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TITLE 30ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
PART 1TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
CHAPTER 290PUBLIC DRINKING WATER
SUBCHAPTER FDRINKING WATER STANDARDS GOVERNING DRINKING WATER QUALITY AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS
RULE §290.122Public Notification

    (C) If notice is provided by posting, the posting must remain in place for as long as the violation exists or seven days, whichever is longer.

  (3) The owner or operator of a system required to issue an initial violation notice shall issue additional notices. The additional notices shall be issued in the following manner.

    (A) The owner or operator of a community water system shall issue repeat notices at least once every 12 months by mail delivery (by direct mail or with the water bill) or by hand delivery, for as long as the violation exists or variance or exemption remains in effect. Repeat public notice may be included as part of the Consumer Confidence Report.

    (B) If the owner or operator of a noncommunity water system issued the initial notice by continuously posting the notice, the posting must continue for as long as the violation exists, and in no case less than seven days. If the owner or operator of a noncommunity water system issued the initial notice by direct delivery, notice by direct delivery must be repeated at least every 12 months for as long as the violation exists.

  (4) The owner or operator of the public water system must issue a notice when the public water system has corrected the violation. This notice must be issued in the same manner as the original notice was issued.

(d) Each public notice must conform to the following general requirements.

  (1) The notice must contain a clear and readily understandable explanation of the violation, significant deficiency, or situation that led to the notification. The notice must not contain very small print, unduly technical language, formatting, or other items that frustrate or defeat the purpose of the notice.

  (2) If the notice is required for a specific event or significant deficiency, it must state when the event occurred or the date the significant deficiency was identified by the executive director.

  (3) For notices required under subsections (a), (b), or (c)(1)(A) of this section, the notice must describe potential adverse health effects.

    (A) For MCL, MRDL, or treatment technique violations or situations (including uncorrected significant deficiencies), the notice must contain the mandatory federal contaminant-specific language contained in 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Subpart Q, Appendix B, in addition to any language required by the executive director.

    (B) For fluoride SCL violations, the notice must contain the mandatory federal contaminant-specific language contained in 40 CFR §141.208, in addition to any language required by the executive director.

    (C) For failure to perform any 3 months of raw surface water monitoring or request bin classification from the executive director, the notice must contain the mandatory federal contaminant specific language contained in 40 CFR §141.211(d)(1) and (2), respectively, in addition to any language required by the executive director.

    (D) The notice must describe the population at risk, especially subpopulations particularly vulnerable if exposed to the given contaminant.

  (4) The notice must state what actions the water system is taking to correct the violation or situation, and when the water system expects to return to compliance. For groundwater systems with significant deficiencies, the notice must contain the executive director-approved plan and schedule for correction of the significant deficiency, including interim measures, progress to date, and any interim measures completed.

  (5) The notice must state whether alternative drinking water sources should be used, and what other actions consumers should take, including when they should seek medical help, if known.

  (6) Each notice must contain the name, business address and telephone number at which consumers may contact the owner, operator, or designee of the public water system for additional information concerning the notice.

  (7) Where appropriate, the notice must be multilingual. The multilingual notice must explain the importance of the notice or provide a telephone number or address where consumers may contact the system to obtain a translated copy of the notice or assistance in the appropriate language.

  (8) The notice shall include a statement to encourage the notice recipient to distribute the public notice to the other persons served.

  (9) Systems with variances or exemptions must notify in accordance with 40 CFR §141.205(b).

  (10) Systems must notify customers at sampled taps of the results of any required lead or copper analyses and certify completion of the notification to the executive director.

(e) Notice to new billing units. The owner or operator of a community water system must give a copy of the most recent public notice for any outstanding violation of any MCL, or any treatment technique requirement, or any variance or exemption schedule to all new billing units or new hookups prior to or at the time service begins. The owner or operator of a noncommunity water system must continuously post the public notice in conspicuous locations in order to inform new consumers of any continuing violation, variance or exemption, or other situation requiring a public notice for as long as the violation, variance, exemption, or other situation persists.

(f) Proof of public notification. A copy of any public notice required under this section must be submitted to the executive director within ten days of its distribution as proof of public notification. The copies must be mailed to the Water Supply Division, MC 155, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087. Each proof of public notification must be accompanied with a signed Certificate of Delivery.

(g) Notice to consecutive systems. A public water system that is required to notify its customers must also provide a copy of the notification to the owner or operator of any public water systems that purchase or otherwise receive water from it in the same manner in which they inform their customers. Each public water system that is affected by the subject of the notification is responsible for notification to its own customers.

(h) Notices given by the executive director. The executive director may give the notice required by this section on behalf of the owner and operator of the public water system following the requirements of this section. The owner or operator of the public water system remains responsible for ensuring that the requirements of this section are met.

(i) If a public water system has a violation in a portion of the distribution system that is physically or hydraulically isolated from other parts of the distribution system, the executive director may allow the system to limit distribution of the public notice to only persons served by that portion of the system which is out of compliance. Permission by the executive director for limiting distribution of the notice must be granted in writing.


Source Note: The provisions of this §290.122 adopted to be effective September 13, 2000, 25 TexReg 8880; amended to be effective May 16, 2002, 27 TexReg 4127; amended to be effective May 16, 2002, 27 TexReg 4127; amended to be effective February 19, 2004, 29 TexReg 1373; amended to be effective January 9, 2008, 33 TexReg 198; amended to be effective May 15, 2011, 36 TexReg 2860; amended to be effective November 8, 2012, 37 TexReg 8849

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