DDW-2025-008955

Phone [phone] XT 314 [e-mail]

Governor DEIDRE HENDERSON Lieutenant Governor
Department of
Environmental Quality
Tim Davis Executive Director CENTRAL UTAH DISTRICT John L. Chartier, P.E. District Engineer
September 12, 2025
Travis Blackburn Axtell Community Service Distribution
P.O. Box 21093 Axtell, UT 84621
Dear Travis Blackburn: Subject: RTCR Level 2 Assessment for Axtell Community Service Distribution, Utah#20051 I would like to thank Chantelle Nay for taking the time to meet with me on September 9, 2025, to conduct the Level 2 Assessment (L2) of your water system. The L2 was required due to Axtell having two level 1 assessments within a 12-month period and not completing those Level 1 Assessments. In addition to not completing the Level 1 Assessments, Axtell also missed taking some of the required repeat and triggered source bacteriological samples. The two Level 1 Assessments that were missed were due in March and June of 2025. Observations:
Axtell currently has a certified water operator, Quay Mecham, and a person assigned to take the monthly bacteriological water samples, Chantelle Nay. Chantelle is doing a good job of taking the required sample each
month, however occasionally the routine monthly bacteriological samples test positive for total coliform. The lack of communication between Quay and Chantelle on those months when a sample tests positive is a contributing factor to the missed repeat samples and the failure to complete a level 1 assessment when required.
Another contributing factor to the failed monthly bacteriological samples may be due to occasional failures at the Michaelson Spring Chlorinator (TP001). At least on one occasion, Quay notified Chantelle after the fact that the chlorinator had malfunctioned and the chlorine levels in the system were not adequate. Additional education for Quay and Chantelle may be helpful also. The RTCR requirements for repeat samples and triggered source samples may not have been completely understood in the past. Chantelle has a better understanding of those requirements now, but she still relies on help from Quay to be able to access the location to collect the triggered source samples. The method of where and how the monthly bacteriological samples are being collected was also discussed with Chantelle.
The L2 was completed on September 9th at Chantelle’s house. I checked the chlorine residual at her house that day and it was 0.58 ppm. This generally agrees with the chlorine residuals reported quarterly by Axtell.
Conclusion: Better communication between the certified water operator, Quay, and the bacteriological sampler, Chantelle,
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will be helpful in the future. Knowing if the chlorinator is malfunctioning and that repeat samples are required
will help Axtell to stay in compliance in the future. Recommendations:
1. Quay and Chantelle need to be in contact with each other every month when bacteriological samples are taken. It is recommended that Quay record the chlorine residual at the location where each monthly
bacteriological sample is taken. 2. Always collect 3 repeat samples and 1 triggered source sample immediately after Axtell has a routine monthly sample that tests positive. 3. Quay should be taking 3 chlorine residual readings each week throughout the water system and informing Chantelle if the chlorinator is malfunctioning or needs repair. 4. The method for collecting the monthly samples should follow the guidelines we discussed. Using a tap that doesn’t have an aerator, or remove the aerator if it has one. Spray the tap with a mild chlorine solution prior to turning the tap on. Turn the tap on to cold water and let it run for a minute or so. Turn the water flow down, carefully remove the lid from the sample bottle, don’t touch the underside of the lid or top rim of the bottle, fill the bottle up to the line and carefully replace the lid. 5. If a monthly sample tests positive, contact the health department water lab or myself if you have any
questions about taking the required repeat samples. Please contact me at [phone] or [e-mail] if you have any further questions.
Sincerely,
John L. Chartier, P.E. Department of Environmental Quality Central District Engineer
Cc: Travis Blackburn, Axtell Community, [e-mail] Chantelle Nay, Axtell Community, [e-mail] Quay Mecham, Axtell Community, [e-mail] John Chartier, P.E., DEQ Central District Engineer, [e-mail] Brian Pattee, Division of Drinking Water, [e-mail] Sitara Federico, Division of Drinking Water, [e-mail] Tammie Allen, Division of Drinking Water, [e-mail] Eric Larsen, Central Utah Public Health Department, [e-mail]