Annual Water Quality Report: Guidance for Water Suppliers
February 2013
Dear Community Water System Operator:
All community water systems that serve 15 or more service connections used by year-round residents or regularly serve at least 25 year-round residents must prepare and distribute an Annual Water Quality Report (AWQR) by May 31, 2013. To assist you in preparing your AWQR, the New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) has made minor revisions to its 2011 version of two AWQR templates (one for systems serving fewer than 1,000 service connections and one for systems serving 1,000 or more service connections) for 2012. Updates to these two AWQR templates include date changes and a revision to the text for systems that fluoridate.
An electronic copy of these templates is available from the NYS DOH’s web site or you may request a hard copy of the templates by calling the Bureau of Water Supply Protection (BWSP) at 518-402-7650 or by sending an email to bpwsp@health.state.ny.us.
In January 2013, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) determined that specific methods of electronic delivery may be used by a community water supplier to meet the regulatory requirement to “mail or otherwise directly deliver” water quality reports, to their bill paying customers. In conformance with the USEPA’s efforts, community water systems in New York State may now use electronic delivery as an additional option in order to distribute the AWQR.
A guidance document entitled “Preparing Your Drinking Water AWQR Guidance for Water Suppliers” is available electronically on the NYS DOH’s web site.
The guidance document explains all of the requirements for report content, format, and distribution. Updates to the guidance document include: the change in address for the Bureau of Water Supply Protection, informational language to be used by systems that fluoridate, inclusion of additional options for community water systems to directly deliver the AWQR electronically, a revised Certification form that recognizes the new delivery options, and a Questions and Answers appendix about the new electronic delivery options. You may request a hard copy of the guidance by calling the BWSP at 518-402-7650 or by sending an email to bpwsp@health.state.ny.us. We encourage you to use the guidance document and report templates developed by the NYS DOH.
By May 31, 2013, copies of the AWQR must be submitted to this office and the NYS DOH in Albany, New York. Systems with 1,000 or more service connections must also provide a copy of the report to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in Albany, New York. Systems regulated by the Public Service Commission are also required to forward a copy of the AWQR to that agency. Addresses for these agencies are presented in Section 8.0 of the guidance document.
By September 1, 2013, all community water systems (including water wholesalers and retailers) must submit a Certification Form to this office and the NYS DOH in Albany, New York. The certification must indicate how the report was distributed. A sample Certification Form is included in Appendix C of the guidance document.
If you have any questions regarding implementation of AWQR requirements please feel free to contact your local health department or the BWSP at (800) 458-1158, extension 27650 or (518) 402-7650.
