Public notification of violations

        Public water systems must notify their customers when they violate EPA or state drinking water standards (including monitoring requirements) or otherwise provide drinking water that may pose a risk to consumers' health.  EPA has revised the existing Public Notification rule to better tailor the form, manner, and timing of the notices to the relative risk to health.  The revised rule makes notification easier and more effective for both water systems and the customers that they serve. 

Public Notification Handbook [816-R-00-010 / June 2000] (download PDF file) - This guide provides instructions and includes templates that water suppliers can use for various types of public notices.

• Microsoft Word and Word Perfect files of PN templates
• Washington State Department of Health has developed more than 2 dozen translations for informational statements to use on notifications.

Fact Sheets

• Read a fact sheet about public notification
• Read a fact sheet about the revisions in the new rule
• Quick Reference Guide [PDF file]

Revised Public Notification Rule

• Final Public Notification Rule - 65 FR 25982 (May 4, 2000)

(read online in HTML)   (download PDF file)
• Corrections to the PN rule (June 30, 2000) 

(read online in HTML)   (view PDF file) 
• Response to comments received on the PN proposed rule [PDF file]

• Proposed revisions to public notification rules-- published May 13, 1999
  (read online in HTML)  (download PDF file ) 
  --Summaries of meetings related to this rule-making

• Updated version of PN rule appendices (Tiering & Standard health effects language)

State Implementation Guidance [816-R-01-010 / October 2001] 
This guidance document and its appendices contain information that will aid States in implementing the rule and applying for interim primacy.

• Primacy Revision Crosswalk
  • Word Perfect File
  • Microsoft Word File

Training Materials
This Powerpoint presentation provides guidance to State and EPA staff on how to implement the revised rule.

Related activities

• Consumer Confidence Reports
• Public Water System Compliance Reports

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