Bulk Water Frequently-Asked Questions

Q. What is the definition of bulk water?

A. "Bulk water shall mean water intended for potable uses which is transported by tank trucks."

Q. Is bulk water regulated in New York State?

A. Yes, under the Department of Health Sanitary Code Chapter 1 Subpart 5-6: Bottled and Bulk Water Standards.

Q. What do bulk haulers need to do to become certified to haul/sell water in New York State?

A. They need to submit to the Department of Health:

  • an application/questionnaire for Certification of Approval for Distribution of Bottled or Bulk Water;
  • a statement from their regulatory authority that their water source, transporting vehicles, and sanitation procedures are in conformance with the appropriate minimum standards;
  • a report that includes the procedures used in the sanitizing of the tank interior, the name and location or the source water, source treatment, other uses of the trucks, frequency and type of water quality analyses performed, quantities and frequencies of shipments, primary use of potable water shipped, and loading and unloading procedures; and
  • complete water quality analyses, including inorganic, organic, microbiological, and radiological analyses for each source and each finished product to be distributed within New York State.

Q. How long is the certification good for?

A. One year.

Q. What do bulk haulers need to do to renew their certification to haul/sell water in New York State?

A. They need to submit to the Department of Health:

  • a satisfactory inspection from the appropriate regulatory agency;
  • complete water quality analyses, including inorganic, organic, microbiological, and radiological analyses for each source and each finished product to be distributed within New York State;
  • a completed re-certification Questionnaire;
  • a Monthly Operation Report (DOH-357) must be submitted each month with the results of microbiological testing for that month listed, along with production information;
  • microbiological results for the monthly tests must be sent to the Department of Health from the laboratory doing the testing; and
  • information on any interruption or change in the operation.

Q. Are the laboratories used by bottled water companies held to any standards?

A. Yes, they must be certified by the Department of Health's Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (ELAP).

Q. What is the penalty for violating this code?

A. "Violations of this Subpart may subject the owner or operator of the bottled or bulk water facility to civil penalties of up to $2,000 per violation, revocation of their certificate of approval to distribute bottled or bulk water within New York State and/or a recall of all product on the market in New York State."

Q. What happens if water quality standards (Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL's)) are exceeded?

A. The Department of Health must be notified within 24 hours of learning of the potential exceedance. Three more samples should be taken and analyzed from the same production run, when feasible, no later than 24 hours of learning of the exceedance. The average of these 4 tests is used to determine if the MCL was exceeded.

Q. Can bulk haulers use any kind of tank truck to haul potable water?

A. No, tanks previously used to transport toxic materials, petroleum products, or other deleterious substances can not be used to haul potable water.

Q. Are bulk hauler sanitation procedures regulated?

A. Yes, bulk transport and transfer procedures are all outlined in Subpart 5-6.