organisms. These organisms include bacteria,
viruses, and parasites that can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps,
diarrhea, and associated headaches."
(3) The report must include a clear and readily understandable
explanation of each violation of the lead and copper control requirements
prescribed by §290.117 of this title (relating to Regulation
of Lead and Copper). For systems that fail to take one or more actions
prescribed by §290.117(g), (h), and (i) of this title, the report
must include the applicable health effects language of §290.275(3)
of this title for lead, copper, or both and the steps the system has
taken to correct the violation.
(4) The report must include a clear and readily understandable
explanation of each violation of TTs for Acrylamide and Epichlorohydrin
prescribed by §290.107 of this title (relating to Organic Contaminants).
If a system violates these requirements, the report must include the
relevant health effects language from §290.275 of this title
and the steps the system has taken to correct the violation.
(5) The report must include a clear and readily understandable
explanation of each violation of recordkeeping of compliance data
and explain any adverse health effects and steps the system has taken
to correct the violation.
(6) The report must include a clear and readily understandable
explanation of each violation of special monitoring requirements for
unregulated contaminants and special monitoring for sodium as prescribed
by 40 CFR §141.40 and §141.41 and explain any adverse health
effects and steps the system has taken to correct the violation.
(7) For systems required to conduct initial distribution
sampling evaluation (IDSE) sampling in accordance with §290.115(c)(5)
of this title, the system is required to include individual sample
results for the IDSE when determining the range of TTHM and HAA5 results
to be reported in the annual Consumer Confidence Report for the calendar
year that the IDSE samples were taken.
(8) The report must include a clear and readily understandable
explanation of each violation of the terms of a variance, exemption,
administrative order, or judicial order and explain any adverse health
effects and steps the system has taken to correct the violation.
(f) Variances and exemptions. If a system is operating
under the terms of a variance or exemption issued under §290.102(b)
of this title, the report must contain:
(1) an explanation of the variance or exemption;
(2) the date on which the variance or exemption was
issued and on which it expires;
(3) a brief status report on the steps the system is
taking, such as installing treatment processes or finding alternative
sources of water, to comply with the terms and schedules of the variance
or exemption; and
(4) a notice of any opportunity for public input as
the review or renewal of the variance or exemption.
(g) Additional information.
(1) The report must contain a brief explanation regarding
contaminants that may reasonably be expected to be found in drinking
water (including bottled water). This explanation may include the
language contained within subparagraphs (A) - (C) of this paragraph,
or systems may include their own comparable language. The report must
include the language of subparagraphs (D) and (E) of this paragraph.
(A) The sources of drinking water (both tap water and
bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs,
springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land
or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and,
in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting
from the presence of animals or from human activity.
(B) Contaminants that may be present in source water
include:
(i) microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria,
which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural
livestock operations, and wildlife;
(ii) inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals,
which can be naturally occurring or result from urban storm water
runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas
production, mining, or farming;
(iii) pesticides and herbicides, which might have a
variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff,
and residential uses;
(iv) organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic
and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of industrial
processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations,
urban storm water runoff, and septic systems; and
(v) radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally
occurring or the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
(C) In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink,
the EPA prescribes regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants
in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration
regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that
must provide the same protection for public health.
(D) Contaminants may be found in drinking water that
may cause taste, color, or odor problems. These types of problems
are not necessarily causes for health concerns. For more information
on taste, odor, or color of drinking water, please contact the system's
business office.
(E) Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably
be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants.
The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water
poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential
health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA's Safe Drinking
Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.
(2) The report must include the telephone number of
the owner, operator, or designee of the community water system as
an additional source of information concerning the report.
(3) Each English language report must include the following
statement in a prominent place on the first page: "Este reporte incluye
informacion importante sobre el agua para tomar. Para asistencia en
español, favor de llamar al telefono (XXX) XXX-XXXX." In addition
to this statement in Spanish, for communities with a large proportion
of limited English proficiency residents, as determined by the executive
director, the report must contain information in the appropriate language(s)
regarding the importance of the report or contain a telephone number
or address where such residents may contact the system to obtain a
translated copy of the report or assistance in the appropriate language.
(4) The report must include information about opportunities
for public participation in decisions that may affect the quality
of the water (e.g., time and place of regularly scheduled board meetings).
Investor-owned utilities are encouraged to conduct public meetings,
but must include a phone number for public input.
(5) The systems may include such additional information
for public education consistent with, and not detracting from, the
purposes of the report.
(6) Systems that use an interconnect or emergency source
to augment the drinking water supply during the calendar year of the
report must provide the source of the water, the length of time used,
an explanation of why it was used, and whom to call for the water
quality information.
(7) Beginning December 1, 2009, any groundwater system
that receives notice from a laboratory of a fecal indicator positive
groundwater source sample that is not invalidated by the executive
director under §290.109(e) of this title (relating to Microbial
Contaminants) must inform its customers of any fecal indicator positive
groundwater source sample in the next report. The system must continue
to inform the public annually until the executive director determines
that the fecal contamination in the groundwater source is addressed
under §290.116(a) of this title (relating to Groundwater Corrective
Actions and Treatment Techniques). Each report must include the following
elements:
(A) the source of the fecal contamination (if the source
is known) and the dates of the fecal indicator positive groundwater
source samples;
(B) actions taken to address the fecal contamination
in the groundwater source as directed by §290.116 of this title
and the date of such action;
(C) for each fecal contamination in the groundwater
source that has not been addressed under §290.116 of this title,
the plan approved by the executive director and schedule for correction,
including interim measures, progress to date, and any interim measures
completed; and
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