Definitions for Violations Table

The following definitions apply to the Summary of Violations table.

Filtered Systems: Water systems that have installed filtration treatment [40 CFR 141, Subpart H].

Inorganic Contaminants: Non-carbon-based compounds such as metals, nitrates, and asbestos. These contaminants are naturally-occurring in some water, but can get into water through farming, chemical manufacturing, and other human activities. EPA has established MCLs for 15 inorganic contaminants [40 CFR 141.62].

Lead and Copper Rule: This rule established national limits on lead and copper in drinking water [40 CFR 141.80-91]. Lead and copper corrosion pose various health risks when ingested at any level, and can enter drinking water from household pipes and plumbing fixtures. States report violations of the Lead and Copper Rule in the following six categories:

Initial lead and copper tap M/R: SDWIS Violation Code 51 indicates that a system did not meet initial lead and copper testing requirements, or failed to report the results of those tests to the State.

Follow-up or routine lead and copper tap M/R: SDWIS Violation Code 52 indicates that a system did not meet follow-up or routine lead and copper tap testing requirements, or failed to report the results.

Treatment installation: SDWIS Violation Codes 58 AND 62 indicate a failure to install optimal corrosion control treatment system (58) or source water treatment system (62) which would reduce lead and copper levels in water at the tap. [One number is to be reported for the sum of violations in these two categories].

Public education: SDWIS Violation Code 65 shows that a system did not provide required public education about reducing or avoiding lead intake from water.

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest amount of a contaminant that EPA allows in drinking water. MCLs ensure that drinking water does not pose either a short-term or long-term health risk. MCLs are defined in milligrams per liter (parts per million) unless otherwise specified.

Monitoring: EPA specifies which water testing methods the water systems must use, and sets schedules for the frequency of testing. A water system that does not follow EPA's schedule or methodology is in violation [40 CFR 141].

States must report monitoring violations that are significant as determined by the EPA Administrator and in consultation with the States. For purposes of this report, significant monitoring violations are major violations and they occur when no samples are taken or no results are reported during a compliance period. A major monitoring violation for the surface water treatment rule occurs when at least 90% of the required samples are not taken or results are not reported during the compliance period.

Organic Contaminants: Carbon-based compounds, such as industrial solvents and pesticides. These contaminants generally get into water through runoff from cropland or discharge from factories. EPA has set legal limits on 54 organic contaminants that are to be reported [40 CFR 141.61].

Radionuclides: Radioactive particles which can occur naturally in water or result from human activity. EPA has set legal limits on four types of radionuclides: radium-226, radium-228, gross alpha, and beta particle/proton radioactivity [40 CFR 141]. Violations for these contaminants are to be reported using the following three categories:

Reporting Interval: The reporting interval for violations to be included in the first PWS Annual Compliance Report, which is to be submitted to EPA by January 1, 1998, is from July 1, 1996 through June 30, 1997. This interval will change for future annual reports. See guidance language for these intervals.

SDWIS Code: Specific numeric coded from the Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) have been assigned to each violation type included in this report. The violations to be reported include exceeding contaminant MCLs, failure to comply with treatment requirements, and failure to meet monitoring and reporting requirements. Four-digit SDWIS Contaminant Codes have also been included in the chart for specific MCL contaminants.

Surface Water Treatment Rule: The Surface Water Treatment Rule establishes criteria under which water systems supplied by surface water sources, or ground water sources under the direct influence of surface water, must filter and disinfect their water [40 CFR 141, Subpart H]. Violations of the "Surface Water Treatment Rule" are to be reported for the following four categories:

Monitoring, routine/repeat (for filtered systems): SDWIS Violation Code 36 indicates a system's failure to carry out required tests, or to report the results of those tests.

Treatment techniques (for filtered systems): SDWIS Violation Code 41 shows a system's failure to properly treat its water.

Monitoring, routine/repeat (for unfiltered systems): SDWIS Violation Code 31 indicates a system's failure to carry out required water tests, or to report the results of those tests.

Failure to filter (for unfiltered systems): SDWIS Violation Code 42 shows a system's failure to properly treat its water. Data for this violation code will be supplied to the States by EPA.

Total Coliform Rule (TCR): The Total Coliform Rule establishes regulations for microbiological contaminants in drinking water. These contaminants can cause short-term health problems. If no samples are collected during the one month compliance period, a significant monitoring violation occurs. States are to report four categories of violations:

Acute MCL violation: SDWIS Violation Code 21 indicates that the system found fecal coliform or E. coli, potentially harmful bacteria, in its water, thereby violating the rule.

Non-acute MCL violation: SDWIS Violation Code 22 indicates that the system found total coliform in samples of its water at a frequency or at a level that violates the rule. For systems collecting fewer than 40 samples per month, more than one positive sample for total coliform is a violation. For systems collecting 40 or more samples per month, more than 5% of the samples positive for total coliform is a violation.

Major routine and follow-up monitoring: SDWIS Violation Codes 23 AND 25 show that a system did not perform any monitoring. [One number is to be reported for the sum of violations in these two categories].

Sanitary Survey: SDWIS Violation Code 28 indicates a major monitoring violation if a system fails to collect 5 routine monthly samples if sanitary survey is not performed.

Consumer Confidence Report (CCR): SDWIS Violation Code 71 indicates that the system failed to distribute the CCR to their customers by October 19, 1999.

Treatment techniques: A water disinfection process that EPA requires instead of an MCL for contaminants that laboratories cannot adequately measure. Failure to meet other operational and system requirements under the Surface Water Treatment and the Lead and Copper Rules have also been included in this category of violation for purposes of this report.

Unfiltered systems: Water systems that do not need to filter their water before disinfecting it because the source is very clean [40 CFR, Subpart H].

Violation: A failure to meet any state or federal drinking water regulation.