10- 144 C.M.R. ch. 231, § 6

Current through 2024-51, December 18, 2024

Section 144-231-6 - REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

A person who owns or operates a system shall make reports to the Department as follows:

A.Failure to Comply

All public water systems must report any failure to comply with the rules and regulations directly to the Department, including the failure to monitor or report water analyses, within the designated timeframes outlined in 40 C.F.R. 141, Subpart Q, unless the Department performed the analysis and reported the results.

B.Laboratory Sampling Forms

All public water systems must submit water samples to a certified laboratory with a Laboratory Sampling Form. Information may not be transferred to another Form, unless the primary certified laboratory is subcontracting the analysis. The public water system supplier must report the following information on the Laboratory Sampling Form:

1. Public water system name, address and telephone number;

2. Public water system identification number assigned by the Department;

3. Sample site location;

4. Sample identification (if any);

5. Analysis requested;

6. Purpose of sample ("compliance" or "operation/maintenance")

7. Sample Type ("routine distribution system sample", "repeat sample", "raw water" or "processed water", or other special purpose sample);

8. Date and time of sample collection;

9. Name of sampler;

10. Disinfectant residual;

11. Any remarks specifying relevant details of the sample;

12. Signature of sampler

C.Analysis Reporting

1. Unless a shorter period is specified, the results of tests, measurements, and analyses required by Sections 7, 8 and 9 of these regulations shall be reported to the Department by the tenth day of the month following the month in which the samples were required to be analyzed.

2. Certified laboratories shall report the following results to the Department within 24 hours the day that the results are known:

a. Positive total coliform results;

b. Inorganic compound exceedances of the Maximum Contaminant Level;

c. Organic compound exceedances of the Maximum Contaminant Level; and

d. Radionuclide exceedances of the Maximum Contaminant Level.

3. Certified laboratories shall report the following results for acute contaminants to the Department on the same day that the results are known:

a. E. coli positive results;

b. Nitrate exceedances of the Maximum Contaminant Level; and

c. Nitrite exceedances of the Maximum Contaminant Level.

4. All reports of laboratory analyses for compliance purposes shall be submitted to the Department by the certified laboratory contracted by the public water system to analyze the samples. Any portion of the analysis sub-contracted to another certified laboratory shall be reported by the primary contracted laboratory. The primary contracted laboratory shall submit the final report to the Department.

5. Certified laboratories shall submit forms to the Department in a format approved by the Department, which includes hard-copy or electronic forms.

6. The Department may require any bottler, distributor, or vendor of bottled water to test and submit results to the Department for any substance at any time, when the Department has reason to believe that the substance may be present in a water source and may threaten public health. The Department reserves the right to increase testing/ monitoring frequency, based upon the potential health risk.

D.Monthly Report to Department

1. Each community system serving municipalities and/or Districts shall file with the Department no later than the tenth day of each month, a monthly operational report. The reports shall be made on forms provided or approved by the Department and shall include, but not be limited to: records of daily test results, daily water production and usage, daily chemical usage, any change in normal treatment procedure, and other pertinent information.

2. All public water systems which are not included in Section (6)(D)(1) that add chemicals on a continuous basis shall submit monthly reports on forms provided by or approved by the Department or via electronic means, as approved by the Department. These monthly reports shall be submitted to the Department no later than the tenth day of each month and include, but not be limited to, the following: records of daily test results, daily chemical usage, any change from the normal treatment procedure, and any other pertinent information. Based upon the complexity, size, and compliance history, the Department may reduce a public water system's daily monitoring requirements, but in no case shall it be reduced to less than twice per week.

3. If a Designated Operator is required to oversee a public water system that submits monthly operating reports, then that Designated Operator is required to sign all monthly reports. In some limited circumstances, such as with large municipal public water systems, the Department may authorize the Designated Operator to delegate an agent to sign the monthly operating reports.

E.Change in Ownership

1. All current owners of public water systems shall notify the Department of a change in ownership 60days prior to the transfer.

2. New owners of community and non-transient, non-community public water systems must contact the Department within sixty (60) days of an ownership transfer for a review of the water system's technical, managerial, and financial capacity.

F.Security Reports

Public water systems must notify the Department and law enforcement officials immediately to report any act of potential or suspected tampering.

10- 144 C.M.R. ch. 231, § 6