Preparing for Your Drinking Water
Sanitary Survey
U.S. EPA, Region 8 Contact: Barb Burkland • 406-457-5009
	burkland.barbara@epa.gov	
A Sanitary Survey has been scheduled at your public water
system this year
Please review the following information carefully prior to the survey
Who should attend
your sanitary survey?
•	Operator(s)
•	Owner
•	Administrative contact
Please prepare for ques-
tions about general opera-
tions, management, secu-
rity and specific technical
questions.
Sanitary Survey
Scheduling
Typically, if your system is
scheduled for a sanitary
survey then a surveyor will
contact your facility to
schedule.
How long will the
sanitary survey take?
The sanitary survey can
take from several hours to
days depending on the
complexity of the water
system (e.g., a restaurant
versus a large municipal
water system).
Sanitary Survey Preparation Checklist
General Facility Checks — prior to sanitary survey date
~	Are all facilities accessible (e.g., keys to buildings available, gates accessible?
Are all facilities safe for inspection attendees (e.g., no exposed wiring, no un-covered pits)?
Are all facilities operational (e.g., chemical feed pump working)?
~	Are all facilities clean (e.g., chemicals/spare equipment stored properly)?
Are there any obvious problems with each potable water facility (e.g., holes in tanks, sanitary
well seals not in place, vents, drains and overflows not screened with 24 gauge non-corrosive
screen)?
General Paperwork Reviews — prior to sanitary survey date
~	Review previous sanitary survey reports and be prepared to discuss findings and resolution of
deficiencies
Review any recent correspondence from EPA Region 8 including violation letters and
notifications
~	Review operators status to ensure the operators' certifications are current and at the
appropriate level
Water System Records and Paperwork Available for Review During Sanitary
Survey
~	Monitoring Plans, updated with all recent system modifications
• Bacteriological Sample Siting Plan with Map, DBP + Lead/Copper Sampling Plans
~	Water quality analyses/laboratory records
~	Monitoring Schedule for current year
~	Correspondence to/from EPA Region 8
~	Other paperwork depending on System Type (e.g., water hauling records, consecutive system
agreement)
~	Consumer Confidence Reports (for Community public water systems)
~	Disinfection Profile and Benchmark for Surface Water and Ground Water under the Direct
Influence of Surface Water (SW/GWUDI) Systems
~	Treatment Facility Wastewater Discharge Permit (if applicable)
~	Cross-Connection Records
~	Operation and Maintenance Plan (Recommended for all PWS)
~	Emergency Response Plan / Security Plan (Required for all PWS)
Other items to have available:
~	Water testing equipment (e.g., chlorine analyzer, sampling bottles)
~	Safety equipment (e.g., gloves, boots, eye, head, and ear protection)
~	Paper and pencil or pen for notes
~	Camera (optional)
Thanks to: Colorado department of Public Health and Environment—Engineering Section

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What is a Sanitary Survey?
A sanitary survey is an onsite review of the eight elements of a sanitary survey
(listed below) for the purpose of evaluating the adequacy of the facilities for
producing and distributing safe drinking water.
EPA Drinking Water Websites
Drinking Water Online - General Use
http://www2.epa.gov/region8-waterops
Drinking Water Watch - Password Needed
Sanitary Survey Frequency
Routine sanitary surveys are required for all public water systems (PWS) every three to five years.
•	Community Water Systems (CWS) - Every Three Years (5 years for Outstanding Performers)
•	Non-Transient, Non-Community Water Systems (NTNC) - Every Five Years
•	Transient, Non-Community Water Systems (TNC) - Every Five Years
The sanitary surveys are conducted by EPA personnel, IHS, grantees and contractors hired by EPA Region 8.
Sanitary Survey Goals
•	Provide assistance to the water system operator
•	Produce reports which identify compliance and technical issues at a facility
•	Identify significant deficiencies and minor deficiencies
•	Facilitate continuous improvement
-	Accurately capture system inventory
-	Identify system strengths
•	Establish working relationships between the systems and EPA Region 8
The Eight Sanitary Survey Elements
Element
Description
1. Water sou rce(s)
Evaluate water supply sources to ensure proper source protection
2. Treatment facilities
Evaluate treatment processes (e.g., chemical addition, filtration), facilities, components,
and techniques
3. Distribution system
Evaluate the adequacy, reliability, and safety of the system for distributing water
4. Finished water storage
Evaluate the adequacy, reliability, and safety of finished water storage
5 Pumps and pump
' facilities
Identify proper operation and maintenance of water system pumps and pumping facilities
6 Monitoring, reporting,
1 and data verification
Review paperwork and plans to demonstrate compliance with National Primary Drinking
Water Regulations (NPDWRs)
7 System management
' and operation
Review paperwork and plans to demonstrate that maintenance and operations can
maintain compliance (e.g., cross connection control, emergency plan, operations and
maintenance plan
8. Operator compliance
Review operator status to ensure the operator's certification is current and at the
appropriate level
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