice -Template 1-9 58
6. Tier 2 Notice Requirements and Suggestions 59
What is the deadline for issuing a Tier 2 notice? 59
When might a Tier 2 violation be elevated to Tier 1? 60
Which methods of delivery must I use? 61
Suggestions for Effective Public Notification Delivery 61
Suggestions for Layout of the Notice 62
Tier 2 Templates 65
Unresolved Total Coliform Notice -Template 2-1 68
Resolved Total Coliform Notice -Template 2-2 70
Chemical or Radiological MCLs Notice -Template 2-3 72
Fluoride MCL Notice-Template 2-4 74
SWTR Failure to Filter Notice-Template 2-5 76
SWTRs Turbidity Exceedance Notice -Template 2-6 78
SWTR Disinfection Treatment Notices -Template 2-7 80
LCR Failure to Install Corrosion Control Notice -Template 2-8 82
LT2ESWTR Uncovered Finished Water Reservoir Treatment Notice -Template 2-9 84
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LT2ESWTR Failure to Conduct Required Cryptosporidium Monitoring For Any Three Months
Notice - Template 2-10 86
LT2ESWTR Filtered System Failure to Determine and Report Bin Classification Notice -
Template 2-11 88
LT2ESWTR Unfiltered System Failure to Calculate and Report Mean Cryptosporidium Level
Notice-Template 2-12 90
LT2ESWTR Filtered System Failure to Provide or Install an Additional Level of Treatment
Notice-Template 2-13 92
LT2ESWTR Unfiltered System Failure to Achieve Required Inactivation Level Notice -
Template 2-14 94
LT2ESWTR Filtered System Failure to Achieve Required Treatment Credit Notice -
Template 2-15 96
LT2ESWTR Unfiltered System Failure to Maintain Required Inactivation Level Notice-
Template 2-16 98
LT2ESWTR Unfiltered System Failure to Install Second Disinfectant Notice -
Template 2-17 100
Stage 1 DBPRTTHM or HAA5 MCL Violation Notice-Template 2-18 102
Stage 2 DBPRTTHM or HAA5 MCL Violation Notice-Template 2-19 104
Filter Backwash Recycling Rule Treatment Technique Violation Notice-Template 2-20 106
GWR Failure to Take Corrective Action Within Required Time Frame Notice -
Template 2-21 108
GWR Failure to Maintain 4-Log Treatment of Viruses Notice-Template 2-22 110
Failure to Comply with the Conditions of an Exemption Notice -Template 2-23 112
Monitoring Violation Elevated to Tier 2 Notice -Template 2-24 114
7. Tier 3 Notice Requirements and Suggestions 115
What is the deadline for issuing a Tier 3 notice? 115
Which methods of delivery must I use? 116
Suggestions for Effective Public Notification Delivery 117
May I combine notices for multiple Tier 3 violations or situations? 117
Suggestions for the Layout of the Notice 118
Tier 3 Templates 120
Monitoring Violations Annual Notice -Template 3-1A 122
Monitoring Violations Annual Notice -Template 3-1B 124
Monitoring Violations Annual Notice -Template 3-1C 126
Failure to Comply with a Testing Procedure Notice - Template 3-2 128
Operating Under an Exemption Notice -Template 3-3 130
Special Notice for Availability of Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Data-
Template 3-4 132
Fluoride SMCL Notice-Template 3-5 134
Failure to Develop a Profile and/or Calculate a Benchmark Notice - Template 3-6 136
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Appendices
Appendix A NPDWR Violations and Situations 139
Appendix B Standard Health Effects Language for Public Notification 147
Appendix C Translated Phrases 157
Appendix D The Public Notification Rule (40 CFR Part 141, Subpart Q) 161
List of Tables
Table 1. Violations and Situations Requiring Public Notice 6
Table 2. Requirements for Issuing a Public Notice 10
List of Figures
Figure 1. The Required Elements of a Public Notice 9
Figure 2. Organizational Chart 21
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Acronyms
CCR Consumer Confidence Report
CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CFE Combined Filter Effluent
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
CWS Com m u n ity Water System
DBP Disinfection Byproducts
EAS Emergency Alert System
EPA United States (US) Environmental Protection Agency
FBRR Filter Backwash Recycling Rule
GWR Ground Water Rule
HAA5 Haloacetic acids (five)
HPC Heterotrophic Plate Count
IESWTR Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
IOC Inorganic Chemical
LCR Lead and Copper Rule
LT1 ESWTR Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
LT2ESWTR Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
MCL Maximum Contaminant Level
MCLG Maximum Contaminant Level Goal
mg/L Milligrams per Liter
MRDL Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level
MRDLG Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal
NCWS Noncommunity Water System
NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NPDWR National Primary Drinking Water Regulation
NTNCWS Non-Transient Noncommunity Water System
NTU Nephelometric Turbidity Unit
NWS National Weather Service
PN Public Notification
PWS Public Water System
SDWA Safe Drinking Water Act
SMCL Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level
Stage 1 DBPR Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
Stage 2 DBPR Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
SOC Synthetic Organic Chemical
SWTR Surface Water Treatment Rule
TCR Total Coliform Rule
TT Treatment Technique
TTHM Total Trihalomethanes
TNCWS Transient Noncommunity Water System
UV Ultraviolet Light
VOC Volatile Organic Chemical
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Public Notification Handbook vi March 2010
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1. Introduction
The purpose of this handbook is to explain the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Public
Notification (PN) Rule and provide examples of effective public notices. This handbook is designed to meet
the needs of public water systems (PWSs) of all sizes, including suggestions and instructions targeted to very
small community systems (systems that serve 500 people or fewer). Suggestions, along with other useful
hints for creating effective notices for all systems, are set aside in boxes throughout the handbook.
This version of the handbook updates the March 2007 version (EPA 816-R-07-003). It reflects necessary
changes in light of recent EPA regulations, including the Ground Water Rule (GWR) and other rule-related
updates. New templates for some violations and situations of these rules are included.
Why is Effective Public Notification Important?
Public notification is designed to protect public health. As a public water supplier, you are required by
law to prepare and distribute public notification to consumers. One of the best ways water systems can
contribute to community health is to make sure people within a service area know about water quality
issues and how to protect themselves from potential risks. Public notification of drinking water violations
and other situations provides a way to educate the public, protect public health, build trust with consumers
through open and honest sharing of information, and establish an ongoing, positive relationship with your
community. The greater the effort your water system makes to reach and inform everyone in your service
area using your system, the more they will trust your commitment to delivering safe water and protecting
public health.
This guidance is designed to help water systems understand public notification requirements and deliver
effective information to educate their public and protect community health. Throughout this document tips
and suggestions are provided to help you create an effective communication strategy for meeting the public
notification requirements under the PN Rule. The suggestions contained in this document are based on the
guiding principles for good risk communication and public education, including:
1. Accept and involve the public as a legitimate partner.
2. Plan carefully and evaluate your efforts.
3. Listen carefully to the public's concerns.
4. Be honest, frank, and open.
5. Coordinate and collaborate with other credible sources.
6. Meet the needs of the media.
7. Speak clearly and with compassion.1
The communication strategy outlined in this document will help water systems plan for effective public
notification by analyzing the population they serve, determining the best ways to reach consumers, and
creating effective channels for distributing public notices.
In addition to increasing the effectiveness of public notices, this handbook will help public water system
: Covello, V.T. and Sandman, P.M. 2001. "Risk Communication: Evolution and Revolution." In: Wolbarst, A, ed. Solu-
tions to and Environment in Peril. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, pp 164-178.
Public Notification Handbook 1 March 2010
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owners and operators comply with federal and state requirements. State and tribal primacy agencies will find
this handbook useful as well. The PN Rule also provides flexibility to primacy agencies, allowing them to
set different, perhaps more stringent, requirements on both a case-by-case and a rule-by-rule basis. Systems
should keep this in mind when using the handbook.
Finally, as you read, you will notice references in parentheses throughout the document. These are references
to the appropriate federal regulatory requirement found in the federal PN Rule (see Appendix D) and are
included to help you understand the particular requirement being discussed.
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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. The steps to take to respond to a drinking water violation
or other situation requiring notice are listed below:
1. Determine what tier your violation or situation falls into. Use Table 1 in Chapter 3 for a summary
of violations and situations requiring notice and your deadline for providing public notice. You can also
refer to Appendix A for a listing by contaminant [40 CFR 141.201 (a)].
2. Consult your primacy agency if required.
For Tier 1 violations and situations, consult with your primacy agency 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, even if you are unable to contact the primacy agency.
For single exceedances of turbidity limits or for a two-day turbidity maximum contaminant level
(MCL) violation, immediately consult with your primacy agency when you learn of the violation.
Your primacy agency will determine whether the violation needs to be elevated to Tier 1 [40 CFR
I4l.203(b)(3)].
3. Review the requirements for public notices. Read Chapter 3 "Summary of Requirements" in this
Guidance, which describes content, mandatory language, formatting, and the distribution requirements
that are applicable to all notices. Chapter 4 provides guidance on effective public communication.
4. Determine the appropriate method(s) of delivery. Chapters 5, 6, and 7 describe required delivery
methods for Tier 1, 2, and 3 notices, respectively, as well as ideas for creating the most effective notice
possible. Required methods vary based on system type and tier. If you operate a transient noncommunity
water system (TNCWS), read the "Public Notification Handbook for Transient Noncommunity Water
Systems" (EPA 816-R-09-009) for assistance on delivery methods.
5. Develop a notice; you can use the templates that fit your situation or write your own. A list of templates
is provided in the table of contents. At the ends of Chapters 5, 6, and 7 are templates for commonly
occurring violations and situations, along with specific instructions for modifying each template. The
instructions for each template are on the front of the page; the corresponding template is on the back.
These templates are also available in Microsoft Word format on EPA's Web site at http://www.epa.gov/
safewater/publicnotification/compliancehelp templates.html. If there is no template for your specific
violation or situation, write your own notice using the list of required elements in Chapter 3 or other
applicable requirements provided in Chapter 3, and follow the suggestions on layout in Chapters 5
through 7. You can also use a Web-based tool developed by EPA (PNiWriter) to create your notice. This
tool is located on the EPA Web site at http://www.pniwriter.com. Most violations and situations have
required language regarding health effects [40 CFR I4l.205(d)]. This language is discussed in Chapter
3, is found in Appendix B, and is included in the templates provided in this document.
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6. Translate the notice. If a large proportion of the population you serve does not speak English [40
CFR I4l.205(c)], translate the notice into the appropriate languages. See Chapter 3 for more on how
to determine if you need translations and how to get help translating notices. See Appendix C of this
document for a few important and relevant phrases translated into various languages.
7. Provide your notice to persons served as soon as practical, but within the required time frame. Use
the method of delivery chosen in step 4 above.
8. Send a copy of each notice issued (including repeat notices) to your primacy agency 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)]. See the sample certification statement in Chapter 3.
Appropriate Use of the Templates
The templates in this handbook are designed to help operators create public notices for a variety of
violations. However, it is important to note that the templates included here are not all-inclusive and
may not be appropriate for all violations and situations. Depending on the severity of your violation or
situation, it may be necessary to modify the instructions you give to consumers or to change the timing of
the notice. For instance, if contaminant levels are ten times the standard (rather than a slight exceedance),
you may want to tell your consumers they should not drink the water. In these cases, you should issue
a notice immediately, rather than waiting up to 30 days. It is important to consult your local health
department or primacy agency in such situations. In some cases, your primacy agency may instruct you to
modify the timing or the notice to fit the situation.
Note that the public notice requirements described in this handbook are based on federal regulations. States
or tribes may have alternate public notice requirements or more stringent drinking water standards. You
should consult with the primacy agency in order to meet its specific requirements.
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3.Summary of Requirements
This Chapter summarizes the federal PN Rule requirements. This Chapter discusses the types of violations or
situations that require public notice, the required elements of a public notice, and the timing and method of
delivery of the notice based on the severity of the potential health risk. Except where noted, all requirements in this
Chapter can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 40 CFR 141, Subpart Q, beginning at section
40 CFR 141.201. See Appendix D for a copy of this regulation. Check with your primacy agency to see if more
stringent requirements apply.
What kinds of violations and situations require public notice?
In general, public notice is required for any of the following violations:
> Exceedances of maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) or maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs).
*• Violations of treatment techniques.
> Monitoring and testing procedure violations.
*• Failure to comply with the schedule of a variance or exemption.
Other situations (not violations) which require notice include:
> Occurrence of a waterborne disease outbreak or other waterborne emergency.
*• Ground Water Rule fecal indicator-positive source samples.
> Exceedance of the nitrate MCL in noncommunity systems that have been granted permission by the
primacy agency to continue to exceed the nitrate MCL of 10 milligrams per liter (mg/L) (although they
must not exceed 20 mg/1).
> Exceedance of the secondary maximum contaminant level (SMCL) for fluoride (community water
systems only).
> Operation under a variance or exemption.
> Availability of unregulated contaminant monitoring results.
Primacy agencies may also require notice for other violations and situations.
EPA has assigned each violation and situation requiring notice to one of three categories, or tiers, based
on the risk of adverse health effects (see Appendix A). Tier 1 notice is for violations and situations with
significant potential to have serious adverse health effects on human health as a result of short term exposure.
Tier 2 notice is for violations and situations with potential to have serious adverse health effects on human
health. Tier 3 notice is for all other violations and situations not included in Tier 1 or Tier 2. Table 1 on the
next page shows the organization of violations and situations into tiers based on the seriousness of potential
adverse health effects. For a complete list of contaminants and their appropriate tiers, refer to Appendix A.
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Table 1. Violations and Situations Requiring Public Notice
Tier 1 Violations and Other Situations Requiring Notice Within 24 Hours*
Violation of the MCL for total coliform, when fecal coliform or E. coli are present in the water
distribution system, or failure to test for fecal coliform or E. coli when any repeat sample tests positive for
coliform.
Violation of the MCL for nitrate or nitrite, or when a confirmation sample is not taken within 24 hours of
the system's receipt of the first sample showing exceedance of the nitrate or nitrite MCL.
Exceedance of the nitrate MCL (10 mg/l) by noncommunity water systems (NCWSs), where permitted to
exceed the MCL (up to 20 mg/l) by the primacy agency.
Violations of the MRDL for chlorine dioxide when one or more of the samples taken in the distribution
system 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 the turbidity MCL of 5 NTU, where the primacy agency determines after consultation that
a Tier 1 notice is required or where consultation does not occur in 24 hours after the system learns of
violation.
Violation of the treatment technique (TT) requirement resulting from a single exceedance of the
maximum allowable turbidity limit, where the primacy agency determines after consultation that a Tier
1 notice is required or where consultation does not take place in 24 hours after the system learns of
violation.
Occurrence of a waterborne disease outbreak, as defined in 40 CFR 141.2, or other waterborne
emergency.
Detection of E. coli, enterococci, or coliphage in a ground water source sample.
Other violations or situations with significant potential for serious adverse effects on human health as a
result of short term exposure, as determined by the primacy agency either in its regulations or on a
case-by-case basis.
If your system has any of these violations or situations, in addition to issuing public notice, you must
initiate consultation with your primacy agency as soon as practical but within 24 hours after you learn of
the violation or situation. See Chapter 5 for more details.
Tier 2 Violations and Other Situations Requiring Notice Within 30 Days**
>• All violations of the MCL, MRDL, and treatment technique (TT) requirements except where Tier 1 notice
is required.
>• Violations of monitoring requirements where the primacy agency determines that a Tier 2 public
notice is required, taking into account potential health impacts and persistence of the violation.
>• Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of any variance or exemption in place.
>• For ground water systems providing 4-log treatment for viruses, failure to maintain required 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.
>• 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.
>• Special public notice for repeated failure to conduct monitoring for Cryptosporidium (40 CFR 141.211).
** If you exceed the maximum allowable turbidity level, as identified in Appendix A, you must consult with
your primacy agency as soon as practical but no later than 24 hours after learning of the violation. See
Chapter 6 for more details.
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Tier 3 Violations and Other Situations Requiring Notice Within 1 Year
Monitoring violations, except where Tier 1 or Tier 2 notice is required or the primacy agency determines
that the violation requires a Tier 2 notice.
Failure to comply with an established testing procedure, except where Tier 1 notice is required or the
primacy agency determines that the violation requires a Tier 2 notice.
Operation under a variance granted under section 1415 or exemption granted under section 1416 of
the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Availability of unregulated contaminant monitoring results.
Exceedance of the secondary maximum contaminant level for fluoride (community water systems only).
SPECIAL NOTICE FOR UNCORRECTED SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES
Under the Ground Water Rule, if the primacy agency identifies a significant deficiency and it is uncorrected (after a specified
amount of time), special notice is required.
For community water systems, this notice would be provided in your Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). Please see the
CCR guidance document "Preparing Your Drinking Water Consumer Confidence Report - Guidance for Water Suppliers —
2nd Revision" (EPA 816-R-09-011).
For noncommunity water 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 in
Table 1 has occurred. This special notice is not a public notification requirement and, therefore, the content, 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 primacy agency, and the primacy agency-approved plan and schedule for correction (including interim
measures, progress to date, and any interim measures completed) [40 CFR I4l.403(a)(7)(ii)]. If you have a large proportion
of non-English speaking consumers, as determined by the primacy agency, you must include 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.
The following text illustrates an example of special notice for this violation:
On September 14, 2013, we were informed by the State Department of Public Health that a significant deficiency, two leaking septic
tanks near our source water supply, had been identified during a September 1, 2013, sanitary survey.
As required, we contacted the State Department of Public Health and were directed to make arrangements with the owner of the
property on which the septic tanks are located to have the tanks replaced. We did not do so within the established deadline. Since
being informed of the deficiency, we have been conducting regular testing of our source water and we are implementing the corrective
action plan established by the Department of Public Health. Under this plan, the leaking tanks will be replaced by October 20,
2014.
What information do I need to include in each notice for a violation or
situation?
Your public notice must include specific information in order to be considered complete. For each violation
and situation requiring notice (except for fluoride secondary maximum contaminant level (SMCL)
exceedances, availability of unregulated contaminant monitoring data, and operation under a variance or
exemption), you must provide a clear and easy-to-understand explanation of the following 10 elements [40
CFRl4l.205(a)]:
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1. Description of the violation or situation, including the contaminant(s) of concern, and (as
applicable) the contaminant level(s).
2. When the violation or situation occurred (e.g., date the sample was collected or was supposed to be
collected).
3. Any potential adverse health effects from the violation or situation, using standard language for
health effects provided in Appendix B to Subpart Q or for monitoring or testing procedure violations
provided in 40 CFR I4l.205(d)(2) or later in this Chapter.
4. The population at risk, including subpopulations that may be particularly vulnerable if exposed to
the contaminant in their drinking water.
5. Whether alternate 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 or resolve the situation.
9. Your name, business address, and phone number or those of a designee of the public water system as
a source of additional information concerning the notice.
10. A statement encouraging notice recipients to distribute the notice to others, where applicable, using
the standard language given in this chapter.
Figure 1 contains an example showing how all the required elements fit into a public notice. Some required
elements may not apply to every violation or situation. However, you must still address these elements in
your notice. For example, consider item 6 - actions consumers should take. If it is unnecessary for consumers
to boil their water or drink bottled water, do not leave this item out. Instead, tell them they do not need
to do so. This is especially important for Tier 2 notices, where a violation may have been resolved by the
time the notice is issued or may not be an immediate health risk. You should ask your primacy agency or
a local health department for the appropriate information for some elements of the notice, such as actions
consumers should take to protect their health. The local health department also can help you identify other
system-specific information, such as vulnerable populations (e.g., children, dialysis patients) and effective
communication channels for reaching them. It would be valuable to acquire contacts and have these
discussions prior to an event (see Chapter 4).
If you do not know when your system will return to compliance, state that honestly and give your consumers
an idea of how long it may take. For example, an E. coli violation might be addressed within days, whereas
installation of corrosion control might take months. When talking about potential health risks, you
should always be straightforward even if that means admitting the cause of the problem is not completely
understood. If you are overly optimistic in your estimate of the time required to address a problem and your
system does not meet your estimate, you may see public trust erode.
Some situations, such as waterborne emergencies, may not have mandatory health effects language. In these
cases you must provide system-specific wording that describes potential health effects. You may be able to
adapt the language from another treatment technique or MCL violation.
When and how do I need to notify my consumers?
After you learn of a violation or situation, public notice must be provided within the required timeframe
and using the specified delivery methods as summarized in Table 2 below. The tier to which a violation
or situation is assigned determines the timeframe and delivery method of the public notice. Delivery
requirements for community water systems (CWSs) and noncommunity water systems (NCWSs) differ,
as indicated in Table 2. Transient noncommunity water system owners and operators should refer to the
"Public Notification Handbook for Transient Noncommunity Water Systems" (EPA 816-R-09-009) to see
requirements that are specific to them.
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Figure 1
The Required Elements of a Public Notice
2) When the
violation or
situation
occurred
6) Actions
consumers
should take
3) Potential
health effects
7} What is being
done to correct
the violation or
situation
10) Required
distribution
language
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
Tests Showed Co liform Bacteria in Jo nesville Mobile Home Park Water
We routinely m onitor f or drinking water contaminants. We to ok thre e >
samples to test for the presence ofcoliform bacteria during July. Two of our
samplesshowed the presence oftotalcoliform bacteria.The standard is that
nomorethanl sampleperm onth m ay do so.
What should I do?
I
• You do notneed to boil your water or take other corrective actions.
H owever, if you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.
You do not need to use an alternate (e.g. bottled) water supply. -
•If you have a severely com promised immune system, have an infant, are
pregnant, or are elderly, you maybe at increased risk and should seek
advice from your health care providers about drinking this water.
General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes
are available from EPA's Safe Drinking Water H otline at 1 -800-426-
4791.
Wlia t do es this in ea n?
This is not an em ergency. I f it ha d b e en y ou would ha ve b e en notif ie d within
24 hours. Total coliform bacteria are generally not harmful them selves.
CoUforms are bacteria which are naturally present in the environment and
are used as an indicator that other, potentially-harmful, bacteria may be
present. CoSiforms were found in more samples than allowed andthis was a
warning of potential problems.
Usually, coliforms are a sign that there could be a problem with our treatment
or distribution system (pipes). Whenever we detect coliform bacteria in any
sample, we do follow-up testing to see if other bacteria of greater concern,
suchasfecal coliform or S. coli, are present. We did not find any of these
b acteria in o ur sub sequent testing.
What was done?
We took additional samples for coliform bacteria which all came back
negative. As an added precaution, we chlorinated and flushed the pipes in the
distribution system to make sure bacteria were eliminated. This situation is
now re solved.
For m ore inform ation, or to learn m ore about protecting your drinking water
please contact John Jones at 1-502-335-1213. ^ —————
^Please share this information with all the other people who drinkthis water,
especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example,
people in apartments, nursinghomes, schools, and businesses). You can do
this bypostingthis notice in a public place or distributingcopies by hand or
mail.
This notice is being sent to you by the Jonesville Mobile H om e Park.
State Water System ID#1234567. Date Distributed: 8/8/09.
1) Description of
/ the violation or
situation
5) Should
alternate water
supplies he
used
4) The population
at risk
8) When the system
expects to return
to compliance
9) Name and Phone
number for more
~ information
Public Notification Handbook
March 2010
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Table 2. Requirements for Issuing a Public Notice
Violation
Tier
1
2
3
Deadline for
Initial Notice
24 hours**
30 days ***
1 year****
Repeat
Notices *
As directed
by the
primacy
agency
Every 3
months
Annually
Delivery Methods to Use
1) Broadcast media (radio or television), posting, or
hand delivery.
2) In consultation with the primacy agency, additional
methods may be required.
CWS:
1) Mail or hand delivery.
2) Another method as needed to reach consumers not
likely to receive a notice from methods noted in item
#1.
NCWS:
1) Posting, hand delivery, or mail.
2) Another method as needed to reach consumers not
likely to receive a notice from methods noted in item
#1.
CWS:
1) Mail or hand delivery (public notice delivery may be
provided by CCR if one year requirement is met).
2) Another method as needed to reach consumers not
likely to receive a notice from methods noted in item
#1.
NCWS:
1) Posting, hand delivery, or mail.
2) Another method as needed to reach consumers not
likely to receive a notice from methods noted in item
#1.
Go To...
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
* Repeated notices are required if the violation or situation persists, unless otherwise directed by the primacy agency.
** For Tier 1 notices, systems must also initiate consultation with the primacy agency 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 primacy agency within 24 hours after learning of the
violation.
**** £p^ recommends consolidating all Tier 3 violations and situations occurring within a given year into an annual notice.
Refer to page 1 17 for more information.
Public Notification Handbook
10
March 2010
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Whom must I inform when a violation or situation occurs?
If you are faced with a violation or situation requiring public notification, you must provide the notice
to persons served by your system. This means you must take all reasonable steps to inform people if they
would not be reached by the most commonly used methods of notification. This does not mean that every
person in the area served by the system must be notified (this may be impossible), but you must identify
different types of consumers and make an effort to reach them. Additionally, every new billing customer or
unit must be notified of any ongoing violations or situations for which notice has previously been issued. A
noncommunity system's notices must be posted for as long as a violation or situation lasts. Remember that
the most effective public notices—those that protect public health and build consumer understanding and
trust—reach the largest possible group of people.
For example, if a community water system mails a notice to its billing customers only, people who do not
receive water bills, such as tenants whose utilities are included in their rent or people who work in the area
served by the system but live elsewhere, would not receive a notice. Publishing a notice in the newspaper and
providing copies of the notice to landlords to distribute to their tenants would help reach those people. At
a noncommunity system, hand delivery of notices would reach only those consumers who are present when
the notices are distributed. Posting would reach visitors or newcomers.
You are required to include standard language in your notices that encourages distribution of the notice,
where applicable. This language is included in Chapter 3 (page 12) and is intended to increase public
awareness of the situation. Use of this language does not relieve you of your obligation to notify persons
served, however.
What if I sell water to other systems?
If you sell or otherwise provide drinking water to other public water systems, you are required to give public
notice of a violation or situation to the owner or operator of any systems to whom you sell water. (Selling
systems are known as "wholesale" systems; purchasing systems are referred to as "consecutive" systems.) As
a wholesale system, you are not required under the PN Rule to distribute notice to persons served by the
consecutive systems. It is the responsibility of the consecutive system to provide public notice to the people
it serves. For example, if you supply water to six other systems, the PN Rule requires you to provide public
notice to the owner or operator of each of the other six water systems. Each of the six consecutive systems
must, in turn, provide notice to the persons they serve within the appropriate deadline.
The "clock" for public notification (i.e., the point in time from which the deadline for notification is
determined) begins for each of the consecutive systems when they are notified of the violation or situation.
In a situation where a system purchases water, then sells some of this water to another system, this could
have a "multiplying" effect. In a Tier 1 situation, for example, the notification deadline for the third system
could be up to three days after the violation was originally identified. In such circumstances, it may be easier
and more appropriate for you as the wholesale system to notify all consumers of consecutive systems by
broadcasting the notice over television or radio, or for you and the consecutive systems to issue joint notices.
In general, you should send copies of the notice to their consecutive systems prior to notifying the media, if
time permits. You should incorporate procedures and chains of communication for such situations into your
emergency management or communications plan. In addition, any memoranda of understanding you sign
with other water systems should spell out each system's public notification responsibilities.
Public Notification Handbook 11 March 2010
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Does every notice need to be sent to everyone in my system?
In general, notices must be provided to all people who are served by the system. However, in some cases
where a portion of the distribution system is physically or hydraulically isolated from the rest of the
distribution system, your primacy agency may allow you to notify only those people in the portion of the
distribution system that is out of compliance. For example, if you have a TCR violation in a portion of your
distribution system that is hydraulically disconnected from the rest of the system, you may request from your
primacy agency to provide notice to only those consumers in that portion of the distribution system. You
must receive written permission from your primacy agency to limit distribution of a notice.
This may also apply to purchasing systems. If a consecutive connection is in an area of the distribution
system that is isolated from other parts of the distribution system, and that portion of the distribution
serving the purchasing system is in compliance, your primacy agency may not require you to notify the
purchasing system of the violation. Again, permission to limit distribution of the notice must be in writing.
What standard language do I have to include in my notices?
Health effects language forMCL andMRDL violations, treatment technique violations, and violations of the
conditions of a variance or exemption. You must include the health effects language specified in Appendix
B for such violations. You must also describe potential health effects for other situations, even if there is no
mandatory language. Contact your local health department or primary agency for suggestions.
Language to encourage the widest possible distribution of the notice to all persons served. You must include the
following language in all notices where applicable. There are situations where this may not apply—for
example this language would probably not be necessary on a posted notice, since posting makes the notice
available to everyone who passes by. It would also not be needed for a notice provided by broadcast and print
media. Use of this language does not relieve you of your obligation to notify persons served:
"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."
Language for monitoring violations (including testing procedure violations). You must include the following
language for all monitoring and testing procedure violations:
"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."
What information do I need to include for special notices for fluoride
SMCL exceedances?
Community water systems that exceed the SMCL of 2 mg/1 for fluoride but do not exceed the MCL of 4
mg/1 must include the special fluoride language shown in Template 3-5 and fill in the blanks as appropriate.
You do not need to include the ten elements listed in Figure 1. You must provide notice as soon as practical
but no later than 12 months after you learn of the exceedance and repeat the notice annually as long as
Public Notification Handbook 12 March 2010
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the exceedance persists. See Chapter 7 for more information. Primacy agencies may require earlier initial
notification or more frequent repeat notification on a case-by-case basis.
What do I need to include for special notices for unregulated contaminant
monitoring?
If you monitor for unregulated contaminants, you must issue a public notice stating that the results of the
monitoring are available and give a phone number to call for those results. You do not need to include the
ten elements listed in Figure 1, but you must follow the Tier 3 schedule. See Template 3-4 (Chapter 7, page
132) for an example. Community water systems may include this information in an annual notice for Tier
3 violations and situations or in your Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). See Chapter 7 (page 117) for
more information. If you include this information in your CCR, the CCR must be issued within 12 months
of receiving the monitoring results. Please note that any detected unregulated contaminant monitoring must
be reported in the system's CCR table of detected contaminants.
What information do I need to include for special notices if my primacy
agency has allowed my noncommunity system to exceed the nitrate
standard up to 20 mg/l?
Noncommunity systems that have been given permission by the primacy agency to provide water in excess of
the nitrate MCL (although no higher than 20 mg/l) are required to issue a Tier 1 special notice. The notice
must be continuously posted and must include required language shown in Template 1-3 (see Chapter 5,
page 44). The notice must contain the 10 required elements as listed in Figure 1.
What information do I need to include for special notice for repeated
failure to conduct required Cryptosporidium monitoring?
Surface water systems that incur a violation for failure to sample for Cryptosporidium in the source water
for any three months as required under the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
(LT2ESWTR) are required to issue a Tier 2 special notice. The notice must include required language
shown in Template 2-10 (see Chapter 6, page 86) as well as 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.
What information do I need to include for special notice for failure to
determine my bin classification or my mean Cryptosporidium level?
Surface water systems that fail to determine their bin classification or mean Cryptosporidium level after
completing source water monitoring required under LT2ESWTR are required to issue a Tier 2 special
notice. The notice must include required language shown in Templates 2-11 or 2-12 (see Chapter 6, pages
88 and 90, respectively) as well as 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.
What if I have been issued a variance or exemption?
Public notices for operating under a variance or exemption have different content requirements than notices
for the violations and situations described previously. If you are operating under a variance or exemption,
you must notify your consumers within one year of obtaining it and repeat the notice annually for as long as
the variance or exemption exists. You must include the following in your notice:
Public Notification Handbook 13 March 2010
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* An explanation of the reason(s) for the variance or exemption.
>• The date on which the variance or exemption was issued.
* A brief status report on the steps you are taking to install treatment, find alternative sources of water, or
otherwise comply with the terms and schedules of the variance or exemption.
>• A notice of any opportunity for public input in the review of the variance or exemption.
If you violate the conditions of the variance or exemption, you must issue a Tier 2 notice containing the
elements listed on page 8.
Are there formatting requirements for public notices?
All public notices must meet certain formatting standards. These requirements will help highlight your
notice in the newspaper and 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.
Your primacy agency may have special formatting requirements. Check to be sure that you meet all of its
requirements.
Will I have to provide notices in languages other than English?
Remember that your goal is to inform and protect the public and the best way to do that is to make it
easy for them to understand your message. Messages are easiest to understand when they are presented in
the audience's first language. When it comes to communicating risks, it is important to make it as easy as
possible for your audience to understand your message. Clarity and simplicity help people understand risks
and put them in perspective.
If a large proportion of the population you serve does not speak English, the PN rule requires that 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 primacy agency may have established criteria
for what constitutes a large proportion of the people you serve; check with the agency to be sure. If your
primacy agency does not define what constitutes a large proportion of non-English speaking consumers, it is
up to you to make this determination.
To find information on the languages spoken in your community, see the US Census Bureau's Web site,
http://factfinder.census.gov. The census database includes answers to questions about literacy levels, what
languages besides English are spoken at home and the level of English proficiency. (English proficiency
is important, because if a group tends to speak another language at home, but is also able to read and
understand English, a notification in a second language may not be necessary.) You should also be able to
find out the number of people who speak each language.
You should be more proactive in deciding whether to translate PNs than you would be for your CCR. Keep
Public Notification Handbook 14 March 2010
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in mind that public notices are about violations of drinking water standards or other situations that pose a
potential health risk, whereas CCRs are educational in nature (e.g., water source(s), overall water quality,
etc.). You may wish to provide notices in multiple languages if non-English speaking populations are in your
service area, whether or not they constitute a large proportion of your service population. Although you
are not required to provide full translations of notices, this is strongly recommended for Tier 1 notices and
for other violations that pose a serious health risk. Primacy agencies may be able to provide you with some
assistance in finding translators, but it is your responsibility to get the notice translated. See Chapter 4 for
more on identifying whether translated notices are needed, and how to reach non-English speaking people.
Chapter 5 includes Spanish templates for nitrate and fecal coliform notices along with the templates for Tier
1 violations and situations. In addition, Appendix C includes translations in several languages of important
phrases, such as "do not drink the water," "boil your water before using," and others.
What information must I provide to my primacy agency?
After you provide the notice to your consumers, you must, within ten days, send your primacy agency 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 public notification 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 primacy agency; they may have a
certification form they require to be submitted to them. If your primacy agency 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 primacy agency.
Sample Certification "Box"
PWS Name: fqive system namel
PWS ID #: [provide PWS numberl
For Violation: [describe violation or situation]
Occurring on: [insert date]
The public water system 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 primacy agency (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
Public Notification Handbook 15 March 2010
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Page Intentionally Left Blank.
Public Notification Handbook 16 March 2010
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4. Making Public Notification Work - Plan In Advance
Effective risk communication, particularly when potentially serious health risks are involved, requires
advanced planning, effective communication, and follow-up. The discussion that follows describes some of
the key steps you can take before, during, and after a situation that requires public notification. It includes
suggestions for making your communication efforts as effective as possible. Systems are not required to
perform all of the activities discussed in this Chapter; however, it will be helpful to them if they do.
Planning in Advance for Public Notification
Any advanced work you can do to prepare for a public notification effort will pay off if you are faced with
a violation or situation. Advanced planning will allow accurate information to be transferred quickly to all
affected consumers with ease and will allow for time to correct issues if situations do not go as planned.
When timing is critical, it will be less stressful on you if you have developed communication channels and
become familiar with the templates provided in this guidance ahead of time.
When your community and water system conduct emergency planning, include Tier 1 public notification
requirements in your plans. This way when a serious violation, waterborne disease outbreak, or other
emergency occurs you will already have in place an established process, chain of command, and knowledge
of the best communication channels and delivery methods for reaching your public. You will also have the
relationships, contacts, and understanding of key stakeholders that you will need if you are faced with a very
short turnaround time for communicating required information to the public.
Assemble Your Response Team
>• Develop a working relationship and response plan with your local health department so you have
an agreed-upon process for sharing information about water-related health risks and communicating with
the public. Consumers may call the health department for information about health risks described in
your communications. If you coordinate in advance, you can help to ensure that, regardless of whom they
call, your public hears consistent messages that will help them understand the risks and how to manage
them.
• Remember, situations that require public notices will probably affect health professionals in your
community. They will need accurate and clear information on contaminants and health risks so that
they can help your public understand the risks and how to manage them. Health professionals need
to understand how the violation or situation affects their patients (especially those professionals
who treat children, the elderly, pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems or
other sensitive subpopulations). Public health officials may know the most effective channels for
reaching your community's health providers. Discuss this in advance so that you are not trying to
find every clinic, doctor, and nurse in your community at the same time that you are trying to solve
a contamination problem. The local health department or sanitarian is also likely to have valuable
information to share about the populations you serve, particularly about the subpopulations most
vulnerable to water-related illnesses and ways to reach them.
>• Work with your community's emergency managers to establish ties with the state office that works with
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/National Weather Service (NWS) to access
the Emergency Alert System (EAS). Through memoranda of agreement between states and the NWS,
communities can broadcast alerts of non-weather emergencies, including drinking water violations and
Public Notification Handbook 17 March 2010
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situations, via NOAA Weather Radio and NOAA Weather Wire Service. This is a very effective delivery
method to have at your disposal in case of a violation or situation requiring a Tier 1 public notice.
>• Create a list of emergency contact numbers for all of the people who will be critical to your outreach
efforts, including public health representatives, webmasters that support your Web site and key Web
sites hosted by the local government, health department, media contacts, local government officials, and
leaders from the subpopulation groups you identify in your service community. Ensure this list is kept up
to date for future notices.
>• Identify printers or copying services that have the capacity to generate high volumes of copies, and
other vendors that supply services that you may need in an emergency.
>• Identify alternative water suppliers such as bottled water distributors in case you need to supply an
alternate source of water.
>• Find out whom you should contact at the primacy agency for cases where consultation is required.
Determine whether there are alternative procedures for notifying the agency when violations or situations
occur on weekends or holidays. Also, be sure you have a way to contact them during an emergency, such
as a power failure, that may cause them to not be at their place of business. This is especially true if you
routinely communicate via e-mail.
Understand Your Audience and How to Reach Them
Water systems need to know their customers before they are faced with a critical need to reach and inform
them. One of the most effective steps you can take to plan in advance for a public notice distribution
is to analyze and segment your service population. The key to segmenting your audience for effective
communication is to identify the number of discrete subgroups within your community that receive
information in different ways, require special advice, or have distinct communication needs. For example,
your community may consist of several language groups, several groups with different reading proficiencies,
multiple groups that obtain their information from different media sources, and sensitive subpopulations
that may require additional public health information. If you can identify these specific subgroups within
your community, and identify what differentiates each group, you will be better prepared to reach each
group effectively. Questions to research in advance include:
• Are there facilities in your service area that require additional content such as schools, hospitals, or
food preparation organizations?
• What languages are spoken in your service area?
• Within each language community, what percentage of people is also proficient in English?
• Are there large numbers of people in your service area with low literacy levels?
• Are low-literacy groups "clustered" in certain zip codes or neighborhoods?
• What sources of information do these groups rely on?
*• Consider your local media as another good source of information on your audience. It is the media's job
to know the community inside and out. Media outlets have an economic need to understand how to
reach various segments of the audience, and typically have a mission to "serve" the community. These two
goals mean that they likely have knowledge of various subgroups in your community; and contacts with
Public Notification Handbook 18 March 2010
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key leaders within those communities. Since you should establish relationships with the media anyway (as
partners in communication), one way to develop allies within the media is to recognize their knowledge
and abilities by asking them for valuable information about your service population.
• Determine the key local media that each subgroup looks to for information. For example, identify
non-English radio stations, television shows on cable access, and local public radio stations that may
appeal to your various target subgroups. Identify local foreign-language newspapers, and determine
which of these reach the most people. Remember that some may only be published weekly, and
would therefore not be appropriate for Tier 1 situations.
>• Identify community and ethnic group leaders and discuss with them your commitment to provide safe
drinking water to their constituents. These "grassroots" groups usually have a high level of contact with
target demographic groups, and tend to be trusted by them. Establish and maintain working alliances
with these grassroots organizations so that if you need to quickly distribute a message about the drinking
water in the future, you already have channels in place to reach your diverse audience. Building these
relationships will also demonstrate your concern for the community and establish a level of trust that will
increase the likelihood that they will assist you when needed.
>• Consider local government officials, neighborhood and civic associations, community leaders, large
employers, church leaders, grocery store owners, barber shop owners.. .everyone who has the ear of a
particular subgroup within your community is a potential ally.
• Ethnic organizations, churches/mosques/synagogues, and multicultural centers are in touch with the
needs and concerns of specific racial, religious, or ethnic groups, including people who cannot speak
or read English.
• Health care providers, hospital and nursing home directors, and social service providers, are a
first source of information for many people, especially vulnerable populations, such as elderly
populations, cancer patients, or HIV/AIDS patients.
Consider how you can deliver your messages most effectively to each subgroup in your community. Different
audiences demand different messages because they have differing concerns and, sometimes, different ways of
absorbing information.
In the discussion below of how to make materials more readable, you will find suggestions for including
graphics and other visual cues to help your audience understand printed information. Also consider that
some of your audience may have low-literacy skills or visual impairments that make it difficult to process
written information and consider how you can provide information to them through television, radio, in
public meetings or through word-of mouth. You may want to ensure radio or televised announcements
are provided late at night and early in the morning to help ensure consumers on such schedules receive
the information. Also, remember that not all of your customers are residential. Some of your commercial
customers may want information about how the violation or situation affects them (e.g., can a restaurant
owner use the water for cooking, can a landscape business use the water on their plants, etc.).
Create Your Communication Channels
Once you have analyzed your population and have an idea of the multiple groups you will want to reach in
the event of a public notice, establish the relationships and processes you will need to have in place to work
through those groups to reach your target audiences. For example, if you know you have a large Hispanic
population in your service area and that many members of the community tend to listen to specific radio
Public Notification Handbook 19 March 2010
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stations, watch certain television programs, read particular periodicals and convene at specific locations,
make advance connections to those sources of information. Preparing an organizational chart that maps
communication channels and maintains current contacts is recommended (see Figure 2).
>• Call on the media that can help you reach your target communities. Explain your commitment to
providing safe drinking water and that you will sometimes need to reach as many people as possible in a
short time period to share important health messages. Enlist them in your cause and establish a process
for sharing information with these "third-party communicators" so that they can help you distribute
public notices. Explain ahead of time what constitutes an emergency and what it means if you contact
them in the future to request help with distribution of a public notice.
• Develop relationships with the media. Hold an annual media day where you can offer tours and
explain how your system operates, including any improvements you may be implementing. In
addition, find out if local news outlets hold community outreach days. The more informed your
local media is about your water system, the more accurate and positive they will be when writing
about a violation or situation. Cultivate a positive image—that your water system is a resource to
protect, not simply another "utility." Designate one person on your staff to serve as a liaison to
the media. Establish a relationship with a key reporter (e.g., someone who covers environmental
or public health issues), so that you can make quick contact with them in an emergency. A good
relationship will improve the likelihood that your message is aired the way that you want it to be.
• Ask your media contacts what kind of information about water quality issues they would find
valuable, in case of an emergency, and prepare draft materials for the media. Make it easy for the
media to cover your story correctly.
>• Establish contacts with institutions and people who can translate notices into other languages for you
and help you target non-English speaking populations to receive translated notices. Community centers,
universities, high school teachers, and community activists can help provide translations. Make contacts
ahead of time for low-cost translations. Consider word-of-mouth as a good way to get notices to non-
English speaking consumers, especially if there are no television or radio stations or newspapers in those
languages. To stimulate word-of-mouth transfer of information, you need to have relationships with
opinion leaders who are well connected within each community you want to reach. It is also important
to work with community or ethnic organizations, such as churches, mosques, temples, and community
associations to make sure the notice gets to non-English speaking consumers. See Chapter 3 for
information on the multi-lingual requirements for public notices.
>• Each public notification tier has required methods of delivery. Review this handbook in advance of a
violation or situation so that you are prepared to distribute information within each required timeframe
and as quickly and widely as possible.
Prepare Your Messages
Do not wait for a violation or situation to occur to begin preparing your messages. Think ahead about the
key concerns that each of your subgroups may have in the case of different violations or situations, and
identify specific subgroups that may face particular health risks from different contaminants to treatment
problems.
* Review the templates provided in this handbook now, before timing is critical, to ensure the message will
address the specific needs of your system. Modify the templates, if necessary, to meet the needs of your
system.
Public Notification Handbook 20 March 2010
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c
o'
•z.
O
Figure 2
Organizational Chart
0)
D
Q.
"
O
O
-
Public Water System
Public Communications
Point Person
Name;
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Information
Response Contacts
Key
Sub-populations
Local
Health
Department
Contact
Name:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Emergency
Alert
System
Contact
Name'
Phone
Fax:
Email:
Web
Services
Ma me
Phone
Fax:
Email:
Madia
Contacts
Local
Radio
Name
Phone
Fax:
Email:
Printer/
Copy
Service
Name
Phone
Fax:
Email:
Local TV
Name
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Local
Pa par
Name
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Primacy
Agency
Contact
Name:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Non-English
Speaking
Populations
Alternative Water
Supply
immune
Comprimised
Populations
Elderly
Populations
Bottled
Water
Distributor
Name:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Key Facilities
Health Care
Providers
Name:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Commynity
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Name:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Eihnie
Organ ii^tions
Name:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Translation
Services
Name:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Hospitals
Name:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Schools
and
Churches
Name:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Nursing
Homes
Name:
Phone:
Fax:
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>• If possible, test your messages ahead of time with groups who can serve as surrogate audiences.
While EPA has tested public notice templates in this handbook with focus groups for readability and
understandability, consider having focus groups and special interest groups (e.g., the elderly, non-English
speaking, renters, etc.) evaluate your public notices and process to provide feedback. Of course, any time
you are faced with a situation that requires a public notice, you should pay attention to the reactions
among your consumers, so if you are faced with a similar situation in the future, any difficulties will not
be repeated.
>• Train spokespersons, build Web pages, create fact sheets and brochures and develop agendas for public
meetings in advance. In the wake of a crisis you will be glad to have draft materials ready for final review
and quick distribution.
>• If applicable, consider including a statement in your message that the primacy agency regulations are
more stringent than the federal regulations.
Preparing your message in advance will be especially useful if you know your system is at risk of a violation.
For example if contaminant levels are below the MCL but have the potential in the future to exceed it, or if
there are recurring pollution problems associated with naturally occurring contaminants or land uses in your
area, you can prepare a notice in anticipation of a possible violation.
Even emergency situations will generate a number of common concerns. When a violation or situation
affects their drinking water, people will be most concerned with what they need to do, whether they or their
family are at risk, and what is being done to address the situation. For more information on communicating
risk, refer to EPA's Web site at: http://www. epa.gov/nhsrc/pubs/600r07027.pdf.
Make a Notice Easy to Read
Most readers only read the top half of a notice (or what can be read in ten seconds) and focus on large
text such as headings and bolded text. The most important information, especially instructions to protect
consumers' health, should be placed on the top half of the notice in large print. Smaller type is appropriate
for the less critical elements, such as 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. See page 8 for a list of the 10
requested elements.
>• Try to limit wordiness. A question and answer format is easy to read and guides readers to the
information that is likely to concern them. Each paragraph should only deal with one topic and it is very
important to limit the number of different messages you include in your communications. When dealing
with potential health risks, people become emotional and have difficulty processing information. The best
way to help your public understand your public notice is to present a limited number of messages and
to strive for consistency of messaging across all communications media. If people hear your few, simple
messages over and over again, they are more likely to accurately estimate their risks and to take the right
steps to manage them.
>• Put the most important components of the message (i.e., those that have the greatest implications for
protecting public health) at the top of the notice in large text. The templates for public notices included
in Chapters 5, 6, and 7, provide examples of messages that meet the requirements of the federal PN Rule,
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and are clear, concise, and understandable.
>• Use a font for your public notice that is easy to read. The font used for the public notice templates in this
document is Arial which is a sans serif font.
>• Use graphics, such as photographs or drawings, to illustrate your messages. Wherever possible, provide an
image that describes the actions the public should take to protect themselves from potential health risks.
Appendix C includes simple pictures that convey the concept of "do not drink the water," that would be
understood by someone who cannot read.
>• Highlight the name of your system, especially where people in your area are served by more than one
water system. You may also want to prepare a map showing the area you serve, especially if it extends
beyond city limits. You may want to print the notices on your system's letterhead which, coupled with
the title of the notice, will help people recognize that the notice is important.
Consider Contingencies
You may need to provide bottled water, especially for a Tier 1 violation or situation. You should confirm
ahead of time, and periodically reconfirm, that available bottled water supplies meet the Food and Drug
Administration or state safety standards by asking bottlers for their most recent testing results. Make sure
your bottled water supplier understands your emergency plan and has its own plan for providing you
with large quantities of water on short notice. You should also try and secure a commitment from the
supplier to provide water to you before others in an emergency situation.
During a Violation or Situation Requiring Public Notification
Have Materials Readily Available
Obtain fact sheets on contaminants from EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or the
Agency's Web site at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwhealth.html. This way if you issue a public notice
in the future, you will already have the explanatory materials your consumers may ask for after receiving
your notice. EPA's fact sheets are updated periodically, so check EPA's Web site regularly to make sure that
you have the most recent version. You may consider including the Agency's Web site on the public notice
so that consumers may obtain information directly regarding public notification and the contaminant of
concern. In addition, consider including your system's Web site, if you have one, on the public notice if
you plan to have up-to-date information regarding the situation on the Web site. The EPA Hotline can
also provide phone numbers for state laboratory certification offices, where you can get a list of laboratories
certified to analyze tap water.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a good source of information on drinking
water contaminants that can cause disease and their Web site includes documents and factsheets on
contaminants and diseases, including Cryptosporidium (http://www.cdc.gov, 1-800-311-3435). For
instance, guidelines on notification for cryptosporidiosis are available in the CDC's Cryptosporidium and
Water: A Public Health Handbook. This handbook discusses the decision-making process for issuing
boil water advisories, provides information on preparing news releases, and contains educational fact
sheets on preventing disease. Much of the information in the handbook is also applicable to other types
of disease outbreaks and emergencies. This handbook, along with fact sheets and other publications on
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Cryptosporidium, are available at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/crypto/crypto.pdf. Having copies
of these fact sheets on hand may be helpful in response to inquires from customers and local media.
Information on other diseases is available at: http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/disease/index.html.
Remember, your primacy agency may have more stringent requirements for when to issue a boil water
notice.
Help the Media to Distribute an Accurate Notice
When you work with the media to distribute a public notice, call on your contacts who already understand
your mission to inform and protect the public. Having established relationships with editors, writers,
producers, and program hosts will help you to get your message out to the public quickly and correctly.
However, you should not rely solely on the media to distribute your notice. To ensure key facilities (schools,
hospitals, businesses, etc.) are properly notified, keep and maintain a listing of these facilities and their
contacts and notify them directly.
If you write a press release or get a reporter to write a story for the newspaper, TV, or radio, explain what
information you are trying to communicate and why (i.e., the ten elements required on each public notice).
Explain to the media in clear and open terms what you are required to do about a violation or situation and
make it easy for them to identify the most important information, including a description of the violation
or situation, the population at risk, the instructions to consumers, and potential health effects. The easier
you make it for the media to accurately cover your story, the more likely you are to get the results you want.
Whenever possible, visit your media contacts in person to request coverage.
> Draft a press release for the media and make sure it highlights the key information and how people can
get more information (i.e. your system's contact name and number). When you send the notice to radio
and TV stations and newspapers, write "PRESS RELEASE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY" at the top of the
notice to emphasize its importance.
> Offer to be interviewed on the air by a TV or radio station. Ideally, spokespeople should understand and
be trained to deal with the pressures associated with an interview, so that they will appear calm (and not
evasive or defensive).
> Write a draft story or an op-ed for the newspaper and give a completed draft to an editor.
> Provide radio and television programs with talking points, sources for impartial information (e.g., links to
the EPA or CDC, contacts at the health department, etc.) and suggestions of people they can interview
for a story.
> Provide statistics, charts, graphics (photographs, video footage, drawings, maps, etc.) along with your text
to make it easy for different types of media to broadcast your story.
> Always take phone calls from the media whether you can answer their questions or not.
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CASE STUDY
City of Lacey, Washington
To alert residents of an E. coli MCL violation in the distribution system, the City of Lacey and the
Washington State Department of Health issued a joint press release. (The City also hand-delivered notices
in the affected neighborhood.) Co-issuing the notice gave the press release greater credibility and showed
that the City and State were providing consistent information. At the same time, the City contacted Seattle
and Tacoma television and radio stations and newspapers. The local newspaper also interviewed system
personnel daily. While Lacey received positive feedback on its efforts within the affected neighborhood,
it also learned an important lesson about working with the media. Many unaffected consumers were
unnecessarily alarmed because lengthy television interviews were edited to short sound bites, some of
which did not mention that only 450 homes in the system's 40,000-person distribution area were affected.
Lacey addressed the misperception through the local newspaper and a special consumer hotline. This
taught the City the importance of prioritizing information for the press and making sure the press knows
what information the public critically needs.
If the media will not run a story on your violation or situation, ask an official from your emergency
management department to participate by reading the notice on the air or agreeing to an interview. The
media may be more likely to air a public notice connected to such officials.
If a newspaper will not publish a story or press release, you may need to buy space to print the notice
in its entirety. You should buy an advertisement as close to the front of the paper as possible and make it
large enough that people will easily see it. Legal notices are not recommended because they rarely meet the
formatting requirements for public notices and are not widely read.
General Tips on Working with the Media
> Be truthful and up-front about local water quality issues.
> Don't be defensive when answering questions.
> Answer questions as well as you can, but don't be afraid to say that you need to check on
something if there is a question you can't answer (once you find the information, quickly report
back on what you've found).
> Keep in mind that reporters are not familiar with state or federal requirements for safe drinking
water - avoid technical jargon!
> Provide additional sources of information such as state contacts or EPA fact sheets.
> Be sensitive to the fact that reporters may be working on tight deadlines.
> Provide a list of the 10 required elements that must be addressed in your public notice so that the
media can adequately inform the public about potential risks and how to manage them.
> Don't be upset if a newspaper article isn't exactly as you would want it, but politely tell a reporter
if a significant piece of information is wrong or missing so that it can be corrected.
When you send a press release to local television and radio stations, try to get them to commit to airing
the story. Watch or listen to the news to be sure the public notice is aired. It is possible that, despite your
best attempts, the story will be incomplete or the TV/radio station will not air the notice. If this happens,
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distribute a written follow-up notice as soon as possible, even if the deadline has passed. Include any
additional information that has become available since the initial notice was prepared. Although a partial
notice telling consumers what to do is better than no notice, your obligation under the PN rule is not
satisfied until a complete notice is distributed.
Other Steps
Notify local health professionals about the violation or situation. People may call their health care providers
with questions about how the violation or situation may affect their health, and these professionals should
have the information they need to respond appropriately. In addition, health professionals, including
dentists, use tap water during their procedures and need to make plans to use uncontaminated water.
To address sensitive populations, maintain a list of key facilities (such as nursing homes, hospitals, etc.)
and their contacts and notify them directly. This will be beneficial in instances where the media may be
unreliable or these facilities may otherwise not receive the notice in a timely manner.
Be prepared for customers to call you with questions. The people staffing the phone lines should understand
the violation that prompted the notice, and be prepared to respond to people's concerns: what they need to
do, whether they are at risk, and how quickly the situation will be resolved (if known). Consider preparing a
list of possible questions and answers for people answering the phones.
As with the media, it is important not to be evasive or defensive in responding to questions. Remember that
some callers may not be proficient in English. You may need to have someone on your staff that is bilingual
or enlist the help of a grassroots organization or translator. Consider asking community volunteers to
support a multi-lingual telephone bank in the event of an emergency and make sure people who answer the
phones are prepared to read or explain the entire notice to callers if necessary.
Consider providing handouts and additional information at places like the public library, town hall, and
supermarkets, etc.
Your system's Web page can also be a valuable communications tool; it is a good place to furnish updates
and more detailed information after the initial notice is provided. This is especially true in "well-connected"
communities where a high percentage of the population has Internet access. It is also appropriate for some
noncommunity water systems where users regularly use computers and e-mail, such as an office building, a
business or a college. Add a date and time stamp to your page and update it frequently (even if the content
of the message does not change). People want to know that the information they are reading is as current
as possible. This could help limit the volume of calls you receive. Web products should be accessible to the
visually disabled. Most software that creates Web pages or word processing software allows the text to be read
aloud by a computer.
Preventing Overreaction to a Public Notice
Public education during a violation or situation can minimize overreaction to a water problem and can
help focus community attention on the source of a problem. Also, public education prior to a violation
or situation about contaminants, what a public notice means, and specific types of water problems, is an
excellent public relations tool. All public education will help create a partnership between you and your
customers that demonstrates your commitment to providing safe water, and reduces the prevalence of the "us
versus them" mentality.
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Public notification for recurring problems such as a nitrate exceedance is more effective if supplemented
by a public education program. There are a number of ways to create awareness of a contaminant problem
and of what it means for public health. These include public meetings at community centers, newspaper
or local TV and radio coverage, working with local libraries to establish a reference section on the problem,
or newsletters or fact sheets mailed with monthly bills or otherwise distributed broadly throughout the
community. Information that is helpful to the public includes:
• Descriptions of the contaminant(s).
• Information on how contaminants get into the water.
• What you are doing to prevent or correct the problem.
• If and why the problem recurs, and what the public can do to prevent a recurrence.
• If and why protection measures have a limited effectiveness.
• The impact on the consumer.
While ongoing problems warrant implementing an early and ongoing public education campaign, public
response to a notice can point you to other areas in which public education would be useful. For example, if
you receive a high number of calls about a notice, there is probably a need for greater public understanding
of the problem.
Another way to prevent overreaction is to recruit spokespeople who are perceived by the public as neutral
experts to share your message. Examples include university experts with relevant expertise; local doctors and
health professionals; or leaders of local non-profit or advocacy groups with an environmental, community, or
public health focus. Communications that are solely through water system staff, politicians, and consultants
could be perceived as biased.
Begin your communications with a genuine expression of empathy. Do not try to downplay the issues that
your public expresses concern about. Instead, state your awareness and understanding of their concerns and
your commitment to keeping them informed so that they know everything that you know. People feel more
comfortable about risk when they know the people communicating with them believe their concerns are
valid.
Follow-up After the Situation is Resolved
Your primacy agency may require you to do follow-up or "problem corrected" notices for violations or
situations, particularly for Tier 1 violations or situations. If it does not, you should consider issuing such
a notice anyway. Sometimes, information on the source of the contamination is not available at the time
of an initial notice. Providing a notice with updated information demonstrates that you are working on
the problem. Consumers will expect to receive official word that the problem is solved or being addressed.
Template 1-6 at the end of Chapter 5 is an example of a notice for a corrected violation or situation. This
template can be used for Tier 1, 2, or 3 violations or situations that have been corrected.
Follow-up analysis can help ensure that the message in the notice was received as intended, and that all target
audiences understood the notice. The results of such analyses can help mold future efforts.
>• Media surveys can assess how well television and radio stations, and the press reported the information.
Media coverage can be monitored by reviewing the Web sites of local media outlets, or purchasing the
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services of media surveillance firms. Relevant information includes the frequency of stories, the media
through which they were reported, and the content of the stories (e.g., whether the most important facts
were covered or if any erroneous information was reported).
>• Polling citizens directly can provide a gauge of your outreach's effectiveness by determining citizens'
awareness of the violation, how they perceived the information, and if they were satisfied with and could
understand it. The telephone is the most common polling avenue; however, phone polls should be
undertaken and interpreted with caution, as the subjects of a phone survey would not include low income
residents with no telephone (door-to-door surveys are an option in these areas). Pollsters should be able
to speak all of the languages represented in the service area. Grassroots organizations may be surveyed as
well.
To ensure accuracy and ease in developing future notices, you should evaluate your notification process and
update your contacts annually.
Implement ongoing public education programs about contaminants for which you are at risk of violation;
that is, contaminants whose levels are below the MCL but have the potential in the future to exceed it
(or have previously exceeded it). This would apply to naturally occurring contaminants, such as radium,
fluoride, or arsenic, and for recurring pollution problems (e.g., nitrate, pesticides). With an education
program in place, consumers will be better informed if a violation occurs.
Continue to demonstrate your commitment to public health. Schedule public meetings to discuss the
violation or situation and to explain necessary treatments (if they are needed) or how citizens can protect
the water supply so that future violations are less likely. Invite the public to tour your facility. Maintain good
relationships with the media or civic leaders so that they will provide fair news and information about the
water system—whether you have another PN situation or not.
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5.Tier 1 Notice Requirements and Suggestions
Tier 1 notices must meet the content, format, and multilingual requirements described in detail in Chapter
3 and are required for the following violations or situations [40 CFR I4l.202(a)]:
>• Total coliform MCL violations where fecal coliform or E. coli are present, or failure to test for fecal
coliform or E. coli when any repeat sample tests positive for coliform (sometimes referred to as an acute
violation of the Total Coliform Rule).
*• Nitrate, nitrite, or total nitrate and nitrite MCL violations, or failure to take a confirmation sample for
nitrate or nitrite within 24 hours after learning that an initial sample exceeded the MCL.
> Exceedance of the nitrate MCL by noncommunity water systems that have been granted permission by
the primacy agency to continue to exceed the MCL of 10 mg/L, although they must not exceed 20 mg/L.
> Chlorine dioxide MRDL violations when one or more of the samples taken in the distribution
system exceeded the MRDL on the day after a chlorine dioxide measurement taken at the entrance to
the distribution system exceeded the MRDL, or when required samples are not taken in the distribution
system.
>• Turbidity MCL violations of 5 NTU or more, if elevated to Tier 1 by the primacy agency, or if
consultation does not occur within 24 hours of the violation (see Chapter 6).
*• Treatment technique violations resulting from a single exceedance of turbidity limits, if elevated to
Tier 1 by the primacy agency, or if consultation does not occur within 24 hours of the violation (see
Chapter 6).
>• The occurrence of a waterborne disease outbreak or other waterborne emergency such as a treatment
failure, chemical spill or overfeed, sewage spill, or natural disaster.
*• Detection of E. coli, enterococci, or coliphage in a ground water source sample.
> Other violations or situations which could cause serious health effects, as determined by your primacy
agency.
CASE STUDY
Town of Walkersville, Maryland
When a construction crew accidentally ruptured a sewer line one mile from its wellfield, the Town of
Walkersville, MD, immediately issued a precautionary boil water advisory for infants, the elderly, and
people with severely compromised immune systems. While no drinking water contamination was evident,
the Town was concerned that its treatment plant might not be capable of removing or inactivating
Cryptosporidium that might be present in the sewage. To notify consumers, volunteer fire department
staff knocked on doors at 3,000 homes and businesses, and Walkersville notified the cable company and
other local media. Walkersville also provided water in tanker trucks to a local nursing home and spoke to
medical professionals in the area. Three days later, when tests of untreated well water showed increasing
bacteria concentrations (but before any contamination was detected in the finished water) the boil water
advisory was extended to all residents, including those using private wells. The volunteer fire department
again assisted with notification. Tanker trucks were set up in four locations. The advisory was rescinded
when Walkersville temporarily connected to the nearby Frederick, MD, water supply. Even though
bacteria levels reached 30,000 organisms/100 ml in well water and Cryptosporidium was confirmed in
the sewage, no residents became ill due to the incident, in large part due to the early public notification
and quick response by the Town of Walkersville.
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What is the deadline for issuing a Tier 1 notice?
As soon as practical but within 24 hours of learning of a violation or situation, you must:
• Initiate consultation with your primacy agency [40 CFR I4l.202(b)].
• Issue a public notice.
The consultation with the primacy agency is independent of the public notice itself. You must issue the
notice within 24 hours, even if you are unable to contact anyone at the primacy agency. Most primacy
agencies have 24-hour emergency hotlines, so consultation should be possible at any time. As a result of the
consultation, your primacy agency may set additional public notice requirements [40 CFR I4l.202(b)]. You
may be directed to issue repeat notices for continuing violations or situations, "problem corrected" notices,
or, if your initial notice does not meet the requirements, another notice. The agency may also require you to
provide notice to specific groups, such as health care providers.
Remember to send a copy of each type of notice and a certification statement to your primacy agency
within ten days after providing the initial and any repeat notice [40 CFR I4l.31(d)]. You must also notify
new billing customers of ongoing violations or situations for which you've previously provided notice (40
CFR 141.206).
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.
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 [40 CFR 141.205(d)
(3)].
Which methods of delivery must I use?
You must use one or more of the following: broadcast media (radio and television), posting in
conspicuous locations, hand delivery, or a method approved by the primacy agency in advance or
during consultation. The method(s) you choose must be reasonably calculated to reach all persons served,
including residents, employees, and travelers. Therefore, you may need to use other methods in addition
to those previously mentioned. For instance, a large system might provide the notice to local radio and
television stations; then, to reach people who don't watch or listen to the news, they might also put the
notice in the newspaper. You must use at least one of the required methods and whatever other methods are
necessary to reach all consumers [40 CFR I4l.202(c)].
Be sure that people understand the importance of notifying others who may travel through the distribution
area of the violation or situation. For instance, people who patronize restaurants or work in office buildings
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in the distribution area but live elsewhere, may not be aware of the violation or situation. Owners of these
establishments should know what they need to tell their customers and are encouraged to inform their
customers about the violation or situation.
Suggestions for Effective Public Notification Delivery
When choosing a method for public notification, you should consider several issues including the
population served, population density (i.e., is the area rural, urban, or suburban), available assistance, and
your proximity to radio and television stations, and newspapers.
Large systems should use a combination of broadcast media and newspapers, if available. You should
also supplement media notices by posting in public buildings and delivering multiple copies of notices to
hospitals, clinics and community centers.
When you write a notice for radio or television, assume that it will only receive a few seconds of air time.
Make sure the most important information, including a phone number to call for more information, will be
included. See Chapter 4, "Making Public Notification Work - Plan in Advance," for tips on working with
the media.
For TV notices, ask the station or cable company to put "scrollers" across the screen similar to National
Weather Service announcements for tornado watches. This is a good way to put the notice on TV and reach
people who don't watch the news, as well as target a subsection of the TV audience. You can also work with
the appropriate state office to broadcast alerts on NOAA Weather Radio and NOAA Weather Wire Service.
The Internet offers the advantage of being very dynamic; Web sites can be updated as new information
becomes available or to address people's concerns and answer their questions. Add a date and time stamp
to your page and update it frequently (even if the content of the message does not change). People want
to know that the information they are reading is as current as possible. E-mail is also an effective way to
contact most of the students at a college or university. However, remember that access to the Internet is
limited and is skewed toward affluent citizens, so you should rely on this as a secondary and not a primary
method.
Tips for Very Small Community Systems
Here are some suggestions for very small systems to use to reach the people they serve:
> Hand delivery combined with posting at grocery stores, banks, public bus stops, train stations, etc., may
be appropriate for you, especially if radio and/or TV are impractical.
> In rural areas within range of a radio or TV station in a larger town, ask the station to air the notice
(make sure that they clearly identify the area affected so as to not cause undue alarm to people in
unaffected areas). You may still need to use additional methods of notification.
> Hold community meetings, especially where consumers have low reading ability or don't speak English
(where the operator or a community member can translate).
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Automatic phone dialers may be effective in large systems as a supplement to broadcast media. Some cities
and counties have a computer-based rapid-call system which can be integrated with geographic information
systems to target a specific service area. Dialers should not be relied on too heavily; consumers may hang up
on recorded messages, children may answer the phone and not transmit the message to their parents, and
residents may not understand English.
Prepare written notices on your water system's letterhead. This gives the notice additional credibility and
makes it easily recognizable as official word from the water system. Also, consider putting the date on the
notice.
If there are non-English speaking populations in your service area, it is strongly recommended that you fully
translate Tier 1 notices into other languages or provide a phone number for assistance in other languages.
See Chapter 4 for more information on translating and getting the notice to these groups. At a minimum,
you must include some information in the appropriate language if there is a large proportion of such people
[40 CFR I4l.205(c)]. You may also want to target the blind and deaf communities and people with low
reading abilities.
Selecting a Delivery Method
Here are some questions to consider when determining how to deliver your notice:
> My system is in a suburban area. How can I write the notice so that it will not alarm the rest of the
metropolitan area not served by my system when the notice is delivered through the media?
> Can I be sure the radio or TV station will give the notice the air time it needs?
> Will the local newspaper write an accurate article about the violation or situation? Will it prominently
publish the information in a press release? Will I need to buy an ad or notice?
> Do I have the time and resources to deliver the notice door-to-door?
> Are volunteers available to assist me?
Send a broadcast e-mail or fax. Create an "address list" in your e-mail software that includes contacts at
each newspaper and radio or television station in the area. Program your fax machine with the fax numbers
of all local media contacts so that the push of a button sends the notice to all of them.
You can make door hangers for hand delivery that will not easily blow away. Knot a rubber band through a
hole punched in the notice and put the rubber band around consumers' door knobs.
If you post a notice, 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.
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CASE STUDY
City of Lacey, Washington
Throughout the course of an E. coli MCL violation in the distribution system, the City of Lacey water
system maintained close contact with the lab, seeking its insight on tests, protocols, and ramifications.
This enabled the system to make timely decisions and prepare for likely outcomes. The system could then
anticipate and initiate the next outreach or public awareness piece. As soon as it became evident that
repeat samples for E. coli would be positive, the water system mobilized city employees to conduct an
early evening door-to-door notification to about 450 homes in the affected area. Employees rang doorbells
to talk to residents and provided door hangers that included a boil water order, health effects language
on E. coli, and information on a community meeting to be held the next day. City employees also staffed
a hotline for consumers. Lacey set up a temporary bulletin board in the affected neighborhood to post
updates. The electronic and print media also ran stories on the situation. When the boil water order was
lifted, the system held another meeting and again hand-delivered door hangers, which included customer
evaluation forms. Ninety percent of the respondents gave Lacey a rating of satisfactory or higher for its
handling of the event, citing the City's proactive outreach effort as the reason for the solid rating.
Suggestions for Layout of the Notice
Tier 1 notices should convey the urgency of the situation and make it clear to consumers what actions they
must take. Templates 1-1 through 1-9 at the end of this Chapter offer sample language and instructions
for preparing Tier 1 public notices. Template 1-1A contains Spanish language for a nitrate notice; Template
1-4A contains Spanish language for a fecal coliform or E. coli notice. Make sure your notice clearly displays
the following information:
1. Title - Public notices for Tier 1 violations and situations, especially those used for posting, hand
delivery, or in a newspaper, should have an attention-getting title. For example, "WARNING" is better
than "Public Notice." This should be followed by the targeted audience or the population at risk,
such as "People served by Water System" for notices for fecal coliform violations, fecal indicator-
positive ground water source samples or disease outbreaks; or "Infants under 6 months" for notices for
nitrate violations. If the area you serve does not follow municipal boundaries or if only a portion of the
distribution system is affected, define the area at the top of your notice or include a map. Titles should
be in large and/or bold type and centered across the top of the page.
2. Consumer Actions - The instructions to consumers should be next in your notice. This should be a
short phrase in large type, such as "Boil Your Water" or "Do Not Drink the Water."
3. Description of the Violation or Situation - A short description of the violation or situation in large
type should follow instructions to consumers. As soon as consumers read "Boil Your Water" for a fecal
coliform notice, they will want to know why they should do so. However, since this is a headline, it
should be kept short and concise. As another example, for nitrate violations, you might say, "High
nitrate levels have been detected." Then the level detected should be listed in normal type, followed by
the maximum contaminant level (MCL), or action level, if applicable. A more detailed explanation of
the violation or situation should be given in the body of the notice.
4. Other Consumer Actions — For nitrate violations, the notice should instruct consumers not to boil
water, since that may be their first reaction. Explain that boiling the water will concentrate the nitrate
Public Notification Handbook 33 March 2010
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and may make levels even higher. For microbiological violations, waterborne disease outbreaks, or other
emergencies, provide detailed instructions on using boiled water for brushing teeth, cooking, making
ice, etc. If you instruct consumers to use bottled water, you should make sure that any water you provide
meets standards. Be sure to provide instructions for those who are not at high risk as well. For example,
nitrates at levels below 20 mg/L are not generally considered hazardous to adults. Fecal coliform might
only be present in part of the distribution system, and unaffected consumers (i.e., people outside of
a narrow area impacted who do not need to boil their water) should be told they do not need to take
action but have a right to be informed of the problem.
5. Other Elements — The following order is suggested for the remaining elements: whether (and where)
consumers should seek alternative drinking water sources; potential health effects (using the language
in Appendix B - do not alter the health effects language in any way); the date the violation or situation
occurred; corrective action you are taking; when you expect to return to compliance or resolve the
situation; and the name, address, and phone number of a person to contact for more information. If you
are coordinating with the local health department, you may wish to also list its phone number.
6. Optional Elements — If you know the source of the contamination, include it in the notice. This
information helps the consumer understand why there is a violation or other situation and what is
necessary to resolve it. It also reinforces the fact that drinking water is a vulnerable resource that must be
protected and that treatment can be costly.
7. Public Water System ID Number/Date of Distribution— You should include your PWS ID number
at the bottom of the notice. This will help your primacy agency track compliance and prevent tracking
errors between systems with similar names. Also include the date you distributed the notice.
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Tier 1 Templates
Tier 1 notices must be issued for the following violations or situations:
* Total coliform MCL violations where fecal coliform or E. coli are present, or failure to test for fecal
coliform or E. coli when any repeat sample tests positive for coliform (some times referred to as an acute
violation of the Total Coliform Rule).
> Nitrate, nitrite, or total nitrate and nitrite MCL violations, or failure to take a confirmation sample for
nitrate or nitrite within 24 hours after learning that an initial sample exceeded the MCL.
*• Exceedance of the nitrate MCL by noncommunity water systems that have been granted permission by
the primacy agency to continue to exceed the MCL of 10 mg/1, although they must not exceed 20 mg/1.
> Chlorine dioxide MRDL violations when one or more of the samples taken in the distribution
system exceeded the MRDL on the day after a chlorine dioxide measurement taken at the entrance to
the distribution system exceeded the MRDL, or when required samples are not taken in the distribution
system.
> Turbidity MCL violations of 5 NTU or more, if elevated to Tier 1 by the primacy agency, or if
consultation does not occur within 24 hours of the violation (see Chapter 6).
> Treatment technique violations resulting from a single exceedance of turbidity limits, if elevated to
Tier 1 by the primacy agency, or if consultation does not occur within 24 hours of the violation (see
Chapter 6).
> The occurrence of a waterborne disease outbreak or other waterborne emergency such as a treatment
failure, chemical spill or overfeed, sewage spill, or natural disaster.
> Detection of E. coli, enterococci, or coliphage in a ground water source sample.
> Other violations or situations which could cause serious health effects, as determined by your primacy
agency.
The pages that follow contain templates for Tier 1 violations or situations. Along with each template are
instructions, including the required method of delivery and suggestions for completing individual sections
of the notice. These instructions are designed to supplement Chapter 5, so you may see much of the
information repeated here. The following templates are included:
Templates
Nitrate MCL Exceedance Notice-Template 1-1
Spanish Nitrate MCL Exceedance Notice-Template 1-1A
Nitrate Failure to Take a Confirmation Sample Notice-Template 1-2
Noncommunity PWSs Allowed Up to 20 mg/L Nitrate Notice-Template 1-3
TCR Fecal Coliform or E. coli Notice-Template 1 -4
Spanish TCR Fecal Coliform or E. coli Notice-Template 1-4A
Waterborne Disease Outbreak Notice-Template 1-5
Problem Corrected Notice-Template 1 -6
IESWTR or LT1ESWTR CFE Maximum Turbidity Exceedance, or Turbidity Single Exceedance as
Tier 1 Notice-Template 1-7
Stage 1 DBPR Chlorine Dioxide MRDL (Tier 1) Notice-Template 1-8
GWR Fecal Indicator-Positive Source Sample Notice-Template 1-9
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Mandatory language on health effects (from Appendix B to Subpart Q), which must be included as
written (with blanks filled in), is presented in italics in each notice, with an asterisk on either end.
You must also include the following italicized language in all notices, where applicable [40 CFR I4l.205(d)].
Use of this language does not relieve you of your obligation to take steps reasonably calculated to notify all
persons served:
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.
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Instructions for Nitrate MCL Exceedance Notice - Template 1-1
Template on Reverse
Since exceeding the nitrate maximum contaminant level 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 primacy agency. 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)]:
Radio
Television
Hand or direct delivery
Posting in conspicuous locations
You may need to use additional methods (e.g., newspaper, delivery of multiple copies to hospitals, clinics, or apartment
buildings), since notice must be provided in a manner reasonably calculated to reach all persons served. If you post or
hand deliver, print your notice on your system's letterhead, if available.
The notice on the reverse provides suggested public notice content and format and is appropriate for hand delivery or
for publication in a newspaper. However, you may wish to modify it before using it for a radio or TV broadcast. 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
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 and with an asterisk on either end.
You must also include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all persons served, where
applicable [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is also presented in this notice in italics and with an asterisk on either
end.
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 (as required by your primacy agency), or if your system's nitrate levels fluctuate around the
MCL, you may wish to include an explanation similar to the following:
You were initially notified of high nitrate levels on [give date]. Since that time we have been 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. The bullet below describes one action 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, mixing the water
with low-nitrate water from another source, or buying water from another water system.
After Issuing the Notice
Send a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all the public notice requirements to your
primacy agency within ten days after you issue the notice [40 CFR 141.31 (d)].
You should notify health professionals in the area of the violation. People may call their doctors with questions, and the
doctors should have the information they need to respond appropriately. They also need to make sure the water is not
provided to infants in their care.
It is also a good idea to issue a "problem corrected" notice when the violation is resolved. See Template 1-6.
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Nitrate MCL Exceedance Notice - Template 1-1
DRINKING WATER WARNING
[System] water has high levels of nitrate -
DO NOT GIVE THE WATER TO INFANTS UNDER 6 MONTHS OLD
OR USE IT TO MAKE INFANT FORMULA
On [give date], we received notice that the sample collected on [give date] showed nitrate levels of
[level and units]. This is above the nitrate standard, or maximum contaminant level (MCL), of [state/
federal MCL]. Nitrate in drinking water is a serious health concern for infants less than six months old.
Nitrate in drinking water can come from natural, industrial, or agricultural sources (including septic
systems and run-off). Levels of nitrate in drinking water can vary throughout the year.
What should I do? What does this mean?
• DO NOT GIVE THE WATER TO INFANTS. *lnfants 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.* Blue baby
syndrome is indicated by blueness of the skin. Symptoms in infants can develop rapidly,
with health deteriorating over a period of days. If symptoms occur, seek medical attention
immediately.
• Water, juice, and formula for children under six months of age should not be prepared with tap
water. Bottled water or other water low in nitrates should be used for infants until further notice.
• DO NOT BOIL THE WATER. Boiling, freezing, filtering, or letting water stand does not reduce
the nitrate level. Excessive boiling can make the nitrates more concentrated, because nitrates
remain behind when the water evaporates.
• Adults and children older than six months can drink the tap water (nitrate is a concern for infants
because they can't process nitrates in the same way adults can). However, if you are pregnant
or have specific health concerns, you may wish to consult your doctor.
What is being done?
[Describe corrective action and when system expects to return to compliance.]
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:
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Instructions for Spanish Nitrate MCL Exceedance Notice - Template 1-1A
Template on Reverse
The template on reverse is a Spanish translation of Template 1-1A for nitrate. All the
instructions of Template 1-1 apply. This template is an exact translation of the English template,
so if you need to modify the English templates, you should modify this template accordingly.
Schools or universities may be able to provide low cost translations. See Chapter 4 for
suggestions on creating effective multilingual notices.
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Spanish Nitrate MCL Exceedance Notice - Template 1-1A
AVISO SOBRE SU AGUA POTABLE
Agua del sistema [system name] tiene altos niveles de nitratos -
NO DAR DE BEBER ESTA AGUA A BEBES MENORES DE 6
MESES DE EDAD Nl USARLA PARA HACER LECHE DE FORMULA
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]. Nitratos en agua potable puede generar
series problemas de salud para bebes menores de 6 meses de edad.
Nitratos en el agua pueden provenir de fuentes naturales, industriales or de la agricultura (incluyendo
descargas de tanques septicos y lluvias). Las concentraciones de nitratos en el agua potable varfan a
lo largo del ano.
debo hacer? <-,Que es la significa de este?
NO LE DE ESTA AGUA A BEBES. *Bebes menores de seis (6) meses que ingieran agua
con nitratos en exceso del nivel maximo de contaminacion (NMC) se pueden enfermar
seriamente y, de no ser tratados, pueden morir. Los sintomas incluyen dificultad en
respirarysindrome debebeazul.* El sfndrome de bebe azul se refiere al color azulado que
toma la piel del bebe. Los sintomas en los bebes pueden desarrollarse con rapidez, con el
deterioro de su salud en los dfas subsiguientes. Si los sintomas ocurren en infantes menores de
seis (6) meses de edad, busque atencion medica inmediatamente.
Agua, jugo o leche en polvo para bebes menores de seis (6) meses de edad no debe
prepararse con agua del grifo. Debe emplear agua embotellada u otra agua baja en nitratos
hasta proximo aviso.
No hierva el agua. Hervir, congelar, filtrar o dejar el agua en reposo no reduce el nivel de
nitratos. De hecho, al hervir el agua puede aumentar aun mas la concentracion de nitratos,
debido a que los nitratos permanecen cuando parte del agua se evapora.
Adultos e infantes mayores de seis (6) meses de edad pueden tomar el agua del grifo. (Los
nitratos son peligrosos para los bebes debido a que ellos no pueden procesar los nitratos de la
misma manera que los adultos). Sin embargo, si usted esta embarazada o tiene algun problema
de salud en particular, puede optar por hacer una consulta con su medico.
se esta haciendo al respecto?
[Describe corrective action and when the system expects to return to compliance in Spanish.]
Para mayor information, favor contactar a [name of contact] al telefono [phone number] o escribiendo a
[mailing address].
*Por favor comparta esta information con otros que pueden tomar de esta agua, colocando
este aviso en lugares visibles, o remitiendolo por correo, o entregandolo manualmente. Es de
particular interes distribuireste aviso ampliamente si usted I o recibe representando un negocio,
un hospital u hogar de infantes u hogar de ancianos o comunidad residential. *
Este aviso ha sido enviado a usted por [system]. Numero de Identification : .
Fecha de distribution:
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Instructions for Nitrate Failure to Take a Confirmation Sample Notice - Template
1-2
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 primacy
agency. 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)]:
Radio
Television
Hand or direct delivery
Posting in conspicuous locations
You may need to use additional methods (e.g., newspaper, delivery of multiple copies to hospitals, clinics, or apartment
buildings), since notice must be provided in a manner reasonably calculated to reach all persons served. If you post or
hand deliver, print your notice on your system's letterhead, if available.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for hand delivery or for publication in a newspaper. However, you may wish to
modify it before using it for a radio or TV broadcast. 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
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.
You must also include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all persons served, where
applicable [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is also presented in this notice in italics and with an asterisk on either
end.
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 (as required by your primacy agency), or if your system's nitrate levels fluctuate around the
MCL, 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 [give sampling timeframe e.g., 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. The bullet below describes one action 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
Send a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all the public notice requirements to your
primacy agency within ten days after you issue the notice [40 CFR 141.31 (d)].
You should notify health professionals in the area of the violation. People may call their doctors with questions, and the
doctors should have the information they need to respond appropriately. They also need to make sure the water is not
provided to infants in their care.
It is also a good idea to issue a "problem corrected" notice when the violation is resolved. See Template 1-6.
Public Notification Handbook 41 March 2010
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Nitrate Failure to Take a Confirmation Sample Notice - Template 1-2
DRINKING WATER WARNING
[System] did not take a confirmation sample to determine if the
water has high levels of nitrate -
DO NOT GIVE THE WATER TO INFANTS UNDER 6 MONTHS OLD
OR USE IT TO MAKE INFANT FORMULA
*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 [give state/federal 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.
Nitrate in drinking water can come from natural, industrial, or agricultural sources (including septic systems
and run-off). Levels of nitrate in drinking water can vary throughout the year.
What should I do? What does this mean?
• DO NOT GIVE THE WATER TO INFANTS. 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. Blue baby syndrome is indicated by
blueness of the skin. Symptoms in infants can develop rapidly, with health deteriorating over a period
of days. If symptoms occur, seek medical attention immediately.
Water, juice, and formula for children under six months of age should not be prepared with tap water.
Bottled water or other water low in nitrates should be used for infants until further notice.
• DO NOT BOIL THE WATER. Boiling, freezing, filtering, or letting water stand does not reduce the
nitrate level. Excessive boiling can make the nitrates more concentrated, because nitrates remain
behind when the water evaporates.
Adults and children older than six months can drink the tap water (nitrate is a concern for infants
because they can't process nitrates in the same way adults can). However, if you are pregnant or
have specific health concerns, you may wish to consult your doctor.
What is being done?
[Describe corrective action and when system expects to return to compliance.] After receiving the results
of our first sample, we failed to collect a second sample within 24 hours to confirm the results of the first
sample. We have since collected the second sample and are waiting for the results.
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:
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Instructions for Noncommunity PWSs Allowed Up to 20 mg/L Nitrate Notice -
Template 1-3
Template on Reverse
Noncommunity water systems that have received approval by their primacy agency 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 to reach all persons served.
If you 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
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 and with an asterisk on either end.
This template includes mandatory language encouraging further distribution to persons who may not
have received the notice [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is presented in this notice in italics and
with an asterisk on either end. However, if you post this 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 a requirement [40 CFR
141.209(b)].
After Issuing the Notice
Send a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all the public notice
requirements to your primacy agency within ten days after you issue the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].
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Noncommunity PWSs Allowed Up to 20 mg/L Nitrate Notice - Template 1-3
DRINKING WATER WARNING
[System] water has high levels of nitrate -
DO NOT GIVE THE WATER TO INFANTS UNDER 6 MONTHS OLD
OR USE IT TO MAKE INFANT FORMULA
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 [primacy agency] 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.
What should I do? What does this mean?
• DO NOT GIVE THE WATER TO INFANTS. "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.* Blue baby
syndrome is indicated by blueness of the skin. Symptoms in infants can develop rapidly,
with health deteriorating over a period of days. If symptoms occur, seek medical attention
immediately.
• Water, juice, and formula for children under six months of age should not be prepared with tap
water. Bottled water or other water low in nitrates should be used for infants until further notice.
• DO NOT BOIL THE WATER. Boiling, freezing, filtering, or letting water stand does not reduce
the nitrate level. Excessive boiling can make the nitrates more concentrated, because nitrates
remain behind when the water evaporates.
• Adults and children older than six months can drink the tap water (nitrate is a concern for infants
because they can't process nitrates in the same way adults can). However, 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:
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Instructions for TCR Fecal Coliform or E. coli Notice - Template 1-4
Template on Reverse
Since exceeding the fecal coliform or E. coli maximum contaminant level 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, you must also contact your primacy agency. You should also coordinate
with your local health department. You may also have to modify the template if you also have high nitrate levels
or other coliform MCL violations. You must use one or more of the following methods to deliver the notice to
consumers [40 CFR 141.202(c)]:
Radio
Television
Hand or direct delivery
Posting in conspicuous locations
You may need to use additional methods (e.g., newspaper, delivery of multiple copies to hospitals, clinics, or
apartment buildings), since notice must be provided in a manner reasonably calculated to reach all persons
served. If you post or hand deliver, print your notice on your system's letterhead, if you have it.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for hand delivery or for publication in a newspaper. However, you may
wish to modify it before using it for a radio or TV broadcast. 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
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 and with an asterisk on either end.
You must also include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all persons served,
where applicable [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is also presented in this notice in italics and with an asterisk
on either end.
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.
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 E. coli violations. Depending on the corrective action you are taking, 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 switching to an alternate drinking water source.
We are increasing sampling for coliform bacteria to determine the source of the contamination.
We are repairing the wellhead seal.
We are repairing the storage tank.
We are restricting water intake from the river/lake/reservoir to prevent additional bacteria from entering the
water system and restricting water use to emergencies.
After Issuing the Notice
Send a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all the public notice requirements to your
primacy agency within ten days after you issue the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].
It is recommended that you notify health professionals in the area of the violation. People may call their doctors
with questions about how the violation may affect their health, and the doctors should have the information they
need to respond appropriately. In addition, health professionals, including dentists, use tap water during their
procedures and need to know of potential microbial contamination so they can use bottled water.
It is also a good idea to issue a "problem corrected" notice when the violation is resolved. See Template 1-6.
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TCR Fecal Coliform or E. coli Notice - Template 1-4
DRINKING WATER WARNING
[Fecal conforms are IE. coli is] present in the [System]'s water
BOIL YOUR WATER BEFORE USING
Fecal coliform [or E. coli] bacteria were found in the water supply on [give date]. These bacteria can
make you sick, and are a particular concern for people with weakened immune systems.
Bacterial contamination can occur when increased run-off enters the drinking water source (for
example, following heavy rains). It can also happen due to a break in the distribution system (pipes) or
a failure in the water treatment process.
What should I do? What does this mean?
• DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil
for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should
be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until
further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.
*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. *
• 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. People at increased
risk should seek advice from their health care providers about drinking this water.
What is being done?
[Describe corrective action.] We will inform you when tests show no bacteria and you no longer need to
boil your water. We anticipate resolving the problem within [estimated time frame].
For more information, please contact [name of contact] at [phone number] or [mailing address]. General
guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe Drinking
Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
*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:
Public Notification Handbook 46 March 2010
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Instructions for Spanish TCR Fecal Coliform or E. coli Notice - Template 1-4A
Template on Reverse
The template on reverse is a Spanish translation of Template 1 -4 for fecal coliform or E. coll.
All the instructions of Template 1-4 apply. This template is an exact translation of the English
template, so if you need to modify the English templates, you should modify this template
accordingly. Schools or universities may be able to provide low cost translations. See Chapter
4 for suggestions on creating effective multilingual notices.
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Spanish TCR Fecal Coliform or E. co//Notice - Template 1-4A
AVISO SOBRE SU AGUA POTABLE
[Bacterias coliformes fecales estan IE. coli esta] presente en el
Agua del Sistema [nombre del sistema]
HIERVAN EL AGUA ANTES DE USARLA
Bacterias coliformes fecales (o E. coli) fueron encontradas en su servicio de agua el dia [date of
violation in Spanish (day-month-year)]. Estas bacterias pueden enfermarle, y son especialmente
peligrosas para personas con las defensas bajas o sistemas imunologicos debiles.
Contamination bacteriana puede ocurrir cuando exceso de aguas rebasan sus cauces y entran a las
fuentes de agua potable (por ejemplo, luego de una lluvia fuerte). Tambien pueden ocurrir cuando se
rompe un sistema de recoleccion de aguas negras, o cuando hay una falla en el tratamiento de agua.
debo hacer? <-,Que es la significa de este?
NO BEBA EL AGUA SIN ANTES HERVIRLA. Hierva toda el agua, dejela hervir por un minuto,
y dejela reposar antes de usarla, o utilize agua embotellada. Agua hervida o embotellada debe
ser usada para beber, hacer hielo, lavarse los dientes, lavar los platos y para preparar la comida
hasta proximo aviso. Hierviendo morta a bacteria y otros organismos en el agua.
*Coliformes fecales o E. coli son bacterias cuya presencia indica que el agua esta contaminada
con desechos humanos o de animates. Microbios de esos desechos pueden causar diarrhea,
colicos, nausea, do/ores de cabeza u otros sintomas. Pueden representar un peligro para la
salud de bebes, ninos y ninas de corta edad y personas con sistemas immunologicos en alto
riesgo. *
Los sintomas descritos arriba no ocurren solamente debido a los microbios. Tambien pueden
ser causados por otros motivos. Si usted siente estos sintomas y estos persisten, usted puede
optar por hacer una consulta con su medico. Personas en situaciones de alto riesgo deben
consultar con sus proveedores de servicios medicos.
se esta haciendo al respecto?
[Describe corrective action in Spanish] Le informaremos cuando las pruebas demuestren que no hay
bacterias y que usted ya no necesita hervir su agua. Anticipamos que resolveremos el problema el
[date of expected resolution in Spanish day-month-year].
Para mayor informacion, favor contactar a [name of contact] al telefono [phone number] o escribiendo a
[mailing address].
*Por favor comparta esta informacion con otros que pueden tomar de esta agua, colocando
este aviso en lugares visibles, o remitiendolo por correo, o entregandolo manualmente. Es de
particular interes distribuireste aviso ampliamente si usted I o recibe representando un negocio,
un hospital u 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:
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Instructions for Waterborne Disease Outbreak Notice - Template 1-5
Template on Reverse
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 also contact your primacy
agency 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 primacy agency 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)]:
Radio
Television
Hand or direct delivery
Posting in conspicuous locations
You may need to use additional methods (e.g., newspaper, delivery of multiple copies to hospitals, clinics, or apartment
buildings), since notice must be provided in a manner reasonably calculated to reach all persons served. If you post or hand
deliver, print your notice on your system's letterhead, if available.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for hand delivery or for publication in a newspaper. However, you may wish to modify
it before using it for a radio or TV broadcast. 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
You must include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all persons served, where applicable
[40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is presented in this notice in italics and with an asterisk on either end.
No federal mandatory health effects language exists for waterborne disease outbreaks. You may wish to use the sentence
below, if appropriate, or contact your primacy agency or health department for other language. 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 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.
Describing the Outbreak
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.
Population at Risk
Some people who contract waterborne diseases can be affected more severely than others, as described on the reverse page.
The specific language on the reverse is not mandatory, but you must provide information on the population at risk. In addition,
make sure it is clear who is served by your water system—you may need to list the areas you serve.
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. Depending on the corrective action you are taking, 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
Send a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all the public notice requirements to your primacy
agency within ten days after you issue the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].
It is recommended that you notify health professionals in the area of the outbreak. People may call their doctors with
questions about how the situation may affect their health, and the doctors should have the information they need to respond
appropriately. In addition, health professionals, including dentists, use tap water during their procedures and need to know of
contamination so they can use bottled water.
It is also a good idea to issue a "problem corrected" notice when the waterborne disease outbreak is under control. See
Template 1-6.
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Waterborne Disease Outbreak Notice - Template 1-5
DRINKING WATER WARNING
Disease-causing organisms have entered [system's] water supply.
BOIL YOUR WATER BEFORE USING
These organisms are causing illness in people served by [system]. We learned of a
waterborne disease outbreak from [agency] on [give date].
What should I do? What does this mean?
• DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to
a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water.
Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth,
washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria
and other organisms in the water.
• [Describe symptoms of the waterborne disease.] If you experience one or more of
these symptoms and they persist, contact 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 this drinking water.
What is being done?
[Describe the corrective action and when the outbreak might end.]
We will inform you when you no longer need to boil your water.
For more information, please contact [name of contact] at [phone number] or [mailing
address]. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are
available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
*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:
Public Notification Handbook 50 March 2010
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Instructions for "Problem Corrected" Notice - Template 1-6
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 primacy agency may require you
to issue one. You should coordinate with your local health department as well. Below are some
recommended methods for a "problem corrected" notice. You should use the same delivery
methods you used for the original notice.
• Radio
• Television
• Newspaper
• Hand or direct delivery
• Posting in conspicuous locations
You may wish to use additional methods (e.g., delivery of multiple copies to hospitals, clinics,
or apartment buildings) if necessary to reach all persons served. If you post or hand deliver,
print your notice on your system's letterhead, if available.
The notice on the reverse is very general and can be used for any violation or situation.
However, 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.
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"Problem Corrected" Notice - Template 1-6
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:
Public Notification Handbook
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Instructions for IESWTR or LT1ESWTR CFE Maximum Turbidity Exceedance, or
Turbidity Single Exceedance as Tier 1 Notice - Template 1-7
Template on Reverse
If your primacy agency 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 primacy agency. In addition,
violations are automatically elevated if you are unable to consult with your primacy agency 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. One or both agencies should tell you whether to instruct
consumers to boil water. You must use one or more of the following methods to deliver the notice to consumers [40 CFR
141.202(c)]:
Radio
Television
Hand or direct delivery
Posting in conspicuous locations
You may need to use additional methods (e.g., newspaper, delivery of multiple copies to hospitals, clinics, or apartment
buildings), since notice must be provided in a manner reasonably calculated to reach all persons served. If you post or
hand deliver, print your notice on your system's letterhead, if you have it.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for hand delivery or for publication in a newspaper. However, you may wish to
modify it before using it for a radio or TV broadcast. 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
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 and with an asterisk on either end.
You must also include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all persons served, where
applicable [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is also presented in this notice in italics and with an asterisk on either
end.
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.
Corrective Action
In your notice, describe the corrective actions you are taking. Listed below are some steps commonly taken by water
systems with a single turbidity exceedance. Depending on the corrective action you are taking, 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
Send a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all the public notice requirements to your
primacy agency within ten days after you issue the notice [40 CFR 141.31 (d)].
It is recommended that you notify health professionals in the area of the violation. People may call their doctors with
questions about how the violation may affect their health, and the doctors should have the information they need to
respond appropriately. In addition, health professionals, including dentists, use tap water during their procedures and
need to know of potential microbiological contamination so they can use bottled water.
It is also a good idea to issue a "problem corrected" notice when the violation is resolved. See Template 1-6.
Public Notification Handbook
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IESWTR or LT1ESWTR CFE Maximum Turbidity Exceedance, or Turbidity Single
Exceedance as Tier 1 Notice - Template 1-7
DRINKING WATER WARNING
[System] has high turbidity levels
BOIL YOUR WATER BEFORE USING
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.
What should I do? What does this mean?
• DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil
for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should
be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until
further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.
*Turbidity has no health effects. However, turbidity can interfere with disinfection and provide a
medium formicrobial 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. People at increased
risk should seek advice from their health care providers about drinking this water.
What is being done?
[Describe corrective action and when the system expects to return to compliance.] We will inform
you when turbidity returns to appropriate levels and when you no longer need to boil your water. We
anticipate resolving the problem within [estimated time frame].
For more information, please contact [name of contact] at [phone number] or [mailing address]. General
guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe Drinking
Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
*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:
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Instructions for Stage 1 DBPR Chlorine Dioxide MRDL (Tier 1) Notice - Template
1-8
Template on Reverse
If a system exceeds the chlorine dioxide MRDL when one or more of the samples taken in the distribution system on the
day after exceeding the MRDL at the entrance to the distribution system or if a system does not take required samples
in the distribution system, Tier 1 notification is required. 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)]. (Exceeding the chlorine dioxide
MRDL at the entry point to the distribution system only, requires Tier 2 notification; modify this template or Template
2-3 to create a Tier 2 notice.) You must also contact your primacy agency 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)]:
Radio
Television
Hand or direct delivery
Posting in conspicuous locations
You may need to use additional methods (e.g., newspaper, delivery of multiple copies to hospitals, clinics, or apartment
buildings), since notice must be provided in a manner reasonably calculated to reach all persons served. If you post or
hand deliver, print your notice on your system's letterhead, if you have it.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for hand delivery or for publication in a newspaper. However, you may wish to
modify it before using it for a radio or TV broadcast. 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
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 and with an asterisk on either end.
You must also include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all persons served, where
applicable [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is also presented in this notice in italics and with an asterisk on either
end.
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.
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. Depending of the corrective action you are taking, 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
Send a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all the public notice requirements to your
primacy agency within ten days after you issue the notice [40 CFR 141.31 (d)].
It recommended that you notify health professionals in the area of the violation. People may call their doctors with
questions about how the violation may affect their health, and the doctors should have the information they need to
respond appropriately.
It is also a good idea to issue a "problem corrected" notice when the violation is resolved. See Template 1-6.
Public Notification Handbook
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March 2010
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Stage 1 DBPR Chlorine Dioxide MRDL (Tier 1) Notice - Template 1-8
DRINKING WATER WARNING
PREGNANT WOMEN AND YOUNG CHILDREN SHOULD NOT
DRINK THE WATER
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.
Chlorine dioxide is used in small amounts every day to kill bacteria and other organisms that may be
in your drinking water. A problem occurred with our chlorine dioxide generator, and too much chlorine
dioxide was released.
What should I do? What does this mean?
• DO NOT USE THIS WATER IF YOU ARE PREGNANT OR GIVE IT TO YOUNG CHILDREN.
Bottled water should be used until further notice. *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.
What is being done?
[Describe corrective action and when you expect to return to compliance.]
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:
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Instructions for GWR Fecal Indicator-Positive Source Sample Notice - Template
1-9
Template on Reverse
Since detection of a fecal indicator (£. coli, enterococci or 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, you must also contact
your primacy agency. 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)]:
Radio
Television
Hand or direct delivery
Posting in conspicuous locations
You may need to use additional methods [e.g., newspaper, delivery of multiple copies to hospitals, clinics, or
apartment buildings] since notice must be provided in a manner reasonably calculated to reach all persons
served. If you post or hand deliver, print your notice on your system's letterhead, if you have it.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for hand delivery or for publication in a newspaper. However, you may
wish to modify it before using it for a radio or TV broadcast. 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
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 and with an asterisk on either end.
You must also include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all persons served,
where applicable [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is also presented in this notice in italics and with an asterisk
on either end.
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.
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. Depending on the corrective action you
are taking, 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
Send a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all the public notice requirements to your
primacy agency within ten days after you issue the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].
It is recommended that you notify health professionals in the area of the situation. People may call their doctors
with questions about how the situation may affect their health, and the doctors should have the information they
need to respond appropriately. In addition, health professionals, including dentists, use tap water during their
procedures and need to know of potential microbiological contamination so they can use bottled water.
It is also a good idea to issue a "problem corrected" notice when the situation is resolved. See Template 1-6.
Public Notification Handbook
57
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GWR Fecal Indicator-Positive Source Sample Notice - Template 1-9
DRINKING WATER WARNING
[System]'s [Source] Tested Positive for Fecal Indicator
BOIL YOUR WATER BEFORE USING
Our water system recently detected a fecal indicator [give contaminant e.g., E. coli, enterococci,
coliphage] (see definition below) in [source]. As our customers, you have a right to know what
happened and what we are doing to correct this situation. On [give date], we collected a sample from
[source]. The sample tested positive for [give contaminant, e.g., E. coli, enterococci, coliphage].
What should I do? What does this mean?
• DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil
for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should
be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until
further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.
• *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. *
• 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. People at increased
risk should seek advice from their health care providers about drinking this water.
What is being done?
[Describe corrective action.] We will inform you when tests show no [give contaminant, e.g., E. coli,
enterococci, coliphage] and you no longer need to boil your water. We anticipate resolving the problem
within [estimated time frame].
For more information, please contact [name of contact] at [phone number] or [mailing address]. General
guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe Drinking
Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
*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:
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6.Tier 2 Notice Requirements and Suggestions
Tier 2 notices must meet the content, format, and multilingual requirements described in detail in Chapter
3 and are required for the following violations or situations [40 CFR 141.203(a)]:
* Maximum contaminant level (MCL), maximum residual disinfectant level (MRDL), and treatment
technique (TT) requirement violations, except where Tier 1 notification is required by regulation or by
the primacy agency.
>• Monitoring or testing procedure violations (if required by the primacy agency).
* Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of a variance or exemption.
>• For ground water systems providing 4-log treatment, failure to maintain required treatment for more
than 4 hours.
* Failure to take any corrective action or be in compliance with a corrective action plan for a fecal
indicator-positive ground water source sample.
>• Failure to take any required corrective action or be in compliance with a corrective action plan for a
significant deficiency under the Ground Water Rule.
* Special public notice for repeated failure to conduct monitoring for Cryptosporidium.
Tier 2 violations are considered less urgent than Tier 1 violations or situations because there is little
immediate risk to consumers, or because the system may have already returned to compliance by the time
the notice is issued. Primacy agencies may have more stringent requirements.
What is the deadline for issuing a Tier 2 notice?
Tier 2 notices must be issued as soon as practical but within 30 days after a violation is discovered [40 CFR
I4l.203(b)].
For any unresolved violation, following an initial Tier 2 notice, you must repeat the notice every three
months for as long as the violation persists. Posted notices must remain posted for as long as the violation
persists, but in no case less than seven days, even if the violation is resolved [40 CFR I4l.203(b)]. 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.
You must notify new billing customers or units of any ongoing violations for which you have previously
provided notice prior to or at the time their service begins (40 CFR 141.206).
Remember to send a copy of the notice and a certification statement to your primacy agency within ten
days after providing the initial and any repeat notice to the public [40 CFR I4l.31(d)].
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Required Elements of a Public Notice [40 CFR 141.205(a)]
1. A description of the violation.
2. When the violation occurred.
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.
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 [40 CFR 141.205(d)
(3).
When might a Tier 2 violation be elevated to Tier 1?
Every violation is unique, and primacy agencies will consider several factors in deciding whether a violation
should be elevated. For example, cases where a turbidity exceedance is significantly higher than the limit or
exceeds the limit over the course of multiple measurements are more likely to be elevated to Tier 1.
Primacy agencies may also review the amount of disinfection that occurs after filtration and the current and
historical quality of your source water. The determination may also depend on the type of filtration in place
and your system's turbidity limits.
The primacy agency may also elevate Tier 2 notices to Tier 1 based on the results of consultations required
under other rules, such as the Total Coliform Rule and Surface Water Treatment Rule. These rules require
you to report coliform MCLs and treatment technique violations to your primacy agency as soon as possible
but no later than the end of the next business day. These reporting requirements are separate from those
in the Public Notification Rule and are intended to allow primacy agencies to oversee corrective actions,
but states may also use these conditions to elevate Tier 2 violations to Tier 1. For coliform violations, if
the percentage of samples testing positive for coliform is significantly higher than the MCL, if coliforms
are present in multiple areas of the distribution system, or if coliforms are linked to a break in distribution
system integrity, primacy agencies will be more likely to require Tier 1 notice.
24-Hour Consultation for Turbidity
Systems with certain violations involving exceedance of turbidity limits must consult with their primacy
agencies as soon as practical but no later than 24 hours after learning of the violation [40 CFR 141.203(b)].
This requirement applies to: (1) treatment technique violations resulting from single exceedances of
turbidity limits (5 NTU) under the Surface Water Treatment Rule (SWTR); (2) treatment technique violations
resulting from single exceedances of turbidity limits (1 NTU) under the Interim Enhanced SWTR or the
Long Term 1 Enhanced SWTR; and (3) turbidity MCL violations determined by the average of turbidity
measurements over two consecutive days (5 NTU). It does not apply to violations of monthly turbidity
requirements. As a result of this consultation, primacy agencies may decide to elevate such violations to
Tier 1. If consultation does not occur, the violation automatically is elevated to Tier 1. You have 24 hours
from the time the violation is elevated to issue the notice.
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Remember, as the system operator, you are a guardian of the quality of your water supply and of public
health. If you believe that a violation or situation warrants a notice within 24 hours, you can issue a notice
at any time, elevating the notice to Tier 1 yourself. You do not have to wait for the primacy agency to make a
determination. Depending on the severity of the violation or situation, you may also choose to issue a Tier 2
notice in much less than 30 days.
Which methods of delivery must I use?
Unless directed otherwise by the primacy agency, if you operate a community water system, you must
provide a Tier 2 notice by the following methods [40 CFR I4l.203(c)]:
1. Mail or other direct delivery to each customer receiving a bill and other service connections to which
water is delivered; and
2. Any other method reasonably calculated to reach others regularly served, if they would not normally
be reached by the method above. Such people include those who do not pay water bills or do not have
service connection addresses, (e.g., tenants, college students, nursing home patients, prison inmates).
Methods may include publication in a local newspaper, posting in public places, delivery of multiple
copies to landlords or office building managers, or delivery to community organizations.
Unless directed otherwise by the primacy agency, if you operate a noncommunity water system, you must
provide a Tier 2 notice by the following methods the following methods [40 CFR I4l.203(c)]:
1. Posting the notice in conspicuous locations throughout the system or by direct delivery or mail to each
customer and known service connection; and
2. Any other method reasonably calculated to reach others served, if they would not normally be reached
by the method above. Such people may include those who may not see a posted notice because it is not
in a location they routinely pass by. Methods may include publication in a local newspaper or newsletter
distributed to consumers, use of e-mail to notify employees or students, or delivery of multiple copies in
central locations (e.g., community centers).
If you are a transient system, you may also refer to the "Public Notification Handbook for Transient
Noncommunity Water Systems" (EPA 816-R-09-009) for information specific to transient water systems.
For both system types, there may be a few cases where you would be able to reach all persons served with
the first method you choose. In such cases, you may not need to use additional methods. At a gas station,
for instance, posting would probably be sufficient to reach all persons served. Consult your primacy agency
if there are other delivery methods you believe would be more effective in your situation; they may allow
alternate methods of delivery.
Suggestions for Effective Public Notification Delivery
If you mail the notice, send it to all service connections, and not just billing customers if possible, since
there may be many people in addition to your billing customers who drink your water. Billing customers
can be reached via inserts in their water bills, if the bills are distributed and received within 30 days of the
violation. Be sure to tell owners or managers of businesses, home-owners' associations, apartment buildings,
or resort rental properties to pass the information along to their employees and tenants. You may wish to
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send multiple copies of the notice to building managers. See Chapter 3 for a discussion of standard language
to encourage distribution to all persons served.
If you post a notice, be sure it 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
period of time.
Notices in newspapers may be in the form of an article or a paid advertisement. However, articles are
more effective than paid notices because they are more likely to be noticed and read. Work with the local
newspaper to write an article on the violation and what the system is doing to correct it. Be sure that anyone
at the paper who writes or edits an article knows what items must be included to meet the requirements for
public notification. If your system is located in the suburban area of a large city, you should request that your
notice be placed in the weekly community news section. Also, focus on getting articles published in smaller
community newspapers, homeowners' association newsletters, or similar publications.
E-mail is an effective way to contact most of the students at a college or university or large employer.
Paid advertisements offer an advantage because you are guaranteed the notice will appear exactly as you
write it. Try to purchase ad space in the front section of the paper. Legal notices tend to get lost in the back
of the paper where few people read them. If your notice must appear with other paid notices, a descriptive
title becomes very important. The header "notice" may be overlooked, but the mention of the community's
drinking water supply gets people's attention.
Consider holding public meetings in neighborhoods throughout your service area. This is especially
beneficial for ongoing situations, or where additional treatment may be needed (and could impact their
water rates). Coordinate with churches, civic centers, and local politicians to secure space and recruit
attendees.
Tips for Very Small Community Systems
> Compare the costs of mailing to labor for hand delivery before choosing a method.
> Hand delivery may not be necessary to meet your deadline, but it may be cheaper or less time-
consuming than putting together a mailing.
> Alternatively, if your notice deadline coincides with your billing schedule, you may be able to include
your notice in the bill at no extra cost.
> Supplement with posting in common areas and gathering places, such as banks, grocery stores, and
restaurants.
> Ask your local newspaper to write a story on the violation (let the reporter know which elements must
be included), or purchase an ad to publish the notice.
Suggestions for Layout of the Notice
Tier 2 notices should answer the most common questions people will have about the violation:
>• What does this mean to me?
»> What should I do?
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>• What happened and why?
* What is the water system doing?
The tone of a Tier 2 notice is less urgent than that of a Tier 1 notice. A question and answer format that
anticipates consumers' concerns is recommended for each section. Templates 2-1 through 2-21 at the end of
this Chapter offer sample language and instructions for preparing Tier 2 public notices.
1. Title -The notice should have a descriptive title but should not be overly alarming. The title "Drinking
Water Notice" or "Important Information about Your Drinking Water" would be more appropriate than
"Drinking Water Alert." Follow with a subtitle describing the situation, such as: "Tests Show Levels of
[Contaminant] Above Drinking Water Standards."
2. Describe What Happened - The notice should briefly describe what happened and give some
background as to how the violation was discovered. For example, if you routinely test the water and the
most recent samples showed a violation, provide a context for the exceedance by giving the applicable
drinking water standard and whether the exceedance is a monthly, quarterly, or other type of average.
If the problem has already been corrected, be sure to communicate this clearly. If this is a repeat
notice, explain why the violation continues (e.g., you are in the process of installing new treatment).
If the violation is intermittent, explain that the water is in and out of compliance with standards, or if
appropriate, that the contamination levels are only slightly above allowable standards.
The message should also vary depending on the contaminant. For instance, several inorganic and
radioactive chemicals, such as arsenic and radium, are naturally occurring. This fact can help in
explaining the options for treatment. For example, it may be difficult to drill a new well if high
contaminant levels occur throughout an aquifer. Disinfection byproducts, on the other hand, form when
naturally occurring organic matter combines with disinfectants added to kill microorganisms. You should
explain that the risk of disease from drinking water that is not disinfected is more immediate than that
of getting cancer from drinking water containing disinfection byproducts. For turbidity exceedances,
discuss the possible causes of high turbidity. A frequent cause is heavy rain, which washes large amounts
of soil into rivers and lakes. The rain may also wash animal wastes into the water supply.
3. Explain What Consumers Should Do - Next, the notice should tell customers what they need to
do, even if no action is necessary. This will usually be: "You do/do not need to seek other sources of
drinking water." Since people's first reaction may be to boil their water, explain the effect of boiling
(i.e., whether boiling is necessary, has no effect, or is harmful). Tell consumers that if they have specific
health concerns, especially for the young or old, pregnant women, or people with compromised immune
systems (undergoing chemotherapy, HIV-positive, or other immune system problems), they may wish to
consult their doctors.
4. Explain How the Violation Affects Consumers - Be clear that the situation is not an emergency and
that consumers would have been notified immediately if it had been. Consumers may wonder why
they are getting a notice, especially if the problem is resolved or not serious. It may help to explain that
you are informing them because you are required to do so and that they have the right to know about
problems with their water even if there is no immediate (or any) health threat. In the case of filtration
treatment technique violations, explain that treatment is important in preventing disease outbreaks but
that there is no evidence of disease or bacteria in the water. For turbidity exceedances, explain how high
turbidity levels may be related to the presence of organisms in drinking water.
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5. Describe What You Are Doing to Correct the Problem - Inform consumers of the steps you are
taking to correct the problem, such as the installation of new treatment, increased frequency or type
of monitoring, or your collaboration with the appropriate state agency. Tell them when you expect the
drinking water to again meet the standard. Although you probably will be unable to give an exact date,
you can give your customers a general idea of how long it will take (e.g., a few days for a coliform MCL
violation to several months for a chemical MCL violation). Provide the name, address, and telephone
number of someone who can answer any questions.
6. Optional Elements — If you know the source of the contamination, include it in the notice. This
helps reassure consumers that you have investigated the problem and are taking steps to address it. It
also reinforces the fact that drinking water is a vulnerable resource that must be protected. If you do not
know the actual source, you should at least provide common or possible sources such as those listed in
the guidance for the Consumer Confidence Report (EPA 816-R-09-011) available at http://www.epa.
gov/safewater/ccr/complian cehelp.html.
7. Public Water System ID Number/Date of Distribution— You should include your PWS ID number
at the bottom of the notice. This will help your primacy agency track compliance and prevent tracking
errors among systems with similar names. Include the date you distributed the notice.
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Tier 2 Templates
Tier 2 notices are required for the following violations or situations:
* Maximum contaminant level (MCL), maximum residual disinfectant level (MRDL), and treatment
technique requirement violations, except where Tier 1 notification is required by regulation or by the
primacy agency.
>• Monitoring or testing procedure violations (if required by the primacy agency).
* Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of a variance or exemption.
>• For ground water systems providing 4-log treatment, failure to maintain required treatment for more
than 4 hours.
* Failure to take any corrective action or be in compliance with a corrective action plan for a fecal
indicator-positive ground water source sample or significant deficiency under the Ground Water Rule.
>• Special public notice for repeated failure to conduct monitoring for Cryptosporidium.
The pages that follow contain templates for Tier 2 violations or situations. Along with each template are
instructions, including the required method of delivery and suggestions for completing individual sections
of the notice. These instructions are designed to supplement Chapter 6, so you may see much of the
information repeated here. The following templates are included:
Templates
Unresolved Total Coliform Notice-Template 2-1
Resolved Total Coliform Notice-Template 2-2
Chemical or Radiological MCLs Notice-Template 2-3
Fluoride MCL Notice-Template 2-4
SWTR Failure to Filter Notice-Template 2-5
SWTRs Turbidity Exceedance Notice-Template 2-6
SWTR Disinfection Treatment Notice-Template 2-7
LCR Failure to Install Corrosion Control Notice-Template 2-8
LT2ESWTR Uncovered Finished Water Reservoir Treatment Notice-Template 2-9
LT2ESWTR Failure to Conduct Required Cryptosporidium Monitoring for Any Three Months
Notice-Template 2-10
LT2ESWTR Filtered System Failure to Determine and Report Bin Classification Notice- Template
2-11
LT2ESWTR Unfiltered System Failure to Calculate and Report Mean Cryptosporidium Level Notice
2-12
LT2ESWTR Filtered System Failure to Provide or Install an Additional Level of Treatment Notice-
Template 2-13
LT2ESWTR Unfiltered System Failure to Achieve Required Inactivation Level Notice- Template
2-14
LT2ESWTR Filtered System Failure to Achieve Required Treatment Credit Notice-Template 2-15
LT2ESWTR Unfiltered System Failure to Maintain Required Inactivation Level Notice- Template
2-16
LT2ESWTR Unfiltered System Failure to Install Second Disinfectant Notice-Template 2-17
Stage 1 DBPRTTHM or HAA5 MCL Violation Notice-Template 2-18
Stage 2 DBPRTTHM or HAA5 MCL Violation Notice-Template 2-19
Filter Backwash Recycling Rule Treatment Technique Violation Notice-Template 2-20
GWR Failure to Take Corrective Action Within Required Time Frame Notice- Template 2-21
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Templates Continued
GWR Failure to Maintain 4-log Treatment of Viruses Notice- Template 2-22
Failure to Comply with the Conditions of an Exemption Notice -Template 2-23
Monitoring Violation Elevated to Tier 2 Notice - Template 2-24
Mandatory language on health effects (from Appendix B to Subpart Q)» which must be included as
written (with blanks filled in), is presented in italics in each notice with an asterisk on either end.
You must also include the following italicized language in all notices, where applicable [40 CFR I4l.205(d)].
Use of this language does not relieve you of your obligation to take steps reasonably calculated to notify all
persons served:
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.
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Instructions for Unresolved Total Coliform Notice - Template 2-1
Template on Reverse
Since exceeding the total coliform bacteria maximum contaminant level is a Tier 2 violation, 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)].
Persistent total coliform problems can be serious. Some states have more stringent requirements for coliform violations.
Check with your primacy agency to make sure you meet all requirements. You must issue a repeat notice every three
months for as long as the violation persists.
Community systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Hand or direct delivery
Mail, as a separate notice or included with the bill
Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Posting in conspicuous locations
Hand delivery
• Mail
In addition, both community and noncommunity systems must use another method reasonably calculated to reach
others if they would not be reached by the first method [40 CFR 141.203(c)]. Such methods could include newspapers,
e-mail, or delivery to community organizations. If you mail, post, or hand deliver, print your notice on your system's
letterhead, if available.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for mailing, posting, or hand delivery. If you modify this notice, you must still
include all required PN elements listed in 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 and with an asterisk on either end.
You must also include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all persons served, where
applicable [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is also presented in this notice in italics and with an asterisk on either
end.
Description of the Violation
The description of the violation and the MCL vary depending on the number of samples you take. The following table
should help you complete the second paragraph of the template.
If You Take Less Than 40 Samples a Month
State the number of samples testing positive for
coliform. The standard is that no more than one
sample per month may be positive.
If You Take at Least 40 Samples a Month
State the percentage of samples testing positive
for coliform. The standard is that no more than five
percent of samples may test positive each month.
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. Depending
on the corrective action you are taking, you can use one or more of the following statements, if appropriate, or develop
your own text:
We are disinfecting and flushing the water system.
We are increasing sampling for coliform bacteria.
We are investigating the source of contamination.
We are repairing the wellhead seal.
We are repairing the storage tank.
We will inform you when additional samples show no coliform bacteria.
After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all the public notice requirements
to your primacy agency 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. See Template 2-2 for a resolved notice template.
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Unresolved Total Coliform Notice - Template 2-1
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
Tests Show Coliform Bacteria in [System] Water
Our water system recently violated a drinking water standard. Although this is not an emergency, as our
customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we are doing to
correct this situation.
We routinely monitor for the presence of drinking water contaminants. We took [number] samples
for coliform bacteria during [month]. [Number/percentage] of those samples showed the presence of
coliform bacteria. The standard is that no more than [1 sample per month/5 percent of our samples]
may do so.
What should I do?
• You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions. 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. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes
are available from EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
What does this mean?
This is not an emergency. If it had been you would have been notified within 24 hours. Total coliform
bacteria are generally not harmful themselves. *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 treatment or distribution system
(pipes). Whenever we detect coliform bacteria in any sample, we do follow-up testing to see if other
bacteria of greater concern, such as fecal coliform or E. coli, are present. We did not find any of these
bacteria in our subsequent testing. If we had, we would have notified you immediately. However, we
are still finding coliforms in the drinking water.
What is being done?
[Describe corrective action.]
We are still detecting coliform bacteria. We will inform you when our sampling shows that no bacteria
are present. We anticipate resolving the problem within [estimated time frame].
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:
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Instructions for Resolved Total Coliform Notice - Template 2-2
Template on Reverse
Since exceeding the total coliform bacteria maximum contaminant level is a Tier 2 violation, 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 states have more stringent requirements for coliform violations. Check with your primacy
agency to make sure you meet all its requirements.
Community systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Hand or direct delivery
Mail, as a separate notice or included with the bill
Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Posting in conspicuous locations
Hand delivery
Mail
In addition, both community and noncommunity systems must use another method reasonably calculated to
reach others if they would not be reached by the first method [40 CFR 141.203(c)]. Such methods could include
newspapers, e-mail, or delivery to community organizations. If you mail, post, or hand deliver, print your notice on
your system's letterhead, if available.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for mailing, posting, or hand delivery. If you modify this 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 and with an asterisk on either end.
You must also include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all persons served,
where applicable [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is also presented in this notice in italics and with an asterisk
on either end.
Description of the Violation
Make sure that the notice is clear about the fact that the coliform problem has been resolved, and there is no
current cause for concern. The description of the violation and the MCL vary depending on the number of samples
you take. The following table should help you complete the second paragraph of the template.
If You Take Less Than 40 Samples a Month
State the number of samples testing positive for
coliform. The standard is that no more than one
sample per month may be positive.
If You Take at Least 40 Samples a Month
State the percentage of samples testing positive
for coliform. The standard is that no more than five
percent of samples may test positive each month.
Corrective Action
In your notice, describe corrective actions you have taken. Listed below are some steps commonly taken by water
systems with total coliform violations. Depending on the corrective action you are taking, you can use one or more
of the following statements, if appropriate, or develop your own text:
We have increased sampling for coliform bacteria to catch the problem early if it happens again.
The well and/or distribution system has been disinfected and additional samples do not show the
presence of coliform bacteria.
After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send a copy of each type of notice along with a certification that you have met all the public notice
requirements to your primacy agency within ten days after issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].
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Resolved Total Coliform Notice - Template 2-2
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
Tests Showed Coliform Bacteria in [System] Water
Our water system recently violated a drinking water standard. Although this incident was not an
emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened and what we did to correct this
situation.
We routinely monitor for drinking water contaminants. We took [number] samples to test for the
presence of coliform bacteria during [month]. [Number/percentage] of our samples showed the
presence of total coliform bacteria. The standard is that no more than [1 sample per month/5 percent of
samples] may do so.
What should I do?
• You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions. 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. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes
are available from EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
What does this mean?
This is not an emergency. If it had been you would have been notified within 24 hours. Total coliform
bacteria are generally not harmful themselves. *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
system (pipes). Whenever we detect coliform bacteria in any sample, we do follow-up testing to see if
other bacteria of greater concern, such as fecal coliform or E. coli, are present. We did not find any of
these bacteria in our subsequent testing.
What is being done?
[Describe corrective action.] Further testing shows that this problem has been resolved.
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:
Public Notification Handbook 70 March 2010
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Instructions for Chemical or Radiological MCLs Notice - Template 2-3
Template on Reverse
Chemical or radiological maximum contaminant level (MCL) 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 primacy
agency may have more stringent requirements for MCL violations (e.g., it may require you to provide water from
an alternate source). Check with your agency to make sure you meet all requirements. Use Template 2-4 for
fluoride MCL violations.
Community systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Hand or direct delivery
Mail, as a separate notice or included with the bill
Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Posting in conspicuous locations
Hand delivery
• Mail
In addition, both community and noncommunity systems must use another method reasonably calculated to
reach others if they would not be reached by the first method [40 CFR 141.203(c)]. Such methods could include
newspapers, e-mail, or delivery to community organizations. If you mail, post, or hand deliver, print your notice on
your system's letterhead, if available.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for mailing, posting, or hand delivery. If you modify this 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). This notice includes a placeholder for a specific contaminant's health effects language.
You must also include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all persons served,
where applicable [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is also presented in this notice in italics and with an asterisk
on either end.
Corrective Action
In your notice, describe corrective actions you are taking. Do not use overly technical terminology when
describing treatment methods. Listed below are some steps commonly taken by water systems with chemical
or radiological violations. Depending on the corrective action you are taking, you can use one or more of the
following statements, if appropriate, or develop your own text:
We are working with [local/state agency] to evaluate the water supply and are researching options to
correct the problem. These options may include treating the water to remove [contaminant] or connecting
to [system]'s water supply.
We have stopped using the contaminated well. We have increased pumping from other wells, and we are
investigating drilling a new well.
We have increased the frequency that we will test the water for [contaminant].
We have since taken samples at this location and had them tested. These samples show that we meet
the standards.
Repeat Notices
If this is an ongoing violation and/or you fluctuate above and below the MCL, you should give the history behind
the violation, including the source of contamination, if known. List the date of the initial detection, as well as how
levels have changed overtime. If levels are changing as a result of treatment, you can indicate this.
After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your primacy agency a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all
public notification requirements within ten days after issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31 (d)].
Public Notification Handbook 71 March 2010
-------
Chemical or Radiological MCLs Notice - Template 2-3
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
[System] Has Levels of [Contaminant] Above Drinking Water Standards
Our water system recently violated a drinking water standard. Although this is not an
emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you
should do, and what we did (are doing) to correct this situation.
We routinely monitor for the presence of drinking water contaminants. On [give date],
we received notice that the sample collected on [give date] showed that our system
exceeds the standard, or maximum contaminant level (MCL), for [contaminant]. The
standard for [contaminant] is [MCL]. The average level of [contaminant] over the last
year has been [provide level]. OR [Contaminant] was found at [provide level].
What should I do?
• There is nothing you need to do. You do not need to boil your water or take other
corrective actions. 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.
What does this mean?
This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified within 24 hours.
However, [Insert relevant health effects language for the contaminant from Appendix B
to Subpart Q or Appendix B of this document.]
What is being done?
[Describe corrective action.] We anticipate resolving the problem within [estimated time
frame].
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:
Public Notification Handbook
72
March 2010
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Instructions for Fluoride MCL Notice - Template 2-4
Template on Reverse
Since exceeding the fluoride maximum contaminant level (MCL) is a Tier 2 violation, 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. If you exceed
the secondary maximum contaminant level of 2 milligrams per liter but not the MCL of 4 milligrams per liter,
you must issue a special notice with different health effects language. See Chapter 3 or Template 3-5 for more
information.
Community systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Hand or direct delivery
Mail, as a separate notice or included with the bill
Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Posting in conspicuous locations
Hand delivery
• Mail
In addition, both community and noncommunity systems must use another method reasonably calculated to
reach others if they would not be reached by the first method [40 CFR 141.203(c)]. Such methods could include
newspapers, e-mail, or delivery to community organizations. If you mail, post, or hand deliver, print your notice on
your system's letterhead, if available.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for mailing, posting, or hand delivery. If you modify this 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 and with an asterisk on either end.
You must also include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all persons served,
where applicable [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is also presented in this notice in italics and with an asterisk
on either end.
Corrective Action
In your notice, describe corrective actions you are taking. Do not use overly technical terminology when
describing treatment methods. Listed below are some steps commonly taken by water systems with fluoride
violations. Depending on the corrective action you are taking, you can use one or more of the following
statements, if appropriate, or develop your own text:
We are working with [local/state agency] to evaluate the water supply and researching options to correct
the problem. These options may include treating the water to remove fluoride or connecting to [system]'s
water supply.
We have adjusted the amount of fluoride added to the water so that levels are lower and we meet the
standards.
We have stopped using the contaminated well. We have increased pumping from other wells, and we are
investigating drilling a new well.
We will increase the frequency at which we test the water for fluoride.
We have since taken samples at this location and had them tested. They show that we meet the
standards.
Repeat Notices
If this is an ongoing violation and/or you fluctuate above and below the MCL, it is a good idea to give the history
behind the violation. You should list the date of the initial detection, as well as how levels have changed overtime.
If levels are changing as a result of treatment you should indicate that fact.
After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your primacy agency a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all
public notification requirements within ten days after issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31 (d)].
Public Notification Handbook
73
March 2010
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Fluoride MCL Notice - Template 2-4
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
[System] Has Levels of Fluoride Above Drinking Water Standards
Our water system recently violated a drinking water standard. Although this is not an emergency, as our
customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we did (are doing)
to correct this situation.
We routinely monitor for the presence of drinking water contaminants. On [give date], we received
notice that the sample collected on [give date] showed that our system exceeds the standard, or
maximum contaminant level (MCL), for fluoride. The average level of fluoride in samples taken during
the last year was [provide level and units]. The standard for fluoride is that the average of samples
taken over the last year may not exceed [MCL].
What should I do?
• Children under the age of nine should use an alternative source of water that is low
in fluoride. In addition, you may want to consult your dentist about whether to avoid dental
products containing fluoride. Adults and children over age nine should consult their dentist or
doctor and show him/her this notice to determine if an alternate source of water low in fluoride
should be used.
What does this mean?
This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified within 24 hours. Fluoride in
small amounts helps prevent tooth decay. *However, some people who drink water containing fluoride
in excess of the MCL over many years could get bone disease, including pain and tenderness of the
bones. Fluoride in drinking water at half the MCL or greater may cause mottling of children's teeth,
usually in children less than nine years old. Mottling, also known as dental fluorosis, may include brown
staining and/or pitting of the permanent teeth. This problem occurs only in developing teeth, before they
erupt from the gums.*Although it takes many years of exposure to fluoride for bone disease to develop,
mottling can occur after a relatively short period of exposure.
What is being done?
[Describe corrective action.] We anticipate resolving the problem within [estimated time frame].
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:
Public Notification Handbook
74
March 2010
-------
Instructions for SWTR Failure to Filter Notice - Template 2-5
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
primacy agency 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 agency to make sure you meet all
requirements.
Community systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Hand or direct delivery
Mail, as a separate notice or included with the bill
Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Posting in conspicuous locations
Hand delivery
Mail
In addition, both community and noncommunity systems must use another method reasonably calculated
to reach others if they would not be reached by the first method [40 CFR 141.203(c)]. Such methods could
include newspapers, e-mail, or delivery to community organizations. If you mail, post, or hand deliver, print
your notice on your system's letterhead, if available.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for mailing, posting, or hand delivery. If you modify this 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 and with an asterisk on either end.
You must also include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all persons
served, where applicable [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is also 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 surface water treatment technique violations. Depending on the corrective action you are
taking, 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.
We continue to meet the standards for these measurements.
Repeat Notices
For repeat notices, you should state how long the violation has been ongoing and remind consumers
of when you sent out any previous notices. If you are making progress in installing filtration, describe it.
Alternatively, if funding or other issues are delaying installation, let consumers know.
After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your primacy agency a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met
the public notice requirements within ten days after you issued the notice [40 CFR 141.31 (d)].
Public Notification Handbook
75
March 2010
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SWTR Failure to Filter Notice - Template 2-5
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
[System] Does Not Meet Treatment Requirements
Our water system recently violated a drinking water requirement. Although this situation does not
require that you take immediate action, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened,
what you should do, and what we did (are doing) to correct this situation.
On [give date], the [primacy agency] 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 should I do?
• You do not need to boil your water. However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your
doctor. A home filter will not necessarily solve the problem, because not all home filters protect
against parasites. Call NSF International at 1(800) NSF-8010 or the Water Quality Association at
1(800) 749-0234 for information on appropriate filters.
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. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes
are available from EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
What does this mean?
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 improvements are made, there is an increased chance
that disease-causing organisms could contaminate the water supply. *lnadequately 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.
What is being done?
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] 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:
Public Notification Handbook
76
March 2010
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Instructions for SWTRs Turbidity Exceedance Notice - Template 2-6
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)]. This template
may also be adapted for use with turbidity MCL violations. Your primacy agency 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 agency to
make sure you meet all requirements. In addition:
For Exceedances of Single Turbidity Limits
You must consult with your primacy agency as
soon as practical but within 24 hours of learning
of the violation. During the consultation, the agency
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 1-7). 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 [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 [number] units."
Community systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Hand or direct delivery
Mail, as a separate notice or included with the bill
Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Posting in conspicuous locations
Hand delivery
• Mail
In addition, both community and noncommunity systems must use another method reasonably calculated to reach others
if they would not be reached by the first method [40 CFR 141.203(c)]. Such methods could include newspapers, e-mail,
or delivery to community organizations. If you mail, post, or hand deliver, print your notice on your system's letterhead, if
available.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for mailing, posting, or hand delivery. If you modify this 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 and with an asterisk on either end.
You must also include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all persons served, where
applicable [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is also 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
filtration treatment technique violations. Depending on the corrective action you are taking, 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 primacy agency a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met the public notice
requirements within ten days after you issued the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].
Public Notification Handbook
77
March 2010
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SWTRs Turbidity Exceedance Notice - Template 2-6
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
[System] Does Not Meet Treatment Requirements
Our water system recently violated a drinking water requirement. Although this was not an
emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do,
and what we did (are doing) to correct this situation.
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 the previous page.]
What should I do?
• There is nothing you need to do. You do not need to boil your water or take other
actions. We do not know of any contamination, and none of our testing has shown
disease-causing organisms in the drinking water.
• 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. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of
infection by microbes are available from EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-
426-4791.
What does this mean?
This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified within 24 hours.
*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.
What is being done?
[Describe the corrective actions and when the system returned or expects to return to
compliance.]
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:
Public Notification Handbook
78
March 2010
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Instructions for SWTR Disinfection Treatment Notices - Template 2-7
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 primacy agency 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 agency to make sure you meet
all requirements.
Community systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Hand or direct delivery
Mail, as a separate notice or included with the bill
Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Posting in conspicuous locations
Hand delivery
• Mail
In addition, both community and noncommunity systems must use another method reasonably calculated to reach others
if they would not be reached by the first method [40 CFR 141.203(c)]. Such methods could include newspapers, e-mail,
or delivery to community organizations. If you mail, post, or hand deliver, print your notice on your system's letterhead, if
available.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for mailing, posting, or hand delivery. If you modify this 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 and with an asterisk on either end.
You must also include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all persons served, where
applicable [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is also presented in this notice in italics and with an asterisk on either end.
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 fora 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 standard 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 number of hours]
hours. The standard is that levels may not drop below 0.2 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. Depending on the corrective action you are taking, 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.
Repeat Notices
If this is an ongoing violation, you should give the history behind the violation, if known.
After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your primacy agency a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met the public notice
requirements within ten days after you issued the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].
Public Notification Handbook
79
March 2010
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SWTR Disinfection Treatment Notices - Template 2-7
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
[System] Does/Did Not Meet Treatment Requirements
Our water system recently violated a drinking water requirement. Although this situation does not
require that you take immediate action, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened,
what you should do, and what we did (are doing) to correct this situation.
[Describe the violation - use descriptions from instructions on reverse.]
What should I do?
• There is nothing you need to do. You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective
actions. 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. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes
are available from EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
What does this mean?
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.
*lnadequately 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, but also by other
factors. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical
advice.
What is being done?
[Describe corrective action.]
[Disinfectant residual levels/contact times] so far this month have met all requirements.
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:
Public Notification Handbook
80
March 2010
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Instructions for LCR Failure to Install Corrosion Control Notice - Template 2-8
Template on Reverse
Since lead and copper 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 primacy agency 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 agency to make sure you meet all requirements.
Community systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Hand or direct delivery
Mail, as a separate notice or included with the bill
Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Posting in conspicuous locations
Hand delivery
• Mail
In addition, both community and noncommunity systems must use another method reasonably calculated to reach
others if they would not be reached by the first method [40 CFR 141.203(c)]. Such methods could include newspapers,
e-mail, or delivery to community organizations. If you mail, post, or hand deliver, print your notice on your system's
letterhead, if available.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for mailing, posting, or hand delivery. If you modify this 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 and with an asterisk on either end.
You must also include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all persons served, where
applicable [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is also presented in this notice in italics and with an asterisk on either
end.
Description of the Violation
This template is written for systems which are required to install corrosion control after exceeding lead action levels.
The Lead and Copper Rule requires some large systems to install corrosion control even if they have never exceeded
the lead action level. You may need to modify the template if this applies to you. The following may help you explain the
violation:
This is a treatment violation, but it does not mean there is lead in your drinking water. However, it is important
that we take measures to control lead levels in the water, because ingesting lead can cause serious health
consequences.
If the delay in installation is related to outside circumstances, such as funding, you should explain the delay. Consumers
may be more supportive of rate increases or may pressure local authorities to provide funds if they understand the
circumstances.
Corrective Action
In your notice, describe corrective actions you are taking. You can use the following language, if appropriate, or develop
your own text:
We conducted a lead public education program in [month, year]. You should have received a brochure
explaining in more detail steps you can take to reduce exposure until corrosion control is in place.
If consumers ask for information on testing their water, you should have on hand the names of laboratories consumers
can call. Tell consumers to call NSF International at 1 (800) NSF-8010 or the Water Quality Association at 1 (800) 749-
0234 for information on appropriate filters. For more information on lead, have consumers call the EPA Safe Drinking
Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or the National Lead Information Center Hotline 1(800) LEAD-FYI.
After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your primacy agency a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met the public
notice requirements within ten days after you issued the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].
Public Notification Handbook
81
March 2010
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LCR Failure to Install Corrosion Control Notice - Template 2-8
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
[System] Water Contains High Levels of Lead
Our water system recently violated a drinking water requirement. Even though this is not an emergency,
as our customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we did (are
doing) to correct this situation.
We routinely sample water at consumers' taps for lead. The tests show lead levels in the water above
the limit, or "action level," so we are required to install corrosion control treatment. This treatment helps
prevent lead in the pipes from dissolving into the water. Corrosion control should have been installed by
[give date], but installation is incomplete.
What should I do?
Listed below are some steps you can take to reduce your exposure to lead:
Call us at the number below to find out how to get your water tested for lead.
Find out whether your pipes contain lead or lead solder.
Run your water for 15-30 seconds or until it becomes cold before using it for drinking or cooking.
This flushes any standing lead from the pipes.
Don't cook with or drink water from the hot water tap; lead dissolves more easily into hot water.
• Do not boil your water to remove lead. Excessive boiling water makes the lead more
concentrated - the lead remains when the water evaporates.
What does this mean?
This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified within 24 hours. Typically, lead
enters water supplies by leaching from lead or brass pipes and plumbing components. New lead pipes
and plumbing components containing lead are no longer allowed for this reason. However, many older
homes may contain lead pipes. Your water is more likely to contain high lead levels if water pipes in or
leading to your home are made of lead or contain lead solder.
*lnfants and children who drink water containing lead in excess of the action level could experience
delays in their physical or mental development. Children could show slight deficits in attention span and
learning abilities. Adults who drink this water over many years could develop kidney problems or high
blood pressure. *
What is being done?
[Describe corrective action.] Corrosion control will be in place by [give date].
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:
Public Notification Handbook 82 March 2010
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Instructions for LT2ESWTR Uncovered Finished Water Reservoir Treatment
Notice - Template 2-9
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 primacy agency 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 agency to make sure
you meet all requirements.
Community systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Hand or direct delivery
Mail, as a separate notice or included with the bill
Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Posting in conspicuous locations
Hand delivery
• Mail
In addition, both community and noncommunity systems must use another method reasonably calculated to reach others
if they would not be reached by the first method [40 CFR 141.203(c)]. Such methods could include newspapers, e-mail,
or delivery to community organizations. If you mail, post, or hand deliver, print your notice on your system's letterhead, if
available.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for mailing, posting, or hand delivery. If you modify this 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 and with an asterisk on either end.
You must also include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all persons served, where
applicable [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is also 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
this type of LT2ESWTR treatment technique violation. Depending on the corrective action you are taking, 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.
Repeat Notices
For repeat notices, you should state how long the violation has been ongoing and remind consumers of when you sent out
any previous notices. If you are making progress in covering your reservoirs or providing treatment, describe it. Alternatively, if
funding or other issues are delaying progress, let consumers know.
After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your primacy agency a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met the public notice
requirements within ten days after you issued the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].
Public Notification Handbook
83
March 2010
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LT2ESWTR Uncovered Finished Water Reservoir Treatment Notice - Template
2-9
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
Uncovered Finished Water Reservoir Violation at [System]
Our water system recently violated a drinking water requirement. Although this situation is not an
emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened and what we did (are doing) to
correct this situation.
Water systems with uncovered finished water reservoirs are required to cover these reservoirs, treat
the water 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 should I do?
• There is nothing you need to do. You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective
actions. 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. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes
are available from EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
What does this mean?
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. *lnadequately 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, but also by other
factors. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical
advice.
What is being done?
[Describe corrective action.] We anticipate resolving the problem within [estimated time frame].
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:
Public Notification Handbook
84
March 2010
-------
Instructions for LT2ESWTR Failure to Conduct Required Cryptosporidium
Monitoring For Any Three Months Notice - Template 2-10
Template on Reverse
A 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 Chapter 7 for an example template.) 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 primacy
agency 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 agency to make sure you meet all requirements.
Community systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Hand or direct delivery
Mail, as a separate notice or included with the bill
Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Posting in conspicuous locations
Hand delivery
Mail
In addition, both community and noncommunity systems must use another method reasonably calculated to
reach others if they would not be reached by the first method [40 CFR 141.203(c)]. Such methods could include
newspapers, e-mail, or delivery to community organizations. If you mail, post, or hand deliver, print your notice on
your system's letterhead, if available.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for mailing, posting, or hand delivery. If you modify this 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. Depending on the corrective action you are taking, 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 primacy agency a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met the
public notice requirements within ten days after you issued the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].
Public Notification Handbook
85
March 2010
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LT2ESWTR Failure to Conduct Required Cryptosporidium Monitoring For Any
Three Months Notice - Template 2-10
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
Monitoring Requirements Not Met for [System]
Our water system recently violated a drinking water requirement. Although this is not an emergency,
as our customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we did (are
doing) to correct this situation.
*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 should I do?
• There is nothing you need to do. You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective
actions. 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. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by
Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from EPA's Safe Drinking Water
Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
What does this mean?
This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified within 24 hours.
What is being done?
[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:
Public Notification Handbook
86
March 2010
-------
Instructions for LT2ESWTR Filtered System Failure to Determine and Report Bin
Classification Notice - Template 2-11
Template on Reverse
A filtered system's failure to determine and report its 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 primacy agency 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
agency to make sure you meet all requirements.
Community systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Hand or direct delivery
Mail, as a separate notice or included with the bill
Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Posting in conspicuous locations
Hand delivery
• Mail
In addition, both community and noncommunity systems must use another method reasonably calculated
to reach others if they would not be reached by the first method [40 CFR 141.203(c)]. Such methods could
include newspapers, e-mail, or delivery to community organizations. If you mail, post, or hand deliver, print
your notice on your system's letterhead, if available.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for mailing, posting, or hand delivery. If you modify this 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 and
with an asterisk on either end.
You must also include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all persons
served, where applicable [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is also 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 treatment technique violations. Depending on the corrective action you are
taking, you can use one or more of the following statements, 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 primacy agency a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met
the public notice requirements within ten days after you issued the notice [40 CFR 141.31 (d)].
Public Notification Handbook
87
March 2010
-------
LT2ESWTR Filtered System Failure to Determine and Report Bin Classification
Notice - Template 2-11
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
[System] Failed to Determine Required Treatment Based on Cryptosporidium
Level
Our water system recently violated a drinking water requirement. Although this is not an emergency,
as our customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we did (are
doing) to correct this situation.
*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 should I do?
• There is nothing you need to do. You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective
actions. 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. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by
Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from EPA's Safe Drinking Water
Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
What does this mean?
This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified within 24 hours.
*lnadequately 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, but also by other
factors. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical
advice.
What is being done?
[Describe corrective action.] We anticipate resolving the problem within [estimated time frame] (or the
problem was resolved on [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:
Public Notification Handbook
88
March 2010
-------
Instructions for LT2ESWTR Unfiltered System Failure to Calculate and Report
Mean Cryptosporidium Level Notice - Template 2-12
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 primacy agency 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 agency to make sure you meet all requirements.
Community systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Hand or direct delivery
Mail, as a separate notice or included with the bill
Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Posting in conspicuous locations
Hand delivery
Mail
In addition, both community and noncommunity systems must use another method reasonably calculated
to reach others if they would not be reached by the first method [40 CFR 141.203(c)]. Such methods could
include newspapers, e-mail, or delivery to community organizations. If you mail, post, or hand deliver, print
your notice on your system's letterhead, if available.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for mailing, posting, or hand delivery. If you modify this 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 and
with an asterisk on either end.
You must also include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all persons
served, where applicable [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is also 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 treatment technique violations. Depending on the corrective action you are
taking, you can use one or more of the following statements, 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 primacy agency a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met
the public notice requirements within ten days after you issued the notice [40 CFR 141.31 (d)].
Public Notification Handbook
89
March 2010
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LT2ESWTR Unfiltered System Failure to Calculate and Report Mean
Cryptosporidium Level Notice - Template 2-12
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
[System] Failed to Determine Cryptosporidium Level
Our water system recently violated a drinking water requirement. Although this is not an emergency,
as our customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we did (are
doing) to correct this situation.
*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 should I do?
• There is nothing you need to do. You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective
actions. 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. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by
Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from EPA's Safe Drinking Water
Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
What does this mean?
This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified within 24 hours.
*lnadequately 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, but also by other
factors. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical
advice.
What is being done?
[Describe corrective action.] We anticipate resolving the problem within [estimated time frame] (or the
problem was resolved on [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 name]. State Water System ID# .
Date distributed:
Public Notification Handbook
90
March 2010
-------
Instructions for LT2ESWTR Filtered System Failure to Provide or Install an
Additional Level of Treatment Notice - Template 2-13
Template on Reverse
A filtered system's failure to provide or install an additional level of treatment appropriate for its 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
primacy agency 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 agency to make sure you meet all requirements.
Community systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Hand or direct delivery
Mail, as a separate notice or included with the bill
Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Posting in conspicuous locations
Hand delivery
• Mail
In addition, both community and noncommunity systems must use another method reasonably calculated to
reach others if they would not be reached by the first method [40 CFR 141.203(c)]. Such methods could include
newspapers, e-mail, or delivery to community organizations. If you mail, post, or hand deliver, print your notice on
your system's letterhead, if available.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for mailing, posting, or hand delivery. If you modify this 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 and with an asterisk on either end.
You must also include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all persons served,
where applicable [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is also 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 treatment technique violations. Depending on the corrective action you are taking, 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 and our engineers 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.
Repeat Notices
For repeat notices, you should state how long the violation has been ongoing and remind consumers of when you
sent out any previous notices. If you are making progress in installing treatment or achieving the required level of
treatment through other means, describe it. Alternatively, if funding or other issues are delaying your progress, let
consumers know.
After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your primacy agency a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met the
public notice requirements within ten days after you issued the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].
Public Notification Handbook
91
March 2010
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LT2ESWTR Filtered System Failure to Provide or Install an Additional Level of
Treatment Notice - Template 2-13
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
[System] Failed to Provide the Appropriate Level of Treatment Within Required
Time Frame
Our water system recently violated a drinking water requirement. Although this is not an emergency,
as our customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we did (are
doing) to correct this situation.
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 should I do?
• There is nothing you need to do. You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective
actions. 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. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by
Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from EPA's Safe Drinking Water
Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
What does this mean?
This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified within 24 hours.
*lnadequately 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, but also by other
factors. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical
advice.
What is being done?
[Describe corrective action.] We expect to achieve this additional level of treatment by [give date].
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:
Public Notification Handbook
92
March 2010
-------
Instructions for LT2ESWTR Unfiltered System Failure to Achieve Required
Inactivation Level Notice - Template 2-14
Template on Reverse
Based on Cryptosporidium monitoring results, an unfiltered system 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 primacy agency 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 agency to make sure you
meet all requirements.
Community systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Hand or direct delivery
Mail, as a separate notice or included with the bill
Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Posting in conspicuous locations
Hand delivery
• Mail
In addition, both community and noncommunity systems must use another method reasonably calculated to
reach others if they would not be reached by the first method [40 CFR 141.203(c)]. Such methods could include
newspapers, e-mail, or delivery to community organizations. If you mail, post, or hand deliver, print your notice on
your system's letterhead, if available.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for mailing, posting, or hand delivery. If you modify this 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 and with an asterisk on either end.
You must also include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all persons served,
where applicable [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is also 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 treatment technique violations. Depending on the corrective action you are taking, 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.
Repeat Notices
For repeat notices, you should state how long the violation has been ongoing and remind consumers of when you
sent out any previous notices. If you are making progress in meeting inactivation level requirements, describe it.
Alternatively, if funding or other issues are delaying your ability to meet the required levels, let consumers know.
After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your primacy agency a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met the
public notice requirements within ten days after you issued the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].
Public Notification Handbook
93
March 2010
-------
LT2ESWTR Unfiltered System Failure to Achieve Required Inactivation Level
Notice - Template 2-14
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
[System] Failed to Provide the Appropriate Level of Treatment Within Required
Time Frame
Our water system recently violated a drinking water requirement. Although this is not an emergency,
as our customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we did (are
doing) to correct this situation.
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 should I do?
• There is nothing you need to do. You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective
actions. 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. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by
Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from EPA's Safe Drinking Water
Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
What does this mean?
This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified within 24 hours.
*lnadequately 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, but also by other
factors. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical
advice.
What is being done?
[Describe corrective action.] We expect to achieve this specified level of treatment by [give date].
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:
Public Notification Handbook
94
March 2010
-------
Instructions for LT2ESWTR Filtered System Failure to Achieve Required
Treatment Credit Notice - Template 2-15
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 primacy agency 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
agency to make sure you meet all requirements.
Community systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Hand or direct delivery
Mail, as a separate notice or included with the bill
Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Posting in conspicuous locations
Hand delivery
Mail
In addition, both community and noncommunity systems must use another method reasonably calculated
to reach others if they would not be reached by the first method [40 CFR 141.203(c)]. Such methods could
include newspapers, e-mail, or delivery to community organizations. If you mail, post, or hand deliver, print
your notice on your system's letterhead, if available.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for mailing, posting, or hand delivery. If you modify this 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 and with an asterisk on either end.
You must also include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all persons
served, where applicable [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is also 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 treatment technique violations. Depending on the corrective action you are
taking, 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.
Repeat Notices
For repeat notices, you should state how long the violation has been ongoing and remind consumers of
when you sent out any previous notices. If you are making progress, describe it. Alternatively, if funding or
other issues are delaying progress, let consumers know.
After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your primacy agency a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met
the public notice requirements within ten days after you issued the notice [40 CFR 141.31 (d)].
Public Notification Handbook
95
March 2010
-------
LT2ESWTR Filtered System Failure to Achieve Required Treatment Credit Notice
-Template 2-15
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
[System] Failed to Maintain the Required Level of Treatment
Our water system recently violated a drinking water requirement. Although this is not an emergency,
as our customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we did (are
doing) to correct this situation.
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 should I do?
• There is nothing you need to do. You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective
actions. 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. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by
Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from EPA's Safe Drinking Water
Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
What does this mean?
This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified within 24 hours.
*lnadequately 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, but also by other
factors. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical
advice.
What is being done?
[Describe corrective action and when the system returned or expects to return to compliance.]
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:
Public Notification Handbook
96
March 2010
-------
Instructions for LT2ESWTR Unfiltered System Failure to Maintain Required
Inactivation Level Notice - Template 2-16
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 primacy agency 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 agency to make sure you meet all requirements.
Community systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Hand or direct delivery
Mail, as a separate notice or included with the bill
Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Posting in conspicuous locations
Hand delivery
Mail
In addition, both community and noncommunity systems must use another method reasonably calculated
to reach others if they would not be reached by the first method [40 CFR 141.203(c)]. Such methods could
include newspapers, e-mail, or delivery to community organizations. If you mail, post, or hand deliver, print
your notice on your system's letterhead, if available.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for mailing, posting, or hand delivery. If you modify this 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 and with an asterisk on either end.
You must also include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all persons
served, where applicable [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is also 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 treatment technique violations. Depending on the corrective action you are
taking, 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.
Repeat Notices
For repeat notices, you should state how long the violation has been ongoing and remind consumers of
when you sent out any previous notices. If you are making progress, describe it. Alternatively, if funding or
other issues are delaying progress, let consumers know.
After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your primacy agency a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met
the public notice requirements within ten days after you issued the notice [40 CFR 141.31 (d)].
Public Notification Handbook
97
March 2010
-------
LT2ESWTR Unfiltered System Failure to Maintain Required Inactivation Level
Notice - Template 2-16
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
[System] Failed to Maintain the Required Level of Treatment
Our water system recently violated a drinking water requirement. Although this is not an emergency,
as our customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we did (are
doing) to correct this situation.
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 should I do?
• There is nothing you need to do. You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective
actions. 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. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by
Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from EPA's Safe Drinking Water
Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
What does this mean?
This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified within 24 hours.
*lnadequately 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, but also by other
factors. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical
advice.
What is being done?
[Describe corrective action and when the system returned or expects to return to compliance.]
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:
Public Notification Handbook
98
March 2010
-------
Instructions for LT2ESWTR Unfiltered System Failure to Install Second
Disinfectant Notice - Template 2-17
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 primacy agency 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 agency to make sure you meet all requirements.
Community systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Hand or direct delivery
Mail, as a separate notice or included with the bill
Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Posting in conspicuous locations
Hand delivery
• Mail
In addition, both community and noncommunity systems must use another method reasonably calculated to
reach others if they would not be reached by the first method [40 CFR 141.203(c)]. Such methods could include
newspapers, e-mail, or delivery to community organizations. If you mail, post, or hand deliver, print your notice on
your system's letterhead, if available.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for mailing, posting, or hand delivery. If you modify this 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 and with an asterisk on either end.
You must also include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all persons served,
where applicable [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is also 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
unfiltered water systems with LT2ESWTR treatment technique violations. Depending on the corrective action you
are taking, 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.
Repeat Notices
For repeat notices, you should state how long the violation has been ongoing and remind consumers of when
you sent out any previous notices. If you are making progress in installing treatment, describe it. Alternatively, if
funding or other issues are delaying installation of treatment, let consumers know.
After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your primacy agency a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met the
public notice requirements within ten days after you issued the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].
Public Notification Handbook
99
March 2010
-------
LT2ESWTR Unfiltered System Failure to Install Second Disinfectant Notice -
Template 2-17
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
[System] Failed to Provide the Appropriate Level of Treatment Within Required
Time Frame
Our water system recently violated a drinking water requirement. Although this is not an emergency,
as our customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we did (are
doing) to correct this situation.
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 should I do?
• There is nothing you need to do. You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective
actions. 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. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes
are available from EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
What does this mean?
This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified within 24 hours.
*lnadequately 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, but also by other
factors. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical
advice.
What is being done?
We expect to have the [U.V./chlorine dioxide/ozone] disinfection system installed by [give date]. We
continue to disinfect the water with chlorine as we have in the past.
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:
Public Notification Handbook
100
March 2010
-------
Instructions for Stage 1 DBPR TTHM or HAAS MCL Violation Notice - Template
2-18
Template on Reverse
If your system's running annual average for Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) exceeds the MCL of 0.080 mg/L or
the running annual average for HaloaceticAcid 5 (HAAS) exceeds the MCL of 0.060 mg/L, you must provide Tier
2 notification 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.
Community systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Hand or direct delivery
Mail, as a separate notice or included with the bill
Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Posting in conspicuous locations
Hand delivery
• Mail
In addition, both community and noncommunity systems must use another method reasonably calculated to
reach others if they would not be reached by the first method [40 CFR 141.203(c)]. Such methods could include
newspapers, e-mail, or delivery to community organizations. If you mail, post, or hand deliver, print your notice on
your system's letterhead, if available.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for mailing, posting, or hand delivery. If you modify this 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 and with an asterisk on either end.
You must also include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all persons served,
where applicable [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is also 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 steps commonly taken by water
systems with TTHM or HAAS MCL violations. You can include one of the following statements, if appropriate, or
develop your own text:
We are evaluating modifications to our existing treatment processes to reduce the levels of disinfection
byproducts in our distribution system.
We are pilot testing [name treatment type] treatment to ensure it will reduce concentrations of
[Contaminant, i.e., Total Trihalomethanes or HaloaceticAcid 5] in our finished water. Testing will be
completed by [provide date] at which time we will evaluate effectiveness and begin installation.
Repeat Notices
For repeat notices, you should state how long the violation has been ongoing and remind consumers of when
you sent out any previous notices. If you are making progress in installing treatment, describe it. Alternatively, if
funding or other issues are delaying installation of treatment, let consumers know.
After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your primacy agency a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met the
public notice requirements within ten days after you issued the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].
Public Notification Handbook
101
March 2010
-------
Stage 1 DBPR TTHM or HAAS MCL Violation Notice - Template 2-18
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
[Contaminant, i.e., Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) or Haloacetic Acid 5 (HAAS)]
MCL Violation at [System]
Our water system recently violated a drinking water standard. Although this incident was not an
emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened and what we did (are doing) to
correct this situation.
We routinely monitor for the presence of drinking water contaminants. Testing results from [date range]
show that our system exceeds the standard, or maximum contaminant level (MCL), for [TTHM/HAA5].
The standard for [TTHM/HAA5] is [MCL]. It is determined by averaging all samples collected by our
system for the last 12 months. The level of [TTHM/HAA5] averaged at our system for [provide date
range] was [level].
What should I do?
• There is nothing you need to do. You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective
actions. If a situation arises where the water is no longer safe to drink, you will be notified within
24 hours.
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.
What does this mean?
This is not an emergency. If it had been an emergency, you would have been notified within 24 hours.
[TTHM are four volatile organic chemicals] [HAAS are five haloacetic acid compounds] which form
when disinfectants react with natural organic matter in the water.
[*People who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL over many years may
experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or centra I nervous system, and may have an increased
risk of getting cancer. *\ Or
[*People who drink water containing haloacetic acids in excess of the MCL over many years may have
an increased risk of getting cancer. *]
What is being done?
[Describe corrective action.] We anticipate resolving the problem within [estimated time frame].
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:
Public Notification Handbook 102 March 2010
-------
Instructions for Stage 2 DBPR TTHM or HAAS MCL Violation Notice - Template
2-19
Template on Reverse
If your system's locational running annual average for Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) exceeds the MCL
of 0.080 mg/L or the locational running annual average for Haloacetic Acid 5 (HAAS) exceeds the MCL of
0.060 mg/L at one or more sampling locations, 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.
Community systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Hand or direct delivery
Mail, as a separate notice or included with the bill
Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Posting in conspicuous locations
Hand delivery
Mail
In addition, both community and noncommunity systems must use another method reasonably calculated
to reach others if they would not be reached by the first method [40 CFR 141.203(c)]. Such methods could
include newspapers, e-mail, or delivery to community organizations. If you mail, post, or hand deliver, print
your notice on your system's letterhead, if available.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for mailing, posting, or hand delivery. If you modify this 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 and with an asterisk on either end.
You must also include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all persons
served, where applicable [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is also 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 is one step commonly taken by water
systems with TTHM or HAAS MCL violations. You can include the following statement, if appropriate, or
develop your own text:
We are working to minimize the formation of [TTHM or HAAS] while ensuring we maintain an
adequate level of disinfectant. We have taken additional steps to change disinfectant type/levels,
remove natural organic matter, and increased flushing of water lines to determine if our efforts have
been effective.
Repeat Notices
For repeat notices, you should state how long the violation has been ongoing and remind consumers of
when you sent out any previous notices. If you are making progress, describe it. Alternatively, if funding or
other issues are delaying progress, let consumers know.
After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your primacy agency a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met
the public notice requirements within ten days after you issued the notice [40 CFR 141.31 (d)].
Public Notification Handbook
103
March 2010
-------
Stage 2 DBPR TTHM or HAAS MCL Violation Notice - Template 2-19
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
[Contaminant, i.e., Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) or Haloacetic Acid 5 (HAAS)]
MCL Violation at [System]
Our water system recently violated a drinking water standard. Although this incident was not an
emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened and what we did (are doing) to
correct this situation.
We routinely monitor for the presence of drinking water contaminants. Testing results from [provide date
range] show that our system exceeds the standard, or maximum contaminant level (MCL), for [TTHM/
HAA5]. The standard for [TTHM/HAA5] is [MCL]. It is determined by averaging all the samples collected
at each sampling location for the past 12 months. The level of [TTHM/HAA5] averaged at one of our
system's locations for [provide date range] was [level].
What should I do?
• There is nothing you need to do. You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective
actions. If a situation arises where the water is no longer safe to drink, you will be notified within
24 hours.
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.
What does this mean?
This is not an emergency. If it had been an emergency, you would have been notified within 24 hours.
[TTHM are four volatile organic chemicals] [HAAS are five haloacetic acid compounds] which form
when disinfectants react with natural organic matter in the water.
[*People who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL over many years may
experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous system, and may have an increased
risk of getting cancer.*] Or
[*People who drink water containing haloacetic acids in excess of the MCL over many years may have
an increased risk of getting cancer.*]
What is being done?
[Describe corrective action.] We anticipate resolving the problem within [estimated time frame] (or the
problem was resolved on [give date]).
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:
Public Notification Handbook
104
March 2010
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Instructions for Filter Backwash Recycling Rule Treatment Technique Violation
Notice - Template 2-20
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 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 primacy agency 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 agency to make sure you meet all
requirements.
Community systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Hand or direct delivery
Mail, as a separate notice or included with the bill
Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Posting in conspicuous locations
Hand delivery
• Mail
In addition, both community and noncommunity systems must use another method reasonably calculated to
reach others if they would not be reached by the first method [40 CFR 141.203(c)]. Such methods could include
newspapers, e-mail, or delivery to community organizations. If you mail, post, or hand deliver, print your notice on
your system's letterhead, if available.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for mailing, posting, or hand delivery. If you modify this 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 and with an asterisk on either end.
You must also include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all persons served,
where applicable [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is also presented in this notice in italics and with an asterisk
on either end.
Corrective Action
In your notice, describe corrective actions you are taking. Do not use overly technical terminology when
describing treatment methods. Depending on the corrective action you are taking, 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 primacy agency.
Repeat Notices
If this is an ongoing violation, you should give the history behind the violation, if known.
After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your primacy agency a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all
public notification requirements within ten days after issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31 (d)].
Public Notification Handbook
105
March 2010
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Filter Backwash Recycling Rule Treatment Technique Violation Notice -
Template 2-20
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
[System] Failed to Meet Treatment Requirements
Our water system recently violated a drinking water requirement. Although this is not an emergency,
as our customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we did (are
doing) to correct this situation.
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 should I do?
• There is nothing you need to do. You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective
actions. 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. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes
are available from EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
What does this mean?
This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified within 24 hours.
*lnadequately 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, but also by other
factors. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical
advice.
What is being done?
[Describe corrective action.] We anticipate resolving the problem within [estimated time frame].
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:
Public Notification Handbook
106
March 2010
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Instructions for GWR Failure to Take Corrective Action Within Required Time
Frame Notice - Template 2-21
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 for a fecal indicator-positive ground water source sample or significant deficiency
under the Ground Water Rule 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 primacy agency may have
more stringent requirements for treatment technique violations. Check with your agency 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.
Community systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Hand or direct delivery
Mail, as a separate notice or included with the bill
Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Posting in conspicuous locations
Hand delivery
Mail
In additional both community and noncommunity systems must use another method reasonably calculated to reach
others if they would not be reached by the first method [40 CFR 141.203(c)]. Such methods could include newspapers,
e-mail, or delivery to community organizations. If you mail, post, or hand deliver, print your notice on your system's
letterhead if available.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for mailing, posting, or hand delivery. If you modify this 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 and with an asterisk on either end.
You must also include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all persons served, where
applicable [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is also 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 Ground Water Rule treatment technique violations. Depending on the corrective action you are taking, 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.
Repeat Notices
For repeat notices, you should state how long the violation has been ongoing and remind consumers of when you sent
out any previous notices. If you are making progress with correcting the significant deficiency or addressing the fecal
indicator-positive source sample, describe it. Alternatively, if funding or other issues are delaying corrective action, let
consumers know.
After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your primacy agency a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all public
notification requirements within ten days after issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].
Public Notification Handbook
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GWR Failure to Take Corrective Action Within Required Time Frame Notice -
Template 2-21
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
[System] Failed to [Correct a Significant Deficiency/Address a Fecal Indicator-
Positive Source Sample] Within Required Time Frame.
Our water system recently violated a drinking water requirement. Although this incident was not an
emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened and what we did (are doing) to
correct this situation.
[A routine inspection conducted on [give date] by the [insert primacy agency] found [describe significant
deficiency in our water system]] OR
[Sampling conducted at our groundwater source on [given date(s)] found indication of fecal
contamination of our source(s)].
As required by Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Ground Water Rule, we were required to
take action to [correct this deficiency/address the fecal-indicator positive source sample]. However, we
failed to take this action by the deadline established by [insert primacy agency name].
What should I do?
• There is nothing you need to do. You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective
actions. 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. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes
are available from EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
What does this mean?
This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified within 24 hours.
*lnadequately 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, but also by other
factors. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical
advice.
What is being done?
[Describe corrective action.] We anticipate resolving the problem within [estimated time frame] (or the
problem was resolved on [give date]).
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:
Public Notification Handbook
108
March 2010
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Instructions for GWR Failure to Maintain 4-log Treatment of Viruses Notice -
Template 2-22
Template on Reverse
A ground water system's failure to maintain required 4-log treatment of viruses for a period greater than four
hours is a treatment technique violation that 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 primacy agency
may have more stringent requirements for treatment technique violations. Check with your agency to make
sure you meet all requirements.
Community systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Hand or direct delivery
Mail, as a separate notice or included with the bill
Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Posting in conspicuous locations
Hand delivery
Mail
In additional both community and noncommunity systems must use another method reasonably calculated
to reach others if they would not be reached by the first method [40 CFR 141.203(c)]. Such methods could
include newspapers, e-mail, or delivery to community organizations. If you mail, post, or hand deliver, print
your notice on your system's letterhead if available.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for mailing, posting, or hand delivery. If you modify this 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 and with an asterisk on either end.
You must also include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all persons
served, where applicable [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is also 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 Ground Water Rule treatment technique violations. Depending on the corrective action
you are taking, 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.
Repeat Notices
For repeat notices, you should state how long the violation has been ongoing and remind consumers
of when you sent out any previous notices. If you are taking steps to ensure you are maintaining 4-log
treatment for viruses, describe them. Alternatively, if you are having issues maintaining 4-log treatment, let
consumers know.
After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your primacy agency a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met
the public notice requirements within ten days after you issued the notice [40 CFR 141.31 (d)].
Public Notification Handbook
109
March 2010
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GWR Failure to Maintain 4-Log Treatment of Viruses Notice - Template 2-22
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
[System] Failure to Meet Treatment Requirements
Our water system recently violated a drinking water requirement. Although this incident was not an
emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened and what we did (are doing) to
correct this situation.
We are required to [treat/disinfect] our drinking water source [name source]. From [give date] to
[give date] we did not meet one or more of our treatment requirements [provide sufficient levels of
disinfectant/ provide adequate contact time/meet alternative treatment criteria] due to [describe issue,
e.g., malfunctioning equipment].
What should I do?
• There is nothing you need to do. You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective
actions. 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. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes
are available from EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
What does this mean?
This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified within 24 hours.
*lnadequately 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, but also by other
factors. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical
advice.
While we have not detected any evidence of contamination in, or other health threats to, our source
water, we are still committed to restoring the required level of treatment to the water from [source] to
eliminate the threat of contamination.
What is being done?
[Describe corrective action.] We anticipate resolving the problem within [estimated time frame] (or the
problem was resolved on [give date]).
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:
Public Notification Handbook
110
March 2010
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Instructions for Failure to Comply with the Conditions of an Exemption Notice -
Template 2-23
Template on Reverse
Since failure to comply with the conditions of an exemption 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 primacy agency may have more stringent or alternative requirements for exemption violations (e.g., it
may require you to provide water from an alternate source). Check with your agency to make sure you meet
all requirements.
Community systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Hand or direct delivery
Mail, as a separate notice or included with the bill
Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Posting in conspicuous locations
Hand delivery
Mail
In addition, both community and noncommunity systems must use another method reasonably calculated
to reach others if they would not be reached by the first method [40 CFR 141.203(c)]. Such methods could
include newspapers, e-mail, or delivery to community organizations. If you mail, post, or hand deliver, print
your notice on your system's letterhead, if available.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for mailing, posting, or hand delivery. If you modify this 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) for the contaminant your system has
been granted an exemption for must be included as written (with blanks filled in). Example language for
arsenic is presented in this notice in italics and with an asterisk on either end.
You must also include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all persons
served, where applicable [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is also 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 is an example of a step that might be
taken in response to this violation. You can include the following statement, if appropriate, or develop your
own text:
We have agreed upon a new deadline of [give date] to secure the funding needed in order to
purchase [contaminant] removal treatment equipment. Once we have secured funding, we will
purchase and begin installation of the selected treatment technology by [estimated time frame].
Repeat Notices
For repeat notices, you should state how long the violation has been ongoing and remind consumers of
when you sent out any previous notices. Include updated information regarding meeting the measures and
schedules in your corrective action plan. Alternatively, if funding or other issues are delaying your progress,
let consumers know.
After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your primacy agency a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met
the public notice requirements within ten days after you issued the notice [40 CFR 141.31 (d)].
Public Notification Handbook
111
March 2010
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Failure to Comply with the Conditions of an Exemption Notice - Template 2-23
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
[System] Failed to Meet the Conditions of a [contaminant] Exemption
Our water system recently violated one of the conditions of our [contaminant] exemption. An exemption
allows eligible systems additional time to build capacity in order to comply with a drinking water
standard. [Name of system] was granted an exemption for the [contaminant] standard so that we could
raise funds for a new treatment process to remove [contaminant]. As a condition of the exemption, we
agreed to secure funding by [give date]. We did not meet this deadline.
What should I do?
There is nothing you need to do. You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions.
You may continue to drink the water. If a situation arises where the water is no longer safe to drink, you
will be notified within 24 hours. We will post this information on our Web site at www.ourwatersystem.
com.
What does this mean?
This is not an emergency. If it had been an emergency, you would have been notified within 24 hours.
(Example language provided for arsenic. Enter required language from 40 CFR Appendix B to Subpart
Q for your specific contaminant.)
[*Some people who drink water containing arsenic in excess of the MCL over many years may have an
increased risk of getting cancer.*]
What is being done?
[Describe corrective action.] We anticipate resolving the problem within [estimated time frame] (or the
problem was resolved on [give date]).
For more information, please contact [name of contact] at [phone number] or [mailing address]. You can
also visit our Web site at www.ourwatersystem.com.
*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:
Public Notification Handbook
112
March 2010
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Instructions for Monitoring Violation Elevated to Tier 2 Notice - Template 2-24
Template on Reverse
If your primacy agency has designated a failure to monitor as a Tier 2 violation [40 CFR 141.203(a)], you
must provide public notice to persons served within 30 days after it has been designated Tier 2 [40 CFR
141.203(b)]. Monitoring violations are Tier 3 by default, but may be elevated to Tier 2 by your primacy
agency. You may elevate the violation to Tier 2 yourself as well. You must issue a repeat notice every three
months for as long as the violation persists.
Community systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Hand or direct delivery
Mail, as a separate notice or included with the bill
Noncommunity systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]:
Posting in conspicuous locations
Hand delivery
Mail
In addition, both community and noncommunity systems must use another method reasonably calculated
to reach others if they would not be reached by the first method [40 CFR 141.203(c)]. Such methods could
include newspapers, e-mail, or delivery to community organizations. If you mail, post, or hand deliver, print
your notice on your system's letterhead, if available.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for mailing, posting, or hand delivery. If you modify this 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.
You must also include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all persons
served, where applicable [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is also presented in this notice in italics and
with an asterisk on either end.
Corrective Action
In your notice, describe corrective actions you took or are taking. Listed below are some steps commonly
taken by water systems with monitoring violations. You can use the following language, if appropriate, 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 [expected time frame], as described in the last column of the
table above.
Repeat Notices
If this is an ongoing violation, you should give the history behind the violation, if known.
After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your primacy agency a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met
all public notification requirements within ten days after issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].
Public Notification Handbook
113
March 2010
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Monitoring Violation Elevated to Tier 2 Notice - Template 2-24
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
Monitoring Requirements Not Met for [System]
Our water system recently violated a drinking water requirement. Although this incident was not an
emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened and what we did (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 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.*
What should I do?
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 for [this contaminant/these contaminants] 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
Nitrate (example)
Required
sampling
frequency
One sample
annually
Number of
samples taken
0
When samples
should have
been taken
2008
When samples
were taken
February 2009
What is being done?
[Describe corrective action.]
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:
Public Notification Handbook
114
March 2010
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7.Tier 3 Notice Requirements and Suggestions
Tier 3 notices must meet the content (including mandatory language), format, and multilingual
requirements described in Chapter 3, and are required for the following violations or situations [40 CFR
I4l.204(a)]:
>• Monitoring violations (except for the following: failure to take a confirmation sample for nitrate or
nitrite within 24 hours and failure to take required samples for chlorine dioxide in the distribution
system, which require Tier 1 notice; repeated failure to conduct Cyrptosporidium monitoring which
requires Tier 2 notice, and any monitoring violations elevated to Tier 1 or 2 by the primacy agency).
*• Testing procedure violations, except for failure to test for fecal coliform or E. coli when repeat samples
are positive for coliforms, and any testing procedure violations elevated to Tier 2 by the primacy agency.
> Operation under a variance or exemption.
> Special notice for availability of unregulated contaminant monitoring data.
> Special notice for fluoride secondary maximum contaminant level (SMCL) exceedances.
Remember that notices for variances or exemptions, fluoride SMCL exceedances, and availability of
unregulated contaminant monitoring data have different content requirements than notices for violations
(see Chapter 3).
What is the deadline for issuing a Tier 3 notice?
You must issue a Tier 3 public notice within 12 months of learning of the violation or situation [40 CFR
l4l.204(b)]. Keep in mind that your primacy agency may require earlier notice for some monitoring
violations, especially if it believes such violations could affect public health.
Following the initial notice, you must repeat the notice annually for as long as the violation or situation
persists. Posted notices must remain posted for as long as the violation or situation persists, but in no case
less than seven days, even if the violation or situation is resolved [40 CFR I4l.204(b)]. 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.
You must notify new billing customers or units, prior to, or at the time their service begins, of any
ongoing violations or situations for which you have previously provided notice (40 CFR 141.206).
Remember to send a copy of the notice and a certification statement to your primacy agency within ten
days after providing an initial or repeat notice to the public [40 CFR I4l.31(d)].
Public Notification Handbook 115 March 2010
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Required Elements of a Public Notice [40 CFR 141.205(a)]
1. A description of the violation.
2. When the violation occurred.
3. Potential adverse health effects, using required language in 40 CFR 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.
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 [40 CFR 141.205(d)
(3)].
Which methods of delivery must I use?
Unless directed otherwise by the primacy agency, if you operate a community water system, you must
provide notice by [40 CFR I4l.204(c)] the following methods:
1. Mail or other direct delivery to each customer receiving a bill and other service connections to which
water is delivered; and
2. Any other method reasonably calculated to reach others regularly served, if they would not normally
be reached by the method above. Such people include those who do not pay water bills or do not have
service connection addresses, (e.g., tenants, college students, nursing home patients, prison inmates).
Methods may include publication in a local newspaper, posting in public places, delivery of multiple
copies to landlords or office building managers, or delivery to community organizations.
Unless directed otherwise by the primacy agency, if you operate a noncommunity water system, you must
provide notice by the following methods [40 CFR I4l.204(c)] the following methods:
1. Posting the notice in conspicuous locations throughout the system or by direct delivery or mail to each
customer and known service connection; and
2. Any other method reasonably calculated to reach others served, if they would not normally be reached
by the method above. Such people may include those who may not see a posted notice because it is not
in a location they routinely pass by. Methods may include publication in a local newspaper or newsletter
distributed to consumers, use of e-mail to notify employees or students, or delivery of multiple copies in
central locations (e.g., community centers).
Refer to the "Public Notification Handbook for Transient Noncommunity Water Systems" (EPA 816-R-09-
009) for more information.
If you post a notice, it must remain posted for as long as the violation or situation persists. If the violation
or situation is already resolved by the time you write the notice, you must post the notice for at least seven
days [40 CFR I4l.204(b)]. Be sure that the notice is durable. It should not blow away if posted outdoors.
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Consider laminating notices that will be placed over sinks or outside, especially if they are likely to remain
there for an extended time.
For both system types, there may be a few cases where you were able to reach all persons served with the
first method you choose. In such cases, you may not need to use additional methods. In a community water
system, such as a small town, a second method would be necessary to reach non-resident employees or
restaurant customers. At a gas station, on the other hand, posting would be sufficient to reach all persons
served.
Suggestions for Effective Public Notification Delivery
If you mail the notice, send it to all service connections, if possible, and not just billing customers since
there are many people in addition to your billing customers who drink your water. Billing customers can be
reached via inserts in their water bills. E-mail may be appropriate to contact most of the students at a college
or university or large employer.
Community water systems whose consumers do not have service connections, such as nursing homes or
prisons, should notify all those drinking the water.
Notices in newspapers may be in the form of an article or a paid advertisement. Also, try to get articles
published in smaller community newspapers, homeowners' association newsletters, or similar
publications. Paid advertisements offer an advantage because you are guaranteed the notice will appear
exactly as you write it. Try to purchase ad space in the front section of the paper. Legal notices tend to get
lost in the back of the paper where few people read them.
May I combine notices for multiple Tier 3 violations or situations?
If you have multiple monitoring or testing procedure violations or other situations within a 12-month
period, you should strongly consider combining notification for them into a single annual Tier 3 notice
[40 CFR I4l.204(d)]. An annual notice can help you save preparation, delivery, and printing costs. You can
issue such a notice at any time, as long as the earliest violation included occurred less than 12 months before
the notice is provided to consumers. For example, if your water system violates the monitoring requirement
for volatile organic contaminants (VOCs) on March 31 and also violates the monitoring requirements for
the Total Coliform Rule in January, August, and December, you may issue a single notice on January 1 of
the subsequent year listing all the violations since the previous January 1.
Tips for Very Small Community Systems
> Consider combining notices for multiple Tier 3 violations and situations into one annual notice.
> Compare mailing and labor costs before selecting a delivery method. Hand delivery may be cheaper and
faster than preparing a mailing. However, you may be able to include your notice with the bill at little to
no extra cost.
> Supplement your chosen delivery method by posting in banks, grocery stores, town halls, and
restaurants, or by publishing in a newspaper.
If you are a community water system, you may also wish to consider using the Consumer Confidence
Report (CCR) for Tier 3 notices. Unlike a separate annual notice, however, using the CCR to meet the
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public notification obligation requires that you tailor the release of your CCR to meet the unique PN
requirements. Using the CCR may reduce some production costs and may reduce redundancy since the
violations and situations requiring public notice must also eventually be included in the CCR.
Including your Tier 3 public notice as part of the CCR could also provide the context that more accurately
describes what has happened. Before you decide, however, remember that the timing and delivery
requirements for OCRs differ from those for PNs. If you use the CCR for public notification, be very
careful to adhere to the PN requirement that public notice for Tier 3 violations be completed no later than
12 months from the date the violation occurred. In addition, if you use the CCR to satisfy your Tier 3
notice requirements, it must be provided to all persons served, not only those who would normally receive
the CCR Keep in mind, small community water systems that have a mailing waiver for CCR will not satisfy
PN delivery requirements.
An example illustrates the coordination challenge that water systems will face in using the CCR as the
vehicle for an annual Tier 3 notice. CCRs must be published by July 1 of every year and must include
information from the previous calendar year, according to the CCR regulation (40 CFR 141.152). A CCR
published by July 1, 2011, must include violations or situations that occurred between January 1, 2010 and
December 31, 2010. Under this schedule, public notice requirements for Tier 3 violations or situations that
occurred between January and June 2010 could not be met since the CCR would reach consumers more
than a year after they occurred. Any violations or situations that occur more than one year before the CCR is
published must be reported in a separate PN notice. To minimize the timing conflict, you can:
* Publish the CCR early-as soon after the end of the calendar year as possible; or
* Mail a separate public notice for the violations occurring in January through June of the current year in
the same envelope as your CCR covering the previous calendar year's violations.
Suggestions for the Layout of the Notice
The format of a Tier 3 notice depends on your circumstances and on the number of violations or situations
you are reporting. If you have multiple monitoring violations, it may be simpler and shorter to list them
in a table. The table could include columns for the required sampling frequency, the number of samples
taken, when the samples should have been taken, and when the samples were or will be taken. However, not
all monitoring violations are the same. For example, a coliform monitoring violation in which one of 100
samples were missed is less serious than missing one of two required chemical samples. You may feel it is
more appropriate to describe each violation in a paragraph. Templates 3-1 A, 3-IB, and 3-1C at the end of
this Chapter offer sample language and instructions for preparing public notices for monitoring violations.
In a notice for monitoring violations, it is important to explain to consumers the implications of the
violation. They may wonder why they weren't told earlier, whether there is any health risk, and why the
samples were not taken. You should respond to their concerns. A statement clarifying that no emergency
exists, that the notice is for informational purposes, and that subsequent monitoring showed no problems
will help reassure consumers.
A notice for a fluoride SMCL exceedance need only contain the mandatory language found in Template
3-5 with the blanks filled in appropriately (40 CFR 141.208). You should also include the language that
encourages distribution. Notices must be provided as soon as practical but no later than 12 months after
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you learn of the exceedance. Due to the staining effect of fluoride at levels above the SMCL on the teeth of
children under nine, consider issuing these notices quickly to prevent damage to their teeth.
A notice of the availability of unregulated contaminant data need only state that the monitoring results are
available and provide a phone number to call to obtain them (40 CFR 141.207). You may use an annual
notice or insert this notice into your CCR, provided public notification timing and delivery requirements
can be met. You do not need to include the results themselves, unless you are a community water system
using the CCR to provide the notice. CCR regulations require systems to include data on all detected
contaminants.
You should include your PWS ID number at the bottom of any notice. This will help your primacy agency
track compliance and prevent tracking errors among systems with similar names. Also include the date on
which you distributed the notice.
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Tier 3 Templates
Tier 3 notices are required for the following violations or situations:
* Monitoring violations (except for the following: failure to take a confirmation sample for nitrate or
nitrite within 24 hours and failure to take required samples for chlorine dioxide in the distribution
system, which require Tier 1 notice; repeated failure to conduct Cryptosporidium monitoring, which
requires Tier 2 notice; and any monitoring violations elevated to Tier 1 or 2 by the primacy agency).
*• Testing procedure violations, except for failure to test for fecal coliform or E. coli when repeat samples
are positive for coliforms, and any testing elevated to Tier 2 by the primacy agency.
> Operation under a variance or exemption.
*• Special notice for availability of unregulated contaminant monitoring data.
> Special notice for fluoride secondary maximum contaminant level (SMCL) exceedances.
The pages that follow contain templates for Tier 3 violations and situations. Along with the templates are
instructions, including the required method of delivery and suggestions for completing individual sections
of the notices. These instructions are designed to supplement Chapter 7, so you may see much of the
information repeated here. The following templates are included:
Templates
Monitoring Violations Annual Notice-Template 3-1A
Monitoring Violations Annual Notice-Template 3-1B
Monitoring Violations Annual Notice-Template 3-1C
Failure to Comply with a Testing Procedure Notice - Template 3-2
Operating Under an Exemption Notice - Template 3-3
Special Notice for Availability of Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Data - Template 3-4
Fluoride SMCL Notice-Template 3-5
Failure to Develop a Profile and/or Calculate a Benchmarking Notice - Template 3-6
Mandatory language on unknown risks for monitoring violations [40 CFR I4l.205(d)], which must
be included as written with blanks filled in, is presented in italics in each notice. All the language in
the fluoride SMCL template (except the language discussed below) is mandatory (40 CFR 141.208).
You must also include the following italicized language in all notices, where applicable [40 CFR I4l.205(d)].
Use of this language does not relieve you of your obligation to take steps reasonably calculated to notify all
persons served:
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.
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Instructions for Monitoring Violations Annual Notice - Template 3-1A
Template on Reverse
If you are required to provide Tier 3 notification, 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
primacy agency may have more stringent requirements. Check with your primacy agency to make sure you meet
its requirements.
Community systems must use one of the following [40 CFR 141.204(c)]:
Hand or direct delivery
Mail, as a separate notice or included with the bill
Noncommunity systems must use one of the following [40 CFR 141.204(c)]:
Posting in conspicuous locations
Hand delivery
• Mail
In addition, both community and noncommunity systems must use another method reasonably calculated to
reach others if they would not be reached by the first method [40 CFR 141.204(c)]. Such methods could include
newspapers, e-mail, or delivery to community organizations. If you post the notice, it must remain posted 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, print your notice on your system's letterhead, if available.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for insertion in an annual notice or the Consumer Confidence Report
(CCR), as long as public notification timing and delivery requirements are met [40 CFR 141.204(d)]. You may
need to modify the template for a notice for individual monitoring violations. This example presents violations in
a table; however, you may write out an explanation for each violation if you wish. For any monitoring violation
for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or other groups, you may list the group name in the table, but you must
provide the name of every chemical in the group on the notice, e.g., in a footnote.
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 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.
You must also include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all persons served,
where applicable [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is also presented in this notice in italics and with an asterisk
on either end.
Corrective Action
In your notice, describe corrective actions you took, or are taking. Listed below are some steps commonly taken
by water systems with monitoring violations. You can use the following language, if appropriate, or develop your
own:
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
Make sure to send your primacy agency a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all the
public notice requirements within ten days after issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31 (d)].
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Monitoring Violations Annual Notice - Template 3-1A
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
Monitoring Requirements Not Met for [System]
Our water system violated drinking water requirements over the past year. Even though these were not
emergencies, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened and what we are doing (did)
to correct these situations.
*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
[contaminant(s)] and therefore cannot be sure of the quality of your drinking water during that time. *
What should I do?
There is nothing you need to do at this time.
The table below lists the contaminant(s) we did not properly test for during the last year, how often
we are supposed to sample for [this contaminant/these contaminants], 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
VOCs1 (example)
Required
sampling
frequency
1 sample every
three years
Number of
samples taken
0
When samples
should have
been taken
2009-2011
When samples
were taken
February 201 2
What is being done?
[Describe corrective action.]
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:
1VOCs, also know as volatile organic compounds, are tested by collecting one sample and testing that sample for
all the regulated VOCs. VOCs are commonly used in industrial and manufacturing processes. Regulated VOCs
include benzene, carbon tetrachloride, chlorobenzene, 1,2-dichlorobenzene, 1,4-dichlorobenzene, 1,2-dichloro-
ethane, cis-dichloroethane, trans-dichloroethane, dichloromethane, 1,2-dichloropropane, ethylbenzene, styrene,
tetrachloroethylene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, toluene, 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, 1,1-dichloroethylene,
1,1,2-trichloroethane, vinyl chloride, and xylene.
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Instructions for Monitoring Violations Annual Notice - Template 3-1B
Template on Reverse
The template on the reverse is another example of a monitoring violation. The example in this
template is for Bromate under the Stage 2 DBPR. All of the instructions of Template 3-1A apply.
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Monitoring Violations Annual Notice - Template 3-1B
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
Monitoring Requirements Not Met for [System]
On [give date] we became aware that our system recently failed to collect the correct number
of drinking water samples. Although this incident was not an emergency, as our customers, you
have a right to know what happened and what we did (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 test' or 'did not complete all
monitoring or testing'] for bromate and therefore cannot be sure of the quality of your drinking
water during that time. *
We were allowed to take 1 sample per quarter rather than 1 sample per month. In [give date],
we no longer qualified for reduced quarterly bromate monitoring. Beginning in [give date], we
failed to begin monitoring monthly for bromate.
What should I do?
There is nothing you need to do at this time. You may continue to drink the water. If a situation
arises where the water is no longer safe to drink, you will be notified within 24 hours.
What is being done?
[Describe corrective action.] We began monitoring monthly for bromate on [give date] and will
continue to monitor on this schedule [until/unless] we qualify for reduced monitoring.
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:
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Instructions for Monitoring Violations Annual Notice - Template 3-1C
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, it is required to issue
Tier 3 notification. (Note: failure to conduct required Cryptosporidium monitoring for any three
months or more requires Tier 2 notification and special notice. See Chapter 6 for an example
template.) This notice can also be modified for E. coli or turbidity monitoring violations under
LT2ESWTR. All the instructions of Template 3-1A apply.
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Monitoring Violations Annual Notice - Template 3-1C
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
Monitoring Requirements Not Met for [System]
Our water system violated a drinking water requirement over the past year. Even though this
was not an emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened and what
we did to correct the 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 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 should I do?
There is nothing you need to do at this time. You may continue to drink the water. If a situation
arises where the water is no longer safe to drink, you will be notified within 24 hours.
What is being done?
[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:
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Instructions for Failure to Comply with a Testing Procedure Notice - Template
3-2
Template on Reverse
Failure to comply with a testing procedure requires Tier 3 notification. You must provide public notice
to persons served within one year after you learn of the violation [40 CFR 141.204(b)]. Multiple testing
violations can be serious, and your primacy agency may have more stringent requirements. Check with
your primacy agency to make sure you meet its requirements.
Community systems must use one of the following [40 CFR 141.204(c)]:
Hand or direct delivery
Mail, as a separate notice or included with the bill
Noncommunity systems must use one of the following [40 CFR 141.204(c)]:
Posting in conspicuous locations
Hand delivery
Mail
In addition, both community and noncommunity systems must use another method reasonably
calculated to reach others if they would not be reached by the first method [40 CFR 141.204(c)]. Such
methods could include newspapers, e-mail, or delivery to community organizations. If you post the
notice, it must remain posted 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,
print your notice on your system's letterhead, if available.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for insertion in an annual notice or the Consumer Confidence
Report (CCR), as long as public notification timing and delivery requirements are met [40 CFR
141.204(d)].
This example is for a holding time violation. It will need to be modified for other types of testing
violations. However, If you modify this 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.
You must also include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all
persons served, where applicable [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is also presented in this notice
in italics and with an asterisk on either end.
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 holding time violation. You can use the following language, if appropriate,
or develop your own that is specific to your testing violation:
On [give date] we collected (will collect) a new sample of our finished water in order to have it
analyzed for [contaminant]. We sent (will send) the sample to the certified laboratory via courier
to ensure that the sample arrived within the allowed holding time.
After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your primacy agency a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have
met all the public notice requirements within ten days after issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].
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Failure to Comply with a Testing Procedure Notice - Template 3-2
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
[System] Failed to Comply With a Testing Procedure
Our water system [name of system] recently failed to comply with a required testing procedure.
Even though this was not an emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what
happened and what we did to correct the 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 complete all monitoring or testing for
[contaminant(s)], and therefore cannot be sure of the quality of your drinking water during that
time. *
Any sample we collect must be sent to and analyzed by a certified laboratory within a specified
amount of time. We collected the sample on [give date], but did not get our sample to the
laboratory within the allowed holding time.
What should I do?
There is nothing you need to do at this time. You may continue to drink the water. If a situation
arises where the water is no longer safe to drink, you will be notified within 24 hours.
What is being done?
On [give date] we [collected/will collect] a new sample of our finished water in order to have
it analyzed for [contaminant]. We [sent/will send] the sample to the certified lab via courier
to ensure that the sample [arrived/arrives] within the allowed holding time. The sample was
analyzed and [contaminant] was not found at detectable levels.
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:
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Instructions for Operating Under an Exemption Notice - Template 3-3
Template on Reverse
If you are operating under a variance or exemption, you are required to provide Tier 3 notification. You
must provide public notice to persons served within one year after you begin operating under a variance or
exemption [40 CFR 141.204(b)]. Systems operating under a variance or exemption are required to include
the following information in their notice [40 CFR 141.205(b)]:
An explanation for the reasons for the variance or exemption;
The date on which the variance or exemption was issued;
• A brief status report on the steps the system is taking to install treatment, find alternative sources of
water, or otherwise comply with the terms and schedules of the variance or exemption; and
• A notice of any opportunity for public input in the review of the variance or exemption.
Your primacy agency may require additional information. Check with your primacy agency to make sure you
meet its requirements. Failure to comply with a variance or exemption is a Tier 2 violation. Use Template
2-23 for this type of violation.
Community systems must use one of the following [40 CFR 141.204(c)]:
Hand or direct delivery
Mail, as a separate notice or included with the bill
Noncommunity systems must use one of the following [40 CFR 141.204(c)]:
Posting in conspicuous locations
Hand delivery
Mail
In addition, both community and noncommunity systems must use another method reasonably calculated
to reach others if they would not be reached by the first method [40 CFR 141.204(c)]. Such methods could
include newspapers, e-mail, or delivery to community organizations. If you post the notice, it must remain
posted 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, print your notice on your
system's letterhead, if available.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for insertion in an annual notice or the Consumer Confidence
Report (CCR), as long as public notification timing and delivery requirements are met [40 CFR 141.204(d)].
Mandatory Language
Although there is required content as discussed above, there is no mandatory language required for
notifying consumers you are operating under a variance or exemption.
Corrective Actions
In your notice, describe corrective actions you took, or are taking. Listed below is one action commonly
taken by water systems that have been granted an exemption. You can use the following language, if
appropriate, or develop your own:
We have begun the process to secure the necessary funding for a new treatment process. We have
[explain steps taken thus far] and anticipate having funding secured by [give date]. At that time
we will [explain your next steps, such as purchase and begin installation of the selected treatment
technology].
After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your primacy agency a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met
all the public notice requirements within ten days after issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31 (d)].
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Operating Under an Exemption Notice - Template 3-3
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
[System] is Operating Under an Exemption
Our water system has been granted an exemption from [primacy agency] for [contaminant]
on [give date]. An exemption allows eligible systems additional time to comply with a drinking
water standard. [Name of system] was granted an exemption for (contaminant) so that we
could raise funds for a new treatment process to remove [contaminant] from our drinking water.
What should I do?
[Provide information about any actions customers or you are required to take as a condition of
the exemption. For example if you are required to provide bottled water explain where, when
and how customers will receive bottled water. If you are not required to provide bottled water or
there are no corrective actions customers should take, you may state that here].
What does this mean?
This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been informed within 24 hours.
[Consider including health effects language from 40 CFR Appendix B to Subpart Q specific to
the contaminant for which the exemption applies].
What is being done?
We have begun the process to secure the necessary funding for a new treatment process. We
have [explain steps taken thus far] and anticipate having funding secured by [give date]. At that
time we will [explain your next steps, such as purchase and begin installation of the selected
treatment technology].
Our exemption will be reviewed by [primacy agency] on [date]. As our customer you have the
opportunity to provide input if you wish.
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:
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130
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Instructions for Special Notice for Availability of Unregulated Contaminant
Monitoring Data - Template 3-4
Template on Reverse
If you are required to monitor under 40 CFR 141.40 for unregulated contaminants, you must provide
Tier 3 notification to persons served within one year after you receive the monitoring results [40 CFR
141.207(a)]. Check with your primacy agency to make sure you meet its requirements.
Community systems must use one of the following [40 CFR 141.204(c)]:
Hand or direct delivery
Mail, as a separate notice or included with the bill
Noncommunity systems must use one of the following [40 CFR 141.204(c)]:
Posting in conspicuous locations
Hand delivery
Mail
In addition, both community and noncommunity systems must use another method reasonably
calculated to reach others if they would not be reached by the first method [40 CFR 141.204(c)]. Such
methods could include newspapers, e-mail, or delivery to community organizations. If you mail, post, or
hand deliver, print your notice on your system's letterhead, if available.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for insertion in an annual notice or the Consumer Confidence
Report (CCR), as long as public notification timing and delivery requirements are met [40 CFR
141.207(a)].
Mandatory Language
There is no mandatory language required for notifying consumers of the availability of unregulated
contaminant monitoring data.
After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your primacy agency a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have
met all the public notice requirements within ten days after issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].
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Special Notice for Availability of Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Data-
Template 3-4
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
Availability of Monitoring Data for Unregulated Contaminants for [System]
Our water system has sampled for a series of unregulated contaminants. Unregulated
contaminants are those that don't yet have a drinking water standard set by EPA.
The purpose of monitoring for these contaminants is to help EPA decide whether the
contaminants should have a standard. As our customers, you have a right to know that
these data are available. If you are interested in examining the results, please contact
[name of contact] at [phone number] or [mailing address].
This notice is being sent to you by [system]. State Water System ID#: .
Date distributed:
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Instructions for Fluoride SMCL Notice - Template 3-5
Template on Reverse
For any exceedance of the fluoride secondary maximum contaminant level (SMCL), you must provide
Tier 3 notification to persons served as soon as practical, but within 12 months after you learn of the
exceedance (40 CFR 141.208), using the provided mandatory language and filling in the blanks.
Your primacy agency may have more stringent deadlines or other requirements. Because fluoride at
levels above the SMCL can permanently discolor children's teeth, you are urged to issue this notice
as soon as practical. Noncommunity systems that monitor for fluoride (federal law does not require
noncommunity systems to monitor) are encouraged to notify their consumers if they exceed the SMCL,
especially at water systems serving children. If you exceed the MCL of 4 mg/l, you must provide Tier 2
notification within 30 days of learning of the violation [40 CFR 141.203(a)]. See Template 2-4.
Community systems must use one of the following [40 CFR 141.204(c)]:
Hand or direct delivery
Mail, as a separate notice or included with the bill
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)]. Such methods could include newspapers, e-mail, or
delivery to community organizations. If you post the notice, it must remain posted until the exceedance
is resolved. If the exceedance 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, print your notice on your system's letterhead, if
available.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for insertion in an annual notice or the Consumer Confidence
Report (CCR), as long as public notification timing and delivery requirements are met [40 CFR
141.208(a)]. Although you may add to the notice, as suggested below, you must leave the mandatory
language unchanged.
Mandatory Language
Mandatory language for fluoride SMCL exceedances (40 CFR 141.208) must be included as written
(with blanks filled in) and is presented in this notice in italics and with an asterisk on either end.
Explaining the Situation
Use the following language, if applicable:
Fluoride contamination is rarely due to human activity. Fluoride occurs naturally in some areas
and is found in high concentrations in the aquifer of our source water.
If the fluoride levels in the water have returned to below the SMCL, be sure to make this clear in your
notice.
Corrective Actions
In your notice, you should describe corrective actions you took or are taking, if any. The bullet below
describes one action commonly taken by water systems with fluoride SMCL exceedances. You can use
this language, or develop your own:
• We are continuing to monitor fluoride levels. We will inform you if they exceed the limit of 4 mg/l.
After Issuing the Notice
Make sure to send your primacy agency a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have
met all the public notice requirements within ten days after issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31(d)].
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Fluoride SMCL Notice - Template 3-5
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
Elevated Fluoride Levels Detected in [System]
*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/l) 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 concentration of [insert value] mg/l.
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 contact 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 US Environmental Protection
Agency's drinking water standard) can increase your risk of developing bone disease. Your
drinking water does not contain more than 4 mg/l of fluoride, but we're required to notify you
when we discover that the fluoride levels in your drinking water exceed 2 mg/l because of this
cosmetic dental problem.
For more information, please call [name of water system contact] of [name of community water
system] at [phone number]. Some home water treatment units are also available to remove
fluoride from drinking water. To learn more about available home water treatment units, you
may call NSF International at 1-877-8-NSF-HELP. *
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:
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Instructions for Failure to Develop a Profile and/or Calculate a Benchmark
Notice - Template 3-6
Template on Reverse
Failure to develop a disinfection profile for Giardia lamblia and viruses (a profile for viruses may be
applicable under LT1ESWTR and is required under LT2ESWTR) or calculate a benchmark prior to
making a significant change to your disinfection practice, requires Tier 3 notification. 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.
Community systems must use one of the following [40 CFR 141.204(c)]:
Hand or direct delivery
Mail, as a separate notice or included with the bill
Noncommunity systems must use one of the following [40 CFR 141.204(c)]:
Posting in conspicuous locations
Hand delivery
Mail
In addition, both community and noncommunity systems must use another method reasonably
calculated to reach others if they would not be reached by the first method [40 CFR 141.204(c)]. Such
methods could include newspapers, e-mail, or delivery to community organizations. If you post the
notice, it must remain posted 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,
print your notice on your system's letterhead, if available.
The notice on the reverse is appropriate for insertion in an annual notice or the Consumer Confidence
Report (CCR), as long as public notification timing and delivery requirements are met [40 CFR
141.204(d)]. If you modify this 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.
You must also include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all
persons served, where applicable [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is also presented in this notice
in italics and with an asterisk on either end.
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 that is specific to your violation:
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
Make sure to send your state a copy of each notice and a certification that you have met all the public
notice requirements within ten days after issuing the notice [40 CFR 141.31 (d)].
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135
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Failure to Develop a Profile and/or Calculate a Benchmark Notice - Template 3-6
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
Monitoring Requirements Not Met for [System]
We violated a drinking water requirement. [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 should I do?
There is nothing you need to do at this time. You may continue to drink the water. If a situation
arises where the water is no longer safe to drink, you will be notified within 24 hours.
What is being done?
We collected (will collect) all required samples on [give date]. [Describe corrective action.]
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 name].
Date distributed:
State Water System ID#.
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Appendices
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137
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Public Notification Handbook 138 March 2010
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Appendix A
NPDWR Violations and Other Situations Requiring Public Notice1
(From Appendix A of 1 41 , Subpart Q dated July 1 , 2008)
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
1 1 . 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)
B. Inorganic Chemicals (lOCs)
1. Antimony
2
141.62(b)
3
141.23(a), (c)
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Appendix A
NPDWR Violations and Other Situations Requiring Public Notice1
(From Appendix A of 1 41 , Subpart Q dated July 1 , 2008)
Contaminant
2. Arsenic
3. Asbestos (fibers >10 :m)
4. Barium
5. Beryllium
6. Cadmium
7. Chromium (total)
8. Cyanide
9. Fluoride
10. Mercury (inorganic)
11. Nitrate
12. Nitrite
13. Total Nitrate and Nitrite
14. Selenium
15. Thallium
MCU/MRDL/TT Violations2
Tier of Public
Notice Required
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
2
2
Citation
141.62(b)8
141.62(b)
141.62(b)
141.62(b)
141.62(b)
141.62(b)
141.62(b)
141.62(b)
141.62(b)
141.62(b)
141.62(b)
141.62(b)
141.62(b)
141.62(b)
Monitoring & Testing
Procedure Violations
Tier of Public
Notice
Required
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
1,312
1,312
3
3
3
Citation
141.23(a), (c)11
141.23(a)-(b)
141.23(a), (c)
141.23(a), (c)
141.23(a), (c)
141.23(a), (c)
141.23(a), (c)
141.23(a), (c)
141.23(a), (c)
141.23(a), (d)
141.23(f)(2)
141.23(a), (e)
141.23(f)(2)
141.23(a)
141.23(a), (c)
141.23(a), (c)
C. Lead and Copper Rule (Action Level for lead is 0.01 5 mg/L, for copper is 1 .3 mg/L)
1. Lead and Copper Rule (TT)
2
141.80- 141.85
3
141.86- 141.89
D. Synthetic Organic Chemicals (SOCs)
1. 2,4-D
2. 2,4,5-TP (Silvex)
3. Alachlor
4. Atrazine
5. Benzo(a)pyrene (PAHs)
6. Carbofuran
7. Chlordane
8. Dalapon
9. Di (2-ethylhexyl) adipate
10. Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate
11. Dibromochloropropane
12. Dinoseb
13. Dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD)
14. Diquat
15. Endothall
16. Endrin
17. Ethylene dibromide
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
141.61(c)
141.61(c)
141.61(c)
141.61(c)
141.61(c)
141.61(c)
141.61(c)
141.61(c)
141.61(c)
141.61(c)
141.61(c)
141.61(c)
141.61(c)
141.61(c)
141.61(c)
141.61(c)
141.61(c)
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
141.24(h)
141.24(h)
141.24(h)
141.24(h)
141.24(h)
141.24(h)
141.24(h)
141.24(h)
141.24(h)
141.24(h)
141.24(h)
141.24(h)
141.24(h)
141.24(h)
141.24(h)
141.24(h)
141.24(h)
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Appendix A
NPDWR Violations and Other Situations Requiring Public Notice1
(From Appendix A of 1 41 , Subpart Q dated July 1 , 2008)
Contaminant
18. Glyphosate
19. Heptachlor
20. Heptachlor epoxide
21. Hexachlorobenzene
22. Hexachlorocyclo-
pentadiene
23. Lindane
24. Methoxychlor
25. Oxamyl (Vydate)
26. Pentachlorophenol
27. Picloram
28. Polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs)
29. Simazine
30. Toxaphene
MCL/MRDLATT Violations2
Tier of Public
Notice Required
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
Citation
141.61(c)
141.61(c)
141.61(c)
141.61(c)
141.61(c)
141.61(c)
141.61(c)
141.61(c)
141.61(c)
141.61(c)
141.61(c)
141.61(c)
141.61(c)
Monitoring & Testing
Procedure Violations
Tier of Public
Notice
Required
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Citation
141.24(h)
141.24(h)
141.24(h)
141.24(h)
141.24(h)
141.24(h)
141.24(h)
141.24(h)
141.24(h)
141.24(h)
141.24(h)
141.24(h)
141.24(h)
E. Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs)
1. Benzene
2. Carbon tetrachloride
3. Chlorobenzene
(monochlorobenzene)
4. o-Dichlorobenzene
5. p-Dichlorobenzene
6. 1,2-Dichloroethane
7. 1,1-Dichloroethylene
8. c/s-1,2-Dichloroethylene
9. trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene
10. Dichloromethane
11. 1,2-Dichloropropane
12. Ethylbenzene
13. Styrene
14. Tetrachloroethylene
15. Toluene
16. 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene
17. 1,1,1-Trichloroethane
18. 1,1,2-Trichloroethane
19. Trichloroethylene
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
141.61(a)
141.61(a)
141.61(a)
141.61(a)
141.61(a)
141.61(a)
141.61(a)
141.61(a)
141.61(a)
141.61(a)
141.61(a)
141.61(a)
141.61(a)
141.61(a)
141.61(a)
141.61(a)
141.61(a)
141.61(a)
141.61(a)
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
141.24(f)
141.24(f)
141.24(f)
141.24(f)
141.24(f)
141.24(f)
141.24(f)
141.24(f)
141.24(f)
141.24(f)
141.24(f)
141.24(f)
141.24(f)
141.24(f)
141.24(f)
141.24(f)
141.24(f)
141.24(f)
141.24(f)
Public Notification Handbook
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Appendix A
NPDWR Violations and Other Situations Requiring Public Notice1
(From Appendix A of 1 41 , Subpart Q dated July 1 , 2008)
Contaminant
20. Vinyl chloride
21. Xylenes (total)
MCL/MRDLATT Violations2
Tier of Public
Notice Required
2
2
Citation
141.61(a)
141.61(a)
Monitoring & Testing
Procedure Violations
Tier of Public
Notice
Required
3
3
Citation
141.24(f)
141.24(f)
F. Radioactive Contaminants
1. Beta/photon emitters
2. Alpha emitters
3. Combined radium (226 and
228)
4. Uranium
2
2
2
29
141.66(d)
141.66(c)
141.66(b)
141.66(e)
3
3
3
310
141.25(a)
141.26(b)
141.25(a)
141.26(a)
141.25(a)
141.26(a)
141.25(a)
141.26(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
(DBFs). EPA sets standards for controlling the levels of disinfectants and DBFs in drinking
water, including trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs).13
1. Total trihalomethanes
(TTHMs)
2. Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
3. Bromate
4. Chlorite
5. Chlorine (MRDL)
6. Chloramine (MRDL)
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
9. Control of DBP precursors —
TOC (TT)
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
115
2
141.64(b)14
141.64(b)
141.64(a)
141.64(a)
141.64(a)
141.64(a)
141.65(a), 141.133(c)
(3)
141.65(a), 141.133(c)
(3)
141.135(a)-(b)
3
3
3
3
3
3
215, 3
1
3
141.132(a)-(b)
141.600-
141.605,
141.620-
141.629
141.132(a)-(b)
141.600-
141.605,
141.620-
141.629
141.132(a)-(b)
141.132(a)-(b)
141.132(a), (c)
141.132(3), (c)
141.132(3), (c)
141.133(c)(2)
141.132(3), (c)
141.133(c)(2)
141.132(a), (d)
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Appendix A
NPDWR Violations and Other Situations Requiring Public Notice1
(From Appendix A of 1 41 , Subpart Q dated July 1 , 2008)
Contaminant
10. Benchmarking and
disinfection profiling
11. Development of
monitoring plan
MCL/MRDLATT Violations2
Tier of Public
Notice Required
N/A
N/A
Citation
N/A
N/A
Monitoring & Testing
Procedure Violations
Tier of Public
Notice
Required
3
3
Citation
141.172,
141.530-
141.544
141.132(f)
H. Other Treatment Techniques
1. Acrylamide (TT)
2. Epichlorohydrin (TT)
2
2
141.111
141.111
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
II. Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring:17
A. Unregulated contaminants
B. Nickel
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
3
3
141.40
141.23(c), (k)
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:
A. Fluoride secondary
maximum contaminant level
(SMCL) exceedance
B. Exceedance of nitrate MCL
for noncommunity systems, as
allowed by primacy agency
C. Availability of unregulated
contaminant monitoring data
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 primacy agency
3
1
3
1
1
1
1,2, 321
143.3
141.11(d)
141.40
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
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
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Appendix A Endnotes
1. Violations and other situations not listed in this table (e.g., failure to prepare Consumer
Confidence Reports), do not require notice, unless otherwise determined by the primary agency.
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 primacy agency within 24 hours after learning
of the violation. Based on this consultation, the primacy agency may subsequently decide to
elevate the violation to Tier 1. If a system is unable to make contact with the primacy agency 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 primacy agency within 24 hours after learning
of the violation. Based on this consultation, the primacy agency may subsequently decide to
elevate the violation to Tier 1. If a system is unable to make contact with the primacy agency 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
FR69477) (§§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.
8. The arsenic MCL citations are effective January 23, 2006. Until then, the citations are
§141.11(b)and §141.23(n).
9. The uranium MCL Tier 2 violation citations are effective December 8, 2003 for all community
water systems.
10. The uranium Tier 3 violation citations are effective December 8, 2000 for all community
water systems.
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11. The arsenic Tier 3 violation MCL citations are effective January 23, 2006. Until then, the
citations are §141.23(a), (I).
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 community and non-transient noncommunity systems serving > 10,000 must
comply with new DBP MCLs, disinfectant MRDLs, and related monitoring requirements
beginning January 1, 2002. All other community and non-transient noncommunity
systems must meet the MCLs and MRDLs beginning January 1, 2004. Subpart H transient
noncommunity systems serving 10,000 or more persons and using chlorine dioxide as a
disinfectant or oxidant must comply with the chlorine dioxide MRDL beginning January 1,
2002. 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.
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.
17. Some water systems must monitor for certain unregulated contaminants listed in §141.40.
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.
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Appendix B
Standard Health Effects Language for Public Notification
(From Appendix B of 40 CFR 141, Subpart Q dated July 1, 2008)
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
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.
1d. Ground Water Rule
(GWR) TT violations
None
Inadequately treated or inadequately protected water may
contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms can cause
symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, cramps, and associated
headaches.
2a. Turbidity (MCL)4
None
1 NTU5/
5 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 (SWTR TT)5
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 TT and
LT1 ESWTR TT)8
None
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.
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Appendix B
Standard Health Effects Language for Public Notification
(From Appendix B of 40 CFR 141, Subpart Q dated July 1, 2008)
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 lamblia
(SWTR/IESWTR/
LT1 ESWTR)
4. Viruses (SWTR/
IESWTR/LT1 ESWTR)
5. Heterotrophic plate
count (HPC) bacteria9
(SWTR/IESWTR/
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)
8. Antimony
9. Arsenic"
10. Asbestos (10 jum)
11. Barium
12. Beryllium
13. Cadmium
14. Chromium (total)
15. Cyanide
16. Fluoride
0.006
0
7 MFL12
2
0.004
0.005
0.1
0.2
4.0
0.006
0.010
7 MFL
2
0.004
0.005
0.1
0.2
4.0
Some people who drink water containing antimony well in excess
of the MCL over many years could experience increases in blood
cholesterol and decreases in blood sugar.
Some people who drink water containing arsenic in excess of the MCL
over many years could experience skin damage or problems with their
circulatory system, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
Some people who drink water containing asbestos in excess of the
MCL over many years may have an increased risk of developing benign
intestinal polyps.
Some people who drink water containing barium in excess of the MCL
over many years could experience an increase in their blood pressure.
Some people who drink water containing beryllium well in excess of
the MCL over many years could develop intestinal lesions.
Some people who drink water containing cadmium in excess of the
MCL over many years could experience kidney damage.
Some people who use water containing chromium well in excess of
the MCL over many years could experience allergic dermatitis.
Some people who drink water containing cyanide well in excess of
the MCL over many years could experience nerve damage or problems
with their thyroid.
Some people who drink water containing fluoride in excess of the
MCL over many years could get bone disease, including pain and
tenderness of the bones. Fluoride in drinking water at half the MCL or
more may cause mottling of children's teeth, usually in children less
than nine years old. Mottling, also known as dental fluorosis, may
include brown staining and/or pitting of the teeth, and occurs only in
developing teeth, before they erupt from the gums.
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Appendix B
Standard Health Effects Language for Public Notification
(From Appendix B of 40 CFR 141, Subpart Q dated July 1, 2008)
Contaminant
17. Mercury
(inorganic)
18. Nitrate
19. Nitrite
20. Total Nitrate and
Nitrite
21. Selenium
22. Thallium
MCLG1
mg/L
0.002
10
1
10
0.05
0.0005
MCL2
mg/L
0.002
10
1
10
0.05
0.002
Standard Health Effects Language for Public
Notification
Some people who drink water containing inorganic mercury well in
excess of the MCL over many years could experience kidney damage.
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.
Selenium is an essential nutrient. However, some people who drink
water containing selenium in excess of the MCL over many years could
experience hair or fingernail losses, numbness in fingers or toes, or
problems with their circulation.
Some people who drink water containing thallium in excess of the
MCL over many years could experience hair loss, changes in their
blood, or problems with their kidneys, intestines, or liver.
D. Lead and Copper Rule
23. Lead
24. Copper
Zero
1.3
TT13
TT14
Infants and children who drink water containing lead in excess of
the action level could experience delays in their physical or mental
development. Children could show slight deficits in attention span
and learning abilities. Adults who drink this water over many years
could develop kidney problems or high blood pressure.
Copper is an essential nutrient, but some people who drink water
containing copper in excess of the action level over a relatively short
amount of time could experience gastrointestinal distress. Some
people who drink water containing copper in excess of the action
level over many years could suffer liver or kidney damage. People with
Wilson's Disease should consult their personal doctor.
E. Synthetic Organic Chemicals (SOCs)
25. 2,4-D
26. 2,4,5-TP (Silvex)
27. Alachlor
28. Atrazine
0.07
0.05
Zero
0.003
0.07
0.05
0.002
0.003
Some people who drink water containing the weed killer 2,4-D well
in excess of the MCL over many years could experience problems with
their kidneys, liver, or adrenal glands.
Some people who drink water containing silvex in excess of the MCL
over many years could experience liver problems.
Some people who drink water containing alachlor in excess of the
MCL over many years could have problems with their eyes, liver,
kidneys, or spleen, or experience anemia, and may have an increased
risk of getting cancer.
Some people who drink water containing atrazine well in excess
of the MCL over many years could experience problems with their
cardiovascular system or reproductive difficulties.
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Appendix B
Standard Health Effects Language for Public Notification
(From Appendix B of 40 CFR 141, Subpart Q dated July 1, 2008)
Contaminant
29. Benzo(a)pyrene
(PAHs)
30. Carbofuran
31. Chlordane
32. Dalapon
33. Di (2-ethylhexyl)
adipate
34. Di(2-ethylhexyl)
phthalate
35.
Dibromochloropropane
(DBCP)
36. Dinoseb
37. Dioxin (2,3,7,8-
TCDD)
38. Diquat
39. Endothall
40. Endrin
41. Ethylene
dibromide
42. Glyphosate
43. Heptachlor
MCLG1
mg/L
Zero
0.04
Zero
0.2
0.4
Zero
Zero
0.007
Zero
0.02
0.1
0.002
Zero
0.7
Zero
MCL2
mg/L
0.0002
0.04
0.002
0.2
0.4
0.006
0.0002
0.007
3x10'8
0.02
0.1
0.002
0.00005
0.7
0.0004
Standard Health Effects Language for Public
Notification
Some people who drink water containing benzo(a)pyrene in excess of
the MCL over many years may experience reproductive difficulties and
may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
Some people who drink water containing carbofuran in excess of the
MCL over many years could experience problems with their blood, or
nervous or reproductive systems.
Some people who drink water containing chlordane in excess of the
MCL over many years could experience problems with their liver, or
nervous system, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
Some people who drink water containing dalapon well in excess of
the MCL over many years could experience minor kidney changes.
Some people who drink water containing di (2-ethylhexyl) adipate
well in excess of the MCL over many years could experience toxic
effects such as weight loss, liver enlargement or reproductive
difficulties.
Some people who drink water containing di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in
excess of the MCL over many years may have problems with their liver,
or experience reproductive difficulties, and may have an increased risk
of getting cancer.
Some people who drink water containing DBCP in excess of the MCL
over many years could experience reproductive difficulties and may
have an increased risk of getting cancer.
Some people who drink water containing dinoseb well in excess of the
MCL over many years could experience reproductive difficulties.
Some people who drink water containing dioxin in excess of the MCL
over many years could experience reproductive difficulties and may
have an increased risk of getting cancer.
Some people who drink water containing diquat in excess of the MCL
over many years could get cataracts.
Some people who drink water containing endothall in excess of the
MCL over many years could experience problems with their stomach
or intestines.
Some people who drink water containing endrin in excess of the MCL
over many years could experience liver problems.
Some people who drink water containing ethylene dibromide in
excess of the MCL over many years could experience problems with
their liver, stomach, reproductive system, or kidneys, and may have an
increased risk of getting cancer.
Some people who drink water containing glyphosate in excess of the
MCL over many years could experience problems with their kidneys or
reproductive difficulties.
Some people who drink water containing heptachlor in excess of the
MCL over many years could experience liver damage and may have an
increased risk of getting cancer.
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Appendix B
Standard Health Effects Language for Public Notification
(From Appendix B of 40 CFR 141, Subpart Q dated July 1, 2008)
Contaminant
44. Heptachlor
epoxide
45.
Hexachlorobenzene
46. Hexachlorocyclo-
pentadiene
47. Lindane
48. Methoxychlor
49. Oxamyl (Vydate)
50. Pentachlorophenol
51. Picloram
52. Polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs)
53. Simazine
54. Toxaphene
MCLG1
mg/L
Zero
Zero
0.05
0.0002
0.04
0.2
Zero
0.5
Zero
0.004
Zero
MCL2
mg/L
0.0002
0.001
0.05
0.0002
0.04
0.2
0.001
0.5
0.0005
0.004
0.003
Standard Health Effects Language for Public
Notification
Some people who drink water containing heptachlor epoxide in excess
of the MCL over many years could experience liver damage, and may
have an increased risk of getting cancer.
Some people who drink water containing hexachlorobenzene in
excess of the MCL over many years could experience problems with
their liver or kidneys, or adverse reproductive effects, and may have an
increased risk of getting cancer.
Some people who drink water containing hexachlorocyclopentadiene
well in excess of the MCL over many years could experience problems
with their kidneys or stomach.
Some people who drink water containing lindane in excess of the MCL
over many years could experience problems with their kidneys or liver.
Some people who drink water containing methoxychlor in excess of
the MCL over many years could experience reproductive difficulties.
Some people who drink water containing oxamyl in excess of the MCL
over many years could experience slight nervous system effects.
Some people who drink water containing pentachlorophenolin excess
of the MCL over many years could experience problems with their liver
or kidneys, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
Some people who drink water containing picloram in excess of the
MCL over many years could experience problems with their liver.
Some people who drink water containing PCBs in excess of the MCL
over many years could experience changes in their skin, problems with
their thymus gland, immune deficiencies, or reproductive or nervous
system difficulties, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
Some people who drink water containing simazine in excess of the
MCL over many years could experience problems with their blood.
Some people who drink water containing toxaphene in excess of the
MCL over many years could have problems with their kidneys, liver, or
thyroid, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
F. Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs)
55. Benzene
56. Carbon
tetrachloride
57. Chlorobenzene
(monochlorobenzene)
58. o-Dichlorobenzene
59. p-Dichlorobenzene
Zero
Zero
0.1
0.6
0.075
0.005
0.005
0.1
0.6
0.075
Some people who drink water containing benzene in excess of the
MCL over many years could experience anemia or a decrease in blood
platelets, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
Some people who drink water containing carbon tetrachloride in
excess of the MCL over many years could experience problems with
their liver and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
Some people who drink water containing chlorobenzene in excess of
the MCL over many years could experience problems with their liver or
kidneys.
Some people who drink water containing o-dichlorobenzene well in
excess of the MCL over many years could experience problems with
their liver, kidneys, or circulatory systems.
Some people who drink water containing p-dichlorobenzene in excess
of the MCL over many years could experience anemia, damage to their
liver, kidneys, or spleen, or changes in their blood.
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Appendix B
Standard Health Effects Language for Public Notification
(From Appendix B of 40 CFR 141, Subpart Q dated July 1, 2008)
Contaminant
60. 1,2-Dichloroethane
61.
1,1-Dichloroethylene
62.c/s-1,2-
Dichloroethylene
63. trans- 1,2-
Dichloroethylene
64. Dichloromethane
65.
1 ,2-Dichloropropane
66. Ethylbenzene
67. Styrene
68.
Tetrachloroethylene
69. Toluene
70.
1 ,2,4-Trichlorobenzene
71.
1,1,1-Trichloroethane
72.
1,1,2-Trichloroethane
73. Trichloroethylene
74. Vinyl chloride
75. Xylenes (total)
MCLG1
mg/L
Zero
0.007
0.07
0.1
Zero
Zero
0.7
0.1
Zero
1
0.07
0.2
0.003
Zero
Zero
10
MCL2
mg/L
0.005
0.007
0.07
0.1
0.005
0.005
0.7
0.1
0.005
1
0.07
0.2
0.005
0.005
0.002
10
Standard Health Effects Language for Public
Notification
Some people who drink water containing 1,2-dichloroethane in excess
of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting
cancer.
Some people who drink water containing 1,1-dichloroethylene in
excess of the MCL over many years could experience problems with
their liver.
Some people who drink water containing cis-1,2-dichloroethylene in
excess of the MCL over many years could experience problems with
their liver.
Some people who drink water containing trans-1,2-dichloroethylene
well in excess of the MCL over many years could experience problems
with their liver.
Some people who drink water containing dichloromethane in excess
of the MCL over many years could have liver problems and may have
an increased risk of getting cancer.
Some people who drink water containing 1 ,2-dichloropropane in
excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of
getting cancer.
Some people who drink water containing ethylbenzene well in excess
of the MCL over many years could experience problems with their liver
or kidneys.
Some people who drink water containing styrene well in excess of the
MCL over many years could have problems with their liver, kidneys, or
circulatory system.
Some people who drink water containing tetrachloroethylene in
excess of the MCL over many years could have problems with their
liver, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
Some people who drink water containing toluene well in excess of the
MCL over many years could have problems with their nervous system,
kidneys, or liver.
Some people who drink water containing 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene well
in excess of the MCL over many years could experience changes in
their adrenal glands.
Some people who drink water containing 1,1,1-trichloroethane in
excess of the MCL over many years could experience problems with
their liver, nervous system, or circulatory system.
Some people who drink water containing 1,1,2-trichloroethane well
in excess of the MCL over many years could have problems with their
liver, kidneys, or immune systems.
Some people who drink water containing trichloroethylene in excess
of the MCL over many years could experience problems with their liver
and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
Some people who drink water containing vinyl chloride in excess of
the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
Some people who drink water containing xylenes in excess of the MCL
over many years could experience damage to their nervous system.
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Appendix B
Standard Health Effects Language for Public Notification
(From Appendix B of 40 CFR 141, Subpart Q dated July 1, 2008)
Contaminant
MCLG1
mg/L
MCL2
mg/L
Standard Health Effects Language for Public
Notification
G. Radioactive Contaminants
76. Beta/photon
emitters
77. Alpha emitters
78. Combined radium
(226 & 228)
79. Uranium15
Zero
Zero
Zero
Zero
4 mrem/
yr15
17 pCi/L17
5 pCi/L
30 jug/L
Certain minerals are radioactive and may emit forms of radiation
known as photons and beta radiation. Some people who drink water
containing beta and photon emitters in excess of the MCL over many
years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
Certain minerals are radioactive and may emit a form of radiation
known as alpha radiation. Some people who drink water containing
alpha emitters in excess of the MCL over many years may have an
increased risk of getting cancer.
Some people who drink water containing radium 226 or 228 in excess
of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting
cancer.
Some people who drink water containing uranium in excess of the
MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer
and kidney toxicity.
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). EPA sets standards for controlling the levels
of disinfectants and DBFs in drinking water, including trihalomethanes (THMs) and
haloacetic acids (HAAs)18.
80. Total
trihalomethanes
(TTHMs)
81. Haloacetic Acids
(HAA)
82. Bromate
83. Chlorite
84. Chlorine
85. Chloramines
N/A
N/A
Zero
0.08
4
(MRDLG)22
4 (MRDLG)
0.08019-20
0.06021
0.010
1.0
4.0
(MRDL)23
4.0 (MRDL)
Some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess
of the MCL over many years may experience problems with their liver,
kidneys, or central nervous system, and may have an increased risk of
getting cancer.
Some people who drink water containing haloacetic acids in excess of
the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
Some people who drink water containing bromate in excess of the
MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
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.
Some people who use water containing chlorine well in excess of the
MRDL could experience irritating effects to their eyes and nose. Some
people who drink water containing chlorine well in excess of the
MRDL could experience stomach discomfort.
Some people who use water containing chloramines well in excess of
the MRDL could experience irritating effects to their eyes and nose.
Some people who drink water containing chloramines well in excess
of the MRDL could experience stomach discomfort or anemia.
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Appendix B
Standard Health Effects Language for Public Notification
(From Appendix B of 40 CFR 141, Subpart Q dated July 1, 2008)
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.
87. Control of DBP
precursors (TOC)
None
Total organic carbon (TOC) has no health effects. However, total
organic carbon provides a medium for the formation of disinfection
byproducts. These byproducts include trihalomethanes (THMs) and
haloacetic acids (HAAs). Drinking water containing these byproducts
in excess of the MCL may lead to adverse health effects, liver or kidney
problems, or nervous system effects, and may lead to an increased risk
of getting cancer.
I. Other Treatment Techniques
88. Acrylamide
Zero
Some people who drink water containing high levels of acrylamide
over a long period of time could have problems with their nervous
system or blood, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
89. Epichlorohydrin
Zero
TT
Some people who drink water containing high levels of
epichlorohydrin over a long period of time could experience stomach
problems, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
Public Notification Handbook
154
March 2010
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Appendix B 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 primacy agency.
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 primacy agency. 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 must meet turbidity limits set by the primacy agency.
Public Notification Handbook 155 March 2010
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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.
11. These arsenic values are effective January 23, 2006. Until then, the MCL is 0.05 mg/L and
there is no MCLG.
12. Millions fibers per liter.
13. Action Level = 0.015 mg/L
14. Action Level = 1.3 mg/L
15. Millirems per years
16. The uranium MCL is effective December 8, 2003 for all community water systems.
17. Picocuries per liter
18. Surface water systems and ground water systems under the direct influence of surface
water are regulated under subpart H of 40 CFR 141. Subpart H community and non-
transient noncommunity systems serving >10,000 must comply with subpart L DBP MCLs
and disinfectant maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) beginning January 1, 2002.
All other community and non-transient noncommunity systems must comply with subpart
L DBP MCLs and disinfectant MRDLs beginning January 1, 2004. 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.
19. Community and non-transient noncommunity systems must comply with subpart
VTTHM and HAAS MCLs of 0.080 mg/L and 0.060 mg/L, respectively (with compliance
calculated as a locational running annual average) on the schedule in §141.620.
20. The MCL for total trihalomethanes is the sum of the concentrations of the individual
trihalomethanes.
21. The MCL for haloacetic acids is the sum of the concentrations of the individual haloacetic
acids.
22. MRDLG - Maximum residual disinfectant level goal.
23. MRDL- Maximum residual disinfectant level.
Public Notification Handbook 156 March 2010
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Appendix C
Translated Phrases
Fran: Washngkn Depoiinent cf HeaHi (DOH RJB.#33V24C. Febfuwy 20tM) ]
English
Ibis report concaLos important infDnuan.Dn about
your draikbis; water
Have someone teaaslaite it few you.
07 E-peik wifli someone wlio xmdeistands it.
Boil jom water before
Doa'c diLDt chfi water.
12 old not •
vntec.
Don't nse the water to
IfW
Amharic
IM,t
h!2 «&t WT WV
rmf l . j-L-U.* Lt-i
AT ^mi It (j 5
French
Nepn Ian Pi
5 12
NepcmtiEHrL
-------
Appendix C
Translated Phrases
English
This, report contains important information about
yo LIT dnrikLiis water.
Have swBBcme tr a nsLa te it for yon,
or ipeai with sotmaae who uadfiiitauds it.
Boil your warer before
Don'; drink te water.
12 old not tte-
mter.
Don't me tie water to
Greek
^ Jtlripoifiopied, ti^ettKfi jie to
r%-Lw^Ijii*J Ve^jxiJ' ^vICj, Ajt|l.sp^^*. *A*LW K*A/tt}l"ijV VfeA
eras TTI jieto^pdcei, fj p.iXeiore |ie icanovov
Bpd^ete to
spiv ro
Mt|v Rivetie w vepo.
Ta
KOCHO TWV 12 pTjvwv 6ev
va wivouv TO vepo, MT\
TO vepo yia va
Hebrew
nn mi
inw>JOB
nwirt?
12
roan!?
Hindi
Hmong
fh
w
12
nynb na tar km IK ling; car dq ra
ii tdmsnn. Ing, hH nmg Gi tug kn
bn f*av are
cm dig nn
Japanese
-i 5
Korean
-4
ill
Laotian
,r r,. r i • . ,.;•»
.. • . i '
12
Oromo
•jtii
-------
Appendix C
Translated Phrases
English
This report coDtains imponanT inf Dnuacion about
y o LIT droikiiiH; water
Have smaQne ft for TWHL,
or E.peai wtih, sonisaae wto uodHstsHiIs it.
BD.L! your wacei before
using.
Don't di oik te water.
12 old cot the
vnfier.
Doa't use die to-
Polish
kto
mil
Punjabi
fer feg- life
F
12
^
, fan f HHW
IK
uftw
if1"
OTl
Russian
B 'JTltM CtKrfjlUCHKH C
0 KOTOpytO BH
IlonpocHTe nepeaecTH
coo§mew«c SUIH noroBopHTC c
He
uae
eio.
B BoapacTe 30 12 tie
c.iejiyeT ram He
.cms
CMCCH ("c|»piw'jrbt"),
Samoan
Serbo-
Croatian
Efe
AmbfrnoGMulene
lepibxiomn
On
rimi
ndi
Ncpijt
OLHMKI
kn
Somali
Spanish
Tagalog
w-^mm,,m^ti
Hi Dim lu j MIL
CliBiiMJlM. ^^^foAns l^& y^^
i !•. h«J rM ftlaiijua
:MflMnmgiufalMMH^,
^_ i^^^_. i^^^^L^^_ B_1_-__
^•.Zf^Hf MMU^Hl. DH. IK^^E.
jb> 3i Tfmg vifca
•jlndi dqat
din.
-------
Appendix C
Translated Phrases
English
This report coafflnis impoiraiLt infonm aon aboxit
ur rfrfnlniwr water
Haw someone translate it for yam,
or ipeai with soaieoae wto uadeiJtaods it.
Bcul your wa-&r before
•using.
Don't di uik che water.
CMkhai 12 eld. not the
water.
Don't use At water to
Thai
•inln IrfL| gfl numblirtf
12 0
-npian
Mill.
tfct l2«C(k
: lit
MVt
*TJl hrttf
Ukrainian
MICTHTb
iH *^J»^ J, eW|J"tf BfcS'Bl.ll,* ! I! 91
afio noronoprrb '* .iw
uant :iMicr.
He
DOflJ1.
H y Hiiii jip 1 2 H HC rtiJHHHHi HHTH
. He
Vietnamese
Tai lieu nay co tin tite quan trong vl nifdc
ud'ng cua quy vp. Hay nh& nfifdi dich cho
quy vj, ho|c hoi ngifdi nlo hicu lli
nav,
Dun soi niftfc
khi dung.
uimg
nay.
Tri etn diltli 12 thing kMrig tifin ufi'ng
nitfc nay, Btfng dujig ntfCte nay d^ pha sia
formula,
Tbe w^tar glass and faucet may be mdul n a pfEted notice:
•tat wodd be seea by BBiry BDii-Engfeh speakng people
to austral fiat they shndd not dnrii UK water.
-------
Appendix D
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.
Public Notification Handbook
161
March 2010
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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;
Public Notification Handbook
162
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§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.
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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
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§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
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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
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§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.
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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.
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§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
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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]
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