216 R.I. Code R. 216-RICR-50-05-1.11

Current through December 26, 2024

Section 216-RICR-50-05-1.11 - Reports as to Public Supplies

1.11.1 Reports

A. Any person maintaining a PWS shall submit or cause to be submitted by operating personnel such reports of operation pertaining to the sanitary quality, treatment and output as may be required by the Director. Such operation reports shall be submitted within ten (10) days after demand and shall be accurate and complete as required by the Director. Violations of maximum contaminant levels shall be reported to the Director within forty-eight (48) hours after such a determination is made unless otherwise required for specific contaminants.

B. It is the responsibility of the PWS to collect, have analyzed, and report the results of all water quality samples required by this Part. Samples must be collected in accordance with a written sample siting plan. These plans are subject to the Director's review and revision.

1.11.2 Reporting Requirements

A. Except where a shorter period is specified in this Part, the supplier of water shall report to the Director the results of any test measurement or analysis required by this Part within:

1. The first ten days following the month in which the result is received, or

2. The first ten days following the end of the required monitoring period as stipulated by the Director, whichever of these is shortest.

3. For priority results, no later than twenty-four (24) hours after the results are known, or the next business day if State offices are closed, in accordance with the rules and regulations for Certifying Analytical Laboratories (Part 60-05-5 of this Title). Priority results include:

a. Positive total coliform results;

b. E. coli positive results;

c. Nitrate results exceeding the Maximum Contaminant Level;

d. Nitrite results exceeding the Maximum Contaminant Level; and

e. Lead results exceeding 15 ppb.

f. Total PFAS results exceeding 20 ppt, as defined in § 1.16.2(E)(1).

4. The compliance sampling report, containing the sampling results for microbiological contaminants, inorganic compounds, volatile organic compounds, synthetic organic compounds, radionuclides and lead and copper analyses, shall be prepared in a format prescribed by and on forms available from and submitted to the Director at the following address:

Rhode Island Department of Health Center for Drinking Water Quality

3 Capitol Hill, Room 209

Providence, R.I. 02908

5. Within one hundred eighty (180) days after receipt of written notification from the Director, each supplier of water shall ensure that all compliance sampling reports, and the monthly report required under § 1.11.2(E) of this Part are submitted to the Director electronically in a manner compatible with the Department's computer system.

B. Except where a different reporting period is specified in this Part, the supplier of water must report to the Director within forty-eight (48) hours the failure to comply with any national primary drinking water regulation (including failure to comply with monitoring requirements) set forth in this Part.

C. The supplier of water is not required to report analytical results to the Director in cases where the Rhode Island Department of Health Laboratory performs the analysis and reports the results to the Rhode Island Department of Health - Center for Drinking Water Quality.

D. If the supplier of water uses a certified laboratory that is not under the water supplier's ownership or control, the water supply owner must enter into a written agreement with the laboratory to have the laboratory report the results in the form and manner required by § 1.11 of this Part.

E. Each supplier of water from a community PWS shall submit a monthly report, consisting of the daily records maintained pursuant to this Part, by the 10th day of the month for which the records contained in the report are compiled.

F. The PWS, within ten (10) days of completing the public notification requirements under § 1.16.6 of this Part for the initial public notice and any repeat notices, must submit to this Part a certification that it has fully complied with the public notification regulations. The PWS must include with this certification a representative copy of each type of notice distributed, published, posted, and made available to the persons served by the PWS and to the media.

G. The PWS shall submit to the Director within the time stated in the request copies of any records required to be maintained under this Part.

H. Failure to comply with the requirements of §§ 1.11.1 through 1.11.2 of this Part results in a reporting violation of this Part, with the exception of § 1.11.2(A)(3) of this Part, which is a violation of the rules and regulations for Certifying Analytical Laboratories (Part 60-05-5 of this Title). §§ 1.11.1 through 1.11.2 of this Part are not subject to the public notice requirements of § 1.16.6 of this Part except as specified in §§ 1.16.4 and 1.17.1 of this Part.

1.11.3Record Maintenance

A. Any owner or operator of a PWS subject to the provisions of this Part shall retain on its premises or at a convenient location near its premises the following records:

1. Records of microbiological analyses and turbidity analyses made pursuant to this Part shall be kept for not less than five (5) years. Records of chemical analyses made pursuant to this Part shall be kept for not less than ten (10) years. Actual laboratory reports may be kept, or data may be transferred to tabular summaries, provided that the following information is included:

a. The date, place, and time of sampling, and the name of the person who collected the sample;

b. Identification of the sample as to whether it was a routine distribution system sample, check sample, raw or process water sample or other special purpose sample;

c. Date of analysis;

d. Laboratory and person responsible for performing analysis;

e. The analytical technique/method used; and

f. The results of the analysis.

B. The PWS must maintain a record of any repeat sample taken that meets State criteria for an extension of the 24-hour period for collecting repeat samples as provided for under § 1.16.4(A) of this Part.

C. Records of action taken by the PWS to correct violations of primary drinking water regulations shall be kept for a period not less than three (3) years after the last action taken with respect to the particular violation involved.

D. Copies of any written reports, summaries or communications relating to sanitary surveys of the PWS conducted by the PWS itself, by a private consultant, or by any local, State or Federal agency, shall be kept for a period not less than ten (10) years after completion of the sanitary survey involved.

E. Records concerning a variance or exemption granted to the PWS shall be kept for a period ending not less than five (5) years following the expiration of such variance or exemption.

F. Copies of public notices issued pursuant to § 1.16.6 of this Part and certifications made to the Director pursuant to this Section must be kept for three years after issuance.

G. Copies of monitoring plans developed pursuant to this Part shall be kept for the same period of time as the records of analyses taken under the plan are required to be kept under § 1.11.3(A) of this Part, except as specified elsewhere in this Part.

H. The PWS must maintain any assessment form, regardless of who conducts the assessment, and documentation of corrective actions completed as a result of those assessments, or other available summary documentation of the sanitary defects and corrective action taken under § 1.16.4(A)(7) of this Part for State review. This record must be maintained by the PWS for a period not less than five years after completion of the assessment or corrective action.

I. For consecutive PWS, documentation of notification to the wholesale PWS(s) of total coliform-positive samples that are not invalidated under § 1.16.4(A) of this Part. Documentation shall be kept for a period of not less than five years.

216 R.I. Code R. 216-RICR-50-05-1.11

Amended effective 9/18/2024