Providing Safe Drinking Water in America
 
 
 
 

1996 National Public Water System Annual Compliance Report and Update on
 
 
 
 

Implementation of the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments
 
 
 
 

Section 1- Executive Summary
 
 
 
 

Safe drinking water is a cornerstone of public health protection. One of the major goals of the 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is to ensure that the drinking water of all Americans is 

safe. This report describes how well we are meeting that goal, the steps we need to take to 

improve the data that allow us to measure that goal, and the activities under way that will allow us 

to meet the goal more quickly. 

The most important news is good. The nation’s drinking water is generally safe. In 1996, the 

vast majority of people in the nation received water from systems that had no reported violations 

of maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) and treatment technique requirements or significant 

monitoring and reporting requirements. Further good news is that, since the passage of the Safe 

Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Amendments of 1996, EPA and its public and private partners have 

worked vigorously to develop and begin to use many new tools to enhance the quality of the 

nation’s drinking water. However, in gathering and analyzing the data to provide both specific 

compliance and general public information, EPA and its partners have realized that we have 

questions about the quality of some of the data contained in our Safe Drinking Water Information 

System. Nonetheless, when viewed in the aggregate, this data presents an overall picture of 

public water systems (PWSs) compliance on a national basis. We present here the general findings 

concerning the compliance status of PWSs and make recommendations to improve compliance as 

well as to improve the quality of the data. 

This report on Public Water System (PWS) compliance is mandated by the 1996 SDWA 

Amendments and provides information on the compliance status of PWSs, including PWSs 

located on Indian reservations, for calendar year 1996. In 1993, the Administration proposed 

sweeping revisions to the SDWA to supply many of the ingredients that are vital to providing safe 

drinking water, but were lacking in the law at that time. In August 1996, Congress adopted and 

President Clinton signed into law amendments to the SDWA that provide these new ingredients. 

Accordingly, this report also discusses the variety of activities that the Agency has undertaken in 

the last two years since the passage of the 1996 Amendments to capitalize on the new 

opportunities and authorities provided by those Amendments including: promoting public 

information and involvement; providing tools to States, Tribes and water systems to improve 

compliance; helping small systems provide safe drinking water; focusing safety standards on the 

most serious health risks; and exercising new enforcement authorities and undertaking compliance 

assistance activities. 

Section 1 - 1 
This national report is an annual requirement for EPA. Subsequent reports will reflect new 

actions that EPA and its partners have taken to improve compliance and data quality since 1996. 

ASSESSING PWS COMPLIANCE WITH DRINKING WATER STANDARDS 

The public and water supply managers must know whether drinking water systems are in 

compliance with the drinking water standards mandated by law. PWSs are responsible for 

reporting their monitoring results to the states. The 1996 SDWA Amendments require that states 

prepare annual reports on the compliance of PWSs within their state and make summaries 

available to the public and that EPA produce an annual national compliance report. This first 

report presents compliance information for 1996 using state and Tribal data from EPA’s Safe 

Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS/FED) and discusses ways to improve both the data 

and the overall compliance picture. SDWIS/FED is an exceptions-based database, meaning that 

only violations or instances of non-compliance are recorded. The information presented in this 

report is a summary of data provided to the Agency through SDWIS/FED and includes 

information on health-based violations (i.e., MCL, treatment technique) and significant monitoring 

and reporting violations. 

An MCL is the maximum permissible level of a contaminant in water which is delivered to any 

user of a public water system. The MCL is set as close to the level where there are no known or 

anticipated health effects as is feasible with the use of the best technology or treatment techniques. 

EPA sets treatment techniques, instead of MCLs, where it is infeasible to monitor and ascertain 

the level of a particular contaminant. The required treatment techniques are designed to prevent 

known or anticipated health effects. 

For this report, a significant monitoring and reporting violation occurs when a PWS collects none 

of the samples or submits none of the reports required by a particular regulatory provision, or met 

the significant noncompliance definition for the Lead and Copper Rule or the Surface Water 

Treatment Rule (see Appendix A). EPA is concerned with these violations because without the 

required monitoring, EPA and States do not know the quality of the water being delivered to 

consumers. Thus, people may be at risk without knowing it and appropriate steps to safeguard 

public health cannot be taken by the States or EPA or by the consumers themselves. 

In their reports, States also presented EPA with compliance data for which many used data from 

their own information systems. EPA has compiled summaries of the state data in Appendix B. 

Fifty-one of 56 states, Commonwealths, and Territories prepared compliance reports. EPA 

compiled compliance information for American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. 

EPA also prepared reports for States and Tribes that do not have primary enforcement 

responsibility for drinking water programs, including Wyoming, Washington, DC, and water 

systems located on Indian reservations. 

Section 1 - 2 
Results In Brief 

In 1996, the vast majority of people in the nation received water from systems that had no 

reported violations of MCL and treatment technique requirements or significant monitoring and 

reporting requirements. The report looks at the compliance status of all types of public water 

systems; however, much of the report focuses on community water systems because the majority 

of the population obtains drinking water from community water systems. Within the limitations of 

data quality, as discussed below, some of the most notable findings are: 

The nation’s drinking water is generally safe -- 86 % of the country’s population 

served by community water systems drank water from systems that reported no 

violations of any health-based drinking water standards. 

C	 	 94% of all public water systems had no reported MCL or treatment technique 

violations. 

C	 	 91% of community water systems had no reported MCL or treatment technique 

violations. Violations were primarily of the Total Coliform Rule and Surface Water 

Treatment Rule - rules which protect against microbiological contamination of 

drinking water. 

C	 	 94% of non-transient non-community water systems had no reported MCL or 

treatment technique violations. Most of the systems with a reported violation violated 

the Total Coliform Rule. 

C	 	 95% of transient non-community water systems had no reported MCL or treatment 

technique violations. As with non-transient non-community water systems, most of 

the systems violated the Total Coliform Rule. 

Nationwide, most violations are of significant monitoring and reporting 

requirements. 

C	 	 In 1996, there were 141,617 MCL, treatment technique, and significant monitoring 

and reporting violations reported by 47,918 of the 170,942 public water systems in the 

nation. 87% were for violations of significant monitoring and reporting requirements. 

13% were for violations of MCL and treatment technique requirements. 

C	 	 76% of all public water systems had no reported violations of significant monitoring 

and reporting requirements. 

C	 	 72% of community water systems had no reported violations of significant monitoring 

and reporting requirements. The Lead and Copper Rule and Total Coliform Rule 

accounted for most of the systems with violations.. 

C	 	 66% of non-transient non-community water systems had no reported violation of 

significant monitoring and reporting requirements. The Lead and Copper Rule and 

Total Coliform Rule accounted for most of the systems with violations. 

C 80% of transient non-community water systems had no reported violation of 

Section 1 - 3 
significant monitoring and reporting requirements. The Total Coliform Rule and 

Nitrate Rule accounted for most of the systems with violations. 

Although the number of large systems with a reported violation is relatively small, the 

population that is served by these systems can be large. 

C	 	 9% of the 5,151 community water systems with an MCL or treatment technique 

violations were for large systems. These systems served 30 million people. The 

Surface Water Treatment Rule, Total Coliform Rule, or Lead and Copper Rule are the 

rules most frequently violated by large water systems. 

C	 	 2% of the 15,182 community water systems with a significant monitoring and 

reporting violation were large systems. These systems served 17 million people. The 

rules pertaining to total coliform, surface water treatment, organic chemicals, and 

nitrate accounted for most of these systems with violations. 

Most violations are reported in small water systems that serve fewer than 3,300 people. 

C	 	 Small systems comprised 96% of the 15,182 community water systems with a 

significant monitoring and reporting violation. These systems served 5.0 million 

people. 

C Small systems comprised 82% of the 5,151 community water systems with an MCL 

and treatment technique violation. These systems served 2.3 million people. 

C Virtually all of the non-transient and transient non-community water systems are small, 

therefore, most violations for these system types occurred in small systems. 

Approximately 10% of public water systems located on Indian reservations had a 

reported violation of an MCL or treatment technique requirement. Most violations 

were for significant monitoring and reporting violations which might prevent other 

MCL and treatment technique violations from being detected. 

•	 	 45% of the 920 public water systems on Indian reservations reported a violation. 75% 

of the systems with a violation serve fewer than 500 people. 

•	 	 The majority of violations (97%) were of significant monitoring and reporting 

requirements, primarily for the Total Coliform Rule and chemical contaminants. The 

Total Coliform Rule also accounted for most of the reported health-based violations. 

There were no reported violations of variances and exemptions in 1996 

C Very few of the states issued variances and exemptions in 1996. 

Compliance data in many individual state databases differs from that reported to the 

Federal database. 

Section 1 - 4 
C	 	 When viewed in the aggregate, comparison of national data from SDWIS/FED with 

that totaled from all individual state reports showed 19% more violations in state 

reports than in SDWIS/FED, most of which could be accounted for by differences in 

violation reporting of significant monitoring and reporting requirements for chemical 

contaminants.. 

C	 	 A state-by-state comparison of SDWIS/FED data with that included in state 

compliance reports, most of which were developed using information from a state’s 

own data system, revealed differences, with both over- and under-reporting by states 

into SDWIS/FED. 

C	 	 EPA also discovered problems with EPA Regional reporting of data for PWSs on 

Indian reservations into SDWIS/FED. 

Although the data show that the nation’s drinking water is generally safe, more work needs to be 

done to improve compliance in specific areas and to improve the quality of the data. 

Recommendations to improve both compliance and data quality are presented at the end of this 

summary. 

ACTIVITIES UNDERWAY TO IMPLEMENT THE SDWA AMENDMENTS OF 1996 

The Clinton Administration has always recognized that many tools and resources are essential to 

ensure that Americans have drinking water that meets all health standards. The SDWA 

Amendments of 1996 provided many new authorities to enable EPA to more quickly meet its 

goal of safe drinking water. Now, two years after passage of the 1996 Amendments, EPA has 

exercised these authorities and finalized every product required in the law to date and has done so 

with maximum stakeholder involvement. This stakeholder participation included more than 100 

public meetings, public review and comment of documents, and the help of the National Drinking 

Water Advisory Council and its associated working groups. 

Promoting Public Information and Involvement 

The public has a right to know what is in its drinking water and to participate in decisions 

affecting that drinking water. The 1996 Amendments include a strong and pervasive ethic of 

public information and involvement, and in this second year of implementing the Amendments, 

EPA and its partners have produced major tools and undertaken a variety of activities to ensure 

that the public is well informed. 

•	 	 Consumer Confidence Reports: Consumer confidence 

reports are the centerpiece of the right-to-know provisions 

in SDWA. In August 1998, EPA finalized a rule to 

require drinking water systems to provide annual reports to 

their customers on the state of their drinking water supply. 

The information contained in these reports will enable 

Consumer Confidence 

Reports will provide 

Americans with annual 

snapshots of their drinking 

water supply. 

Section 1 - 5 
Americans to make practical, knowledgeable decisions about their health and their 

environment. The reports also provide a way for the public to get more information about 

other provisions required by the 1996 Amendments such as assessments of drinking water 

source quality. 

Each report must provide consumers with the following fundamental information about their 

drinking water: the source of the water; a brief summary of its susceptibility to contamination 

(based on assessments of drinking water source quality that states will complete over the next 

five years); the level (or range of levels) of any contaminant found in the drinking water, 

compared with EPA’s health-based standard; the likely source of that contaminant in the local 

drinking water supply; the potential health effects of any contaminant detected in violation of 

an EPA health standard; an accounting of any actions a system takes to restore safe drinking 

water; an educational statement for vulnerable populations, such as children, about avoiding 

certain contaminants; educational information on nitrate, arsenic, or lead in areas where these 

contaminants are detected at levels more than 50% above EPA’s standard; and phone 

numbers for additional sources of information, including that of the water system and EPA’s 

Safe Drinking Water Hotline. 

•	 	 Ensuring Public Access to Additional Information: EPA is acting to ensure that new 

public information tools are made available to the public. This year, EPA worked with states 

on ways to make the results of their up-coming source water assessments available to the 

public, and has formed a Public Right-to-Know working group of the National Drinking 

Water Advisory Council to discuss how to make drinking water information available to the 

public, and how to involve them in making decisions with that information. 

•	 	 Using the Internet to Increase Public Access: EPA has been working over the past year to 

make drinking water information available to the public via the Internet 

(http://www.epa.gov/safewater). EPA has created and will expand a geographic information 

site where consumers will be able to get information about their water, including their local 

drinking water supply. This will include information on violations of drinking water 

standards, state compliance reports, water system consumer confidence reports, and state 

drinking water information and contacts. 

•	 	 Preparing for Greater Public Involvement: In its effort to develop more effective and 

durable policies, EPA has continued to uphold the law’s ethic of public involvement in its 

decision-making processes by holding public meetings and providing an opportunity for public 

review of draft documents. By maintaining this high level of public involvement, resulting in 

consensus building whenever possible, EPA is demonstrating on a national level the benefits of 

the types of public involvement that the 1996 SDWA Amendments also specify extensively for 

states. While SDWA provides states with flexibility and substantial federal funding to meet 

the challenging task of building several important new programs, it also adds a public 

participation framework to enable states to involve their residents in, and strengthen the 

Section 1 - 6 
substantive content of, their efforts. 

Over the past two years, as EPA has worked closely with states to provide guidance and 

implement programs, we have also worked to advance statutorily required public involvement 

in key areas such as: state decisions on the use of the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund 

for projects and programs; development and implementation of state source water assessment 

programs; the framing of state programs to strengthen the technical, financial, and managerial 

capacity of water systems; and in state consideration of variance and exemption requests. 

Providing Tools to States, Tribes, and Water Systems to Improve Compliance 

The 1996 SDWA Amendments gave the nation a new approach to drinking water protection 

which focuses attention on the highest public health priorities. This includes a holistic approach 

to prevention and protection, an emphasis on the public’s right-to-know, and a series of building 

blocks for states and water suppliers that can help in implementation. Two years after passage of 

the Amendments, most of these building blocks are in place. These activities will assist EPA and 

the states as they work to assure compliance with drinking water standards. 

•	 	 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF): The 1996 Amendments created the 

DWSRF to enable states to help water systems finance infrastructure improvements that are 

needed to solve compliance and public health problems. States can also use these funds to 

help systems protect their source water and improve water system management. Congress has 

appropriated $2 billion for the DWSRF through FY’98. By the end of FY’98, every state will 

have a DWSRF program approved by EPA, and will have received at least its first 

commitment of funds (“capitalization grant”). 

•	 	 Capacity Development: Capacity refers to the technical, financial and managerial capability 

of a water system to plan for, achieve, and maintain compliance with drinking water standards. 

Capacity development is a State effort to help drinking water systems improve their finances, 

management, infrastructure, and operations so they can provide safe drinking water 

consistently, reliably, and cost-effectively. Many small drinking water systems have difficulty 

complying with some of the complex provisions of the SDWA because their capacity is often 

constrained by their limited economies of scale. The new SDWA has several features with 

great potential to increase system capacity, and thereby correct and prevent noncompliance. 

In August 1998, EPA released guidance and information to help states work together with 

water systems to carry out new capacity development provisions from the law, including a 

requirement that states have authority to prevent the formation of new public water systems 

that lack the capability to operate and manage a drinking water system. States must also 

implement a strategy to help existing systems develop the capability to operate and maintain 

their system and ensure long-term compliance. 

• Water System Operator Certification: Operator competency is critical to the protection of 

Section 1 - 7 
public health and maintenance of safe, effective, and reliable water treatment plants and 

distribution lines. In February 1998, EPA released information for states on recommended 

operator certification requirements, developed through a partnership with states, water 

systems, and the public. By February 1999, EPA will issue final guidelines for states to use in 

making changes to their operation certification programs. 

•	 	 Source Water Protection: The first step in a multiple barrier approach to drinking water 

protection is preventing contamination of drinking water sources. This avoids the need to pay 

for costly treatment to remove contamination after it occurs. In August 1997, EPA issued a 

source water assessment and protection guidance for states to use to complete source water 

assessments for their public water systems. States, water systems, and the public can work 

together using federal funding to protect the highest priority sources identified in the 

assessments. During this past year, states have been working diligently to prepare their 

assessment programs, which are due to EPA by February 1999. 

•	 	 Proposed Regulation for Underground Injection Control Class V Wells: Some shallow 

waste disposal wells pose a threat to underground sources of drinking water. On July 17, 

1998 EPA issued a proposal, for public comment, in the Federal Register to regulate specific 

types of high-risk wells, such as large cesspools, motor vehicle wells, and industrial wells, 

located in source water protection areas for systems using groundwater. When finalized in 

1999, this regulation will give states a new tool for source water protection efforts. 

•	 	 Support for Indian Tribes: The problems facing public water systems located on Indian 

reservations are significant. Many of the systems face challenges related to their small size 

(75% of systems serve populations fewer than 500) and limited sources of revenue. Many of 

the tools discussed above include funding and provisions to address the special problems of 

these public water systems. In addition, the 1996 SDWA Amendments provided that 1.5% of 

the amount appropriated for the DWSRF program be made available to water systems on 

Tribal lands in the form of grants. This translated into $30 million for fiscal years 1997 and 

1998. 

Helping Small Systems Provide Safe Drinking Water 

Although they serve a small percentage of the nation’s population, water systems serving fewer 

than 10,000 persons constitute the majority of all community drinking water systems. Small 

systems often do not have a full-time operator, and their limited customer base often makes 

compliance with public health standards difficult due to affordability problems. The 1996 

Amendments created several new tools to help address the special needs of small systems. 

Section 1 - 8 
•	 	 List of Small System Compliance Technologies: In August 1998 EPA published a list of 

alternative technologies that small systems may use to remove or treat regulated contaminants. 

These alternative technologies give small systems more flexibility in choosing the most costeffective methods to meet drinking water standards. 

•	 	 Variances and Exemptions: In August 1998, EPA revised its variance and exemption rule, 

which provides a framework to help small systems comply with drinking water standards. 

Variances allow a small system that cannot afford to comply with a drinking water standard to 

deviate from the standard under certain conditions, as long as the drinking water is still 

protective of public health. Exemptions allow a water system extra time to obtain needed 

financial assistance, develop an alternative source of water, engage in management or 

restructuring changes, or make any other effort needed to bring the system into compliance. 

•	 	 Technical Assistance: EPA is now supporting a total of eight technology assistance centers, 

based at universities, to help small drinking water systems with training, technical assistance, 

and technology demonstrations. With grant support from EPA, university-based 

Environmental Finance Centers are assisting states in developing and implementing innovative 

programs to help small systems build their capacity. In addition, up to two percent of a state’s 

DWSRF capitalization grant may be used to provide technical assistance to systems serving 

fewer than 10,000 persons, and the SDWA requires that at least 15% of the DWSRF be made 

available to small systems. 

Focusing Safety Standards on the Most Serious Health Risks 

Strengthening research to support development of regulations based on sound science is one of 

the most significant provisions in the 1996 Amendments. The first major products of that 

scientific focus were produced in 1998. These products demonstrate the principles of targeting 

and focusing research on high risk contaminants and expanding public involvement in the 

rulemaking process by enhancing public access to data. 

•	 	 The Contaminant Candidate List: In February 1998, EPA published its Contaminant 

Candidate List (CCL), which is the strategic blueprint for future standards development and 

public health decisions. The CCL is a list of currently unregulated contaminants that are 

known or anticipated to occur in drinking water. The list will help EPA, states, and water 

systems focus their efforts on contaminants that pose the greatest risks to public health. 

Contaminants for priority drinking water research, occurrence monitoring, and guidance 

development, including health advisories, will be drawn from the CCL. EPA will also use this 

list to outline a plan of action, required by the year 2001, for making regulatory decisions on 

developing standards for five or more contaminants. 

•	 	 Strengthening Research: EPA has expanded its research in occurrence studies, health 

effects, analytical methods, and treatment approaches to support its standard-setting priorities 

Section 1 - 9 
under the CCL. In addition, as required by the 1996 Amendments, EPA has developed, and is 

carrying out, its long-term research plans for arsenic and the microbial and 

disinfectants/disinfection byproducts cluster of rules. 

•	 	 Microbial and Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts Rules: Congress and the 

Administration agree that microbial contaminants in drinking water, such as Cryptosporidium, 

pose the greatest potential risk to human health. The 1996 Amendments required EPA to 

issue several rules to control these contaminants and the byproducts of chemicals used to 

control them. In late 1998, EPA will dramatically advance public health protection by 

finalizing the first set of these rules, the Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule and 

the Stage I Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts Rule. 

Exercising New Enforcement Authorities and Undertaking Compliance Assistance 

The 1996 Amendments strengthened EPA and State enforcement and penalty authorities. In 

recognition of the fact that enforcement is an effective tool in returning systems to compliance and 

insuring that water systems which do not comply do not enjoy a competitive advantage over 

others that do, the Amendments streamlined the process for issuing federal administrative orders, 

raised the amount EPA could collect in administrative penalties, and required States as a condition 

of primacy to have administrative penalty authority. As with other provisions of the 1996 

Amendments, EPA and the states are working to implement these provisions and will provide 

more detail in future reports. 

EPA’s current enforcement priorities focus on those regulations and contaminants which pose the 

greatest risk to public health, i.e., the microbiological regulations (Total Coliform Rule and 

Surface Water Treatment Rule), lead and copper, and other acute contaminants (e.g., nitrate). 

In fiscal year 1996, the Agency issued 1039 notices of violation, 254 final administrative orders, 

40 complaints for penalty, and 9 new civil referrals. In 1997, EPA issued 266 notices of violation, 

392 federal administrative orders, 12 complaints for penalty, and 4 new civil referrals. 

To complement its enforcement activities, EPA also undertakes compliance assistance to increase 

understanding of, and compliance with, drinking water requirements. The Agency conducted 

more than 3,180 compliance assistance activities, including on-site visits to public water systems 

and development and distribution of compliance assistance tools. The Agency is also developing 

a Compliance Assistance Center, the Local Government Environmental Assistance Network 

(LGEAN) which is designed to help local government officials stay abreast of the latest 

environmental requirements and technologies, including drinking water issues. LGEAN is 

coordinated by a number of partners, such as drinking water and governmental associations. The 

network will help governments disseminate information on drinking water to help water facilities 

treat water more effectively and will field questions on environmental compliance and assistance 

Section 1 - 10 
information for state and local officials, inspectors, and regulators. 

The box below lists EPA’s major products in support of SDWA implementation. 

Programs 1st year (August 1996-97) 2nd year (August 1997-98) Future 

Public 

Information/ 

Involvement 

• Expansion of National 

Drinking Water Advisory 

Council (NDWAC) 

• Consumer Confidence 

Report Regulation 

• Compliance Reports 

• National Contaminant 

Occurrence Data Base 

• Revised public notification 

• Right-to-Know NDWAC 

Working Group 

Tools for 

States and 

Water 

Systems 

• Drinking Water State 

Revolving Fund Guidelines 

• Source Water Assessment 

and Protection Guidance 

• Drinking Water 

Infrastructure Needs Survey 

• Alternative Monitoring 

Guidance 

• Information on 

Operator Certification 

• Capacity Development 

Guidance 

• Environmental Finance 

Centers 

• Proposed Class V UIC 

Rule 

• Operator Certification 

Guidelines 

• Federal support of state 

source water assessment 

activities through Clean 

Water Action Plan 

• Final Class V UIC Rule 

• State ground water 

protection reports 

• Local Governmental 

Environmental Assistance 

Network 

Small System 

Needs 

• Treatment technologies list 

for Surface Water Treatment 

Rule 

• Compliance 

technologies list 

• Variance and 

Exemptions Rule 

• Technology Assistance 

Centers 

• NDWAC Small Systems 

Working Group 

Risk-Based 

Standards 

Setting 

• Research plans for 

Microbial/Disinfection 

Byproducts and Arsenic 

• Contaminant 

Candidate List 

• National Contaminant 

Occurrence Data Base 

• Unregulated Contaminant 

Monitoring Rule 

IMPROVING THE DATA THAT DESCRIBES AMERICA’S DRINKING WATER 

The nation needs reliable data in order to manage its drinking water program. It is of great 

importance to EPA and its partners to improve the quality and accuracy of drinking water data. 

EPA has collected data from States for approximately 20 years on violations of drinking water 

standards and stored them in an EPA data system that has recently been modernized and renamed 

the Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS/FED). Portions of SDWIS/FED that are 

under development will better track compliance with existing and future regulations, track 

drinking water goals developed to meet the Government Performance and Results Act, and also 

make data recovery easier for the public. In preparing the compliance information described 

Section 1 - 11 
below, it became clear that some SDWIS/FED data should be updated or checked for reliability. 

To ensure SDWIS/FED data reliability, EPA is undertaking a series of steps which are outlined in 

the recommendations described later in this report. 

In addition to having information about actual violations of drinking water standards for treated 

drinking water, the nation also needs information on the occurrence of contaminants in our 

sources of drinking water. The SDWA Amendments of 1996 mandated that EPA prepare a 

National Contaminant Occurrence Database (NCOD) by 1999 that will contain information about 

the pollutants found in sources of drinking water. NCOD will draw on other databases from both 

inside EPA and from our partners such as the U.S. Geological Survey, and will also include 

information from forthcoming state and Tribal source water assessments. The database will give 

both managers and the public information on the quality of water which is subsequently treated to 

become our drinking water. 

The planned improvements to violations data in SDWIS/FED as well as the new data available in 

1999 through the NCOD will give both the public and the drinking water community a better 

picture of the quality of our drinking water. 

Recommendations 

The SDWA Amendments of 1996 require that the Administrator make "recommendations 

concerning the resources needed to improve compliance” within the national compliance report. 

This report makes general recommendations as to where states and EPA should direct their 

efforts, based on existing resource levels and appropriations, to improve compliance. 

States and EPA should work together to address the most significant findings identified in this 

report: 

States and EPA should work together to address violations of significant monitoring and 

reporting requirements. 

C	 	 For large community water systems, actions should address all rules. Failure by these 

systems to monitor can mask public health problems that affect many people and, as a 

result, formal enforcement should be an integral part of any action taken. 

C	 	 For small and medium community water systems, actions should focus primarily on the 

Lead and Copper Rule, Total Coliform Rule and the Nitrate Rule. This strategy should 

include compliance assistance and enforcement, where appropriate. The strategy should 

also focus on the Surface Water Treatment Rule because violations indicate an increased 

risk from microbiological contamination. 

Section 1 - 12 
C

States and EPA should work together to address violations of MCL and treatment 

technique requirements. 

C	 	 For large community water systems, actions should address all rules, with an emphasis on 

the Total Coliform Rule, Surface Water Treatment Rule and the Lead and Copper Rule. 

Formal enforcement is especially appropriate for large water systems, particularly those 

failing to install or upgrade filtration treatment as required by the Surface Water 

Treatment Rule, and for facilities with continuing or repeated violations. 

C	 	 For small and medium size community water systems, actions should focus on the Total 

Coliform Rule and Surface Water Treatment Rule. All available tools should be 

considered when responding to violations, in order to address the particular capacity 

development needs of these systems. Technical assistance should be made available to 

ensure that systems can return to, and remain in, compliance. While compliance assistance 

is often adequate to ensure long-term compliance, when a system does not respond to 

assistance, formal enforcement should be used. 

States and EPA should work together to address violations at non-community water 

systems. 

C	 	 States and EPA should identify the reasons for significant monitoring and reporting 

violations at non-community systems and take appropriate action. In particular, attention 

should focus on the Total Coliform, Lead and Copper, and Nitrate Rules for non-transient 

non-community water systems; and Total Coliform and Nitrate Rules for transient noncommunity water systems. 

C	 	 Most non-transient and transient non-community water systems are small and face 

problems that are unique to small systems. EPA and states should take an approach that 

addresses the special needs of these systems, including compliance assistance and 

enforcement, where appropriate. 

EPA should take action to improve compliance of PWSs on Indian reservations. 

C	 	 EPA should work cooperatively with water systems on Indian reservations to improve 

compliance with monitoring and reporting requirements, particularly for Total Coliform 

Rule and chemical contaminant requirements. This can be accomplished through 

compliance assistance such as increasing EPA’s field presence, conducting more frequent 

sanitary surveys and providing technical assistance, and enforcement, as appropriate. 

C	 	 EPA should improve its collection and maintenance of compliance data for PWSs on 

Indian reservations. 

EPA and states should work cooperatively to improve the quality of compliance data. 

Section 1 - 13 
C	 	 Further define the issue: EPA should work closely with states and utilities to define the 

data quality issue in detail. EPA will hold several stakeholder meetings across the 

country, and convene a special focus group to make recommendations. This group will 

work with ongoing groups and efforts such as the Association of State Drinking Water 

Administrators/EPA Data Management Steering Committee, the OECA enforcement 

systems reengineering efforts, and the National Drinking Water Advisory Council Rightto-Know workgroup. 

•	 	 Ensure seamless data transfer to the Federal data system: EPA will increase efforts to 

make it easier to use drinking water information systems, and processes to transfer data to 

them electronically. For the national-level SDWIS/FED, EPA will simplify both data entry 

and retrieval, and public access. For States and Tribes, EPA will accelerate development 

of the core modules of SDWIS/STATE, and increase electronic data transfer for those 

States that will continue to use their own data systems. 

•	 	 Improve SDWIS data quality: EPA and States need to work together to improve the 

quality of data in SDWIS and in individual state systems. In this effort, EPA and States 

can jointly develop quality management plans for SDWIS data. We can also take steps to 

improve the quality of data monitoring and reporting at all levels – utility, laboratory, 

State, EPA Regions, and EPA Headquarters. These steps will include more frequent 

verification of data at all steps of the process, vigorous followup of findings from the 

verification efforts, and increased training in and accountability for system use and data 

quality activities. 

•	 	 Include compliance data in the effort to integrate drinking water information: EPA 

is working to provide to managers and the public a comprehensive picture of drinking 

water quality, including both compliance and source water quality information. This 

effort will integrate drinking water source information from the developing National 

Contaminant Occurrence Data Base (which will access multiple data bases of EPA, the 

U.S. Geological Survey, and others on ambient water quality) as well as water quality in 

public water systems. As more reliable SDWIS data is generated in the future, EPA will 

incorporate that data into this comprehensive effort to portray drinking water quality. 

Future Direction 

This report on 1996 data is the first in an annual series of reports presenting drinking water 

compliance data and a national analysis of compliance, as well as recommendations to 

improve PWS compliance. The report shows that there is a need for improvements in both 

compliance and reporting of the data describing compliance. Compliance with drinking water 

regulations is one of the primary goals for EPA under the Government Performance and 

Results Act, and EPA has already initiated activities to address many of the findings and 

recommendations in the report. EPA will work with states to address the recommendations 

Section 1 - 14 
and will use these reports to establish a baseline against which we will monitor progress. 

In addition, States and EPA need to continue to aggressively implement the SDWA 

Amendments of 1996, including development and implementation of new regulations, source 

water protection activities, capacity development activities, operator certification, and full 

implementation of the State Revolving Fund. These activities will result in improvements in 

PWSs and ultimately in the quality of the drinking water provided to the public. Also, EPA 

and the States need to insure implementation of and compliance with the consumer confidence 

regulations as the centerpiece of the right-to-know provisions of the SDWA. It is critical that 

these rules be implemented. 

Because this first report is based on calendar year 1996 data, the data did not reflect 

improvements to the drinking water program that are being made as a result of the many 

activities initiated following enactment of the 1996 SDWA Amendments. A vital lesson 

learned during the 12 years following passage of the earlier 1986 SDWA is that safe drinking 

water must be achieved by a multi-action approach that includes: providing for public 

information and involvement; providing tools to states, Tribes, and water systems to help 

them supply safe water; paying special attention to the needs of small systems; risk-based 

decision-making to provide the best safety standards; and providing compliance assistance and 

taking enforcement actions where violations occur. The new tools provided by the 1996 

Amendments will, in time, help improve the quality of the public’s drinking water and 

compliance at PWSs, including PWSs located on Indian reservations. The many actions EPA 

and its partners have undertaken in the first two years of implementation of the 1996 SDWA 

Amendments will bear fruit in providing better information about drinking water quality and 

reducing the number of violations of drinking water standards. Future reports will track that 

progress, to the benefit of all Americans. 

Section 1 - 15 
Section 2 

Section 2 - National 

Compliance Report 

PART I - INTRODUCTION 

PURPOSE 

The purpose of the remaining sections of this

report is to provide additional information to the

general public, Federal and State regulators,

and Tribal governments on the compliance

status of public water systems (PWSs), including

those located on Indian reservations and serving

Indian Tribes, for calendar year 1996. This

report summarizes and evaluates the compliance information and makes recommendations

concerning actions that the U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA) and States need to take

to improve compliance at public water systems.

Section 2 of this report addresses national

compliance of PWSs in the U.S. States and

Territories. Section 3 focuses on compliance of

PWSs on Indian reservations.

STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS 

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Amendments of 1996 (PL 104-182) made fundamental

changes in the nature of the drinking water

program at the Federal, State, Tribal and local

levels. This report has been prepared to meet one

of these new requirements. Specifically, Section

1414(c)(3) of the amendments requires that:

 States with primary enforcement responsibility (primacy) prepare and submit to EPA

an annual report on PWS violations. States

were required to submit their first report by

January 1, 1998. These reports must

address violations of national primary

drinking water regulations with respect to

maximum contaminant levels (MCLs),

treatment requirements, significant monitoring requirements, and variances and

exemptions.

 States with primacy publish and distribute

summaries of their reports and indicate

where the full report is available for review.

 EPA summarize and evaluate the States

reports in an annual national report, of

which this is the first. This report must

make recommendations concerning the

resources needed to improve compliance

with the SDWA. The report must also

address PWS compliance on Indian reservations, enforcement activities undertaken,

and financial assistance provided by EPA to

Indian reservations.

In addition to requiring State and national

compliance reports, the amendments include

two other provisions designed to give consumers

more information about the quality of their

drinking water. These are:

 A requirement that community water

systems issue annual Consumer Confidence Reports that contain information on

the source of the water supply, the levels of

detected contaminants found in drinking

water, information on the health effects of

contaminants found in violation of national

standards, and information on unregulated

contaminants.

 A provision that improves the procedures

for how and when public water systems

must notify their customers when drinking

water regulations are violated.

STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT 

In developing this report, EPA convened several

workgroups and stakeholder groups consisting

of EPA, States, environmental and public health

groups, water system operators, trade associations, representatives from Indian Tribes, Tribal

professional environmental organizations, and

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998  13
Section 2 

Tribal water utility managers and water operators and coordinated with the Indian Health

Service and Bureau of Indian Affairs.

PART II - NATIONAL AND STATE PUBLIC 

DRINKING WATER PROGRAMS 

To understand the compliance information

presented in this report, it is helpful to understand the Public Drinking Water Program. In

order for a State, Territory, or Tribe to be given

the primary enforcement responsibility to run a

drinking water program (called primacy), it must

adopt regulations that are at least as stringent

as Federal regulations and demonstrate capacity

to enforce those regulations and implement

other activities to ensure compliance. Of the 56

States and Territories, all but Wyoming and the

District of Columbia have primacy. EPA Regional

Offices administer the program within these two

jurisdictions. EPA also administers the program

on all Tribal lands.

EPA REGULATIONS 

The Safe Drinking Water Act requires that the

EPA establish national primary drinking water

regulations. These regulations set national

limits on contaminant levels in drinking water

to ensure that the water is safe for human

consumption. These limits, known as MCLs, set

the maximum permissible level of a contaminant in water delivered to a user of a PWS. At

the Federal level, EPA has set drinking water

standards, or MCLs, for more than 80 contaminants. An MCL is the maximum permissible

level of a contaminant in water which is delivered to any user of a public water system. There

are MCLs for both contaminants that cause

acute health effects after a short-term exposure

and contaminants that can cause chronic

health effects after long-term exposure. Additional information on the health effects of

specific contaminants can be found on the EPA

web site (http://www.epa.gov/safewater).

For some regulations, EPA sets a treatment

technique requirement where it is infeasible to

monitor and ascertain the level of a particular

contaminant. The required treatment techniques are designed to prevent known or anticipated health effects. Treatment technique

requirements have been established under both

the Surface Water Treatment Rule and the Lead

and Copper Rule. A violation of a treatment

technique indicates that the system failed to

treat the water as specified to minimize the

presence of potentially harmful contaminants.

EPA also sets monitoring, reporting, and record

keeping requirements that PWSs must follow. A

monitoring or reporting violation can occur

when a PWS either fails to take the required

number of samples or perform a required analysis, or fails to report the results of an analysis

performed in a timely manner or as required by

law. Only significant monitoring and reporting

violations were analyzed in this report, as

required by the 1996 SDWA Amendments. A

significant monitoring and reporting violation

occurs when a PWS collects none of the samples

or submits none of the reports required by a

particular regulatory provision. It can also occur

if a PWS collects less than 90% of the samples

or submits less than 90% of the reports required

by the Surface Water Treatment Rule. Appendix

A contains additional information about the

definition and application of significant monitoring and reporting violations.

PWSs are required to report all monitoring

results to their primary enforcement responsibility. States and Territories with primacy

analyze the monitoring results, determine

compliance, and report violations to EPA on a

quarterly basis. EPA maintains these violations

in the national Safe Drinking Water Information

System (SDWIS/FED). SDWIS/FED is an exceptions-based database, meaning that only violations or instances of non-compliance are recorded.

States that have primacy, or EPA where it

administers the program, may grant a PWS a

variance or exemption from national primary

drinking water standards, provided that the

terms adequately protect public health. As

provided by the SDWA, variances are available

to PWSs that cannot comply with national

primary drinking water regulations (due to

source water quality, or, in the case of small

systems, affordability). Variances generally allow

a PWS to comply with less stringent, but still

protective standards based on a specific technology available to the system. An exemption

14  September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 
Section 2 

allows a PWS with compelling circumstances

(including economic considerations) an extension of time before it must comply with applicable SDWA requirements. An exemption is

limited to three years, although extensions of up

to six additional years are available to very

small PWS under certain conditions.

PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS 

Public water systems must meet the requirements described above. A PWS is defined as a

system that has at least 15 service connections

or serves an average of at least 25 people for at

least 60 days per year. There are three types of

PWSs:

 Community water systems are those that

serve the same people year-round (e.g.,

cities, towns, villages, and mobile home

parks).

 Non-transient non-community water systems are those that serve at least 25 of the

same people for at least six months of the

year (e.g., schools, day care centers).

 Transient non-community water systems

are those that serve transient populations

(e.g., rest stops, campgrounds, and parks).

In 1996, there were 170,942 public water systems (Table 1). The following presents a breakdown of these systems by type:

 Community water systems: 54,728 systems

serving 249 million people.

 Non-transient non-community water systems: 20,061 systems serving 6.1 million

people.

 Transient non-community water systems:

96,153 systems serving 16.2 million people.

Each of these three types of systems is regulated differently. Community water systems and

non-transient systems must comply with all

regulations. Transient systems do not have to

comply with the regulations for contaminants

that cause chronic health effects because the

users of transient systems are not exposed to

the contaminants long enough for adverse

health effects to occur. Table 2 provides a

Ta ble 1: Public Water System Inventory in Calendar Year 1996 

Public W ater System Inve ntory Data 

Water Source Community Water Systems 

(CWSs) 

Non-transient Non-community 

Water Systems (NTNCWSs) 

Transient Non-community Water 

Systems (TNCWSs) 

Number of 

Syst ems 

P opulat ion 

Served 

(Mil lions) 

Number of 

Syst ems 

P opulat ion 

Served 

(Mil lions) 

Number of 

Syst ems 

Populat ion 

Served 

(Mil lions) 

 Surface 10,500 

 (19%) 

160 

(64%) 

760 

(4%) 

0.8 

(13%) 

2,143 

(2%) 

0.9 

(6%) 

 Ground 44,219 

(81%) 

89 

(36%) 

19,300 

(96%) 

5.3 

(87%) 

94,009 

(98%) 

15.3 

(94%) 

 Total 54,728 

 (100%) 

249 

(100%) 

20,061 

(100%) 

6.1 

(100%) 

96,153 

(100%) 

16.2 

(100%) 

Percent of Total 

PWSs 

32% __* 12% __* 56% __* 

Number of 

Systems 

Population 

Served 

(Millions) 

Number of 

Systems 

Population 

Served 

(Mil lions) 

Number of 

Syst ems 

Populat ion 

Served 

(Millions) 

Surface 10,500 

(19%) 

160 

(64%) 

760 

(4%) 

0.8 

(13%) 

2,143 

(2%) 

0.9 

(6%) 

Ground 44,219 

(81%) 

89 

(36%) 

19,300 

(96%) 

5.3 

(87%) 

94,009 

(98%) 

15.3 

(94%) 

Total 54,728 

(100%) 

249 

(100%) 

20,061 

(100%) 

6.1 

(100%) 

96,153 

(100%) 

16.2 

(100%) 

Percent of Total 

PWSs 

32% __* 12% __* 56% __* 

*Populations for all three categories are not totaled as some people are served by multiple categories of water

systems.

Source: Safe Drinking Water Information System 

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998  15
are:

Section 2 

summary of drinking water regulations as they

apply to the three types of PWSs.

PWSs can also be classified according to the size

of the population that is being served. EPA

frequently analyzes compliance trends based on

three PWS size categories:

 Small systems: serve 25 to 3,300 persons.

 Medium systems: serve 3,301 to 10,000

persons.

 Large systems: serve more than 10,000

persons.

The number of systems in each size classification in 1996 and the total population that they

serve are shown in Figures 1 and 2.

As these figures show, the number of large systems is small, but they serve a much greater

population than is served by the smaller systems.

PWSs obtain their water from:

 Surface water sources which include rivers,

lakes, and reservoirs.

 Ground water sources that are supplied

from wells drilled into underground aquifers.

Some PWSs obtain their water from a combination of the two types of sources or purchase

their water from another PWS. In 1996, surface

water served as the source for approximately 8%

of the PWSs serving approximately 60% of the

total population served by PWSs (Table 1).

Ground water served as a source for approximately 92% of the PWSs, serving approximately

40% of the population served by PWSs.

PART III - PWS COMPLIANCE DATA AND 

ANALYSIS 

EPA has compiled and reviewed 1996 violations

data available from the Annual State Public

Water Systems Reports and national PWS data

from EPAs SDWIS/FED database. The national

analysis uses SDWIS/FED data, rather than

data from the State reports, primarily because

EPA conducted analyses at the national level

using information that was not required or

included in the Annual State Public Water

Systems Reports. Summaries of data from State

reports can be found in Appendix B. In developing this report, EPA and its partners have

realized that we have questions about the

quality of some of the data contained in SDWIS/

FED. Nonetheless, when viewed in the aggregate, this data presents an overall compliance

picture of PWSs nationwide. Later in this report

is a discussion of data quality concerns and

recommendations to address these concerns.

DATA ANALYSIS 

In 1996, the vast majority of people in the

nation received water from systems that had no

reported violations of MCL and treatment technique requirements or significant monitoring

and reporting requirements. The report looks at

the compliance status of all types of public

water systems; however, much of the report

focuses on community water systems because

the majority of the population obtains drinking

water from community water systems. Within

the limitations of data quality, as discussed in

this report, some of the most notable findings

The nation’s drinking water is generally safe 

— 86 % of the country’s population served 

by community water systems drank water 

from systems that reported no violations of 

any health-based drinking water standards. 

 94% of all public water systems had no

reported MCL or treatment technique

violations.

 91% of community water systems had no

reported MCL or treatment technique

violations. Violations were primarily of the

Total Coliform Rule and Surface Water

Treatment Rule - rules which protect

against microbiological contamination of

drinking water.

 94% of non-transient non-community water

systems had no reported MCL or treatment

technique violations. Most of the systems

with a reported violation violated the Total

Coliform Rule.

 95% of transient non-community water

systems had no reported MCL or treatment

16  September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 
(TTH M) serving mo re than 

10,000) 

surface water) surface water) water) 

Section 2 

Table 2: Summary of Drinking Water Regulations for PWSs 

Ap plicability of Current Regulations 

Contaminant/Rule 

Community Water 

Systems 

Non-transient noncommunity water 

systems 

Transient noncommunity water

systems 

Contaminant/Rule Systems 

systems systems 

Organic 

Contaminants 

To tal 

Trihalomethanes 

Organic 

Contaminants 

To tal 

Trihalomethanes 

(TTHM) 

Ino rganic 

Contaminants 

Nitrate and Nitrite 

Radionuclides 

Total Coliform Rule 

Surface Water 

Treatment Rule 

Ino rganic 

Contaminants 

Nitrate and Nitrite 

Radionuclides 

Total Coliform Rule 

Surface Water 

Treatment Rule 

All 

Some 

(Only systems 

All 

Some 

(Only systems 

serving more than 

10,000) 

All 

All 

All 

All 

So me 

(Only PWSs using 

surface water or 

ground water 

sources under the 

direct influence o f 

All 

All 

All 

All 

So me 

(Only PWSs using 

surface water or 

ground water 

sources under the 

direct influence o f 

surface water) 

All 

None 

Some 

(All except arsenic 

and fluoride) 

All 

None 

All 

Some 

(Only PWSs using 

surface water or 

ground water 

sources under the 

direct influence of 

All 

None 

Some 

(All except arsenic 

and fluoride) 

All 

None 

All 

Some 

(Only PWSs using 

surface water or 

ground water 

sources under the 

direct influence of 

surface water) 

Some 

(Only epichlo rohydrin 

and acrylamide) 

None 

None 

All 

None 

All 

Some 

(Only PWSs using 

surface water or 

ground water sources 

under the direct 

influence o f surface 

Some 

(Only epichlo rohydrin 

and acrylamide) 

None 

None 

All 

None 

All 

Some 

(Only PWSs using 

surface water or 

ground water sources 

under the direct 

influence o f surface 

water) 

Lead an d Copper 

Rule 

Lead and Copper All All None 

Rule 

All All None 

Figure 1: Size Distribution of PWSs 

Number of Systems 

3,687 

162,663 

4,592 

0 

40,000 

80,000 

120,000 

160,000 

200,000 

Small (0-

3,300) 

Medium 

(3,301-

10,000) 

Large (Over 

10,000) 

Number of systems 

Figure 2: Size Distribution of PWSs 

Population Served 

40.6 26.7 

203.7 

0 

50 

100 

150 

200 

250 

Small (0-3,300) Medium (3,301-

10,000) 

Large (Over 

10,000) 

Population in millions 

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998  17
Section 2 

technique violations. As with non-transient

non-community water systems, most of the

systems violated the Total Coliform Rule.

Nationwide, most violations are of significant 

monitoring and reporting requirements. 

 In 1996, there were 141,617 MCL, treatment technique, and significant monitoring

and reporting violations reported by 47,918

of the 170,942 public water systems in the

nation. 87% were for violations of significant

monitoring and reporting requirements.

13% were for violations of MCL and treatment technique requirements.

 76% of all public water systems had no

reported violations of significant monitoring

and reporting requirements.

 72% of community water systems had no

reported violations of significant monitoring

and reporting requirements. The Lead and

Copper Rule and Total Coliform Rule

accounted for most of the systems with

violations.

 66% of non-transient non-community water

systems had no reported violation of significant monitoring and reporting requirements. The Lead and Copper Rule and

Total Coliform Rule accounted for most of

the systems with violations.

 80% of transient non-community water

systems had no reported violation of significant monitoring and reporting requirements. The Total Coliform Rule and Nitrate

Rule accounted for most of the systems

with violations.

Although the number of large systems with a 

reported violation is relatively low, the 

population that is served by these systems 

can be large. 

 9% of the 5,151 community water systems

with an MCL or treatment technique violation were for large systems. These systems

served 30 million people. The Surface

Water Treatment Rule, Total Coliform Rule,

and Lead and Copper Rule are the rules

most frequently violated by large water

systems.

 2% of the 15,182 community water systems

with a significant monitoring and reporting

violation were large systems. These systems

served 17 million people. The rules pertaining to total coliform, surface water treatment, organic chemicals, and nitrate

accounted for most of these systems with

violations.

Most violations are reported in small water 

systems that serve fewer than 3,300 people. 

 Small systems comprised 96% of the

15,182 community water systems with a

significant monitoring and reporting violation. These systems served 5.0 million

people.

 Small systems comprised 82% of the 5,151

community water systems with an MCL

and treatment technique violation. These

systems served 2.3 million people.

 Virtually all of the non-transient and

transient non-community water systems

are small, therefore most violations for

these system types occurred in small

systems.

In the remainder of this analysis, compliance

data will be presented by type of water system.

This is being done to prevent double counting of

population when presenting the number of

people served by systems reporting a violation.

For example, it is possible that the same person

could drink water from three different sources

during a day by drinking water from their

residence (served by a community water system), their school (served by a non-transient

non-community water system), and at a campground or highway rest stop (served by a transient non-community water system). Including

that same person three times in the population

figures would be misleading.

COMMUNITY WATER SYSTEMS 

There are 54,728 community water systems in

the nation which serve a population of approximately 248 million people. The remaining population of the country receives residential water

from individual wells or from water systems that

are too small to meet the definition of a Federal

18  September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 
Section 2 

public water system (i.e. they serve fewer than

25 people).

Community water systems can be further

categorized as follows:

 Small systems: 46,827 systems serving 25

million people.

 Medium systems: 4,332 systems serving 25

million people.

 Large systems: 3,569 systems serving 198

million people.

Of these 54,728 systems, 91% had no reported

violations of MCL or treatment technique requirements. Approximately 66% had no reported

violations of MCL and treatment technique

requirements and had no significant monitoring

and reporting violations.

Most of the violations experienced by community water systems were for failure to monitor

the drinking water and report the results to the

State. While monitoring and reporting violations

do not necessarily indicate a health risk, if a

system fails to monitor it may not be aware of

the potential health risk posed by a contaminant which may be present, but undetected.

While the data show that small systems have

the largest number of MCL violations, a much

larger population is served by large systems with

violations.

Figures 3 through 6 present a breakdown of

MCL, treatment technique, and significant

monitoring and reporting violations by rule. As

shown in Figure 4, the rules with the greatest

number of significant monitoring and reporting

violations are the Lead and Copper, the Total

Coliform, and Nitrate Rules. Most of the systems

with these types of violations are small. A

different picture is presented if population

affected is considered instead of number of

systems.

Figure 4 shows that large systems which violate

significant monitoring and reporting requirements serve more people than small and medium systems which violate these requirements.

The only exception to this is the Lead and

Copper Rule, where both small and large systems with violations serve approximately the

same population. Figure 4 also shows that a

higher percentage of the population was served

by system s with violations of significant monitoring and reporting requirements for total

coliform, lead and copper, and nitrate/nitrite

than for other rules.

Turning to MCL and treatment technique requirements, Figure 5 shows that community

water systems violate the Total Coliform Rule

and Surface Water Treatment Rule more often

than other rules. Most of the systems in violation are small.

However, when considering the population

served by systems in violation (Figure 6), a

higher percentage of the population was served

by community water systems with violations of

the Surface Water Treatment Rule, the Total

Coliform Rule, and the Lead and Copper Rule,

respectively. Again, large systems are responsible for the greatest portion of the population

served by systems in violation.

The reason for the systems in violation of the

Surface Water Treatment Rule is that filtration

treatment was required for a number of large

systems. Although the law required this treatment to be in place by 1993, for a variety of

reasons including planning, design and construction of the complex infrastructure needed

to install filtration, this has taken longer than

anticipated.

In 1996, the population served by small and

medium systems in violation of the Total

Coliform Rule MCL was about 3 million people.

A much larger population (approximately 9

million) served by large systems was in violation

of the Total Coliform Rule owing primarily to

violations in 3 major systems serving populations more than 500,000.

The population served by systems in violation of

treatment technique requirements of the Lead

and Copper Rule were served primarily by large

water systems. This is because all large systems

are required to install corrosion control,

whereas only those small and medium systems

exceeding an action level must install corrosion

control. Additionally, large systems are given

less time to comply with the rule than small and

medium systems.

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998  19
i 

i 

Section 2 

Figure 3: Number of Community Water Systems with Monitioring 

and Reporting Violations by System Size 

0 

2,000 

4,000 

6,000 

8,000 

10,000 

Inorganic 

Organic 

TTHM (Large Only) 

Nitrate/Nitrite 

Radionuclides 

SWTR 

TCR 

LCR 

Vi olati on Type 

Number of Systems 

large 

medium 

small 

Figure 4: Population Served by Community Water Systems with 

Monitioring and Reporting Violations by System Size 

8 

large 

medium 6 small 

4 

2 

0 

Population Served (

millions) 

i es d cl 

adionu 

CR L

R WT

c n ga 

c an 

R

it

TC

te 

N ri 

e/ 

y) nl 

M (Large

Org

O

I or 

S

n 

at it N r 

R 

HTT 

20  September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 
Section 2 

Figure 5: Number of Community Water Systems with Maximum 

Contaminant Level and Treatment Technique Violations 

0 

500 

1,000 

1,500 

2,000 

2,500 

3,000 

3,500 

4,000 

Inorganic MCL 

Organic MCL 

TTHM (Large Only) 

Nitrate/Nitrite MCL 

Radionuclides MCL 

SWTR TT 

TCR MCL 

LCR TT 

Vi ol ati on Type 

Number of Systems 

large 

medium 

small 

Figure 6: Population Served by Community Water Systems with Maximum 

Contaminent Level and Treatment Technique Violations by System Size 

0 

3 

6 

9 

12 

15 

18 

21 

Inorganic MCL 

Organic MCL 

TTHM (Large Only) 

Nitrate/Nitrite MCL 

Radionuclides MCL 

SWTR TT 

TCR MCL 

LCR TT 

Viol ati on Type 

Pop

ulation Served (millions) 

large 

medium 

small 

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998  21
Section 2 

NON-TRANSIENT NON-COMMUNITY WATER 

SYSTEMS 

The majority (94%) reported no violations of 

health-based standards. Approximately 62% of 

non-transient non-community water systems 

reported no MCL or treatment technique viola

tions and no significant monitoring and report

ing violations in 1996. Most of the violations 

were for significant monitoring and reporting. 

General findings for non-transient non-commu

nity are: 

 Of the MCL and treatment technique 

requirements, more systems violated the 

Total Coliform Rule than other rules, with 

5% of the systems reporting an MCL viola

tion. 

 More systems violated the significant 

monitoring and reporting requirements of 

the Lead and Copper Rule and the Total 

Coliform Rule, with 21% and 14% of the 

systems reporting violations, respectively. 

TRANSIENT NON-COMMUNITY WATER SYSTEMS 

Transient systems are required to comply with 

the Total Coliform Rule, nitrate, and the Surface 

Water Treatment Rules only. However, because 

only 2.1% of transient systems use surface 

water as a source, most transient systems are 

not subject to the Surface Water Treatment 

Rule. 

Overall 95% of transient systems reported no 

violations of MCL or treatment technique re

quirements and 77% of the systems reported no 

MCL, treatment technique, or significant moni

toring and reporting violations. However, 16% of 

the systems had significant monitoring and 

reporting violations for the Total Coliform Rule 

and 8% for the Nitrate Rule. The percent of 

systems that violated the MCL for Total Coliform 

and nitrate were 4% and 0.3%, respectively. 

For both non-transient non-community and 

transient non-community water systems, there 

was a relatively high proportion of systems 

reporting significant monitoring and reporting 

requirements of the Total Coliform Rule and a 

relatively low proportion of MCL violations of the 

rule. It is possible that if the compliance rate for 

monitoring and reporting increases, the compli

ance rate for the MCL could decrease. 

VARIANCE AND EXEMPTIONS 

There are very few PWSs currently operating 

under a variance or exemption. The SDWIS/ 

FED database did not show any variance or 

exemption violations for 1996. 

QUALITY OF DATA 

The compliance numbers presented in this 

report were taken from the national SDWIS/ 

FED database. States are required to submit 

data to SDWIS/FED quarterly. EPA assesses 

progress in the implementation of regulations, 

develops its national enforcement and compli

ance priorities and strategies, and provides 

information to the public based, in part, on 

analysis of the data in SDWIS/FED. 

Most States, on the other hand, develop a database system that tracks more information than 

that contained in SDWIS/FED. State data sys

tems often track monitoring results, compliance 

assistance activities, and enforcement actions. 

Most States used their own data system in 

developing their State compliance reports. 

Because the SDWIS/FED database relies on data 

provided by the States, one may expect that 

these numbers should be comparable to those in 

the States own data systems. Unfortunately, this 

is not the case with many States. As with any 

large, complex database network, especially one 

like SDWIS/FED that is under development, 

there are numerous difficulties in uploading data 

and correcting identified problems. 

Comparison of State and SDWIS/FED data 

revealed both over and under-reporting by 

States into SDWIS/FED across all rules, with 

State data showing 19% more violations than 

SDWIS/FED on a national basis. State chemical 

MCL and monitoring and reporting violations 

were virtually identical to information in 

SDWIS/FED. The rule with the greatest discrep

ancy rate was the Lead and Copper Rule. 

SDWIS/FED contained almost three times as 

many Lead and Copper monitoring and report

ing violations as the State reports. Most of this 

discrepancy, however, can be attributed to six 

22  September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 
Section 2 

States. SDWIS/FED data for Lead and Copper 

treatment technique violations is less than half 

of what States reported for these violations. 

EPA periodically conducts data verifications 

(independent, on-site audits of State records) 

of State programs to ensure that the State is 

determining compliance in accordance with 

Federal regulations and to detect differences 

between data in the State database and 

SDWIS/FED. Data verifications1 show larger 

discrepancies by States in reporting on noncommunity water systems than for other 

types, particularly in the area of significant 

monitoring violations. 

There are many reasons for these data dis

crepancies, including: 

 SDWIS/FED is a complex database. 

Data entry procedures in SDWIS/FED 

are cumbersome and data retrieval is not 

user friendly. 

 States use different data systems and 

designs. 

	 	 Data management and analysis of 

SDWIS/FED data is generally a lower 

priority for some States and Regional 

Offices. This lack of emphasis frequently 

leads to insufficient training, poor coor

dination among program and data 

managers, and situations where the 

responsibility for management of data 

systems does not lie with the people who 

use and need the data. 

EPA is working with the States to improve the 

reporting system and reduce data discrepan

cies, to the maximum extent possible. Some 

of the activities underway are: 

 EPA, in cooperation with the States, is 

developing a State data system known as 

SDWIS/STATE. It is intended to improve 

data quality and data transfers between 

States and EPA. Nine States and two EPA 

regions currently have SDWIS/STATE installed. 

 EPA is: 

- Improving data entry by updating and 

streamlining documentation and training 

materials. 

- Preparing Quality Assurance manuals for 

use by States and Regions. 

-	 Investigating mechanisms for making data 

retrieval more user friendly. EPA is also 

using the database to track progress 

toward meeting performance measures and 

making SDWIS/FED information publicly 

available through the internet site, 

Envirofacts. As the database is used more, 

and becomes easier to use, States will have 

a greater incentive to improve the quality of 

data in it. 

-	 Conducting data verifications in many 

States each year. One of the components of 

these verifications is to identify 

discrepancies between the State system 

and SDWIS/FED. 

PART IV - EVALUATION AND SUMMARY OF 

STATE REPORTS 

EPA has received 1996 Annual State Public Water 

System Reports from 51 primacy States, Commonwealths, and Territories. As the primary enforce

ment agency, EPA prepared reports for the District 

of Columbia and Wyoming, and provided data on 

Indian Tribes, which do not have primary enforce

ment responsibility for the drinking water program. 

The evaluation of these annual reports is orga

nized into three subsections: 

 State enforcement and compliance assistance 

programs. 

 Information on the State reports. 

 State-by-State summaries. 

1Data verifications were conducted for the following States from 1995 to 1997: Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,

Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont,

Virgin Islands, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998  23
Section 2 

STATE ENFORCEMENT AND COMPLIANCE 

ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS 

States engage in a variety of activities, including 

formal enforcement actions, informal actions, 

and compliance and technical assistance to help 

PWSs remain in, and return to, compliance. 

Additionally, all States have operator certifica

tion programs that require many PWS operators 

to be licensed by the appropriate authorities. 

State efforts may include: 

 Conducting on-site visits and sanitary 

surveys at PWSs (i.e., an on-site review of 

the water sources, facilities, equipment, 

operations, and maintenance of a PWS to 

evaluate the adequacy of these elements for 

producing and distributing safe drinking 

water). 

 Helping systems invest in preventive mea

sures. 

 Providing financial assistance for system 

improvements through the Drinking Water 

State Revolving Fund. 

 Reviewing water system plans and specifi

cations. 

 Conducting training sessions. 

 Holding public information meetings. 

 Loaning specialized monitoring equipment. 

 Publishing informational bulletins and 

newsletters on training events, etc. 

Unless there is an immediate health risk, formal 

enforcement actions may be initiated several 

months after the violation is detected and 

reported. The reason for this delay is that, when 

appropriate, States commonly undertake a 

variety of informal actions and compliance 

assistance measures to try to get PWSs back 

into compliance as quickly as possible. Informal 

actions may include the following activities: 

 Compliance reminder letters or notices of 

violations. 

 Field visits. 

 Telephone calls. 

Formal enforcement actions may include the 

following activities: 

 Bilateral compliance agreements. 

 Citations. 

 Administrative orders. 

 Criminal complaints with penalties. 

 Civil referrals to State Attorneys General or 

to the Department of Justice. 

 Emergency orders. 

 Criminal cases. 

 Fines or administrative penalties. 

 Other sanctions such as denying permis

sion for system expansion. 

Information on State enforcement activities for 

Fiscal Year (FY) 1996 can be found in EPAs FY 

1996 State by State Enforcement Data Summa

ries (August 1997) available on the internet 

(http://es.epa.gov/index.html). 

In conclusion, States undertake a variety of 

formal and informal activities to return violating 

systems to compliance and to ensure that the 

public has safe drinking water. While EPA did 

not analyze compliance assistance and enforce

ment data in this report, it may do so in future 

reports. EPA encourages States to include this 

information in future reports to provide a more 

complete picture of PWS compliance. 

INFORMATION ON STATE REPORTS 

EPA reviewed each State report to determine 

whether it met the requirements of the 1996 

Amendments to the SDWA. The contents of the 

State reports are summarized in Table 3. The 

table indicates whether a report was submitted 

to EPA, whether all required elements of the 

report were included, and whether the State 

included a list of PWSs with MCL violations or 

treatment technique violations. The chart also 

includes a column indicating if information was 

provided on the public availability and distribu

tion of State reports. Publication and distribu

tion of summaries of the report and indication of 

where the full report is available for public 

review is a statutory requirement of the 1996 

SDWA Amendments. This summary chart also 

indicates whether any additional information 

was included in the report that would be of 

interest to the public. 

24  September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 
1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998  25

Section 2

State

Submitted

Report

Reported On

Violations

Categories

Reported

on

V/E*

Report

Identified Each

System with

M CL and TT

Violations

Provided

Information

 to Public on

Availability

Report

Provided

Additional

Information

MCL M/R TT

Alabama W W W W W W W W

Alaska W W W W W W W

American Samoa

Arizona W W W W

Arkansas W W W W W W W W

California W W W W W W W W

Colorado W W W W W W W W

Connecticut W W W W W W W W

DC W W W W W W W W

Delaware W W W W W W W

Florida W W W W W W W

Georgia W W W W W W W W

Guam

Hawaii W W W W W W W W

Idaho W W W W W W

Illinois W W W W W W W W

Indiana W W W W W W W W

Iowa W W W W W W W W

Kansas W W W W W W W

Kentucky W W W W W W W W

Louisiana W W W W W

Maine W W W W W W W W

Maryland W W W W W W W W

Massachusetts W W W W W W W

Michigan W W W W W W W W

Minnesota W W W W W W W

Mississippi W W W W W W W

Missouri W W W W W W W W

Montana W W W W W W W

Nebraska W W W W W W W

Nevada W W W W W W W W

State

Submitted

Report

Reported On

Violations

Categories

Reported

on

V/E*

Report

Identified Each

System with

M CL and TT

Violations

Provided

Information

 to Public on

Availability

Report

Provided

Additional

Information

MCL M/R TT

Alabama W W W W W W W W

Alaska W W W W W W W

American Samoa

Arizona W W W W

Arkansas W W W W W W W W

California W W W W W W W W

Colorado W W W W W W W W

Connecticut W W W W W W W W

DC W W W W W W W W

Delaware W W W W W W W

Florida W W W W W W W

Georgia W W W W W W W W

Guam

Hawaii W W W W W W W W

Idaho W W W W W W

Illinois W W W W W W W W

Indiana W W W W W W W W

Iowa W W W W W W W W

Kansas W W W W W W W

Kentucky W W W W W W W W

Louisiana W W W W W

Maine W W W W W W W W

Maryland W W W W W W W W

Massachusetts W W W W W W W

Michigan W W W W W W W W

Minnesota W W W W W W W

Mississippi W W W W W W W

Missouri W W W W W W W W

Montana W W W W W W W

Nebraska W W W W W W W

Nevada W W W W W W W W

State

Submitted

Report

Reported On

Violations

Categories

Reported

on

V/E*

Report

Identified Each

System with

M CL and TT

Violations

Provided

Information

 to Public on

Availability

Report

Provided

Additional

Information

MCL M/R TT

Alabama W W W W W W W W

Alaska W W W W W W W

American Samoa

Arizona W W W W

Arkansas W W W W W W W W

California W W W W W W W W

Colorado W W W W W W W W

Connecticut W W W W W W W W

DC W W W W W W W W

Delaware W W W W W W W

Florida W W W W W W W

Georgia W W W W W W W W

Guam

Hawaii W W W W W W W W

Idaho W W W W W W

Illinois W W W W W W W W

Indiana W W W W W W W W

Iowa W W W W W W W W

Kansas W W W W W W W

Kentucky W W W W W W W W

Louisiana W W W W W

Maine W W W W W W W W

Maryland W W W W W W W W

Massachusetts W W W W W W W

Michigan W W W W W W W W

Minnesota W W W W W W W

Mississippi W W W W W W W

Missouri W W W W W W W W

Montana W W W W W W W

Nebraska W W W W W W W

Nevada W W W W W W W W

Table 3: Summary of Elements Reported by States
26  September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report

Section 

STATE BY STATE SUMMARIES

EPA has developed a State-by-State summary of

information reported in each State report which

is located in Appendix B. A standardized format

was used that includes an overall summary of

the violations data specified in Section 1414 of

the 1996 SDWA Amendments (i.e., violations

with respect to MCLs, treatment technique

violations, significant monitoring and reporting

violations, and variances and exemptions).

Information on how and where to obtain a copy

of each State report has been included on the

respective summary chart.

Table 3 (Continued): Summary of Elements Reported by States

State

Submitted

Report

Reported On

Violations

Categories

Reported

on

V/E*

Report Identified

Each System with

MCL/TT

Violations

Provided

Information

to Public on

Availability

Report

Provided

Additional

MCL M/R TT Information

New Hampshire W W W W W W

New Jersey W W W W W W W W

New Mexico W W W W W W W

New York W W W W W W W W

North Carolina W W W W W W W

North Dakota W W W W W W W W

Northern Mariana

Islands

Ohio W W W W W W W W

Oklahoma W W W W W W W W

Oregon W W W W W W W W

Pennsylvania W W W W W W W W

Puerto Rico W W W W W W W W

Rhode Island W W W W W W W

South Carolina W W W W W W W W

South Dakota W W W W W W W

Tennessee W W W W W W W W

Texas W W W W W W W

Utah W W

Vermont W W W W W W W W

Virgin Islands W W W W W W W W

Virginia W W W W W W W

Washington W W W W W W W W

West Virginia W W W W W

Wisconsin W W W W W W W

Wyoming W W W W W W W

State

Submitted

Report

Reported On

Violations

Categories

Reported

on

V/E*

Report Identified

Each System with

MCL/TT

Violations

Provided

Information

to Public on

Availability

Report

Provided

Additional

MCL M/R TT Information

New Hampshire W W W W W W

New Jersey W W W W W W W W

New Mexico W W W W W W W

New York W W W W W W W W

North Carolina W W W W W W W

North Dakota W W W W W W W W

Northern Mariana

Islands

Ohio W W W W W W W W

Oklahoma W W W W W W W W

Oregon W W W W W W W W

Pennsylvania W W W W W W W W

Puerto Rico W W W W W W W W

Rhode Island W W W W W W W

South Carolina W W W W W W W W

South Dakota W W W W W W W

Tennessee W W W W W W W W

Texas W W W W W W W

Utah W W

Vermont W W W W W W W W

Virgin Islands W W W W W W W W

Virginia W W W W W W W

Washington W W W W W W W W

West Virginia W W W W W

Wisconsin W W W W W W W

Wyoming W W W W W W W

MCL - Maximum Contaminant Level, M/R - Significant Monitoring and Reporting, TT - Treatment Technique,

V/E - Variance and Exemption.

*This designation indicates that the State addressed the use of variances and exemptions in the State Report.

It does not indicate that any violations were necessarily reported or that variances or exemptions were

issued.

2
Section 2 

EPA has not interpreted the data in Appendix B

and does not pass judgement on whether the

States have fully reported all violations. Readers

should interpret the violation data provided in

the State summaries in the context of each

specific State and its individual drinking water

program. Although PWSs are required to report

all violations to the State, States vary in the

areas emphasized by their program. Thus, a

large number of violations under a certain rule

(e.g., the Lead and Copper Rule), may only

indicate that a State devoted more attention and

resources to that rule than other rules and, as

such, the data reported are more complete.

A list of all PWSs having either MCL or treatment technique violations in 1996 has also been

developed for many States and provided by

States to EPA. Copies of these lists will be

available from EPAs Safe Drinking Water

Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

PART V - CONCLUSIONS AND 

RECOMMENDATIONS 

The nations drinking water is generally safe. In

1996, the vast majority of people in the nation

received water from systems that had no reported violations of MCL and treatment technique requirements or significant monitoring

and reporting requirements. Significant challenges, however, remain to improve compliance

with the SDWA Amendments of 1996.

Compliance data in many individual State

databases differs from that reported to the

Federal database. Still, when viewed in the

aggregate, the data presents an overall national

compliance picture of PWSs.

States and EPA should work together to address

the most significant findings identified in this

report:

States and EPA should work together to 

address violations of significant monitoring 

and reporting requirements. 

 For large community water systems,

actions should address all rules. Failure by

these systems to monitor can mask public

health problems that affect many people

and, as a result, formal enforcement should

be an integral part of any action taken.

 For small and medium community water

systems, actions should focus primarily on

the Lead and Copper Rule, Total Coliform

Rule and the Nitrate Rule. This strategy

should include compliance assistance and

enforcement, where appropriate. The

strategy should also focus on the Surface

Water Treatment Rule because violations

indicate an increased risk from microbiological contamination.

States and EPA should work together to 

address violations of MCL and treatment 

technique requirements. 

 For large community water systems,

actions should address all rules, with an

emphasis on the Total Coliform Rule,

Surface Water Treatment Rule and the

Lead and Copper Rule. Formal enforcement

is especially appropriate for large water

systems, particularly those failing to install

or upgrade filtration treatment as required

by the Surface Water Treatment Rule, and

for facilities with continuing or repeated

violations.

 For small and medium size community

water systems, actions should focus on the

Total Coliform Rule and Surface Water

Treatment Rule. All available tools should

be considered when responding to violations, in order to address the particular

capacity development needs of these systems. Technical assistance should be made

available to ensure that systems can return

to, and remain in, compliance. While

compliance assistance is often adequate to

ensure long-term compliance, when a

system does not respond to assistance,

formal enforcement should be used.

States and EPA should work together to 

address violations at non-community water 

systems. 

 States and EPA should identify the reasons

for significant monitoring and reporting

violations at non-community systems and

take appropriate action. In particular,

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998  27
Section 2 

attention should focus on the Total

Coliform, Lead and Copper, and Nitrate

Rules for non-transient non-community

water systems; and Total Coliform and

Nitrate Rules for transient non-community

water systems.

 Most non-transient and transient noncommunity water systems are small and

face problems that are unique to small

systems. EPA and States should take an

approach that addresses the special needs of

these systems, including compliance assistance and enforcement, where appropriate.

EPA and States should work cooperatively to 

improve the quality of compliance data. 

 Further define the issue: EPA should

work closely with States and utilities to

define the data quality issue in detail. EPA

will hold several stakeholder meetings

across the country, and convene a special

focus group to make recommendations.

This group will work with ongoing groups

and efforts such as the Association of State

Drinking Water Administrators/EPA Data

Management Steering Committee, the

Office of Enforcement and Compliance

Assurance (OECA) enforcement systems

reengineering efforts, and the National

Drinking Water Advisory Council Right-toKnow workgroup.

 Ensure seamless data transfer to the 

Federal data system: EPA will increase

efforts to make it easier to use drinking

water information systems, and processes

to transfer data to them electronically. For

the national-level SDWIS/FED, EPA will

simplify both data entry and retrieval, and

public access. For States and Tribes, EPA

will accelerate development of the core

modules of SDWIS/STATE, and increase

electronic data transfer for those States

that will continue to use their own data

systems.

• Improve SDWIS data quality: EPA and

States need to work together to improve the

quality of data in SDWIS and in individual

State systems. In this effort, EPA and

States can jointly develop quality management plans for SDWIS data. We can also

take steps to improve the quality of data

monitoring and reporting at all levels 

utility, laboratory, State, EPA Regions, and

EPA Headquarters. These steps will include

more frequent verification of data at all

steps of the process, vigorous follow-up of

findings from the verification efforts, and

increased training in and accountability for

system use and data quality activities.

 Include compliance data in the effort to 

integrate drinking water information: 

EPA is working to provide to managers and

the public a comprehensive picture of

drinking water quality, including both

compliance and source water quality

information. This effort will integrate

drinking water source information from

the developing National Contaminant

Occurrence Data Base (which will access

multiple data bases of EPA, the U.S.

Geological Survey, and others on ambient

water quality) as well as water quality in

public water systems. As more reliable

SDWIS data is generated in the future,

EPA will incorporate that data into this

comprehensive effort to portray drinking

water quality.

28  September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 
Section 3 - Tribal Compliance Report 

Part I - Introduction 

Purpose
 
 
 
 

The purpose of this section of the 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance
 
 
 
 

Report1

 is to provide information on the compliance status of public water systems (PWSs) on
 
 
 
 

Indian reservations. 
 
 
 
 

Workgroup and Stakeholder Process
 
 
 
 

In order to develop this section of the report, EPA established a workgroup consisting primarily
 
 
 
 

of EPA Regional Office staff who work most directly with PWSs on Indian reservations and
 
 
 
 

shared the report with Tribal representatives and water system operators. EPA also contacted 
 
 
 
 

the Indian Health Service and Bureau of Indian Affairs.
 
 
 
 

EPA held a series of teleconference calls with stakeholders and one face-to-face meeting to
 
 
 
 

collect comments from stakeholders. Stakeholders included representatives of Indian Tribes,
 
 
 
 

professional environmental organizations, and members of the Native American Water
 
 
 
 

Association. Tribal water systems operators, as well as officials of Tribal governments, were
 
 
 
 

represented. EPA solicited comments on drafts of this section of the report from approximately
 
 
 
 

400 Tribal representatives that included Tribal Leaders, Tribal Environmental Officers, and Tribal
 
 
 
 

water utility managers and operators.
 
 
 
 

Role of Other Federal Agencies
 
 
 
 

EPA works with other Federal agencies in helping implement the drinking water program at
 
 
 
 

PWSs on Tribal lands. The mission of the Indian Health Service (IHS) is to provide a
 
 
 
 

comprehensive health services delivery system for American Indians and Alaska Natives along
 
 
 
 

with the opportunity for maximum Tribal involvement in developing and managing programs to
 
 
 
 

meet health needs. The IHS maintains a sanitation facilities construction program and has
 
 
 
 

implemented Sanitation Deficiency System procedures to identify, and report annually to
 
 
 
 

Congress, the sanitation deficiencies of all American Indian and Alaska Native Homes and
 
 
 
 

communities. 
 
 
 
 

1

Under Section 1414(c)(3)(B) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), as amended in 1996, EPA 

is required to prepare an annual report which analyzes PWS violations, enforcement activities, and 

financial assistance to PWSs located on Indian reservations. The report must also summarize notices 

submitted by PWSs serving Indian Tribes pursuant to subparagraph (C) or (D) of paragraph (2) and make 

recommendations concerning resources needed to improve compliance. However, because regulations 

implementing the public notice provisions of subparagraph (C) or (D) of paragraph (2) were not yet 

effective during calendar year 1996, they are not included in this report. 

Section 3 - 1 
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is the primary Federal agency fulfilling the United States’ 

trust responsibilities to Tribes and Native Villages. The BIA works with Tribal managers in 

protecting and managing trust resources. As the Bureau of Indian Affairs expands its expertise in 

environmental management, it will work with Tribes, Native Villages, and other Federal agencies, 

such as EPA and the Indian Health Service, to ensure that PWSs in Indian country are in 

compliance. 

Part II - PWSs on Indian Reservations 

Tribes are eligible to receive primary enforcement responsibility (primacy) to administer their 

drinking water program. However, because no Tribe has received primacy to date, EPA 

implements the drinking water program on all Indian lands (Figure 7). 

Figure 7. Location of American Indian Tribal Lands 

Section 3 - 2 
During calendar year 1996, there were 732 community water systems, 75 non-transient noncommunity water systems, and 113 transient non-community water located on Indian lands. 

These 920 PWSs served a population of approximately 500,000. Most of these systems are small 

and serve fewer than 500 people. According to EPA’s data, there were no PWSs on Indian lands 

in 1996 that served more than 100,000 people, and only two served populations of more than 

10,000. 

Part III - Compliance Data and Analysis 

EPA used a variety of approaches to assess compliance of PWSs located on Indian reservations. 
�
 
 
 

The national drinking water database (SDWIS/FED) was the primary source of information for
�
 
 
 

this report. The EPA Regional Offices are responsible for keeping information in SDWIS/FED
�
 
 
 

current. 
�
 
 
 

In developing this report, EPA found that inventory and violations data for 1996 were not fully
�
 
 
 

reported in SDWIS/FED. The quality and amount of these data vary from Regional Office to
�
 
 
 

Regional Office within EPA. Traditionally data quality has been a priority secondary to program
�
 
 
 

impementation for many Regions. Due to competing resources, personnel concentrate on
�
 
 
 

correcting sanitary deficiencies rather than collecting data and arranging for data to be reported
�
 
 
 

on a long-term basis. EPA Headquarters is working to improve its Tribal compliance data, for
�
 
 
 

example, by offering SDWIS/FED training to Regional program office personnel on a more
�
 
 
 

frequent basis, by developing a Quality Assurance manual to help ensure better data entry and by
�
 
 
 

promoting streamlined documentation. 
�
 
 
 

This section on Tribal compliance does not include compliance figures for Alaska Native Villages
�
 
 
 

because the State of Alaska included them within the State report. EPA likewise included them
�
 
 
 

within Section 2 of this report. However, the discussion on financial assistance and conclusions
�
 
 
 

and recommendations within this section are applicable to Alaska Native water systems. 
�
 
 
 

Compliance Analysis
�
 
 
 

For 1996, 410 of the 920 PWSs on Indian reservations recorded violations. More than 97%
�
 
 
 

percent of these violations were significant monitoring and reporting violations. Monitoring
�
 
 
 

requirements for the Total Coliform, chemical monitoring and the Lead and Copper Rules were
�
 
 
 

most frequently violated (Figure 8). There were few violations of the MCL and treatment
�
 
 
 

technique requirements, with roughly 90% of all systems reporting no violations. It is important
�
 
 
 

to note, however, that the high number of monitoring and reporting violations could mean other
�
 
 
 

MCL and treatment technique violations were undetected. 
�
 
 
 

Section 3 - 3 
Figure 8. Number of PWSs on Tribal Lands with violations by rule. 

6 

274 

73 

319 

10 10 12 

163 

0 

50 

100 

150 

200 

250 

300 

350 

Chemical MCL

Chemical M/R 

TCR MCL 

TCR M/R 

SWTR TT

SWTR M/R 

LCR TT 

LCR M/R 

# of systems 

Enforcement and Compliance Activities 

EPA can take formal and informal enforcement actions against PWSs. There are several types of 

formal enforcement actions which can be taken against PWSs, including: administrative and 

emergency orders, bilateral compliance agreements, civil referrals to the Department of Justice 

and criminal cases. In 1996, there were no formal enforcement actions taken against PWSs on 

Indian reservations. EPA does not generally pursue formal enforcement actions against PWSs on 

Indian reservations which have not performed all their required monitoring and reporting. This is 

consistent with the National EPA Indian Policy which stresses working cooperatively with Tribes. 

Although there may be situations where formal enforcement is appropriate (e.g., against nontribally owned PWSs), in most cases, compliance assistance is generally used, rather than formal 

enforcement. 

Informal enforcement or compliance assistance includes: 

• Making telephone calls to discuss potential or actual violations. 

• Sending compliance reminder letters or pre-warning violation letters. 

• Meetings with Tribal Leaders, utility managers, or PWS operators. 

• Conducting on-site visits. 

•	� Issuing notices of violation (while this action is normally a formal enforcement action, 

EPA has created a subset of notices of violation that function as informal enforcement 

responses for Indian Tribes). 

Section 3 - 4 
Table 4 depicts the numbers of informal enforcement actions in relation to the total number of 

PWSs on Indian reservations. The largest numbers of informal enforcement actions are Federal 

Violation or Reminder Notices. For calendar year 1996, EPA issued 1,558 Federal Violation or 

Reminder Notices. 

Table 4. Number of Violations and Numbers of Informal Enforcement Actions 

1996 PWSs and Violations Number 

Total Number of PWSs 920 

Total Number of Violations Issued 8,677 

Total Number of PWSs with Violations 410 

Enforcement Actions in Response to Violations Number Issued 

Federal Notice of Violation issued by EPA Regional 

Offices. This is usually a formal action, however, 

some Regions use it as an informal action with Tribes. 

3 

Federal Violation or Reminder Notice issued by the 

EPA Regional Offices. 1,558 

Federal Public Notification requested by EPA 

Regional Offices to be sent to consumers of a PWS 

regarding violations and health risk. 

209 

Federal public notification to consumers of a PWS 

regarding violations and health risk issued by EPA 

Regional Offices. 

67 

Source: Safe Drinking Water Information System 

Compliance Assistance
�
 
 
 

EPA has developed a number of approaches for working toward assuring compliance of PWSs on
�
 
 
 

Indian reservations. This subsection discusses compliance assistance using examples since
�
 
 
 

compliance assistance actions are not generally represented in the SDWIS/FED database. 
�
 
 
 

Technical assistance is an important part of compliance assistance. Technical assistance can
�
 
 
 

include circuit rider programs that make expert operators available to several water systems and
�
 
 
 

provide information through site visits, mailings and hotlines. 
�
 
 
 

Region 5, for example, oversees Federally recognized Tribes in Michigan, Minnesota, and 

Section 3 - 5 
Wisconsin, and provides technical assistance to Indian Tribes through a circuit rider program. 
�
 
 
 

Recently, the Region has conducted six workshops and created four newsletters specific to Tribal
�
 
 
 

interests. Region 5 staff also issued notices of non-compliance (similar to a notice of violation)
�
 
 
 

and provided telephone follow-up.
�
 
 
 

Region 8 implements the program on Indian reservations in six states: Utah, Colorado, Wyoming,
�
 
 
 

Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Various methods of technical and compliance
�
 
 
 

assistance are offered to Tribes, including circuit riders, and training arranged through EPA, the
�
 
 
 

Indian Health Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Rural Water Association, and the Rural
�
 
 
 

Community Assistance Program. In addition, Region 8 staff routinely provide Tribal PWS
�
 
 
 

operators with information on updated monitoring and reporting requirements, such as a yearly
�
 
 
 

monitoring requirement letter customized for PWSs located within each reservation in the Region. 
�
 
 
 

Technical assistance is an integral part of the enforcement/compliance assistance process, which
�
 
 
 

follows the Regional and National Indian Policy.
�
 
 
 

Region 9's program works toward compliance with drinking water regulations through its field
�
 
 
 

presence, technical assistance to Tribes, and cooperative working relationships within EPA, and
�
 
 
 

with other agencies such as the Indian Health Service. The Region, which has the national lead
�
 
 
 

for the program on all Navajo lands, made about 100 on-site inspections of facilities during 1996.
�
 
 
 

Infrastructure Needs
�
 
 
 

The EPA Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey, First Report to Congress (published in
�
 
 
 

January 1997), addresses the needs for capital improvements of PWSs in the nation and for Indian
�
 
 
 

Tribes. The Needs Survey discusses the needs associated with treatment, transmission,
�
 
 
 

distribution, storage, compliance with the SDWA, and the needs of small PWSs.
�
 
 
 

The EPA Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey reports the following for tribal needs: 

•	� $560 million is needed for infrastructure improvements at water systems on Indian 

reservations. 

•	�	 Average 20-year need on a per-household basis for water systems on Indian reservations is 

much greater than that for non-Tribal households served by small systems. The estimated 

20-year per household need, in 1995 dollars, is $6,200, which compares with $3,300 per 

household for other small systems around the country. 

• EPA determined that these needs are higher for a number of reasons: 

•	� Since they are often remote, improvements at systems on Indian reservations can be 

expensive. 

•	� Systems on Indian reservations are often located in arid regions, making water sources 

hard to find. Where sources do exist, they are often of poor quality and are expensive 

to treat. 

• As with all small communities, American Indian communities lack economies of scale. 

• This high cost of infrastructure is a heavy burden because many American Indian people 

Section 3 - 6 
live through traditional subsistence farming, hunting, and fishing and do not generate 

significant cash income. 

Additional Small System Needs
�
 
 
 

Many small PWSs need to enhance their technical, financial, and managerial capabilities in order
�
 
 
 

to ensure consistent compliance with SDWA requirements. Often, noncompliance can be traced
�
 
 
 

back to weaknesses in one or more of these three elements of capacity. Capacity development is
�
 
 
 

especially important and problematic for PWSs on Indian reservations.
�
 
 
 

Protection of public health and compliance with drinking water requirements is also directly 

related to operation and maintenance. PWSs on Indian reservations, like many small PWSs, face 

the challenge of addressing the considerable costs associated with properly operating and 

maintaining a PWS. Many PWSs on Indian reservations lack a viable utility organization which 

can accurately project and establish an appropriate rate structure to cover operation and 

maintenance costs. Once these costs are translated into user fees, the PWS must face the task of 

billing and collecting fees from customers which is a challenge when the cost per household may 

be beyond the means of some households being served. Additionally, the costs of compliance 

monitoring are not always factored into the operating budget. Failure to set aside adequate funds 

for performing the required contaminant monitoring is likely to result in monitoring violations. 

Financial Assistance 

EPA provides financial assistance to PWSs on Indian reservations in several ways. One approach 

is to build Tribal capacity. Capacity building entails providing Tribes with grants, training, and 

program technical assistance as they develop their own environmental programs. A significant 

source for building capability is through grants provided under the General Assistance Program. 

Under a second approach, EPA’s Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water provides funding 

for specific program priorities. Historically, 3% of the appropriation for State implementation of 

the Public Water System Supervision program is used for implementation of the program on 

Tribal Lands. The funds are used by EPA to operate its Tribal Public Water System Supervision 

program. About $2.3 million was used for implementing the Public Water System Supervision 

program on Tribal lands in Fiscal Year 1996. Additionally, a number of grants have been awarded 

to Indian Tribes and Tribal Organizations to address various aspects of the drinking water 

program. 

In Fiscal Year 1998, EPA received $3.8 million, in addition to the 3% set-aside, to be used for 

activities such as: 

•	�	 Public Water System Supervision Program Primacy Workshops - EPA is planning to 

provide general outreach material to all Tribes eligible to pursue primary enforcement 

responsibility. 

• Capacity Development - EPA is providing funds for Tribal capacity development projects. 

•	� Source Water Protection - EPA is providing funds for Tribal source water protection 

projects. 

Section 3 - 7 
•	�	 Operator Certification - EPA is developing a voluntary Operator Certification Program for 

Tribes and will use funds to provide operator training and certification to Tribal operators. 

Examples of additional support provided by Regional Offices include circuit rider programs to 

help Tribes develop self-supportive PWSs on Indian reservations, conducting laboratory analyses 

of samples required for monitoring, and awarding grants to address operator training and 

wellhead protection. 

In the 1996 Amendments to the SDWA, an infrastructure funding program was established to 

improve water supplies. Each year, 1.5 percent of the year’s appropriation for the national 

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program will be set aside as grants to improve 

infrastructure for water systems on Indian reservations and in Alaska Native Villages. The initial 

set-aside from the 1997 appropriation amounted to $19.25 million, and an additional $10.87 

million was set-aside from the 1998 appropriation. The Amendments also authorized grants to 

the State of Alaska for the benefit of rural and Native villages. Although the authorized $15 

million annual grant, for fiscal years 1997 through 2000, targets construction needs, a portion of 

the funds can be used to support technical assistance. 

Additional technical assistance for small PWSs is also provided under Section 1442(e) of the 

SDWA, which states that a portion of the funding appropriated under the section shall be used to 

provide technical assistance to small PWSs owned or operated by Indian Tribes. For example, 

EPA currently has two cooperative agreements funded under Section 1442(e) of the SDWA with 

the National Rural Water Association and the Rural Community Assistance Program to provide 

support to PWSs. 

Part IV - Conclusions and Recommendations 

Approximately 90% of the PWSs located on Indian lands reported no violations of MCL and 

treatment technique requirements. More than 97% of the violations reported by systems on 

Indian lands were for failure to meet monitoring and reporting requirements. It is important to 

note that while MCL and other treatment technique violations were low, the high number of 

monitoring and reporting violations could indicate that MCL and treatment technique violations 

are not being detected. In developing this report, EPA found that 1996 violations data for PWSs 

on Indian reservations were not fully reported by the Regions to SDWIS/FED. 

• EPA should take action to improve compliance of PWSs on Indian reservations. 

•	�	 EPA should work cooperatively with water systems on Indian reservations to improve 

compliance with monitoring and reporting requirements, particularly for Total 

Coliform Rule and chemical contaminant requirements. This can be accomplished 

Section 3 - 8 
through compliance assistance such as increasing EPA’s field presence, conducting 

more frequent sanitary surveys, and providing technical assistance and enforcement, as 

appropriate. 

•	�	 EPA should improve its collection and maintenance of compliance data for PWSs on 

Indian reservations. 

Section 3 - 9 
Appendix A 

Acute Contaminants 

Short-term exposure to acute contaminants, 

such as bacteria, protozoa, viruses, and nitrate, 

may result in immediate illness and, in some 

cases, death. 

Administrative Order 

Administrative orders are written documents, 

considered to be formal enforcement actions, 

which are issued by EPA or the States to address the noncompliance of a public water 

system, usually by means of a schedule with 

enforceable milestone dates. 

Bilateral Compliance Agreements 

Bilateral compliance agreements are written 

documents, considered to be formal enforcement actions signed by the water system and 

EPA or the State. They contain a compliance 

schedule with enforceable milestone dates. 

Chronic Contaminants 

Exposure to chronic contaminants, such as 

organic chemicals (volatile and synthetic), 

inorganic chemicals (e.g., metals, lead and 

copper) and radionuclides, may result in severe 

health effects that can recur frequently or 

develop slowly as a result of long-term exposure. 

Coliform Bacteria 

Microorganisms found in nature, in any decaying substance and also in the intestinal tract of 

humans and animals. Their presence in water 

can indicate a lapse in treatment and potential 

contamination by pathogens. 

Community Water System 

A community water system (CWS) is a public 

water system that serves at least 15 service 

connections used by year-round residents or 

regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents 

(e.g., homes, apartments and condominiums 

that are occupied year-round as primary residences). 

Cryptosporidium 

Cryptosporidium is a protozoa that causes the 

gastrointestinal disease cryptosporidiosis. The 

most serious, and sometimes deadly, consequences of cryptosporidiosis tend to be focused 

among members of the population with compromised immune systems. 

Disinfection 

Disinfection is a type of drinking water treatment, where microbiological contamination is 

inactivated by using chlorine, chloramines, and 

chlorine dioxide or ozone. 

Inorganic Chemicals 

These are non-carbon based, mostly naturallyoccurring compounds, such as metals, nitrates, 

and asbestos. EPA has established MCLs for 15 

inorganic contaminants. 

Lead and Copper Rule 

Compliance with the Lead and Copper Rule 

indicates that a public water system has taken 

steps to minimize the risk of exposure to lead 

and copper from drinking water by monitoring 

for these contaminants and installing corrosion 

control where required. 

Maximum Contaminant Level 

A maximum contaminant level (MCL) is the 

maximum permissible level of a contaminant in 

water delivered to any user of a public water 

system. 

Monitoring and Reporting 

EPA established monitoring and reporting 

schedules, or contaminant-specific minimum 

testing schedules and operational reporting 

requirements, for public water systems. 

Nitrate and Nitrite 

Nitrate and nitrite are inorganic compounds 

that can enter water supplies from fertilizer 

runoff and sanitary wastewater discharges. 

Nitrates in drinking water are associated with 

methemoglobinemia, or blue baby syndrome, 

where nitrate reduces the blood’s ability to 

carry oxygen. 

Non-transient Non-community Water System 

A non-transient non-community water system 

(NTNCWS) is a public water system that serves 

at least 25 of the same persons for over six 

months per year. A typical example of a nontransient non-community water system is a 

school or an office building that has its own 

water source, such as a drinking water well. 

Notice of Violation 

A notice of violation (NOV) is a written document, usually considered to be a formal enforcement action, issued by EPA or the States regarding a public water system’s violations of 

applicable drinking water standards or schedule 

requirements. The notice of violation specifically describes the violations and seeks a return 

to compliance. 

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998 • A-1 
Appendix A 

Pathogens 

These are microorganisms (e.g., bacteria, 

viruses, or parasites) that can cause disease in 

humans and animals. 

Public Water System 

A public water system (PWS) is a system that 

provides piped water for human consumption 

and serves at least 25 persons or has at least 15 

service connections. A public water system can 

be either a community water system, a nontransient non-community water system, or a 

transient non-community water system. 

Radionuclides 

Radioactive particles, such as radium-226, 

radium-228, gross alpha, and beta particle/ 

photon radioactivity, can occur naturally in 

water or may result from human activity. EPA 

has established MCLs for beta/photon emitters, 

alpha emitters, and combined radium 226/228. 

Regional Offices 

Regional Offices are responsible for Environmental Protection Agency Regional programs 

within their respective jurisdictions. Regional 

Offices cooperate with Federal, State, interstate, 

and local agencies, as well as with industry, 

academic institutions, and other private groups 

to ensure that Regional needs are addressed 

and that Federal environmental laws are upheld. 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 

Compliance with the Surface Water Treatment 

Rule (SWTR) indicates that a public water 

system has taken steps to reduce exposure to 

microbiological contamination through filtration and disinfection or disinfection and watershed control. 

Total Coliform Rule 

The Total Coliform Rule establishes limits on 

coliform bacteria in water distribution systems. 

Although coliform bacteria usually are not 

pathogenic, they may indicate the presence of 

pathogens. 

Transient Non-Community Water System 

A transient non-community water system 

means a non-community water system that does 

not regularly serve at least 25 of the same 

persons over six months per year. 

Treatment Technique 

These are treatment methods required by EPA 

to minimize the level of a contaminant in 

drinking water. In cases where EPA has determined it is not technically or economically 

feasible to establish an MCL, EPA can instead 

specify a treatment technique. 

A-2 • September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 
CONTENTS 

Alabama ....................................................... B-3 

Alaska .......................................................... B-4 

American Samoa .......................................... B-5 

Arizona......................................................... B-6 

Arkansas ...................................................... B-7 

California ..................................................... B-8 

Colorado....................................................... B-9 

Connecticut................................................ B-10 

Delaware .................................................... B-11 

District of Columbia ................................... B-12 

Florida ....................................................... B-13 

Georgia ...................................................... B-14 

Guam ......................................................... B-15 

Hawaii ........................................................ B-16 

Idaho.......................................................... B-17 

Illinois ........................................................ B-18 

Indiana ...................................................... B-19 

Iowa ........................................................... B-20 

Kansas ....................................................... B-21 

Kentucky .................................................... B-22 

Louisiana ................................................... B-23 

Maine ......................................................... B-24 

Maryland .................................................... B-25 

Massachusetts ........................................... B-26 

Michigan .................................................... B-27 

Minnesota .................................................. B-28 

Mississippi ................................................. B-29 

Missouri ..................................................... B-30 

Montana..................................................... B-31 

Nebraska .................................................... B-32 

Nevada ....................................................... B-33 

New Hampshire .......................................... B-34 

New Jersey ................................................. B-35 

New Mexico ................................................ B-36 

New York .................................................... B-37 

North Carolina ........................................... B-38 

North Dakota ............................................. B-39 

Northern Mariana Islands .......................... B-40 

Ohio ........................................................... B-41 

Oklahoma .................................................. B-42 

Oregon ....................................................... B-43 

Pennsylvania .............................................. B-44 

Puerto Rico................................................. B-45 

Rhode Island .............................................. B-46 

South Carolina ........................................... B-47 

South Dakota ............................................. B-48 

Tennessee .................................................. B-49 

Texas ......................................................... B-50 

Utah........................................................... B-51 

Vermont ..................................................... B-52 

Virgin Islands ............................................. B-53 

Virginia ...................................................... B-54 

Washington ................................................ B-55 

West Virginia.............................................. B-56 

Wisconsin................................................... B-57 

Wyoming .................................................... B-58 

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998 • B-1 
Appendix B 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

(EPA) developed a summary of information for 

each State report. For example, see the summary for the Alabama report on page B-3. A 

standardized format was used that includes an 

overall summary of the violations data specified 

in Section 1414 of the 1996 Safe Drinking 

Water Act (SDWA) Amendments (i.e., violations 

with respect to maximum contaminant levels 

(MCLs), treatment technique violations, significant monitoring and reporting requirements* , 

and variance and exemptions). 

The purpose of the State summaries is simply 

to summarize the data provided in the State 

reports. EPA has not interpreted the data in 

this section and does not pass judgement on 

whether the States have fully reported all violations. EPA’s evaluation of the State reports and 

compliance and data issues is discussed as part 

of the findings and recommendations in 

Section 2. 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL, treatment technique, and significant 

monitoring violations data were summarized 

into four categories: 

• Violations of specific contaminant requirements.** 

• Violations for the Total Coliform Rule. 

• Violations of the Surface Water Treatment 

Rule. 

• Violations for the Lead and Copper Rule. 

Where data for violations or systems in violation 

totals are not available from the State reports, 

data from the Federal version of the Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS/FED) 

have been included. 

The numbers of violations and the numbers of 

individual PWSs in violation for the State were 

summarized for these four categories for MCL, 

treatment technique, and significant monitoring 

requirements violations. 

1996 TOTALS 

The total number of systems, the total number 

of violations reported, and the total number of 

PWSs in violation in 1996 are also given. 

VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

Data on variance and exemption violations were 

generally not reported as very few of the States 

had variances or exemptions in force in 1996. 

Information on variance and exemption violations is summarized separately. 

DISCUSSION 

Any additional information that is provided in 

the State report is summarized. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Available information is provided on obtaining a 

copy of the State or Territorial report. 

*For this report, “significant” monitoring and reporting violations occur when a public water system (PWS) 

collects none of the samples or submits none of the reports required by a particular regulatory provision, or 

collects less than 10% of the samples or submits less than 10% of the reports required by the Surface Water 

Treatment Rule. A comprehensive definition of significant monitoring and reporting violations, including 

exceptions to the definition for the Total Coliform Rule and Lead and Copper Rule is included in the report 

glossary in Appendix A. 

**MCL and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and 

nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

B-2 • September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 
Appendix B 

State of Alabama 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 10 5 384 64* 

Total Coliform Rule 37 35 70 49 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 14 2 0 0 

Lead and Copper Rule 0 0 20 20 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

*Sum of organics (22), inorganics (37), and radionuclides (5) subtotals. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

762 

175* 

535 

*Sum of State systems in violation potentially contains double counting. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

Alabama does not grant variances or exemptions 

to PWSs. 

DISCUSSION 

General PWS inventory information is provided 

in Alabama’s report. Alabama’s Water Supply 

Branch conducts annual inspections of all PWSs 

in the State. Water supply, storage, and distribution deficiencies or inadequacies are identified and discussed. During the 1996 calendar 

year, Alabama reported that 79% of its PWSs 

were in compliance with drinking water regulations. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Alabama. EPA has not 

interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the State of Alabama 

has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Alabama’s State Report, including information 

about Alabama Public Water System Violations, 

is available by accessing the State’s Web site at 

http://www.adem.state.al.us/viorep96.html or 

contacting the State at Water Supply Branch -

ADEM, P.O. Box 301463, Montgomery, AL 

36130, phone (334) 271-7791. 

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998 • B-3 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Alaska 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 4 2 2,730 330 

Total Coliform Rule 45 42 1,611 732 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 321 90 800 163 

Lead and Copper Rule 0 0 362 136 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

1,635 

1,495 

5,873 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

No information was provided on variances or 

exemptions for Alaska PWSs. SDWIS/FED did 

not report any variance or exemption violations. 

DISCUSSION 

General PWS inventory information is provided 

in Alaska’s report. Alaska’s 1996 Annual State 

Public Water Systems Report has been included 

as part of the 1997 State of Alaska Environment 

Report. This report summarizes the quality of 

Alaska’s drinking water as well as the significant public health protection and enforcement 

actions completed by the State from 1993-1997. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Alaska. EPA has not 

interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the State of Alaska has 

fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Alaska’s State Report is available by accessing 

the State’s Web site at http://www.state.ak.us/ 

dec/deh/drwater/dwvio96.htm or by contacting 

James Weise, Drinking Water/Waste Water 

Program Manager, Department of Environmental Conservation, 555 Cordova Street, Anchorage, AK 99501, phone (907) 269-7647. 

B-4 • September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 

1 
Appendix B 

American Samoa 1996 Annual Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 0 0 0 0 

Total Coliform Rule 79 10 47 15 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 14 14 0 0 

Lead and Copper Rule 0 0 0 0 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where data from American Samoa were not available. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

21 

19 

140 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

SDWIS/FED did not report any variance or 

exemption violations. 

DISCUSSION 

The American Samoa Report was not received, 

therefore SDWIS/FED data were used. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

A specific source for obtaining a copy of this 

report has not been provided. General information on its availability may be obtained from: 

American Samoa Environmental Protection 

Agency, Office of the Governor, Pago Pago, AS 

96799, phone (684) 633-2304. 

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998 • B-5 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Arizona 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 212 112 15,026 275 

Total Coliform Rule 211 181 2,232 972 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 31 10 470 62 

Lead and Copper Rule Not Available* Not Available* Not Available* Not Available* 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

* “Not Available” is given in the State report summary table. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

1,688 

1,612* 

18,182 

*Sum of State systems in violation potentially contains double counting. 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where the State data were not available. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

No information was provided on variances or 

exemptions for Arizona PWSs. SDWIS/FED did 

not report any variance or exemption violations. 

DISCUSSION 

A summary table of State data for drinking 

water violations during 1996 was provided and 

is summarized above. The Total Coliform Rule 

MCL systems subtotal is greater than the numbers listed for each type of violation under the 

Total Coliform Rule. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Arizona. EPA has not 

interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the State of Arizona 

has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

A specific source for obtaining a copy of this 

report has not been provided. General information on its availability may be obtained from: 

Drinking Water Section, Arizona Department of 

Environmental Quality, 3033 N. Central, Room 

200, Phoenix, AZ 85012-2809, phone (602) 270-

4644. 

B-6 • September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Arkansas 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 13 6* 0 0 

Total Coliform Rule 81 70 439 285 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 70 21 60 41 

Lead and Copper Rule 0 0 2 2

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

*Sum of organics (2), inorganics (2), and radionuclides (2) subtotals. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

1,151 

423* 

665 

*Sum of State systems in violation potentially contains double counting. 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where the State data were not available. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

No variances or exemptions were issued to any 

PWSs in Arkansas during the calendar year 

1996. 

DISCUSSION 

General PWS inventory information is provided 

in Arkansas’ report. Microbiological MCL violations were mostly among small community and 

non-community water systems. The systems 

having these violations served only 1.78% of the 

total population served by PWSs in Arkansas; 

99.75% of the PWSs did not have an organic 

MCL violation; 99.92% of the PWSs did not have 

a nitrate MCL violation; and 99.75% of the 

PWSs did not exceed the radium-226/228 MCL. 

There were no monitoring violations for chemicals covered under Phases I, II, IIB, and V since 

the Arkansas Department of Health performs 

monitoring of these chemicals on behalf of the 

PWSs. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Arkansas. EPA has not 

interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the State of Arkansas 

has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Arkansas’ State Report is available by accessing 

the State’s Web site at http:// 

www.health.state.ar.us/eng/doe.htm or by 

contacting Usman Patel at Arkansas Department of Health, Division of Engineering, 4815 

West Markham, Little Rock, AR 72205-2032, 

phone (501) 661-2623, fax (501) 661-2032, or 

upatel@mail.doh.state.ar.us (electronic mail). 

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998 • B-7 

1 
Appendix B 

State of California 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 25 17* 0 0 

Total Coliform Rule 340 288 470 327 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 78 74 0 0 

Lead and Copper Rule 0 0 0 0

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

*Data from the list of PWSs with violations. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

*Sum of State Systems in violation potentially contains 

double counting. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

The California Department of Health Services 

did not report the issuance of any variances or 

exemptions into the SDWIS/FED database for 

calendar year 1996. However, it is the intent of 

the California Department of Health Services to 

incorporate information regarding variances and 

exemptions into subsequent annual reports. 

DISCUSSION 

A discussion of the significance of identified 

violations was presented for the California 

population; 99.9% received drinking water that 

satisfied all of the primary drinking water 

standards for organic contaminants; approximately 99.7% received drinking water that 

satisfied all of the primary drinking water 

standards for inorganic contaminants; and 

approximately 97% of California’s population 

received drinking water that satisfied the priTotal Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

8,595 

706* 

913 mary drinking water standards for bacteriological quality continuously throughout the year. 

Only 1.5% of the State population was served by 

PWSs that reported treatment technique violations of the Surface Water Treatment Rule. In 

response to the identified violations of the Safe 

Drinking Water Act during 1996, the Department issued 1,331 enforcement letters, 424 

citations, and 41 compliance orders to the 

affected PWSs. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of California. EPA has not 

interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the State of California 

has fully reported all violations 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

California’s State Report is available by accessing the State’s Web site at http:// 

www.dhs.ca.gov/org/ps/ddwem/ 

ddwemindex.htm or by contacting the State at 

California Department of Health Services, 

Division of Drinking Water and Environmental 

Management, phone (916) 323-6111. 

B-8 • September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Colorado 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 26 22 91 79 

Total Coliform Rule 85 51 470 336 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 65 35 42 17 

Lead and Copper Rule 6 6 35 29 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

2,182 

575* 

820 

*Sum of State systems in violation potentially contains double counting. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

No variances were granted to Colorado PWSs 

during the 1996 calendar year. In Colorado 

there are presently two exemptions for nitrate. 

Both systems are on orders to provide public 

notice and bottled water to the affected population. One of the systems is in the process of 

installing the necessary treatment, and the 

other is evaluating the treatment options. There 

were no variance or exemption violations reported. 

DISCUSSION 

All failure to monitor violations for chemical 

contaminants have been corrected, except for 

two which are in the Administrative Order phase 

of enforcement. Total Coliform Rule violations 

resulted in system notification, increased monitoring, and enforcement action so that samples 

were submitted to verify that the water continues to be safe. Surface Water Treatment Rule 

monitoring violations are followed up with 

enforcement actions on a routine basis. All but 

three of the 29 PWSs with Lead and Copper 

monitoring violations have come into compliance with monitoring requirements. Two of 

these are in the process of monitoring, and the 

other is under enforcement action. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Colorado. EPA has not 

interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the State of Colorado 

has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Colorado’s State Report is available by accessing 

the State’s Web site at http://www.state.co.us 

or by contacting the State at Compliance Monitoring-Data Management, WQCO-CMDM-B2, 

4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver, CO 

80246-1530. 

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998 • B-9 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Connecticut 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 17 14 258 24 

Total Coliform Rule 146 80 77 57 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 10 10 1 1 

Lead and Copper Rule 4 4 174 163 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

4,460 

290 

687 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

Connecticut did not grant any variances or 

exemptions to PWSs during 1996. 

DISCUSSION 

Through technical assistance and enforcement 

actions, the Connecticut Water Supplies Section 

has been able to significantly reduce the number of community water systems having monitoring and reporting violations in recent years. 

The Connecticut Water Supplies Section is in 

the process of implementing a strategic plan 

that includes formalization of a technical assistance program to promote compliance. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Connecticut. EPA has 

not interpreted the information provided and is 

not commenting on whether the State of Connecticut has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Connecticut’s State Report is available by 

contacting the State at Department of Public 

Health, Water Supplies Section, 450 Capitol 

Avenue, MS#51WAT, P.O. Box 340308, Hartford, 

CT 06134-0308. 

B-10 • September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Delaware Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 35 16* N/A N/A 

Total Coliform Rule 63 54** N/A N/A 

Surface Water Treatment Rule N/A N/A N/A N/A** 

Lead and Copper Rule N/A N/A 84 84** 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

* Data from the list of PWSs with violations. 

**Systems in violation for all data categories from the “Compliance Highlights” table are inconsistent with the Summary chart: Total 

Coliforom Rule 53, Surface Water Treatment Rule 0, and Lead and Copper Rule 28. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

564 

97* 

182 

*Sum of State systems in violation potentially contains double counting. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

No information was provided on variances or 

exemptions granted to Delaware PWSs. SDWIS/ 

FED did not report any variance or exemption 

violations. 

DISCUSSION 

General PWS inventory information is included in 

Delaware’s report. This report also presented data 

on the compliance actions taken by the State of 

Delaware in 1996, which included 95 notices of 

violation, 95 public notices, 3 administrative 

orders, and 6 boil water orders. Information on 

the population served by systems in compliance is 

also given in Delaware’s report. Delaware’s public 

drinking water program conducted 142 inspections, reviewed 190 plans and specifications, 

provided operator training to 25 people, and 

provided lead and copper training to 10 people. 

The Delaware Office of Drinking Water conducts 

all the monitoring for 98% of the PWSs (10 systems 

conduct their own monitoring). 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Delaware. EPA has not 

interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the State of Delaware 

has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Delaware’s State Report is available by accessing the State’s Web site at http:// 

www.state.de.us/govern/agencies/dhss/irm/ 

dhss.htm or by contacting Ed Hallock or Chad 

Hall at the Division of Public Health, P.O. Box 

639, Dover, DE 19903. 

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998 • B-11 

1 
Appendix B 

District of Columbia 1996 Annual Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 0 0 

Total Coliform Rule 3 1 0 0 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 0 

Lead and Copper Rule 0 

0 0 

0 0 0

0 0 0

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

2 

1 

3 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where District data were not available. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

EPA has never issued any variances or exemptions to the PWSs in the District of Columbia. 

DISCUSSION 

General PWS inventory information is provided 

in the District of Columbia’s report. Information 

was provided from EPA Regional Office since the 

District of Columbia does not have primary 

enforcement authority. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

The District of Columbia Report is available by 

contacting George Rizzo, EPA, Region III, 

phone (215) 814-5781. 

B-12 • September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Florida 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 8 8* 220 220** 

Total Coliform Rule 240 223 1,184 888 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 0 

Lead and Copper Rule 1 1 52 52 

0 0 0

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

*Sum of organics (1), inorganics (4), and radionuclides (3) subtotals. 

**Sum of organics (0), inorganics (220), and radionuclides (0) subtotals. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

6,958 

1,392* 

1,705 

*Sum of State systems in violation potentially contains double counting. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

No variances or exemptions were granted to any 

Florida PWSs for the 1996 calendar year. 

DISCUSSION 

Many of the violations occurred because systems failed to sample on time. The low number 

of Surface Water Treatment Rule violations is 

due to the fact that Florida State law required 

filtration before Federal law and Florida only 

has 19 surface water systems. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Florida. EPA has not 

interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the State of Florida has 

fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Florida’s State Report Summary, State rules, 

forms, and drinking water inventory are available by accessing the State’s Web site (http:// 

www.dep.state.fl.us/water/Wf/dw/dw.htm). 

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998 • B-13 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Georgia 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 2 2 307 285* 

Total Coliform Rule 207 161 767 566 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 0 

Lead and Copper Rule 0 0 6 134** 

0 0 0

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

*Sum of organics (1), total trihalomethanes (0), inorganics (284), and radionuclides subtotals (0). 

**Sum includes 132 systems with significant noncompliance determination dates due in 1996. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

2,514 

1,148* 

1,289 

*Sum of State systems in violation potentially contains double counting. 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where the State data were not available. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

The State of Georgia does not currently grant 

any variances or exemptions to any PWSs. 

DISCUSSION 

The majority of all Georgia PWS violations (84%) 

involved failure to submit a sample, or failure to 

report test results. There were total coliform 

violations in 149 community water systems 

serving a total of 518,623 persons, and 12 fecal 

coliform violations for PWSs serving a total of 

2,819 people. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Georgia. EPA has not 

interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the State of Georgia 

has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Georgia’s State Report is available by accessing 

the State’s Web site at http:// 

www.dnr.state.ga.us/dnr/environ/ or by contacting Betty Butler at Georgia Environmental 

Protection Division, Suite 1362, East Floyd 

Tower, Atlanta, GA 30334. 

B-14 • September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 

1 
Appendix B 

Guam 1996 Annual Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 0 0 0 0 

Total Coliform Rule 0 0 0 0 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 0 0 0 0 

Lead and Copper Rule 0 0 0 0 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where data from Guam were not available. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

10 

0 

0 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

SDWIS/FED did not report any variance or 

exemption violations. 

DISCUSSION 

The Guam report was not received, therefore 

SDWIS/FED data were used. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

A specific source for obtaining a copy of this 

report has not been provided. General information on its availability may be obtained from: 

Guam Environmental Protection Agency, Government of Guam, P.O. Box 22439 GMF, 

Barrigada, GU 96921, phone (671) 472-8863. 

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998 • B-15 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Hawaii 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 0 0 

Total Coliform Rule 10 7 1 1 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 128 12 4 1 

Lead and Copper Rule 0 

0 0 

0 0 0

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

144 

20 

143 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

There were no variances or exemptions granted 

for any of the State of Hawaii’s PWSs for the 

calendar year 1996. 

DISCUSSION 

The vast majority of violations in Hawaii were 

treatment technique violations for the Surface 

Water Treatment Rule. By January 1998, of the 

12 systems receiving 128 treatment technique 

violations, 7 remain in noncompliance. One of 

the 7 has installed a microfiltration facility, and 

5 are under enforcement actions to upgrade 

their water treatment plants. One system uses 

a “groundwater under the direct influence of 

surface water” source which will be replaced by 

a well. The number of Total Coliform Rule 

violations has dropped from 25 in 1995 to 5 in 

1997. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Hawaii. EPA has not 

interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the State of Hawaii has 

fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Hawaii’s State Report is available by contacting 

William Wong at the Safe Drinking Water 

Branch, Department of Health, 919 Ala Moana 

Blvd., Room 300, Honolulu, HI 96814-4920, 

phone (808) 586-4258, fax (808) 586-4370, 

email (waterbill@aol.com). 

B-16 • September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Idaho 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 1 1 784 625* 

Total Coliform Rule 421 332 1,372 773 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 336 42 0 0 

Lead and Copper Rule N/A** N/A** N/A** (2) N/A** (2) 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

*Sum of organics (17), inorganics (608), and radionuclides (0) subtotals. 

**The lead and copper data are not included at this time due to need for a computer update. 1996 lead and copper data will be 

provided with the 1997 Idaho Violations Report. 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where the State data were not available. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

2,018 

1,294 

2,914 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

No information is provided on variances or 

exemptions granted to Idaho PWSs during the 

1996 calendar year. SDWIS/FED did not report 

any variance or exemption violations. 

DISCUSSION 

General PWS inventory information is provided 

in Idaho’s report. Idaho Division of Environmental Quality, in cooperation with the State’s 

seven district health departments, provides a 

variety of services including working with PWSs 

to ensure compliance with minimum Federal 

requirements, conducting sampling surveys and 

on-site visits to prevent public health problems, 

reviewing PWS plans and specifications, conducting training sessions, holding public information meetings, loaning specialized monitoring 

equipment, publishing informational bulletins 

and a quarterly drinking water newsletter, 

providing a coordinated training calendar, 

distributing a technical assistance notebook to 

all PWSs, and issuing monitoring waivers. 

Bacteriological contamination is more frequent 

than chemical contamination in Idaho. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Idaho. EPA has not 

interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the State of Idaho has 

fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Idaho’s State Report is available by accessing 

the State’s Web site (http:// 

www.magiclink.com/web/tmdl), and by contacting the Idaho Division of Environmental 

Quality’s six Regional Offices or the State’s 

seven district health departments. 

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998 • B-17 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Illinois 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 323* 205 4,315 221 

Total Coliform Rule 158 96 639 210 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 23 7 36 10 

Lead and Copper Rule 19 19 148 39 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

*30 of these violations are exceedances of a more stringent Illinois Health Standard, not a Federal violation. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

6,051 

480 

5,138 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

There are no PWSs in Illinois that have received variances or exemptions during the 1996 

calendar year. 

DISCUSSION 

Over 89% of the population was served by 

Illinois community water systems that were 

compliant with all health standards (maximum 

contaminant levels, treatment techniques, or 

health advisories) during the calendar year of 

1996. Over 96% of the population received 

drinking water free from the potential of acute 

(short-term) adverse health effects, and over 

92% of the population received drinking water 

free from the potential of chronic (long-term) 

health effects. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Illinois. EPA has not 

interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the State of Illinois has 

fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

The Illinois State Report is available by contacting Roger Selburg, Division Manager, at the 

Division of Public Water Supplies, Illinois EPA, 

1021 N. Grand Avenue - East, P.O. Box 19726, 

Springfield, IL 62794-9276, phone (217) 785-

8653. 

B-18 • September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Indiana 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 42 25 2,123 714 

Total Coliform Rule 282 260 2,419 1,278 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 6 

Lead and Copper Rule 1 1 78 65 

5 8 5

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

4,505 

1,879 

4,959 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where the State data were not available. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

Indiana did not issue any variances or exemptions during 1996 calendar year. 

DISCUSSION 

In 1996, the Indiana Drinking Water Branch 

staff conducted 308 sanitary surveys, 62 vulnerability assessments, 59 well site surveys, 252 

technical assistance visits, and 130 MCL followup visits. Other compliance assistance activities consist of courtesy reminder letters, monitoring waivers, and outreach. Indiana’s report 

provides analysis of information by type of PWS. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Indiana. EPA has not 

interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the State of Indiana 

has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE 

PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Indiana’s State Report is available by accessing 

the State’s Web site at http://www.ai.org/idem/ 

owm or by contacting the State at Indiana 

Department of Environmental Management, 

Drinking Water Branch, P.O. Box 7148, Indianapolis, IN 46207-7148. 

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998 • B-19 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Iowa 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 68 13 54 41 

Total Coliform Rule 151 126 106 43 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 0* 0* 0* 0* 

Lead and Copper Rule 45 45 12 12 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

*Iowa has no surface water systems which do not filter. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

1,939 

280 

436 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

Iowa does not issue variances or exemptions for 

MCLs, treatment techniques, or monitoring and 

reporting requirements. 

DISCUSSION 

Iowa’s report includes percentages of systems 

in and out of compliance and information on 

contaminants. 92.6% of Iowa’s active PWSs 

complied with MCLs. Of the 83 regulated 

contaminants, only 7 were found at levels that 

exceeded the MCL. 96.8% of Iowa’s active PWSs 

complied with monitoring requirements. Enforcement action information is also presented. 

During the 1996 calendar year, there was 1 

public notice, 8 administrative orders with 

penalty, 4 administrative orders without penalty, 6 referrals to the attorney general, and 11 

formal notices of violation issued. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Iowa. EPA has not 

interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the State of Iowa has 

fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE 

PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Iowa’s 1996 State Annual Compliance Report is 

available by accessing the State’s Web site at 

http://www.state.ia.us/government/dnr/ 

organiza/epd/wtrsuply/wtrsup.htm or by 

contacting the Iowa Department of Natural 

Resources, Water Supply Section, Wallace State 

Office Building, 900 East Grand Avenue, Des 

Moines, IA 50319-0034. 

B-20 • September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Kansas 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 100 49 1 1 

Total Coliform Rule 86 58 121 59 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 27 10 5 3 

Lead and Copper Rule 6 6 17 17 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

1,095 

181 

355 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where the State data were not available. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

No information was provided on variances or 

exemptions during the 1996 calendar year for 

Kansas PWSs. SDWIS/FED did not report any 

variance or exemption violations. 

DISCUSSION 

General PWS inventory data, such as source of 

water, is provided in Kansas’ report, as well as 

populations affected. 99.7% of the PWSs were 

in compliance with the ethyl dibromide MCL. 

A total of 150 persons were affected by ethyl 

dibromide MCL violations. 97% of the PWSs 

were in compliance with the selenium MCL. A 

total of 1,150 persons were affected by selenium MCL violations. Seven PWSs were in 

violation of the radium MCL and one PWS 

failed to monitor. The population affected by 

radium MCL violations was 6,265 and the 

population affected by the PWSs that failed to 

sample was 32. 3.2% of the population served 

by all PWSs, or 74,205 people, were affected by 

bacteriological MCL violations. The population 

affected by bacteriological monitoring violations was 19,453 or 0.8% of the population 

served by all PWSs. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Kansas. EPA has not 

interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the State of Kansas 

has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE 

PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

The Kansas State Report is available by accessing the State’s Web site at http:// 

www.state.ks.us/public/kdhe/bow.html or by 

contacting the State at Public Water Supply 

Section, Kansas Department of Health and 

Environment, Bldg. 283, Forbes Field, Topeka, 

KS 66620, Attn: Peter Armesto, phone (785) 

296-6297. 

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998 • B-21 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Kentucky 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 46 23 85 77 

Total Coliform Rule 13 11 156 46 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 50 21 45 21 

Lead and Copper Rule 0 0 NR NR 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

NR = not reported 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

718 

139 

395 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

Kentucky has not granted any variances or 

exemptions to any PWSs. 

DISCUSSION 

General PWS inventory information and a 

compliance summary are provided in Kentucky’s 

report. There were 509 PWSs with no violations. There were 53 MCL violations. 34 PWSs 

had MCL violations. There were 286 significant 

monitoring and reporting violations. 144 PWSs 

had significant monitoring and reporting violations. There were 50 treatment technique 

violations. 21 PWSs had treatment technique 

violations. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Kentucky. EPA has not 

interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the State of Kentucky 

has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE 

PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Kentucky’s State Report is available by accessing the State’s Web site at http:// 

water.nr.state.ky.us/dow/compsum.htm or by 

contacting Vicki Ray, Drinking Water Branch, 

Division of Water, 14 Reilly Road, Frankfort, KY 

40601. 

B-22 • September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Louisiana 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 0 0 

Total Coliform Rule 348 262 0 0 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 6 

Lead and Copper Rule 54 54 7 7 

0 0 

5 0 0

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

1,965 

328* 

415 

*Sum of State systems in violation potentially contains double counting. 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where the State data were not available. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

No information was provided on variances or 

exemptions granted to any Louisiana PWSs 

during the 1996 calendar year. SDWIS/FED did 

not report any variance or exemption violations. 

DISCUSSION 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Louisiana. EPA has not 

interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the State of Louisiana 

has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE 

PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

A specific source for obtaining a copy of this 

report has not been provided. General information on its availability may be obtained from: 

Division of Environmental and Health Services, 

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, 

Office of Public Health, P.O. Box 60630, New 

Orleans, LA 70160, phone (504) 568-5100. 

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998 • B-23 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Maine 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 0 0 354 44 

Total Coliform Rule 272 267* 620 601** 

Surface Water Treatment Rule NR (13) NR (13) NR (0) NR (0) 

Lead and Copper Rule NR (0) 0 N R (0) 77***

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

*Sum of acute (30) and non-acute (237) MCL. 

**Sum of routine (589) and major repeat (12) monitoring. 

***Sum of initial lead and copper tap monitoring/reporting (19) and follow-up or routine lead and copper tap monitoring and 

reporting (58). 

NR - The subtotal was not reported, as it was not available from the State data system for calender year 1996. 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where the State data were not available. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

1,898 

1,227* 

1,259 

*Sum of State systems in violation potentially contains double counting. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS This page provides a summary of the data 

No information on variances or exemptions reported by the State of Maine. EPA has not 

during the 1996 calendar year for Maine PWSs interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the State of Maine has was available in the State data system. 

SDWIS/FED did not report any variance or 

exemption violations. 

DISCUSSION 

Maine’s report provides data on systems with 

violations, but not the number of violations. 

General PWS inventory data is provided in 

Maine’s report. 

fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Maine’s State Report is available by accessing 

the State’s Web site at http://www.state.me.us/ 

dhs/eng/water/water.htm or by contacting the 

State at Drinking Water Program, 10 State 

House Station, Augusta, ME 04333, phone (207) 

287-2070. 

B-24 • September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Maryland 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 19 12 50 39 

Total Coliform Rule 371 346 127 82 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 96 16 0 0 

Lead and Copper Rule 22 1 70 293* 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

*Includes 223 systems with significant noncompliance determination dates due in 1996. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

3,123 

795* 

755 

*Sum of State systems in violation potentially contains double counting. 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where the State data were not available. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

No variances or exemptions were granted to any 

PWSs in Maryland during the calendar year 

1996. 

DISCUSSION 

General PWS inventory data and violation 

resolution data are provided in Maryland’s 

report. All of the 51 bacteriological health level 

violations occurring in 1996 were reconciled by 

the end of 1996. 3 out of the 16 Surface Water 

Treatment Rule health level violations occurring 

in 1996 were reconciled by the end of 1996. 

81,150 people benefitted from this. 3 of the 14 

nitrate health level violations were reconciled by 

the end of 1996. 3 of the 4 volatile organic 

chemical health level violations were reconciled by the end of 1996 and 98 of the 270 lead 

and copper violations were reconciled. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Maryland. EPA has not 

interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the State of Maryland 

has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Maryland’s State Report is available by contacting Nancy Reilman at Maryland Department of 

the Environment, Public Drinking Water Program, 2500 Broening Highway, Baltimore, MD 

21224, phone (410) 631-3729. 

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998 • B-25 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Massachusetts 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 5 4 2,669 323 

Total Coliform Rule 140 104 434 257 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 60 60 1 1 

Lead and Copper Rule 1 1 37 35 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

1,629 

622 

3,347 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

There were no variances or exemptions granted 

to any Massachusetts PWSs during the 1996 

calendar year. 

DISCUSSION 

A summary table of State data for drinking 

water violations during 1996 was provided and 

is summarized above. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Massachusetts. EPA 

has not interpreted the information provided 

and is not commenting on whether the State of 

Massachusetts has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

A specific source for obtaining a copy of this 

report has not been provided. Additional information about the Massachusetts Drinking 

Water Program is available by accessing the 

State’s Web site (http:// 

www.magnet.state.ma.us/dep/brp/). 

B-26 • September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Michigan 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 24 24 1,331 1,329 

Total Coliform Rule 596 521 6,643 4,369 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 14 9 0 0 

Lead and Copper Rule 0 0 161 161 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

11,536 

6,413* 

8,769 

*Sum of State systems in violation potentially contains double counting. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

Michigan had no PWSs under a variance or 

exemption during the 1996 calendar year. 

DISCUSSION 

Violations data are presented in three separate 

tables: community, non-community, and a 

combined community non-community table. 

General PWS inventory information is provided. 

Approximately 95% of the total violations recorded in Michigan in 1996 are from noncommunity water systems. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Michigan. EPA has not 

interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the State of Michigan 

has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE 

PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Michigan’s State Report is available by accessing the State’s Web site at http:// 

www.deq.state.mi.us/dwr or by contacting the 

State at Michigan Department of Environmental 

Quality, Drinking Water & Radiological Protection Division, Lansing, MI 48909-8130. 

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998 • B-27 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Minnesota 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 26 26 8 7 

Total Coliform Rule 217 217 74 64 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 137 28 0 0 

Lead and Copper Rule 0 0 9 64 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

8,222 

406 

471 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where the State data were not available. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

There were no variances or exemptions granted 

to any Minnesota PWSs during the 1996 calendar year. 

DISCUSSION 

A summary table of State data for drinking 

water violations during 1996 was provided and 

is summarized above. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Minnesota. EPA has 

not interpreted the information provided and is 

not commenting on whether the State of Minnesota has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE 

PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Minnesota’s State Report is available by contacting the State at Minnesota Department of 

Health, P.O. Box 64975, St. Paul, MN 55164-

0975, Attention: Dennis E. Maki, phone (617) 

215-0756 or by contacting Dennis E. Maki via 

electronic mail (dennis.maki@health.state. 

mn.us). 

B-28 • September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Mississippi 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 0 1 1 

Total Coliform Rule 66 63 89 83 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 0 0 0 0 

Lead and Copper Rule 0 0 0 0 

0 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where the State data were not available. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

1,550 

147* 

156 

*Sum of State systems in violation potentially contains double counting. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

The Mississippi Division of Water Supply has 

never granted a variance or exemption to any 

PWS. 

DISCUSSION 

General PWS inventory data is provided in 

Mississippi’s report. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Mississippi. EPA has 

not interpreted the information provided and is 

not commenting on whether the State of Mississippi has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE 

PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Mississippi’s State Report is available by accessing the State’s Web site at http:// 

www.msdh.state.ms.us/OHR/watersup/ 

wshome.htm or by contacting the Mississippi 

State Department of Health, Water Supply 

Division, P.O. Box 1700, Jackson, MS 39215-

1700. 

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998 • B-29 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Missouri 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 11 7 363 51 

Total Coliform Rule 424 331 1,372 707 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 1 1 0 

Lead and Copper Rule 0 0 18 18 

0 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where the State data were not available. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

2,667 

1,207* 

2,189 

*Sum of systems with monitoring (924) and MCL/TT (283) violations potentially contains double counting. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

Exemptions from the atrazine MCL, originally 

granted for 10 PWSs in 1995 continue to be in 

effect for nine of those PWSs in 1996. No 

variances were granted for any Missouri PWSs 

during the 1996 calendar year. There were no 

variance or exemption violations in 1996. 

DISCUSSION 

No data on numbers of Systems in were provided; however the report contains a list of 

PWSs with violations. General PWS inventory 

data are provided in Missouri’s report. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Missouri. EPA has not 

interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the State of Missouri 

has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

To obtain a copy of Missouri’s State Report or 

additional information regarding Missouri’s 

PWSs contact the Missouri Department of 

Natural Resources, Public Drinking Water 

Program, P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 

65102, phone (573) 751-5331. 

B-30 • September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Montana 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 34 19 682 566* 

Total Coliform Rule 51 51 2,096 709 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 127 32 214 22 

Lead and Copper Rule 114 114 260 238 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

*Sum of the Phase 2 and Phase 5 Rules (251) total and the radionuclides (315) subtotal. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

1,882 

1,751* 

3,578 

*Sum of State systems in violation potentially contains double counting. 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where the State data were not available. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

No violations of variances or exemptions were 

recorded for Montana PWSs during the 1996 

calendar year. 

DISCUSSION 

Enforcement data and a Discussion of water 

sources, regulations and enforcement, and 

general PWS inventory data are provided in 

Montana’s report. The State PWS Section has 

worked with the State Department of Environmental Quality Enforcement Division when 

necessary to address more difficult compliance 

problems through formal enforcement actions. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Montana. EPA has not 

interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the State of Montana 

has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Montana’s State Report is available on the 

Montana Department of Environmental 

Quality’s Web site at http://www.deq.mt.gov or 

by contacting the State at Montana Department 

of Environmental Quality, Box 200901, Helena, 

MT 59620-0901. 

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998 • B-31 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Nebraska 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 32 25 0 0 

Total Coliform Rule 178 128 140 105 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 0 

Lead and Copper Rule 0 

0 0 0

0 1 1

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

1,403 

259 

350 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where the State data were not available. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

No information was provided on variances or 

exemptions granted to any Nebraska PWSs 

during the 1996 calendar year. SDWIS/FED did 

not report any variance or exemption violations. 

DISCUSSION 

General PWS inventory information is provided 

in Nebraska’s report. In 1996, the Nebraska 

Public Water Supply Program issued 21 administrative orders to PWSs in Nebraska. A description of additional compliance assistance activities of the Nebraska Public Water Supply Program is provided. A listing of formal enforcement actions is also included. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Nebraska. EPA has not 

interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the State of Nebraska 

has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Nebraska’s State Report is available by accessing the State’s Web site (http:// 

www.hhs.state.ne.us). 

B-32 • September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Nevada 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 10 10 45 45 

Total Coliform Rule 22 21 99 87 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 19 19 0 0 

Lead and Copper Rule 0 0 346 173 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

675 

355* 

541 

*Sum of State systems in violation potentially contains double counting. 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where the State data were not available. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

No variances or exemptions were granted or in 

effect for any Nevada PWSs during calendar year 

1996. 

DISCUSSION 

General PWS inventory information is provided. 

Analysis of violations data is provided by type of 

violation. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Nevada. EPA has not 

interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the State of Nevada has 

fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Nevada’s State Report is available through Larry 

Rountree at the Nevada State Health Division 

Office, 1179 Fairview Drive, Carson City, NV 

89710. It is also available at county libraries 

throughout the State. 

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998 • B-33 

1 
Appendix B 

State of New Hampshire 1996 Annual Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 23 19 1,898 148 

Total Coliform Rule 256 206 223 157 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 13 10 126 26 

Lead and Copper Rule 0 0 13 13 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

2,071 

398 

2,552 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where the State data were not available. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

No information was provided on variances or 

exemptions granted to any New Hampshire 

PWSs during the 1996 calendar year. SDWIS/ 

FED did not report any variance or exemption 

violations. 

DISCUSSION 

Analysis of violations data is provided by PWS 

type in New Hampshire’s State report. The 

report was based on data from the New Hampshire WSEB Database. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of New Hampshire. EPA 

has not interpreted the information provided 

and is not commenting on whether the State of 

New Hampshire has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

New Hampshire’s State Report is available by 

accessing the State’s Web site at http:// 

www.state.nh.us/ or by contacting Laurie K. 

Cullerot at Department of Environmental Services, Water Supply Engineering Bureau, 6 

Hazen Drive , P.O. Box 95, Concord, NH 03302-

0095. 

B-34 • September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 

1 
Appendix B 

State of New Jersey 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 48 35 13,974 1,455 

Total Coliform Rule 172 115 2,805 1,384 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 15 4 2 2 

Lead and Copper Rule 3 3 80 28 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where the State data were not available. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

4,740 

3,026* 

17,099 

*Sum of State systems in violation potentially contains double counting. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

The New Jersey Bureau of Safe Drinking Water 

did not issue any variances or exemptions to 

any PWS during the 1996 calendar year. 

DISCUSSION 

General PWS inventory information is provided 

in New Jersey’s report. New Jersey regulates 

five volatile organic compounds in addition to 

those covered by Federal regulations. New 

Jersey also set standards (MCLs) that are more 

stringent than the Federal standards on 12 of 

the Federally regulated volatile organic compounds. Both the additional regulated contaminants and the more stringent MCLs are listed 

on page 21 of the 1996 New Jersey report. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of New Jersey. EPA has 

not interpreted the information provided and is 

not commenting on whether the State of New 

Jersey has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Copies of the complete New Jersey Drinking 

Water Standards chart, and/or a copy of the 

1996 New Jersey State Report is available by 

contacting the State at New Jersey Department 

of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Safe 

Drinking Water, P.O. Box 426, Trenton, NJ 

08625-0426. The report is also available at all 

county libraries, college and local libraries, and 

in the April 1998 issue of Pipeline, a quarterly 

publication of the NJ AWWA. 

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998 • B-35 

1 
Appendix B 

State of New Mexico 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 1 0 

Total Coliform Rule 77 68 146 105 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 13 7 2 2 

Lead and Copper Rule 0 

1 0 

0 3 3

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

1,266 

186* 

242 

*Sum of State systems in violation potentially contains double counting. 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where the State data were not available. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

No variances or exemptions were issued by New 

Mexico to any PWSs during the 1996 calendar 

year. 

DISCUSSION 

Analysis of violations data is provided by PWS 

type, PWS size, and population served in New 

Mexico’s State Report. Sources of inaccuracy in 

the data are also discussed. Possible sources of 

data inaccuracy are: failure of New Mexico 

Environmental Department staff to accurately 

record violations, especially in the chemical 

rules; lack of standardized methods for the 

exchanging of data between labs, field offices, 

water systems, and the central office; lack of 

electronic transfer methods to EPA for chemical 

data. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of New Mexico. EPA has 

not interpreted the information provided and is 

not commenting on whether the State of New 

Mexico has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

A specific source for obtaining a copy of this 

report has not been provided. General information on its availability may be obtained from: 

Drinking Water Bureau, New Mexico Environment Department, 525 Camino De Los Marquez, 

Suite 4, Santa Fe, NM 87501, phone (505) 827-

7536. 

B-36 • September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 

1 
Appendix B 

State of New York 1996 Annual Public Water System Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 31 11 357 353 

Total Coliform Rule 160 137* 1,312 790 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 125 94 9 9 

Lead and Copper Rule 9 9** 44 43*** 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

*Sum of acute (52) and non-acute (85) MCL. 

**Sum of treatment installation (5) and public education (4). 

***Sum of initial lead and copper tap monitoring/reporting (3) and follow-up or routine lead and copper tap monitoring and 

reporting (40). 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

9,129 

1,449* 

2,021 

*Sum of State systems in violation potentially contains double counting. 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where the State data were not available. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

Exemptions have been issued to New York PWSs 

under the Surface Water Treatment Rule. A list 

of these systems is provided in New York’s State 

Report. There were no variances granted to any 

New York PWSs during the 1996 calendar year. 

There is no record of variance or exemption 

violations in 1996. 

DISCUSSION 

A summary table of State data for drinking 

water violations during 1996 was provided and 

is summarized above. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of New York. EPA has not 

interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the State of New York 

has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

New York’s State Report is available by accessing the State’s Web site at http:// 

www.health.state.ny.us or by contacting the 

State at BPWSP - NYSDOH, 1215 Western Ave., 

Albany, NY 12203. 

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998 • B-37 

1 
Appendix B 

State of North Carolina 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 17 16 20,690 484 

Total Coliform Rule 201 184 776 463 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 8 

Lead and Copper Rule 1 1 60 60 

8 0 0

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where the State data were not available. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

8,244 

1,216* 

21,753 

*Sum of State systems in violation potentially contains double counting. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

No information was provided on variances or 

exemptions granted to any North Carolina PWSs 

during the 1996 calendar year. SDWIS/FED did 

not report any variance or exemption violations. 

DISCUSSION 

State data was reported in addition to SDWIS/ 

FED data in North Carolina’s State report. 

General PWS inventory information is also 

provided. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of North Carolina. EPA 

has not interpreted the information provided 

and is not commenting on whether the State of 

North Carolina has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

A specific source for obtaining a copy of this 

report has not been provided. General information on its availability may be obtained from: 

Public Water Supply Section, Department of 

Environment and Natural Resources, P.O. Box 

29536, Raleigh, NC 27626-0536, phone (919) 

733-2321. 

B-38 • September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 

1 
Appendix B 

State of North Dakota 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 10 10 1 1 

Total Coliform Rule 60 47 138 102 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 6 

Lead and Copper Rule 0 

3 2 2

0 6 6

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

604 

171* 

223 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

*Sum of State systems in violation potentially contains 

double counting. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

North Dakota had no PWSs operating under a variance or exemption during the 1996 calendar year. 

DISCUSSION 

General PWS inventory information is provided in 

North Dakota’s report. Data on the percentage of 

systems with no violations by PWS type is also 

provided. 97% of the community water systems 

and 100% of non-transient non-community water 

systems had no organic MCL violations. 100% of 

the community water systems and non-transient 

non-community water systems had no organic, 

inorganic, or radionuclide monitoring violations 

and no radionuclide MCL violations. 99.6% of 

transient non-community water systems had no 

inorganic monitoring violations and 98.8% had no 

inorganic MCL violations. 98.1% of the community water systems had no inorganic MCL violations. 92.1% of the community water systems, 

94.1% of the non-transient non-community water 

systems, and 95.2% of the transient non-community water systems had no MCL violations of the 

Total Coliform Rule. 82.1% of community water 

systems, 88.2% of non-transient non-community 

water systems, and 84.1% of transient noncommunity water systems had no monitoring 

violations for the Total Coliform Rule. 95% of the 

community water systems and 80% or the nontransient non-community water systems had no 

treatment technique violations for the Surface 

Water Treatment Rule. 95% community water 

systems and 90% non-transient non-community 

water systems had no Surface Water Treatment 

Rule monitoring violations. 98.7% of the community water systems had no monitoring violations 

for the Lead and Copper Rule. Annually, approximately 400 of the 604 total PWSs are issued 

Certificates of Compliance for maintaining full 

compliance. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of North Dakota. EPA has 

not interpreted the information provided and is 

not commenting on whether the State of North 

Dakota has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

North Dakota’s State Report is available by contacting the State at North Dakota Department of 

Health, Division of Municipal Facilities, P.O. Box 

5520, 1200 Missouri Avenue, Bismark, ND 58506-

5520, Attention: Jeni Walsh or Attention: Larry 

Thelen, phone (701) 328-5231 and phone (701) 

328-5211, fax (701) 328-5200. 

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998 • B-39 

1 
Appendix B 

Northern Mariana Islands 1996 Annual Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 0 0 0 0 

Total Coliform Rule 0 0 0 0 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 0 0 0 0 

Lead and Copper Rule 0 0 0 0 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where data from the Northern Mariana Islands were not available. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

3 

0 

0 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL PUBLIC 

SDWIS/FED did not report any variance or WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

exemption violations. A specific source for obtaining a copy of this 

report has not been provided. General informaDISCUSSION tion may be obtained from: Division of EnvironThe Northern Mariana Islands report was not mental Quality, Commonwealth of the Northern 

received, therefore SDWIS/FED data were used. Mariana Islands, Post Office Box 1304, Saipan, 

MP 96950, phone (670) 234-6114. 

B-40 • September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Ohio 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 14 8 11,314 1,863 

Total Coliform Rule 1,758 868 3,277 2,023 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 280 49 26 7 

Lead and Copper Rule 1 1 224 224 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

6,193 

3,084 

16,894 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

There were no variances or exemptions granted 

to any Ohio PWSs during the 1996 calendar 

year. 

DISCUSSION 

General PWS inventory information and compliance assistance information is provided in 

Ohio’s report. Ohio’s Compliance Assistance 

includes: providing a sampling and monitoring 

schedule for each PWS; offering technical assistance during facility inspections (sanitary 

surveys) and all office hours; distributing a 

divisional newsletter to all PWSs; providing 

operator and laboratory personnel training 

sessions; distributing reminder postcards and/ 

or contacting the PWSs towards the end of the 

monitoring periods to ensure collection of the 

required samples; and providing notice of 

violation letters for failure to meet the requirements of any of the specific regulations. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Ohio. EPA has not 

interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the State of Ohio has 

fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Ohio’s State Report is available by accessing the 

State’s Web site at http://www.epa.state.oh.us/ 

ddagw/annualreports.html or contacting the 

State at PWS Annual Compliance Report, Ohio 

EPA - DDAGW, P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, OH 

43216-0149. 

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998 • B-41 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Oklahoma 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 156 58* 0 0 

Total Coliform Rule 156 127 316 191 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 153 52 3 3 

Lead and Copper Rule 0 0 NR 760** 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

*Sum of the organics (7), inorganics (51), and radionuclides (0) subtotals. 

**There were 760 systems with significant noncompliance determinations due in 1996. 

NR = not reported 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

1,672 

1,191* 

784 

*Sum of State systems in violation potentially contains double counting. 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where the State data were not available. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

The Oklahoma Department of Environmental 

Quality does not have any PWSs which have 

been granted variances or exemptions. 

DISCUSSION 

Information on water sources is provided in the 

State report. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Oklahoma. EPA has not 

interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the State of Oklahoma 

has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Oklahoma’s State Report is available by accessing the State’s Web site at http:// 

www.deq.state.ok.us or by contacting the State 

at Oklahoma Department of Environmental 

Quality office at 1000 NE 10th Street, Oklahoma 

City, OK. 

B-42 • September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Oregon 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 6 6 1,008 1,006 

Total Coliform Rule 247 195 2,352 1,176 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 291 106 453 101 

Lead and Copper Rule 0 0 NR 151 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

NR = not reported 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

2,630 

2,741* 

4,357 

*Sum of State systems in violation potentially contains double counting. 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where the State data were not available. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

Oregon issued no variances or exemptions 

during 1996, electing instead to pursue corrective actions through enforcement actions. 

DISCUSSION 

General PWS inventory information is provided 

in Oregon’s report. During 1996, Oregon issued 

65 Administrative Orders and 15 Notices of 

Violation for high priority violations of standards, primarily for coliform and nitrate MCL 

violations, surface water treatment violations, 

and repeated failures to sample and report 

results. The Oregon Health Division received 

evidence of 365 notifications to water users from 

water suppliers. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Oregon. EPA has not 

interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the State of Oregon has 

fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Oregon’s State Report is available by accessing 

the State’s Web site at http:// 

www.ohd.hr.state.or.us/cehs/dwp or by contacting Diane Weis at the Oregon Health Division, 800 NE Oregon Street, Portland, OR 

97232. 

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998 • B-43 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Pennsylvania 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 125 102 7,527 1,099 

Total Coliform Rule 312 225 1,800 1,270 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 117 28 264 54 

Lead and Copper Rule 5 5 249 216 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

10,249 

2,639 

9,841 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where the State data were not available. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

No variances or exemptions were in effect for 

any of the Pennsylvania PWSs during the 1996 

report period. 

DISCUSSION 

This report also presented data on the compliance actions taken by the State of Pennsylvania 

in 1996, which included 6,081 compliance 

letters, 43 consent and administrative orders, 

and 251 water advisories. Violation data and 

system compliance rates are also analyzed by 

PWS size and type. For the community water 

systems 77.4% of small systems, 84.9% of 

medium systems, and 90% of large systems 

were in compliance for monitoring and reporting. 97% of small community water systems, 

97.5% of medium community water systems, 

and 100% of large community water systems 

were in compliance for MCLs. Also for community water systems, 99.5% of small systems, 

97.2% of medium systems, and 90% of large 

systems were in compliance with treatment 

techniques. 

Pennsylvania uses an intricate computerized 

violation determination procedure which identifies potential violations for investigation and 

verification. This process assists Pennsylvania 

in the measurement of drinking water compliance, and is reflected in part by the number of 

violations and amount of compliance activity 

data being reported. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Pennsylvania. EPA has 

not interpreted the information provided and is 

not commenting on whether the State of Pennsylvania has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Pennsylvania’s State Report is available by 

accessing the State’s Web site at http:// 

www.dep.state.pa.us or by contacting the State 

at (717) 772-4018. 

B-44 • September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 

1 
Appendix B 

Puerto Rico 1996 Annual Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 12 7* 171 14** 

Total Coliform Rule 1,079 390*** 1,657 248 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 344 193 1,096 135 

Lead and Copper Rule 7 7 56 47**** 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

*Sum of inorganic (0), nitrate (2), VOC (3), TTHM (2), and SOC (0) subtotals. 

**Sum of inorganic (0), nitrate (8), VOC (3), TTHM (0), and SOC (3) subtotals. 

***Sum of acute (208) and Non-acute (182) MCL. 

****Sum of initial lead and copper tap monitoring and reporting (1) and follow-up or routine lead and copper tap monitoring and 

reporting (46). 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

* Sum of systems in violation contains double counting. 

1996 Variances and Exemptions 

No variances or exemptions were granted to any 

PWSs in Puerto Rico during the 1996 calendar 

year. 

DISCUSSION 

A summary table of Commonwealth data for 

drinking water violations during 1996 was 

provided and is summarized above. During the 

1996 calendar year, there were no significant 

violations for inorganic contaminants, except for 

nitrates. For the systems in noncompliance 

with the MCL for nitrate a Notice of Violation 

and Administrative Order was issued. Closure 

Orders were issued to two systems with violaTotal Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

489 

1,041* 

4,422 

tions of the MCLs for tetrachloroethane and 

trichloroethane. In all systems that presented 

violations for the group of contaminants regulated in drinking water, a Boil Water Order, 

Violation Notification and/or State and Federal 

Administrative Orders have been issued. In 

response to these actions, systems have been 

taken out of operation, systems have been 

replaced, or have been placed under corrective 

action plans to reach compliance. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by Puerto Rico. EPA has not interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether Puerto Rico has fully 

reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Puerto Rico’s Report is available by contacting 

Mrs. Olga I. Rivera, Puerto Rico Department of 

Health, Water Supply Supervision Program, P.O. 

Box 70184, San Juan, PR 00936. 

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998 • B-45 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Rhode Island 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 3 5 

Total Coliform Rule 40 31 6 6 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 2 

Lead and Copper Rule 0 

1 5 

2 0 0

0 1 1

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

451 

46 

57 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where the State data were not available. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

There were no variances or exemptions granted 

to any Rhode Island PWSs during the 1996 

calendar year. 

DISCUSSION 

General PWS inventory information is provided 

in Rhode Island’s report. A trend analysis is 

illustrated in Rhode Island’s State report based 

on its drinking water performance indicator. 

The performance indicator is the sum of population served and days in compliance with MCLs 

and treatment technique divided by the sum of 

population served and the total days in operation. The indicator values were given from 1991 

to 1996, with 1996 being the largest value of 

0.993. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Rhode Island. EPA has 

not interpreted the information provided and is 

not commenting on whether the State of Rhode 

Island has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Additional information about Rhode Island’s 

drinking water program is available on the 

State’s Web site at http:// 

www.health.state.ri.us or by contacting the 

Rhode Island Department of Health, Office of 

Drinking Water Quality, 3 Capitol Hill, Room 

209, Providence, RI 02908, phone (401) 222-

6867. 

B-46 • September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 

1 
Appendix B 

State of South Carolina 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 11 6 0 0 

Total Coliform Rule 52 44 247 130 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 13 12 0 0 

Lead and Copper Rule 23 23 42 28 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

1,526 

230 

388 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where the State data were not available. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

South Carolina did not grant any variances or 

exemptions to any PWSs during the 1996 calendar year. 

DISCUSSION 

South Carolina’s State Report included general 

PWS inventory information. The report also 

included information on how and why the report 

was created, general inventory information on 

PWSs in South Carolina, information on the 

compliance and enforcement process, and 

statistics and conclusions drawn from the data 

in the report. During the calendar year 1996, 

230 Federally-defined PWSs, or approximately 

7% of the total number of systems, had at least 

one violation. This means that approximately 

93% of South Carolina’s PWSs were in compliance with all drinking water regulations. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of South Carolina. EPA 

has not interpreted the information provided 

and is not commenting on whether the State of 

South Carolina has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

South Carolina’s State Report is available by 

accessing the State’s Web site at http:// 

www.state.sc.us/dhec/eqchome.htm or http:// 

www.state.sc.us/dhec/bow1996.exe, by contacting the State at SCDHEC - Bureau of Water, 

2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201, Attention: Angela G. Mettlen, or by contacting Angela 

G. Mettlen at (803) 734-5326 or mettleag@ 

columb32.dhec.state.sc.us (electronic mail). 

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998 • B-47 

1 
Appendix B 

State of South Dakota 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 53 18 891 83 

Total Coliform Rule 135 95* 392 188 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 19 5 0 0 

Lead and Copper Rule 0 0 66 160** 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

*Sum of acute (11) and non-acute (84) MCL. 

**Sum of initial lead and copper tap monitoring and reporting (94) and follow-up or routine lead and copper tap monitoring and 

reporting (66). The significant noncompliance determinations were due for 94 systems in 1996. 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where the State data were not available. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

751 

549* 

1,556 

*Sum of State systems in violation potentially contains double counting. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

No variances or exemptions have been issued 

to any PWSs in South Dakota. 

DISCUSSION 

General PWS inventory information is provided. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of South Dakota. EPA has 

not interpreted the information provided and is 

not commenting on whether the State of South 

Dakota has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE 

PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

South Dakota’s State Report is available by 

accessing the State’s Web site at http:// 

www.state.sd.us/state/executive/denr/des/ 

drinking/dwprg.htm or by contacting the State 

at DENR, Drinking Water Program, 523 E. 

Capitol St., Pierre, SD 57501-3181. 

B-48 • September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Tennessee 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 1 1 248 76 

Total Coliform Rule 43 38 163 118 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 261 30 5 4 

Lead and Copper Rule 0 0 8 8

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

1,059 

262 

731 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where the State data were not available. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

Tennessee does not grant variances or exemptions to PWSs. 

DISCUSSION 

Tables showing PWSs with violations along with 

the dates the violation occurred and the county 

where the PWS is located are provided in the 

Tennessee State Report. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Tennessee. EPA has 

not interpreted the information provided and is 

not commenting on whether the State of Tennessee has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Tennessee’s State Report is available by contacting the Division Water Supply Central Office 

at: Division of Water Supply - Central Office, 

401 Church Street, 6th Floor, L&C Tower, Nashville, TN 37423-1549, phone (615) 532-0152; or 

any of the six field offices: Division of Water 

Supply, Suite 550-State Office Building, 540 

McCallie Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37402-2013, 

phone (423) 634-5745; Division of Water Supply, 

1221 South Willow, Cookeville, TN 38502, phone 

(931) 432-4015; Division of Water Supply, 362 

Carriage House Drive, Jackson, TN 38305-

2222, phone (901) 661-6200; Division of Water 

Supply 2305 Silverdale Road, Johnson City, TN 

37601-2162, phone (423) 854-5400; Division of 

Water Supply, Suite 220-State Plaza, 2700 

Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN 37219, phone 

(423) 594-6035; Division of Water Supply, 537 

Brick Church Park Drive, Nashville, TN 37243-

1550, phone (615) 226-6918. Copies of 

Tennessee’s State Report are also located in 

each county health department and in most 

public libraries in Tennessee. 

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998 • B-49 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Texas 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 185 164 N/A N/A 

Total Coliform Rule 269 235 602 401 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 49 25 210 31 

Lead and Copper Rule 4 4 36 36 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

N/A - Not applicable, since in Texas, most of the chemical monitoring is conducted by the State. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

6,658 

896* 

1,355 

*Sum of State systems in violation potentially contains double counting. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

No variances or exemptions have been granted 

to any Texas PWSs. 

DISCUSSION 

General PWS inventory information and general 

compliance information is provided in Texas’ 

report. In Texas, most of the chemical monitoring is conducted by the State. In 1996, 94.2% 

of all Texas PWSs were in compliance with the 

Federal and State laws governing drinking 

water quality. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Texas. EPA has not 

interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the State of Texas has 

fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

A specific source for obtaining a copy of this 

report has not been provided. General information on its availability may be obtained from: 

Water Utilities Division, Texas Natural Resource 

Conservation Commission, P.O. Box 13087, 

Austin, TX 78711-3087, phone (512) 239-6020. 

B-50 • September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Utah 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 0 0 1,206 113 

Total Coliform Rule 97 72 285 213 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 0 0 0 0 

Lead and Copper Rule 0 0 0 0 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where the State data were not available. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

963 

338 

1,588 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

No information was provided on variances or 

exemptions during the 1996 calendar year for 

Utah PWSs. SDWIS/FED did not report any 

variance or exemption violations. 

DISCUSSION 

The data table provided did not provide violations or system data; therefore, SDWIS/FED 

data were used. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Utah. EPA has not 

interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the State of Utah has 

fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Utah’s State Report is available by contacting 

the State at Utah Division of Drinking Water, 

P.O. Box 144830, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-

4830, Attention: Ken Bousfield, phone (801) 

536-4207. 

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998 • B-51 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Vermont 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 6 6 126 117 

Total Coliform Rule 133 88 237 145 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 20 20 0 0 

Lead and Copper Rule 3 3 109 109 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

1,270 

488 

634 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

No variances or exemptions have been granted 

to any Vermont PWSs. 

DISCUSSION 

General PWS inventory information is provided 

in Vermont’s report. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Vermont. EPA has not 

interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the State of Vermont 

has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Vermont’s State Report is available by contacting the State at Water Supply Division, 103 S. 

Main St, Waterbury, VT 05671-0403, phone 

(802) 241-3400. 

B-52 • September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 

1 
Appendix B 

Virgin Islands 1996 Annual Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 0 0 

Total Coliform Rule 106 88* 110 54* 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 0 

Lead and Copper Rule 0 

0 0 

0 0 0

0 0 0

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

*There were 12 PWSs which had both MCL violations and monitoring violations in 1996. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

305 

130* 

216 

*Sum of State systems in violation potentially contains double counting. 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where data from the Virgin Islands were not available. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

No variances or exemptions have been granted 

to any PWSs in the Virgin Islands. 

DISCUSSION 

A table of data for drinking water violations 

during 1996 was provided and is summarized 

above. Approximately 8.75% of PWSs in violation were for not monitoring for biological 

contaminants (total coliform) or for failing to 

properly report their monitoring data. Approximately 14% of the PWSs in the Virgin Islands 

had at least one month during 1996 in which 

they had at least two water samples test positive 

for total coliform. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the Virgin Islands. EPA has not 

interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the Virgin Islands has 

fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

The Virgin Islands Report can be obtained by 

contacting Austin Moorehead, Director, Division 

of Environmental Protection, Virgin Islands 

Department of Planning and Natural Resources, 

Building 111, Apartment 114, Watergut Homes, 

Christiansted, St. Croix, USVI, 00820, phone 

(340) 775-0565. 

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998 • B-53 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Virginia 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 18 11 23 21 

Total Coliform Rule 197 166 519 311 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 4 

Lead and Copper Rule 0 0 59 220* 

4 0 0

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where the State data were not available. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

*Includes 161 systems with significant noncompliance determinations due in 1996. 

1996 TOTALS 

*Sum of State systems in violation potentially contains 

double counting. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

No information was provided on any variances 

or exemptions granted to any Virginia PWSs 

during the 1996 calendar year. SDWIS/FED did 

not report any variance or exemption violations. 

DISCUSSION 

Basic information on Virginia PWSs is provided 

in the State report. A summary of compliance 

assistance activity is also provided. There were 

8,018 technical assistance contacts made 

during the 1996 calendar year. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Virginia. EPA has not 

interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the State of Virginia 

has fully reported all violations. 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

4,241 

733* 

820 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE 

PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Virginia’s State Report is available by accessing 

the State’s Web site at http:// 

www.vdh.state.va.us or by contacting any of the 

State’s following six field offices: Office of Water 

Programs, Abingdon Field Office – Field 1, 454 

East Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210, phone 

(540) 676-5650 and fax (540) 676-5659; Office of 

Water Programs, Lexington Field Office – Field 

2, 131 Walker Street, Lexington, VA 24450, 

phone (540) 463-7136 and fax (540) 463-3892; 

Office of Water Programs, Southeast Virginia 

Field Office – Field 3, 5700 Thurston Avenue -

Suite 203, Virginia Beach, VA 23455, phone 

(757) 363-3876 and fax (757) 363-3955; Office 

of Water Programs, East Central Field Office – 

Field 4, 300 Turner Road, Richmond, VA 23225, 

phone 1(804) 674-2880 and fax (804) 674-2815; 

Office of Water Programs, Danville Field Office – 

Field 5, 1347 Piney Forest Road, Danville, VA 

24540, phone (804) 836-8416 and fax (804) 836-

8424; Office of Water Programs, Culpeper Field 

Office – Field 6, 400 South Main Street – 2nd 

Floor, Culpeper, VA 22701-3318, phone (540) 

829-7340 and fax (540) 829-7337. 

B-54 • September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Washington 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 0 0 0 0 

Total Coliform Rule 745 501 1,281 1,281 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 239 62 54 13 

Lead and Copper Rule 3 3 0 0 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where the State data were not available. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

4,184 

1,254 

2,322 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

No variances or exemptions have been issued 

to any PWSs in Washington. 

DISCUSSION 

A table of State data for drinking water violations was provided and is summarized above. 

The report referenced a 1996 study of the State 

information management system which found it 

to be inadequate to respond to the requirements 

of the 1996 Amendments. Only 50% of 

Washington’s program information management 

needs were being supported by data systems. A 

multi year program was initiated in 1997 to 

redesign the entire data structure. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Washington. EPA has 

not interpreted the information provided and is 

not commenting on whether the State of Washington has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Washington’s State Report is available by accessing the State’s Web site at http:// 

www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/dw/ or by contacting the 

State at Division of Drinking Water, P.O. Box 

47822, Olympia, WA 98504-7822. 

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998 • B-55 

1 
Appendix B 

State of West Virginia 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 0 0 1,969 398 

Total Coliform Rule 121 110* 646 452 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 38 19 0 0 

Lead and Copper Rule 0 0 3 288** 

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

*Sum of acute (76) and non-acute (34) MCL. 

**Sum of initial lead and copper tap monitoring and reporting (285) and follow-up or routine lead and copper tap monitoring and 

reporting (3). 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where the State data were not available. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

1,374 

1,267* 

2,777 

*Sum of State systems in violation potentially contains double counting. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

No information was provided on variances or 

exemptions granted to any West Virginia PWSs 

during the 1996 calendar year. SDWIS/FED did 

not report any variance or exemption violations. 

DISCUSSION 

A summary table of State data for drinking 

water violations during 1996 was provided and 

is summarized above. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of West Virginia. EPA has 

not interpreted the information provided and is 

not commenting on whether the State of West 

Virginia has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORTS 

A specific source for obtaining a copy of this 

report has not been provided. General information may be obtained from: Environmental 

Engineering Division, Office of Environmental 

Health Services, Bureau of Public Health, 815 

Quarrier Street, Suite 401, Charleston, WV 

25301, phone (304) 558-2981. 

B-56 • September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Wisconsin 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 27 27 4,352 1,014 

Total Coliform Rule 720 610 1,005 939 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 0 

Lead and Copper Rule 4 4 169 168 

0 0 0

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

11,895* 

2,762 

6,277 

*1998 data, no historical data was available. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

Wisconsin did not grant variances or exemptions in 1996. 

DISCUSSION 

General PWS inventory information is provided 

in Wisconsin’s report. Approximately 95% of the 

PWSs in Wisconsin were in compliance with 

monitoring requirements. The three main 

reasons for systems’ noncompliance were lack of 

training or understanding the SDWA requirements, operator turnover, and cost of monitoring. Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources is addressing these issues through 

development of operator certification and capacity programs. Over 96% of the people served by 

PWSs in Wisconsin received drinking water 

within the SDWA limits. Most MCL violations 

were associated with potential bacterial contamination which are short-term in nature and 

resolved quickly. 

This page provides a summary of the data 

reported by the State of Wisconsin. EPA has not 

interpreted the information provided and is not 

commenting on whether the State of Wisconsin 

has fully reported all violations. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Wisconsin’s State Report is available by contacting the State at Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 

53707, Attention: Jim Zellmer - DG/2, phone 

(608) 267-7581, zellmj@dnr.state.wi.us (electronic mail). 

1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report September 1998 • B-57 

1 
Appendix B 

State of Wyoming 1996 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

VIOLATIONS FOR 1996 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations Category Violations Systems in Violations Systems in Violations Systems in 

Violation Violation Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 0 0 440 146 

Total Coliform Rule 51 51 244 187 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 7 

Lead and Copper Rule 0 0 55 55 

4 0 0

The Chemical Contaminant Group includes MCL violations and significant monitoring violations for organic, inorganic, total 

trihalomethane (TTHM), nitrate and nitrite, and radionuclide contaminants. 

Shaded areas of this chart are not applicable. 

1996 TOTALS 

Total Number of Regulated Systems 

Total Number of Systems in Violation 

Total Number of Violations 

707 

443* 

797 

*Sum of systems in violation potentially contains double counting. 

Data from SDWIS/FED have been included and underlined where the State data were not available. 

1996 VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS 

During calendar year 1996, EPA, Region 8 did 

not allow variances or exemptions to any MCL 

or monitoring requirement for PWSs in the State 

of Wyoming for which the Region has primary 

enforcement authority. 

DISCUSSION 

Information provided from EPA Regional Office 

since Wyoming does not have primary enforcement authority. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN 1996 ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC 

WATER SYSTEMS REPORT 

Wyoming’s State Report is available from: John 

Gillis, EPA Region 8, 999 18th Street, Suite 500, 

Denver, CO 80202-2466, phone (303) 312-6229. 

B-58 • September 1998 1996 National Annual Public Water Systems Compliance Report 

1