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Home My WebLink AboutDDW-2024-008006 Instructions for Unresolved Total Coliform Notice – Community (Tier 2) Template on Reverse Since exceeding the total coliform bacteria maximum contaminant level is a Tier 2 violation, you must provide public notice to persons served as soon as practical but within 30 days after you learn of the violation (R309-220-6(2)). Persistent total coliform problems can be serious, check with the Division of Drinking Water (801-536-4200) to make sure you meet all the public notification requirements. You must issue a repeat notice every three months for as long as the violation persists. Community systems must use one of the following methods (R309-220-6(3)(a)): Hand or direct delivery Mail, as a separate notice or included with the bill Non-community systems must use one of the following methods (R309-220-6(3)(b)): Posting in conspicuous locations Hand delivery Mail In addition, both community and non-community systems must use another method reasonably calculated to reach others if they would not be reached by the first method (R309-220-6(3)). Such methods could include newspapers, e-mail, or delivery to community organizations. If you mail, post, or hand deliver, print your notice on letterhead, if available. The notice on the reverse is appropriate for hand delivery or mail. A template appropriate for posting can be found in Chapter 8. If you modify the notice, you must still include all the required elements and leave the health effects language in italics unchanged. This language is mandatory (R309-220-8(4)). Description of the Violation The description of the violation and the MCL vary depending on the number of samples you take. The following table should help you complete the second paragraph of the template. If You Take Less Than 40 Samples a Month State the number of samples testing positive for coliform. The standard is that no more than one sample per month may be positive. If You Take More Than 40 Samples a Month State the percentage of samples testing positive for coliform. The standard is that no more than five percent of samples may test positive each month. Corrective Action In your notice, describe corrective actions you are taking. If you know what is causing the coliform problem, explain this in the notice. Listed below are some steps commonly taken by water systems with total coliform violations. Use one or more of the following actions, if appropriate, or develop your own: We are chlorinating and flushing the water system. We are increasing sampling for coliform bacteria. We are investigating the source of contamination. We are repairing the wellhead seal. We are repairing the storage tank. We will inform you when additional samples show no coliform bacteria. Make sure to send a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all the public notice requirements to the Division of Drinking Water (PO Box 144830, SLC, UT 84114-4830) within ten days after issuing the notice (R309-105-16(3)). It is a good idea to inform your consumers when the violation has been resolved. Call the Division (801-536-4200) for further information. IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER Tests Show Coliform Bacteria in [System] Water Our water system recently violated a drinking water standard. Although this is not an emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we are doing to correct this situation. We routinely monitor for the presence of drinking water contaminants. We took [number] samples for coliform bacteria during [month]. [Number/percentage] of those samples showed the presence of coliform bacteria. The standard is that no more than [1 sample per month/5 percent of our samples] may do so. What should I do? You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions. However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor. People with severely compromised immune systems, infants, and some elderly may be at increased risk. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from EPAs Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1 (800) 426-4791. What does this mean? This is not an emergency. If it had been you would have been notified immediately. Total coliform bacteria are generally not harmful themselves. Coliforms are bacteria which are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other, potentially-harmful, bacteria may be present. Coliforms were found in more samples than allowed and this was a warning of potential problems. Usually, coliforms are a sign that there could be a problem with the treatment or distribution system (pipes). Whenever we detect coliform bacteria in any sample, we do follow-up testing to see if other bacteria of greater concern, such as fecal coliform or E. coli, are present. We did not find any of these bacteria in our subsequent testing. If we had, we would have notified you immediately. However, we are still finding coliforms in the drinking water. What happened? What is being done? [Describe corrective action.] We are still detecting coliform bacteria. We will inform you when our sampling shows that no bacteria are present. We anticipate resolving the problem within [estimated time frame]. For more information, please contact [name of contact] at [phone number] or [mailing address]. Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail. This notice is being sent to you by [system]. Water System ID#: __________. Date distributed: