Instructions for Unresolved Total Coliform NoticeBTemplate 2 1



Instructions for Tier 2 Unresolved Total Coliform Notice TemplateTemplate AttachedSince 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 [per California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Chapter 15, Section 64463.4(b)]. Persistent total coliform problems can be serious. Each water system required to give public notice must submit the notice to the State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water (DDW) for approval prior to distribution or posting, unless otherwise directed by the DDW [per California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Section 64463(b)].Notification MethodsYou must use the methods summarized below to deliver the notice to consumers. If you mail, post, or hand deliver, print your notice on letterhead, if munity Water Systems must use the primary method below and one or more secondary methods to reach persons not likely to be reached by the primary method. If you mail, post, or hand deliver, print your notice on letterhead, if available.Primary MethodMail or direct delivery. Notice must be distributed to each customer receiving a bill including those that provide their drinking water to others (for example schools or school systems, apartment building owners, or large private employers), and other service connections to which water is delivered by the water system.Secondary Methods. (Use one or more of the following methods to reach persons not likely to be reached by the primary method)Publication in a local newspaper.Posting in conspicuous public places served by the water system or on the Internet. Notice must be posted in place for as long as the violation or occurrence continues, but in no case less than seven days.Delivery to community organizations.Non-Community Water Systems must use the primary method below and one or more secondary methods to reach persons not likely to be reached by the primary method. If you mail, post, or hand deliver, print your notice on letterhead, if available.Primary MethodPosting in conspicuous locations throughout the area served by the water system. Notice must be posted in place for as long as the violation or occurrence continues, but in no case less than seven days.Secondary Methods. (Use one or more of the following methods to reach persons not likely to be reached by the primary method)Publication in a local newspaper or newsletter distributed to customers.Email message to employees or students.Posting on the Internet or intranet. Notice must be posted in place for as long as the violation or occurrence continues, but in no case less than seven days. Direct delivery to each customer.The notice attached is appropriate for the methods described above. However, you may wish to modify it before using it for posting. If you do, you must still include all the required elements and leave the following health effects and notification language (in italics) below unchanged. This language is mandatory per California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Section 64465.Multilingual RequirementThe notice must (1) be provided in English, Spanish, and the language spoken by any non-English-speaking group exceeding 10 percent of the persons served by the water system and (2) include a telephone number or address where such individuals may contact the water system for assistance.If any non-English-speaking group exceeds 1,000 persons served by the water system, but does not exceed 10 percent served, the notice must (2) include information in the appropriate language(s) regarding the importance of the notice and (2) contain the telephone number or address where such individuals may contact the water system to obtain a translated copy of the notice from the water system or assistance in the appropriate language.Population ServedMake sure it is clear who is served by your water system -- you may need to list the areas you serve.Description of the ViolationThe 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 Fewer Than 40 Samples a MonthIf You Take 40 or More Samples a MonthState the number of samples testing positive for coliform. The standard is that no more than one sample per month may be positive.State the percentage of samples testing positive for coliform. The standard is that no more than 5.0 percent of samples may test positive each month.Corrective ActionIn 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 a total coliform violation. 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.”After Issuing the NoticeSend a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all the public notice requirements to the DDW within ten days after you issue the notice [per California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Section 64469(d)]. You should also issue a follow-up notice in addition to meeting any repeat notice requirements the DDW sets.It is recommended that you notify health professionals in the area of the violation. People may call their doctors with questions about how the violation may affect their health, and the doctors should have the information they need to respond appropriately.It is a good idea to issue a “problem corrected” notice when the violation is resolved.The template for the Tier 2 Unresolved Total Coliform Notice is next.IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER(The following two sentences are in Spanish relaying information on the importance of this notice. Translated to English it would read as follows. [This notice contains important information regarding your drinking water, please read the Spanish notice if it is included. If the Spanish notice is not included, please contact the water system and ask for a copy.])Este aviso contiene información muy importante sobre su agua potable, por favor lea el aviso en espa?ol si va aquí incluido. Si el aviso en espa?ol no va incluido aquí, contacte al sistema de agua para pedir una copia.En [Insert Water System Name] Hay Niveles de Bacteria Coliforme en Exceso del Estándar para Agua PotableRecientemente, nuestro sistema de agua excedió un nivel de contaminante para agua potable. Aunque esto no es una emergencia, ustedes como clientes nuestros, tienen el derecho de saber qué deben hacer, lo que pasó, y lo que estamos haciendo para corregir esta situación.Rutinariamente monitoreamos su agua para detectar contaminantes en el agua potable. Durante [Insert the month and year when samples were collected], tomamos [Insert number of total samples collected] muestras de agua e hicimos pruebas para detectar la presencia de bacterias coliformes. En [Insert the number or percentage of samples that were positive for total coliform bacteria] de esas muestras se detectó bacteria coliforme total. El estándar es que no más de [Select either “1 sample per month or “5.0 percent of samples”] muestra(s) al mes puede(n) resultar positiva(s) con bacteria coliforme. ?Qué debo hacer?Usted no tiene que hervir su agua o tomar otras medidas correctivas. Esto no es una emergencia. Si lo hubiera sido, los clientes habrían sido notificados de inmediato. Generalmente, las bacterias coliforme totales no son da?inas en sí mismas. Las coliformes son bacterias que están presentes de forma natural en el medio ambiente y se usan como indicadoras de que otras bacterias potencialmente da?inas podrían estar presentes. Se detectaron coliformes en más muestras de agua de lo que es permitido, y esto fue una alerta de potenciales problemas. Usualmente, las coliformes son una se?al de que podría haber un problema con el tratamiento del sistema de agua o con el sistema de distribución (las pipas del agua). Cada vez que detectamos bacterias coliformes en cualquier muestra de agua, hacemos pruebas de seguimiento para ver si en el agua hay otras bacterias más preocupantes, como Coliformes Fecales o E. coli (Escherichia coli). Nuestras pruebas posteriores no detectaron ninguna de estas bacterias. Si se hubieran detectado estas bacterias, usted habría sido notificado de inmediato. No obstante, todavía seguimos detectando coliformes en el agua potable. Las personas con un sistema inmunológico seriamente debilitado, ni?os peque?os, y algunas personas de edad avanzada, pueden estar en mayor riesgo. Estas personas deberían consultar a su proveedor médico sobre si beber el agua. Para pautas generales de formas para aminorar el riesgo de infección por microbios, llame a la Línea de Asistencia de Agua Potable Segura de la U.S. EPA al 1(800) 426-4791. Si tiene otros problemas de salud respecto al consumo del agua, debería consultar con su doctor. ?Qué sucedió? ?Qué se está haciendo al respecto?[Insert the corrective action that was taken or will be taken]. Le informaremos cuando las pruebas no detecten bacterias en las muestras del agua. Anticipamos resolver el problema dentro de [insert the estimated time frame for resolving the problem].Para más informacion, puede contactar a [Insert name of water system contact] at [Insert water system contact’s phone number] o en [Insert water system’s mailing address].Por favor comparta esta información con todas las demás personas que tomen de esta agua, especialmente aquellos que no hayan recibido este aviso directamente (por ejemplo, las personas en apartamentos, asilos, escuelas, y negocios). Puede hacerlo poniendo este aviso en un lugar público o distribuyendo copias en persona o por correo. Requisitos de Notificación Secundaria Al recibir la notificación de alguien que opere un sistema de agua público, se debe dar la siguiente notificación dentro de 10 días conforme a la Sección 116450(g) del Código de Salud y Seguridad: ESCUELAS: Deben notificar a los empleados de la escuela, estudiantes, y a los padres (si los estudiantes son menores). DUE?OS O GERENTES DE PROPIEDAD PARA ALQUILER RESIDENCIAL (incluyendo asilos e instituciones de cuidado): Deben notificar a sus inquilinos. DUE?OS DE PROPIEDAD DE NEGOCIOS, GERENTES, U OPERADORES: Deben notificar a los empleados de los negocios situados en la propiedad. Este aviso es enviado por [Insert water system name].Núm. Estatal del Sistema de Agua: [Insert water system number].Fecha de Distribución: [Insert date the notice is distributed]. ................
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