United States Office of Enforcement and EPA 305-R-01-003 

Environmental Protection Compliance Assurance (2201A) November 2001 

Agency Washington, DC 20460 

Providing Safe Drinking 

Water In America 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report 

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Table of Contents 

1999 National Summary of Public Water Systems Compliance 

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1


PWS Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1


Findings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2


Data Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7


Enforcement and Compliance Assistance Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8


Information on and Evaluation of State Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8


State-by-State Summaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9


Conclusions and Activities to Address Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9


1999 National Summary of Compliance for Public Water Systems in Indian Country 

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13


Public Water Systems on Indian Reservations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13


Public Water Systems in Alaska and Oklahoma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13


Data Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13


Findings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13


Compliance Assistance and Enforcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15


Financial Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15


Conclusions and Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17


Appendix A 

Glossary of Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A–1 

Appendix B 

Summaries of State Annual Compliance Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B–1 

Appendix C 

Map of Indian Lands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C–1 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Table of Contents Page 1 • November 2001 
List of Tables 

Table 1: Number of Public Water Systems on Tribal Lands with Violations by Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 

Table A–1: Significant Monitoring Violations for Annual State Public Water System Reports . . . . . . . .A–4 

Table A–2: Summary of Drinking Water Regulations for Public Water Systems During 1999 . . . . . . . .A–5 

Table B–1: Summary of Elements Reported by States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B–4 

Page 2 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Table of Contents 
Appendix A

Glossary of Terms

Administrative Order 

Formal enforcement actions issued by EPA or a 

State to address noncompliance at a public water 

system, usually by means of a compliance 

schedule with enforceable milestone dates. 

Chemical Rules 

Refers collectively to regulations that protect the 

public from unsafe levels of organic chemicals, 

inorganic chemicals (other than lead and 

copper), and radioactivity in drinking water. 

Community Water System 

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). 

Federally-recognized Indian Tribe 

An Indian tribe, band, nation, pueblo, 

community, or Alaska Native Village that the 

Secretary of the Interior acknowledges to exist as 

an Indian tribe pursuant to the Federally 

Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994, 25 

U.S.C. Section 479a. Maintained by the 

Department of the Interior, the list of federallyrecognized tribes is updated periodically and 

published in the Federal Register. The latest list 

of federally-recognized Indian tribes is available 

at 65 Federal Register 12398 (March 13, 2000). 

Health-based Violation 

A violation of either a Maximum Contaminant 

Level or a Treatment Technique requirement. 

Inorganic Chemicals 

These non-carbon based compounds (such as 

metals, nitrates, and asbestos) can either occur 

naturally in some sources of drinking water or be 

introduced by human activity. EPA has 

established MCLs for 15 inorganic contaminants. 

Violations of standards for lead and copper are 

addressed separately. 

Large System 

A public water system that serves more than 

10,000 people. 

Lead and Copper Rule 

Requires a public water system to take steps to 

minimize the risk of exposure to lead and copper 

in drinking water by monitoring for these 

contaminants, installing corrosion control where 

required, and, where necessary, educating the 

public about ways to reduce exposure. A system 

may also be required to treat its source water or 

replace lead service lines. 

Maximum Contaminant Level 

The maximum permissible level of a contaminant 

in water delivered to any user of a public water 

system. 

Monitoring and Reporting Violation 

Refers to either a violation of a monitoring and 

reporting schedule or violation of contaminantspecific minimum testing schedules and 

operational reporting requirements. Those 

monitoring and reporting violations considered 

“significant” for the purposes of the state and 

national public water system compliance reports 

are described below in Table A–1. 

Nitrate and Nitrite 

Inorganic compounds that can enter water 

supplies, primarily from fertilizer runoff and 

sanitary wastewater discharges. 

Non-transient Non-community Water System 

A non-community public water system that 

regularly serves at least 25 of the same persons 

over six months per year. A typical example of a 

non-transient non-community water system is a 

school or an office building that has its own 

water source, such as a drinking water well. 

Organic Chemicals 

These carbon-based compounds, such as 

solvents and pesticides, can enter drinking water 

through a variety of means, including factory 

discharges or runoff from crop lands. EPA has 

established MCLs for 56 organic contaminants. 

Primacy 

The Safe Drinking Water Act requires EPA, 

States, and Tribes to work as partners to ensure 

delivery of safe drinking water to the public. Any 

State or Indian Tribe can request responsibility 

for operation and oversight of the drinking water 

program within its borders. In order to receive 

this responsibility (called “primary enforcement 

authority” or “primacy”), a State or Tribe must 

show, among other things, that it has adopted 

drinking water regulations that are at least as 

stringent as Federal regulations, and demonstrate 

its capacity both to enforce those regulations and 

to implement other activities necessary to ensure 

compliance. 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix A Page A–1 • November 2001 
In the absence of State or Tribal primacy, EPA 

assumes responsibility for administering the 

drinking water program for that area. Of the 56 

eligible States (defined to include 

Commonwealths, Territories, and the District of 

Columbia), all but Wyoming and the District of 

Columbia have primacy. During calendar year 

1999, the EPA Regional Offices administered the 

drinking water program within these two 

jurisdictions and on all Tribal lands. 

Primary Drinking Water Regulations 

These are regulations that apply to public water 

systems; specify contaminants which, in the 

judgment of the Administrator, may have an 

adverse effect on the health of persons; and 

specify for each such contaminant either a 

maximum contaminant level or a treatment 

technique. 

Public Water System 

A system for the provision to the public of water 

for human consumption through pipes or other 

constructed conveyances, if such system has at 

least fifteen service connections or regularly 

serves at least twenty-five individuals at least 60 

days out of the year. 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 

Responsible for implementing Environmental 

Protection Agency 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. 

Small Systems 

Public water systems that serve no more than 

3,300 people. 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 

The Surface Water Treatment Rule (SWTR) 

requires a public water system served by surface 

water or by ground water under the influence of 

surface water to take steps (such as disinfection, 

filtration followed by disinfection, or watershed 

control) to reduce potential exposure to 

microbiological contamination. 

Total Coliform Rule 

Establishes limits on coliform bacteria in water 

distribution systems. Although coliform bacteria, 

which are found in decaying organic material and 

in the intestinal tract of humans and animals, are 

usually not harmful to human health, their 

presence may indicate the presence of other, 

more dangerous microbial contamination. 

SDWIS/FED 

EPA’s database for collecting safe drinking water 

monitoring results from oversight agencies. 

SDWIS stands for Safe Drinking Water 

Information System. Public Water Systems are 

required to report all monitoring results to the 

primary enforcement authority. States with 

primacy, or EPA where it administers the 

program, analyze the monitoring results, 

determine compliance, and report violations to 

EPA on a quarterly basis. EPA maintains records 

of these violations in SDWIS/FED. SDWIS/FED 

records only violations, not results that 

demonstrate compliance with drinking water 

standards. 

Total Trihalomethanes 

These chemicals can be by-products of chemical 

processes used to disinfect drinking water. 

Transient Non-community Water System 

A non-community water system that regularly 

serves at least 25 people (but not the same 25) 

over six months per year. A typical example is a 

campground or a highway rest stop that has its 

own water source, such as a drinking water well. 

Treatment Technique 

In cases where EPA has determined it is not 

technically or economically feasible to establish 

an MCL, the Agency can instead specify a 

treatment technique. These are treatment 

methods required by EPA to minimize the level of 

a contaminant in drinking water. 

Page A–2 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix A 
Variances and Exemptions 

A public water system that cannot comply with a 

drinking water standard because of poor source 

water quality, or, in the case of small systems, 

inadequate financial resources, can be granted a 

variance to comply with less stringent, but still 

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

exemption allows a PWS with compelling 

circumstances (including economic 

considerations) additional time to achieve 

compliance with applicable SDWA requirements, 

so long as public health is adequately protected. 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix A Page A–3 • November 2001 
TABLE A–1: SIGNIFICANT MONITORING VIOLATIONS FOR

ANNUAL STATE PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM REPORTS

Rule Violation Type Description 

SDWIS 

Violation Code1 

SDWIS 

Contaminant Code 

Total Coliform Rule 

Major routine No samples collected during a 

compliance period 23 

Regular 

monitoring 

3100 

Major repeat 

No follow-up samples collected 

after a positive total coliform 

sample or no speciation 

25 3100

Surface Water 

Treatment Rule 

Major (filtered) 

Collected less than 90% of 

samples required during a 

compliance period 

36 None 

Major 

(unfiltered) 

Collected less than 90% of 

samples required during a 

compliance period 

31 None 

Lead and 

Copper Rule 

Initial lead and 

copper tap 

Either failed to collect the initial 

tap samples, and then failed to 

correct that omission within a) 3 

months for large systems, b) 6 

months for medium systems, or 

c) 12 months for small systems; 

or failed to submit the associated 

report 

51 

Follow-up or 

routine lead 

and copper tap 

Failed to collect 1 or more 

required samples 52 

C 

h 

e 

m 

Phase I, II, IIB, 

and V Rules 

Failed to collect any required 

samples2 03 

Total 

Trihalomethanes 

Regular 

monitoring 

Radionuclides 

Failed to collect any required 

samples 

Failed to collect any required 

samples 

Regular 

monitoring 

03 

03 

2950 

4000, 4100, 

4010 

By contaminant 

1 EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS/FED) makes no distinction between the sampling violations and the reporting 

violations associated with a sample collection requirement. Both violations are reported under the same violation code. 

2 Failure to collect “any required samples” means none of the required samples were collected. 

Page A–4 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix A 
TABLE A–2: SUMMARY OF DRINKING WATER REGULATIONS FOR

PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS DURING 1999

None 

Applicability of Regulations 

Contaminant/Rule 

Community 

Water Systems 

Non-transient NonCommunity Water Systems Transient Non-Community 

Water Systems 

Organic Contaminants All All 

Some 

(Only epichlorohydrin 

and acrylamide) 

None Total Trihalomethanes 

(TTHM) 

Some 

(Only systems serving more 

than 10,000) 

None 

None 

None None

All 

All 

All 

All 

All 

All 

All 

All 

All 

All 

Inorganic Contaminants 

Some 

(All except arsenic 

and fluoride) 

Nitrate and Nitrite 

Radionuclides 

Total Coliform 

Lead and Copper 

Surface Water Treatment 

Some 

(Only PWSs using surface 

water sources or ground 

water sources under 

the direct influence of 

surface water) 

Some 

(Only PWSs using surface 

water sources or ground 

water sources under 

the direct influence of 

surface water) 

Some 

(Only PWSs using surface 

water sources or ground 

water sources under 

the direct influence of 

surface water) 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix A Page A–5 • November 2001 

Appendix B

Summaries of State Annual

Compliance Reports

CONTENTS

Alabama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–7 

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–8 

American Samoa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–9 

Arizona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–10 

Arkansas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–11 

California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–12 

Colorado . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–13 

Connecticut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–14 

Delaware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–15 

District of Columbia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–16 

Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–17 

Georgia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–18 

Guam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–19 

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–20 

Idaho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–21 

Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–22 

Indiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–23 

Iowa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–24 

Kansas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–25 

Kentucky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–26 

Louisiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–27 

Maine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–28 

Maryland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–29 

Massachusetts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–30 

Michigan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–31 

Minnesota. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–32 

Mississippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–33 

Missouri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–34 

Montana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–35 

Nebraska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–36 

Nevada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–37 

New Hampshire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–38 

New Jersey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–39 

New Mexico. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–40 

New York . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–41 

North Carolina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–42 

North Dakota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–43 

Northern Mariana Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–44 

Ohio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–45 

Oklahoma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–46 

Oregon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–47 

Pennsylvania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–48 

Puerto Rico. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–49 

Rhode Island . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–50 

South Carolina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–51 

South Dakota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–52 

Tennessee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–53 

Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–54 

Utah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–55 

Vermont . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–56 

Virgin Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–57 

Virginia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–58 

Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–59 

West Virginia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–60 

Wisconsin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–61 

Wyoming. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–62 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B Page B–1 • November 2001 

This Appendix presents a summary of each state 

report in a standardized format. The format 

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). 

This Appendix summarizes the data reported by the 

States, but does not interpret it. Therefore, other factors 

must be taken into account before drawing conclusions 

about a State program. For example, public water systems 

are required to report all violations to the State, but State 

drinking water programs vary in the regulations they 

choose to emphasize. A State that decided to focus 

attention and resources on one particular rule may have 

discovered and reported many more violations of that rule 

than a State that chose to focus on a different rule. A 

disproportionate number of violations in a State could also 

indicate that the State needs to work with its public water 

systems to improve their compliance. 

Readers are cautioned to view the violations data provided 

in the State summaries within the context of each State 

and its individual drinking water program. 

In 1999, EPA received State Public Water System 

Compliance Reports from 51 of the 54 primacy 

states, Commonwealths, and Territories. As in 

past years, American Samoa, Guam, and the 

Northern Mariana Islands did not submit 

reports, and, with limited exceptions, did not 

supply information to SDWIS/FED. Appendix B 

supplies what information is available in 

SDWIS/FED to indicate violations at public water 

systems in the Pacific territories. 

Because the District of Columbia, Wyoming, and 

Indian Tribes did not have primary enforcement 

responsibility for drinking water in calendar year 

1999, EPA prepared reports for those 

jurisdictions. 

Violations for 1999 

EPA summarizes the number of MCL, treatment 

technique, and significant monitoring violations1 

reported by each state in four categories: 

•	 Violations of chemical contaminant 

requirements2 

• Violations of the Total Coliform Rule 

•	 Violations of the Surface Water Treatment 

Rule 

• Violations of the Lead and Copper Rule. 

EPA summarizes the numbers of individual 

public water systems in violation in each of these 

four categories, as reported by the state. 

If a state’s report did not include information in a 

category, EPA’s summary notes the omission. 

1999 Totals 

EPA also summarizes the total number of 

systems in each state, the total number of 

violations reported, and the total number of 

PWSs in violation, if the state reported this 

information. 

Systems in Violation 

Systems in Violation is defined as the number of 

different systems with a reported violation of this 

type. Some states counted a system with multiple 

violations or violations in more than one category 

as one violating system. Other states counted a 

violating system each time it had a violation, or 

once for each of the regulatory categories in 

which it had a violation. If EPA’s review of a 

state’s report indicated some violating systems 

were counted more than once, an asterisk notes 

that the state’s number possibly overcounts 

violating systems. 

Variances and Exemptions 

There were no reported violations of variances 

and exemptions in 1999. 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual 

Public Water Systems Report 

If a state’s report includes information on how to 

obtain a copy of the report, that information is 

provided on the state summary page in this 

Appendix. 

1	 A comprehensive definition of significant monitoring and reporting violations including exceptions to the definition for the Total 

Coliform Rule and Lead and Copper Rule appears in Appendix A. 

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

radionuclide contaminants. 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B Page B–3 • November 2001 
Page B–4 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B

x

TABLE B–1: SUMMARY OF ELEMENTS REPORTED BY STATES

State

Submitted

Report

Reported On

Violations

Categories

MCL M/R TT

x

Reported

on V/E

Provided

Inventory

Information

Identified

Size and Type of

Violating

Systems

Discussed

Compliance and

Enforcement

Responses

Identified Each

System with MCL

and TT Violations

Provided

Information to

Public on

Availability

Provided

Additional

Information1

Alabama x x x x x x x x x x

Alaska x x x x x x x x

American Samoa Did not submit report.

Arkansas x x x x x x x x x

California x x x x x x x x

Colorado x x x x x x

Connecticut x x x x x x x x

Delaware x x x x x x x x x

District of Columbia x x x x x x x x x x x

Florida x x x x x x

Georgia x x x x x x x x

Guam Did not submit report.

Idaho x x x x x x x x x

Illinois x x x x x x

Indiana x x x x x x x x x

Iowa x x x x x x x x x x

Kentucky x x x x x x x

Louisiana x x x x x x x

Maine x x x x x x

Maryland x x x x x x x x

Massachusetts x x x x x x x x x x

Michigan x x x x x x x

Minnesota x x x x x x

x

Mississippi x x x x x x x

Missouri

Nebraska x

x x x x x x x x

Montana x x x x x x x x x

x x x x x x x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

Arizona x x x x x x

Hawaii x x x x x x x x x x

Kansas x x x x x x x x x x

x

Nevada x x x x x x

1. An “x” in this column indicates the state submitted more information in its report than the minimum EPA recommends in guidance.

x

x

x

x
TABLE B–1: SUMMARY OF ELEMENTS REPORTED BY STATES (continued)

State 

Submitted 

Report 

Reported On 

Violations 

Categories Reported 

on V/E 

Provided 

Inventory 

Information 

Identified 

Size and Type of 

Violating 

Systems 

Discussed 

Compliance and 

Enforcement 

Responses 

Identified Each 

System with MCL 

and TT Violations 

Provided 

Information to 

Public on 

Availability 

Provided 

Additional 

Information MCL M/R 1 TT 

New Hampshire x x x x x x x x x x x 

New Jersey x x x x x x x x x x 

New Mexico x x x x x x x 

New York x x x x x x x x 

North Carolina x x x x x x 

North Dakota x x x x x x x x x 

Northern Mariana 

Islands Did not submit report. 

Ohio x x x x x x x x x x 

Oklahoma x x x x x x x x x 

Oregon x x x x x x x x x x x 

Pennsylvania x x x x x x x x x x 

Puerto Rico x x x x 

Rhode Island x x x x x x x 

South Carolina x x x x x x x x x 

South Dakota x x x x x x 

Tennessee x x x x x x x x x x 

Texas x x x x x x x x x 

Utah x x x x 

Vermont x x x x x x x x x 

Virgin Islands x x x x x x x 

Virginia x x x x x x x 

Washington x x x x x x x x 

West Virginia x x x x x x x x x 

Wisconsin x x2 x2 x x x x x x x 

Wyoming x x x x x x x 

1. An “x” in this column indicates the state submitted more information in its report than the minimum EPA recommends in guidance. 

2. Wisconsin did not report TCR violations. 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B Page B–5 • November 2001 

State of Alabama 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 2 2 202 31* 

Total Coliform Rule 32 31 71 51 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 0 0 0 0

Lead and Copper Rule 0 0 18 18

*The state report gives different counts in the text of the report and in the accompanying tables. Counts from the text of the report are shown 

here. 

325 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 736 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation NR 

Total Number of 

Violations 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

Alabama’s State Report is available by contacting ADEM, Water Supply Branch, P.O. Box 301463, Montgomery, AL 

36130-1463, or by accessing the state’s web site at www.adem.state.al.us/viorep99.html. 

E-mail: tsd@adem.state.al.us 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B Page B–7 • November 2001 
State of Alaska 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 7 6 3,096 344 

Total Coliform Rule 37 35 1,407 698 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 310 89 520 114

Lead and Copper Rule 0 0 228 228

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 1,689 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation 946 

Total Number of 

Violations 5,605 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

Alaska’s State Report is available by accessing the state’s web site at www.state.ak.us/dec/deh/water. 

Page B–8 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B 
American Samoa 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

0 

0

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 0 0 0 0 

Total Coliform Rule 0 0 0 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 14 14 0 0

Lead and Copper Rule 0

14 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 22 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation 14 

Total Number of 

Violations 

0 0

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

American Samoa did not publish an Annual Report. EPA generated data from SDWIS/FED. 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B Page B–9 • November 2001 
State of Arizona 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

51 

0

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 20 14 347 196 

Total Coliform Rule 214 155 306 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 88 8 0 0

Lead and Copper Rule 0

975* 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 1,709 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation 312 

Total Number of 

Violations 

0 0

The text of the state report lists the total number of 

violations as 955, while the individual category 

numbers given (shown above) total 975. 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

Arizona’s statewide annual and bi-annual reports and specific PWS compliance status reports can be obtained by 

contacting the state at Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Compliance Section, 3033 North 

Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85012-2809. 

Telephone: (602) 207-4624. 

Page B–10 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B 
State of Arkansas 1999 PWS Compliance Report

Violations for 1999

190 

4

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 26 11 0 0 

Total Coliform Rule 142 119 250 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 140 31 75 37

Lead and Copper Rule 1 1 4

638 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 1,190 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation NR 

Total Number of 

Violations 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

Arkansas’ State Report is available by contacting the Arkansas Department of Health, Division of Engineering, 4815

West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205-2032, or by accessing the state’s web site at

www.healthyarkansas.com/eng/.

Telephone: (501) 661-2623

Fax: (501) 661-2032

E-mail: scorder@mail.doh.state.ar.us

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B Page B–11 • November 2001 
State of California 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

410 

Not

Available

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 26 25* 0 0 

Total Coliform Rule 366 306 626 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 83 68 0 0

Not

Available

Not

Available

Not

Available Lead and Copper Rule** 

*The state report gives different counts in the text of the report and in the accompanying tables. Counts from the text of the report are shown 

here. 

** California does not collect data on lead and copper violations. 

1,101 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems NR 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation NR 

Total Number of 

Violations 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

California’s State Report is available by contacting the State at California Department of Health Services, Division of 

Drinking Water and Environmental Management, or by accessing the web site at 

http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/ddwem/publications/pubindex.htm. 

Telephone: (916) 323-6111 

Page B–12 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B 
State of Colorado 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

370 

21

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 0 0 47 29 

Total Coliform Rule 85 63 519 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 47 27 47 19

Lead and Copper Rule 8 7 21

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 2,100 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation NR 

Total Number of 

Violations 774 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

Colorado’s State Report is available by contacting the state at Compliance Monitoring-Data Management, WQCOCMDM-B2, 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver, CO 80246-1530. 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B Page B–13 • November 2001 
State of Connecticut 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

100 

34

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 22* 8 712 35 

Total Coliform Rule 233 122 146 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 3 0

Lead and Copper Rule 32 31 36

3 0

*The state report gives different counts in the text of the report and in the accompanying tables. Counts from the text of the report are shown 

here. 

1,184 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 4,600 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation NR 

Total Number of 

Violations 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

Connecticut’s State Report is available at the public libraries or by contacting the Water Supplies Section, 

Department of Public Health, 450 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06134. To schedule an appointment to review this 

document at the Water Supplies Section, call (860) 509-7333. 

Page B–14 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B 
State of Delaware 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

0 

8

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 24 14 1 1 

Total Coliform Rule 40 34* 0** 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 0 0

Lead and Copper Rule 0

0 0

0 8

*The state report gives different counts in the text of the report and in the accompanying tables. Counts from the text of the report are shown 

here. 

** Although Delaware’s report table shows 1 system with 1 violation, its list of violators by system shows no violations. 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 566 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation 142 

Total Number of 

Violations 73 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

Information on Delaware’s public water systems is available by accessing EPA’s Envirofacts web site at 

www.epa.gov/enviro/html/sdwis/sdwis_query.html. 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B Page B–15 • November 2001 
District of Columbia 1999 PWS Compliance Report

Violations for 1999

0 

0

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 0 0 0 0 

Total Coliform Rule 0 0 0 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 0 0

Lead and Copper Rule 0

0 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 2 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation 0 

Total Number of 

Violations 

0 0

0 0

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

The District of Columbia’s State Report is available by contacting George Rizzo, DC PWSS Program Manager,

Drinking Water Branch (3WP22), U.S. EPA Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029, or by

accessing the web site at www.epa.gov/reg3wapd/drinkingwater/links.htm.

Telephone: (215) 814-5781

Fax: (215) 814-2318

E-mail: rizzo.george@epa.gov

Page B–16 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B 
State of Florida 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

702 

2

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 20 16 233 202 

Total Coliform Rule 283 258 910 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 0 0

Lead and Copper Rule 0

0 0

0 3

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems ~7,000 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation NR 

Total Number of 

Violations 1,449 

Where to Obtain the 1999 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 at www.dep.state.fl.us/water/Wf/dw/default.htm. 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B Page B–17 • November 2001 
State of Georgia 1999 PWS Compliance Report

Violations for 1999

489 

49

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 1 414 316 

Total Coliform Rule 136 102 709 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 0 0

Lead and Copper Rule 0 49

1,309 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems NR 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation NR 

Total Number of 

Violations 

0 0

0

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

Georgia’s State Report is available by contacting Doug Davenport, Department of Natural Resources, Environmental

Protection Division, Drinking Water Program, Information Management Unit, 205 Butler St., SE, Suite 1362,

Atlanta, GA 30334.

Telephone: (404) 651-5162

Page B–18 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B 
Guam 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

0 

2

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 0 0 0 0 

Total Coliform Rule 0 0 0 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 0 0

Lead and Copper Rule 0

2 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 12 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation 2 

Total Number of 

Violations 

0 0

0 2

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

Guam did not publish an Annual Report. EPA generated data from SDWIS/FED. 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B Page B–19 • November 2001 
State of Hawaii 1999 PWS Compliance Report

Violations for 1999

0 

0

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 0 0 0 0 

Total Coliform Rule 3 2 0 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 60 6 0 0

Lead and Copper Rule 0 0 0

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 135 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation 8 

Total Number of 

Violations 63 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

Hawaii’s State Report is available by contacting the Hawaii Department of Health, Safe Drinking Water Branch, 

Environmental Management Division, 919 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 308, Honolulu, HI 96814-4920. 

Telephone: (808) 586-4258

Page B–20 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B 
State of Idaho 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

487 

15

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 30 13 263 218 

Total Coliform Rule 229 200 638 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 187 24 0 0

Lead and Copper Rule 0 15

1,362 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 2,075 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation 768 

Total Number of 

Violations 

0

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

Idaho’s State Report is available by contacting the Idaho Division of Environmental Quality’s six Regional Offices or 

the state’s seven district health departments, or by accessing the state’s web site at www.state.id.us/deq/. 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B Page B–21 • November 2001 
State of Illinois 1999 PWS Compliance Report

Violations for 1999

159 

77

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 199 131 1,812 76 

Total Coliform Rule 157 140 296 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 1 0

Lead and Copper Rule 36 25 87

1 0

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 6,072 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation 495 

Total Number of 

Violations 2,588 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

Illinois’ State Report is available by contacting the Illinois EPA’s Division of Public Water Supplies, #13, P.O. Box 

9276, Springfield, IL 62794-9276. 

Telephone: (217) 785-8653

Page B–22 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B 
State of Indiana 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

1,489 

84

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 34 14 810 707* 

Total Coliform Rule 310 270 2,725 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 15 7 0 0

Lead and Copper Rule 45 42 145

* Possibly overcounts violating systems. 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 4,255 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation 1,906 

Total Number of 

Violations 4,084 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

Indiana’s State Report is available by contacting the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Office of 

Water Management, Drinking Water Branch, or by accessing the web site www.state.in.us/idem/owm/dwb/index.html. 

Telephone: (317) 308-3280 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B Page B–23 • November 2001 
State of Iowa 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

236 

25

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 169 155 473 365 

Total Coliform Rule 203 144 325 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 7 0

Lead and Copper Rule 52 43 29

1,258 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 2,006 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation NR 

Total Number of 

Violations 

5 0

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

Iowa’s State Report is available by contacting the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Water Supply Section, 

Wallace State Office Building, 900 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50319-0034, or by accessing the state’s 

web site at www.state.ia.us/government/dnr/organiza/epd/wtrsuply/pwscmp97.htm. 

Page B–24 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B 
State of Kansas 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

35 

13

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 121* 50* 0 0 

Total Coliform Rule 74 67 65 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 26 12 4 4

Lead and Copper Rule 5 5 13

*The state report gives different counts in the text of the report and in accompanying tables. Counts from the text of the report are shown here. 

Possible overcounting of violating systems. 

308 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 1,106 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation 165 

Total Number of 

Violations 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

Kansas’ State Report is available by contacting KDHE, Bureau of Water, Public Water Supply Section, Forbes Field, 

Building 283, Topeka, KS 66620, or by accessing the web site at www.kdhe.state.ks.us. 

Telephone: (785) 296-5500 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B Page B–25 • November 2001 
State of Kentucky 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

37 

9

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 41 16 2,725 87 

Total Coliform Rule 16 15 137 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 19 11 71 39

Lead and Copper Rule 0 0 9

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 684 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation 353 

Total Number of 

Violations 3,018 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

Kentucky’s State Report is available by contacting the Kentucky Division of Water, Drinking Water Branch, 14 Reilly 

Road, Ash Building, Frankfort, KY, 40601, or by accessing the state’s web site at 

water.nr.state.ky.us/dow/dwhome.htm. 

Telephone: (502) 564-3410 

Page B–26 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B 
State of Louisiana 1999 PWS Compliance Report

Violations for 1999

9 

0

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 0 0 0 0 

Total Coliform Rule 134 119 9 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 7 0

Lead and Copper Rule 0

2 0

0 0

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 1,850 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation 134 

Total Number of 

Violations 154* 

*The state report gives different counts in the text of the report and 

in the accompanying tables. Counts from the text of the report are 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

The Louisana State Report is available by contacting the Office of Public Health, Engineering Services, 6867

Bluebonnet Boulevard, Suite 222, Baton Rouge, LA, 70810.

Fax: (225) 765-5040

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B Page B–27 • November 2001 
State of Maine 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

471 

20

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 2 2** 362 238** 

Total Coliform Rule 297 181 990 

Surface Water Treatment Rule* 16 6 1 1

Lead and Copper Rule 20 17 23

* Maine’s report includes SWTR MCL violations. Maine appears to be counting violations that they are not required to report in this context. 

** Possibly overcounts violating systems. 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 2,146 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation NR 

Total Number of 

Violations 1,711 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

Maine’s State Report is available by contacting the State at Drinking Water Program, 10 State House Station, 

Augusta, ME 04333, or by accessing the state’s web site at www.state.me.us/dhs/eng/water/water.htm. 

Telephone: (207) 287-2070 

Page B–28 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B 
State of Maryland 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

55 

31

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 28 21* 58 42 

Total Coliform Rule 269 232 94 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 10 9 0 0

Lead and Copper Rule 1 1 31

* Possibly overcounts violating systems. 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 3,823 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation NR 

Total Number of 

Violations 491 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

Maryland’s State Report and additional information on the Maryland program are available by contacting Nancy 

Reilman, MDE, Water Supply Program at (410) 631-3729. 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B Page B–29 • November 2001 
State of Massachusetts 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

152 

55

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 5 5 1,979 200 

Total Coliform Rule 108 91 295 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 54 54 3 3

Lead and Copper Rule 29 29 60

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 1,607 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation 476 

Total Number of 

Violations 2,533 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

The Massachusetts report is available on the state’s web site at www.state.ma.us/dep/brp/dws/dwspubs.htm. Hard 

copies are available at each of the four Massachusetts DEP regional offices: 

Western — 436 Dwight Street, Springfield, MA 01103 

Central — 627 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608 

Northeast — 205A Lowell Street, Wilmington, MA 01887 

Southeast — 20 Riverside Drive, Lakeville, MA 02347 

Page B–30 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B 
State of Michigan 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

1,943 

129

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 13 13 1,289 1,038 

Total Coliform Rule 492 453 2,471 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 1 0

Lead and Copper Rule 1 1 133

1 0

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems ~12,456 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation NR 

Total Number of 

Violations 4,400 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

Michigan’s State Report is available by contacting the state at Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, 

Drinking Water and Radiological Protection Division, 3423 North Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, P.O. Box 30630, 

Lansing, MI 48909-8130, or by accessing the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Drinking Water and 

Radiological Protection Division web site at www.deq.state.mi.us/us/dwr/. 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B Page B–31 • November 2001 
State of Minnesota 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

67 

27

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 40 40 7 7 

Total Coliform Rule 269 267 83 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 36 22 0 0

Lead and Copper Rule 0 27

462 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 8,950 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation NR 

Total Number of 

Violations 

0

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

Minnesota’s State Report is available by contacting the Drinking Water Protection Section, Minnesota Department of 

Health, Box 64975, St. Paul, MN 55164-0975, or by accessing the web site at 

www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/dwp/pws/dwpreport99.html. 

Page B–32 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B 
State of Mississippi 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

33* 

0

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 1 1 17 17 

Total Coliform Rule 65 57 43* 

Surface Water Treatment Rule NR NR 0 0

Lead and Copper Rule NR NR 0

*The state report gives different counts in the text of the report and in the accompanying tables. Counts from the text of the report are shown 

126 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 1,479 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation 100 

Total Number of 

Violations 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

Mississippi’s State Report is available by contacting the Mississippi State Department of Health, Water Supply 

Division, P.O. Box 1700, Jackson, MS 39215-1700, or by accessing the state’s web site at 

www.msdh.state.ms.us/OHR/watersup/wshome.htm. 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B Page B–33 • November 2001 
State of Missouri 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

587 

57

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 12 10 519 119 

Total Coliform Rule 430* 351 1,006 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 20 14 0 0

Lead and Copper Rule 0 0 57

*The state report gives different counts in the text of the report and in the accompanying tables. Counts from the text of the report are shown 

here. 

2,044 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 2,734 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation NR 

Total Number of 

Violations 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

Missouri’s State Report and additional information regarding Missouri’s PWSs are available by contacting the 

Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Public Drinking Water Program, P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102, 

or by accessing the web site at www.dnr.state.mo.us/deq/pdwp/homepdwp.htm. 

Telephone: (573) 751-5331 or 1-800-361-4827 

Page B–34 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B 
State of Montana 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

570 

148

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 4 4 625 625* 

Total Coliform Rule 153 151 902 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 43 8 70 18

Lead and Copper Rule 109 109 339

* Possibly overcounts violating systems. 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 2,020 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation NR 

Total Number of 

Violations 2,245 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

Montana’s State Report is available by contacting the Public Water Supply Section, Community Services Bureau, 

Permitting and Compliance Division, Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Box 200901, Helena, MT 

59624-0901. 

Telephone: (406) 444-4400 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B Page B–35 • November 2001 
State of Nebraska 1999 PWS Compliance Report

Violations for 1999

200 

9

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 87 53 38 36 

Total Coliform Rule 408 284 267 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 0 0

Lead and Copper Rule 0

809 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 1,335 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation NR 

Total Number of 

Violations 

0 0

0 9

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

Nebraska’s State Report is available by contacting the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services,

Regulation and Licensure, 301 Centennial Mall South, P.O. Box 95007, Lincoln, NE 68509, or by accessing the

state’s web site at www.hhs.state.ne.us/enh/enhindex.htm.

Telephone: (402) 471-2541

Fax: (402) 471-6436

TDD: (402) 471-9570

Page B–36 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B 
State of Nevada 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

224 

136

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 7 7 609 73 

Total Coliform Rule 89 71 226 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 10 10 NR NR

Lead and Copper Rule NR NR 136

1,077 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 670 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation NR 

Total Number of 

Violations 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

Nevada’s State Report is available from the Nevada State Health Division, 1179 Fairview Drive, Suite 101, Carson 

City, NV 89701. 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B Page B–37 • November 2001 
State of New Hampshire 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

158 

2*

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 2 2 820* 74 

Total Coliform Rule 173 122 213 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 3 5 1

Lead and Copper Rule 0 2*

3

0

*The state report gives different counts in the text of the report and in the accompanying tables. Counts from the text of the report are shown 

here. 

1,218 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 2,207 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation NR 

Total Number of 

Violations 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

New Hampshire’s State Report is available by contacting the NH Department of Environmental Services, Water 

Division, Water Supply Engineering Bureau, 6 Hazen Drive, P.O. Box 95, Concord, NH 03301, or by accessing the 

web site www.des.nh.state.us/wseb. 

Telephone: (603) 271-2954 

E-mail: 1_cullerot@des.state.nh.us 

Page B–38 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B 
State of New Jersey 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

859 

128**

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 57 50* 14,388 776* 

Total Coliform Rule 225 145 1,468 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 9 4 4

Lead and Copper Rule 1 1 164**

5

* Possibly overcounts violating systems.

**The state report gives different counts in the text of the report and in the accompanying tables. Counts from the text of the report are shown

here.

16,316 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 4,423 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation NR 

Total Number of 

Violations 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

New Jersey’s State Report is distributed through the state library system. 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B Page B–39 • November 2001 
State of New Mexico 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

120 

14

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 3 3 1 1 

Total Coliform Rule 147 118 149 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 6 0

Lead and Copper Rule 0 14

5 0

0

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 1,347 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation 230 

Total Number of 

Violations 320 

Where to Obtain the 1999 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 Keith Melton, Program Manager, Drinking Water Program, New Mexico Environment

Department, 525 Camino De Los Marquez, Suite 4, P.O. Box 26110, Santa Fe, NM 87502.

Telephone: (505) 827-7536

E-mail: keith_melton@nmev.state.nm.us

Page B–40 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B 
State of New York 1999 PWS Compliance Report

Violations for 1999

0 

9

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 46 9* 0 0 

Total Coliform Rule 43 43 0 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 139 124 0 0

Lead and Copper Rule 36 36 9

*The state report gives different counts in the text of the report and in the accompanying tables. Counts from the text of the report are shown 

here. 

273 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 11,617 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation NR 

Total Number of 

Violations 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

New York’s State Report is available by contacting the state at BPWSP — NYSDOH, Flanigan Square, 547 River 

Street, Room 400, Troy, NY 12180-2216, or by accessing the web site at bpwsp@health.state.ny.vs. 

Inside New York: 1-800-458-1158, ext. 27650

Outside New York: (518) 402-7650

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B Page B–41 • November 2001 
State of North Carolina 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

3,745 

31

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 29* 22* 4,146 2,315 

Total Coliform Rule 386 322 7,507 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 0 0 0

Lead and Copper Rule 0 31

0

0

*The state report gives different counts in the text of the report and in the accompanying tables. Counts from the text of the report are shown 

here. 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 7,193 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation NR 

Total Number of 

Violations 12,099 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

North Carolina’s State Report is available by contacting the North Carolina Public Water Supply Section web site at 

www.deh.enr.state.nc.us/pws. 

Page B–42 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B 
State of North Dakota 1999 PWS Compliance Report

Violations for 1999

71 

2

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 3 3 22 2 

Total Coliform Rule 39 25 92 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 1 0

Lead and Copper Rule 0

159* 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 574 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation 113 

Total Number of 

Violations 

1 0

0 2

* Although North Dakota reported 168 total violations, this included 

nine minor monitoring violations. 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

North Dakota’s State Report is available by contacting the North Dakota Department of Health, Division of Municipal

Facilities, P.O. Box 5520, 1200 Missouri Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58506-5520, Attention: Jeni Walsh.

Telephone: (701) 328-5231

Fax: (701) 328-5200

E-mail: jwalsh@state.nd.us

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B Page B–43 • November 2001 
Northern Mariana Islands 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

0 

0

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 0 0 0 0 

Total Coliform Rule 0 0 0 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 0 0

Lead and Copper Rule 0

0 0

0 0

0 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 43 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation 0 

Total Number of 

Violations 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

The Northern Mariana Islands did not publish an Annual Report. EPA generated data from SDWIS/FED. 

Page B–44 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B 
State of Ohio 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

1,232 

127

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 15 10 3,210 678 

Total Coliform Rule 1,030 687 1,799 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 166 31 3 1

Lead and Copper Rule 11 11 141

6,375 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 5,901 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation 2,024 

Total Number of 

Violations 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

A summary of Ohio’s State Report is available by contacting the State of Ohio at PWS Annual Compliance Report, 

Ohio EPA — DDAGW, Lazarus Government Center, P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, OH 43216-1049, or by accessing the 

Ohio EPA’s web site at www.epa.state.oh.us/ddagw/annualreports.html. An additional contact is David Greenwood, 

Central District Office, 3232 Alum Creek Drive, Columbus, OH 43207. 

Telephone: (614) 728-3778 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B Page B–45 • November 2001 
State of Oklahoma 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

221 

122

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 36 33 0 0 

Total Coliform Rule 90 79 399 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 52 34 16 10

Lead and Copper Rule 50 48 122

765 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 1,717 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation NR 

Total Number of 

Violations 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

Oklahoma’s State Report is available by contacting the state at Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, 

Water Quality Division, 8th Floor, 707 North Robinson, Oklahoma City, OK, or by mail request at the Department of 

Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division, P.O. Box 1677, Oklahoma City, OK 73101-1677, or by accessing the 

web site at www.deq.state.ok.us/water1/home/index.html. 

Page B–46 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B 
State of Oregon 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

1,012 

93

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 6 6 745 742 

Total Coliform Rule 165 134 1,845 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 122 53 200 66

Lead and Copper Rule 81 81 121

3,285 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 2,699 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation 1,590 

Total Number of 

Violations 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

Oregon’s State Report is available by contacting Diane Weis at the Oregon Health Division, 800 NE Oregon Street, 

Portland, OR 97232, or by accessing the Oregon drinking water web site at www.ohd.hr.state.or.us/cehs/dwp. 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B Page B–47 • November 2001 
State of Pennsylvania 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

943 

55

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 122 85 4,011 529 

Total Coliform Rule 342 246 1,320 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 113 18 179 42

Lead and Copper Rule 6 64

6,157 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 10,500 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation 1,591 

Total Number of 

Violations 

6

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

Pennsylvania’s State Report, the list of public water systems having MCL violations during 1999, and additional 

information about the Pennsylvania Safe Drinking Water Program are available by contacting the Department of 

Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply Management, P.O Box 8467, 11th Floor RCSOB, Harrisburg, PA 

17105-8467, or by accessing the web site at www.dep.state.pa.us. 

Telephone: (717) 787-5017 

Page B–48 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B 
Puerto Rico 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

152 

34

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 8 5 1,316 710 

Total Coliform Rule 987 385 280 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 423 187 1,226 136

Lead and Copper Rule 1 1 52

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems NR 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation NR 

Total Number of 

Violations 4,293 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

Puerto Rico’s Report is available at the following addresses:

Department of Health

Public Water Supply Supervision Program

Ramon Fernandez Marina Hospital — Third Floor

Bo. Monacillos, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico

Department of Health

Public Water Supply Supervision Program

P.O. Box 70184 Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico 00936

Telephone: (787) 754-6010 or (787) 754-6370

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B Page B–49 • November 2001 
State of Rhode Island 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

2 

0

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 2 2 2 2 

Total Coliform Rule 23 17 3 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 0 0

Lead and Copper Rule 2

32 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 481 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation 24 

Total Number of 

Violations 

0 0

2 0

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

Additional information about Rhode Island’s drinking water program is available by contacting the Rhode Island 

Department of Health, Office of Drinking Water Quality, 3 Capitol Hill, Room 209, Providence, RI 02908, or by 

accessing the state’s web site at www.health.state.ri.us. 

Telephone: (401) 222-6867 

Page B–50 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B 
State of South Carolina 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

85 

38

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 17 14 0 0 

Total Coliform Rule 125 95 155 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 8 2 1*

Lead and Copper Rule 8 39

8

8

*The state report gives different counts in the text of the report and in the accompanying tables. Counts from the text of the report are shown 

here. 

354 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 1,639 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation 225 

Total Number of 

Violations 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

South Carolina’s State Reports are available by contacting the Water Enforcement Division with SCDHEC’s Bureau of

Water at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC, 29201, or by accessing the Bureau of Water web site at

www.state.sc.us/dhec/eqc/water. For additional information not contained here, call the Freedom of Information

Office at (803) 898-3880.

Telephone: (803) 898-4154

Fax: (803) 898-3795

E-mail: bleaubp@columb32.dhec.state.sc.us

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B Page B–51 • November 2001 
State of South Dakota 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

117 

39

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 14 7 645 53* 

Total Coliform Rule 85 61 189 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 7 0 0

Lead and Copper Rule 8 42

1

8

* Possibly overcounts violating systems. 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 725 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation NR 

Total Number of 

Violations 990 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

South Dakota’s State Report is available by contacting the state at DENR, Drinking Water Program, 523 E. Capitol 

St., Pierre, SD 57501-3181. 

Page B–52 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B 
State of Tennessee 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

194 

3

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 0 0 396 55* 

Total Coliform Rule 72 65 287 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 60 10 15 4

Lead and Copper Rule 0 0 3

* Possibly overcounts violating systems. 

833 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 1,192 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation NR 

Total Number of 

Violations 

Where to Obtain the 1999 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 (888) 891-8332; Division of Water Supply, 121 South Willow, 

Cookeville, TN 38502; Division of Water Supply, 362 Carriage House Drive, Jackson, TN 38305-2222; Division of 

Water Supply, 2305 Silverdale Road, Johnson City, TN 37601-2162; Division of Water Supply, Suite 220-State 

Plaza, 2700 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN 37219; Division of Water Supply, 537 Brick Church Park Drive, 

Nashville, TN 37243-1550. Copies of Tennessee’s State Report are also located in most public libraries in 

Tennessee, or by accessing the web site at www.state.tn.us/environment/dws/index.html. 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B Page B–53 • November 2001 
State of Texas 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

287 

80

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 172 159 0 0 

Total Coliform Rule 146 134 370 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 56 13 211 33

Lead and Copper Rule 15 15 80

1,050 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 6,696 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation NR 

Total Number of 

Violations 

Where to Obtain the 1999 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 the Water Utilities Division, Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, P.O. Box 

13087, Austin, TX 78711-3087. 

Telephone: (512) 239-6020 

Page B–54 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B 
State of Utah 1999 PWS Compliance Report

Violations for 1999

203 

81

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 0 0 4,591 3,234 

Total Coliform Rule 130 90 322 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 15 4 8 2

Lead and Copper Rule 0 81

5,147 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems NR 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation NR 

Total Number of 

Violations 

0

Where to Obtain the 1999 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. 

Telephone: (801) 536-4207

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B Page B–55 • November 2001 
State of Vermont 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

271 

41

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 4 3 247 225** 

Total Coliform Rule 90 75 340 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 8 8 31 12

Lead and Copper Rule 8 8 51*

*The state report gives different counts in the text of the report and in the accompanying tables. Counts from the text of the report are shown 

here. 

** Possibly overcounts violating systems. 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 1,337 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation NR 

Total Number of 

Violations 779 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

Vermont’s State Report is available by contacting the State Water Supply Division, 103 S. Main Street, Waterbury, 

VT 05671-0403. 

Telephone: (802) 241-3400 

In Vermont: (800) 823-6500 

Page B–56 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B 
Virgin Islands 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

55 

66*

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 6* 1* 208 208 

Total Coliform Rule 111 89 85 

Surface Water Treatment Rule NR NR NR NR

Lead and Copper Rule 0 0 66*

*The state report gives different counts in the text of the report and in the accompanying tables. Counts from the text of the report are shown 

here. 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 460 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation NR 

Total Number of 

Violations 476 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

The Virgin Islands Report can be obtained by contacting the DPNR, Division of Environmental Protection, 1118 

Water Gut Homes, Christiansted, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, 00820. The report is also available at public libraries, 

University of Virgin Islands Public Library, UVI’s Water Resource Research Institute, and local libraries. 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B Page B–57 • November 2001 
State of Virginia 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

254 

137

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 6 6 8 8 

Total Coliform Rule 227 171 423 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 101 23 8 1

Lead and Copper Rule 127 126 138

1,038 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 3,870 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation NR 

Total Number of 

Violations 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

A complete copy of the report may be obtained by contacting one of the 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 (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. A summary of Virginia’s state report is available by accessing the state’s 

web site at www.vdh.state.va.us. 

Page B–58 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B 
State of Washington 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

1,003 

1,355

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 0 0 0 0 

Total Coliform Rule 480 361 1,866 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 145 63 84 18

Lead and Copper Rule 14 14 1,361

3,950 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 4,285 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation 2,287 

Total Number of 

Violations 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

Washington’s State Report is available by contacting the Department of Health, Division of Drinking Water, P.O. Box 

47822, Olympia, WA 98504-7822, or by accessing the state’s web site at www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/dw/enflink.htm or 

web site www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/dw/enflink2.htm. 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B Page B–59 • November 2001 
State of West Virginia 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

488 

52

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 6 4 265 157 

Total Coliform Rule 84 65 1,038 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 0 0

Lead and Copper Rule 0 82

3,131* 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 1,411 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation 580 

Total Number of 

Violations 

0 0

0

The state report lists the total number of violations as 

3,131, while the individual category numbers given 

(show above) total 1,475. 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

West Virginia did not provide a specific source for obtaining a copy of its report. For more information, contact the 

West Virginia Bureau for Public Health, Office of Environmental Health Services, 815 Quarrier Street, Suite 418, 

Charleston, WV, 25301-2616. 

Telephone: (304) 558-2981 

Page B–60 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B 
State of Wisconsin 1999 PWS Compliance Report

Violations for 1999

829 

31

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 53 37 624 597 

Total Coliform Rule NR 545 NR 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 0 0

Lead and Copper Rule 13 13 62

0 0

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 11,760 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation 2,052 

Total Number of 

Violations 752 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

Wisconsin’s State Report is available by contacting the Bureau of Drinking Water and Groundwater, State of 

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. 

Telephone: (608) 266-6669

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B Page B–61 • November 2001 
State of Wyoming 1999 PWS Compliance Report 

Violations for 1999 

108 

19

Violations Category 

MCL Treatment Technique Significant Monitoring 

Violations 

Systems in 

Violation Violations Violations 

Systems in 

Violation 

Systems in 

Violation 

Chemical Contaminant Group 4 4 1,077 74** 

Total Coliform Rule 52 42 141 

Surface Water Treatment Rule 3 5

Lead and Copper Rule 0 0 20*

3 5

*The state report gives different counts in the text of the report and in the accompanying tables. Counts from the text of the report are shown 

here. 

** Possibly overcounts violating systems. 

Total Number of 

Regulated Systems 733 

Total Number of 

Systems in Violation NR 

Total Number of 

Violations 1,302 

Where to Obtain the 1999 Annual State Public Water Systems Report 

The report for the state of Wyoming is available by contacting John Gillis, EPA Region 8, 999 18th Street, Suite 

500, Denver, CO 80202-2466. 

Telephone: (303) 312-6229 

Page B–62 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix B 
Appendix C

Map of Indian Lands

Indian Lands 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Appendix C Page C–1 • November 2001 

1999 National Summary of Compliance for 

Public Water Systems in Indian Country 

INTRODUCTION 

This section of the 1999 National Public Water 

Systems Compliance Report describes how the 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and 

federally-recognized Indian tribes (tribes) are 

meeting the goal of ensuring that public water 

systems in Indian country provide safe drinking 

water. 

PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS ON 

INDIAN RESERVATIONS 

Tribes may apply for eligibility to receive primary 

enforcement responsibility (known as primacy) to 

administer the drinking water program provided 

they meet the requirements of Sections 1413 and 

1451 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). As 

of 1999, only the Navajo Nation has received 

primacy. EPA, therefore, administers the drinking 

water program in Indian country, including on 

Indian reservations. 

A glossary of terms used in this report appears 

in Appendix A. A map of the areas covered by 

this report appears in Appendix C. 

PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS IN 

ALASKA AND OKLAHOMA 

Compliance figures for Alaska Native Villages and 

tribes in Oklahoma are not included in this 

section of the report; they can be found in the 

Alaska and Oklahoma state reports. In addition, 

it is possible that some other tribal systems are 

not included in this section; they can also be 

found in other state reports. The state reports do 

not, however, contain separate information on 

tribal public water systems. As a result, 

comprehensive information on these systems is 

not covered in either the tribal or state section of 

the report. 

EPA plans to review whether information on 

public water systems serving Alaska Native 

Villages and tribes in Oklahoma, as well as any 

other tribal systems not currently addressed in 

this section of the report, should continue to be 

included in state reports. EPA intends to address 

this issue in the next report. 

DATA QUALITY 

This report uses information from the Safe 

Drinking Water Information System/Federal 

Version (SDWIS/FED). SDWIS/FED is the national 

database where EPA records information on 

public water systems in Indian country. Public 

water systems in Indian country are required to 

report laboratory data to EPA. EPA uses the 

information to determine compliance with the 

national primary drinking water regulations of 

SDWA. 

This report also discusses the limitations in the 

data EPA uses to measure its success and the 

steps it is taking to increase data reliability and 

completeness. The report also discusses the 

Agency’s compliance assistance, enforcement, 

and financial assistance programs. EPA plans to 

continue its data quality efforts during 2000 to 

ensure that SDWIS/FED contains complete and 

accurate information. 

FINDINGS 

In 1999, 981 public water systems in Indian 

country served approximately 513,719 users. 

•	 748 community water systems served more 

than 410,385 people in their primary 

residences. 

•	 91 non-transient non-community systems 

(schools and factories) served a constantly 

changing audience of more than 30,509 

people. 

•	 142 transient non-community systems 

(campgrounds and highway rest stops) served 

more than 72,825 people who passed 

through. 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Section on Indian Country Page 13 • November 2001 
Percentage of Systems by Type 

15% 

76% 

9% 

Community

Transient Non-Community

Non-Transient Non-Community

Almost all public water systems in Indian 

country were small. These small systems 

provide drinking water to the majority of the 

public who drank water on Indian 

reservations. 

•	 98% of public water systems in Indian 

country serve 3,300 or fewer people. These 

957 small systems served 66% of the people 

who received water from public water 

systems on Indian reservations. 

SDWIS/FED records no violations for most 

public water systems in Indian country. 

Systems with Violations 

24% 

76% 

No Reported Violations 

Violations of Some Kind 

•	 750 of 981 public water systems had no 

reported health-based or significant reporting 

violations. 

95% of public water systems in Indian country 

reported no violations of a health-based 

drinking water standard in 1999. 

Percentage of Health-Based Violations 

by Rule 

100% 

2% 

5% 

0% 

93% 

90% 

80% 

70% 

60% 

50% 

40% 

30% 

20% 

10% 

0% 

Chem TCR LCR SWTR 

Percentage of Health-Based Violations 

•	 88 health-based violations in Indian country 

were reported to SDWIS/FED in 1999. The 

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for the 

Total Coliform Rule was the health-based 

standard most frequently violated. 

The vast majority of violations reported to 

SDWIS/FED in 1999 were for a public water 

system’s significant failure to monitor and 

report, rather than for a health-based MCL or 

a treatment technique violation detected and 

reported. 

•	 Of the 2,480 violations reported to 

SDWIS/FED in 1999, 2,392 (96%) were 

significant violations of monitoring and 

reporting requirements. If a system did not 

monitor the quality of its water, it is 

impossible to know if it has violated healthbased requirements. 

•	 Public water systems in Indian country 

represent 0.6% of all public water systems in 

the United States but were responsible for 

3.0% of all monitoring and reporting 

violations at public water systems reported to 

SDWIS/FED in 1999. 

Page 14 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Section on Indian Country 
Type of Violation 

96% 

4% 

Health-based

Monitoring and Reporting

COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE 

AND ENFORCEMENT 

EPA uses multiple approaches to ensure public 

water systems in Indian country comply with 

SDWA regulations. 

EPA’s tribal compliance assistance program is 

designed to help maintain compliance with SDWA 

by building cooperative working relationships 

with utility managers, operators, other tribal 

environmental staff, and tribal elected officials. 

The program emphasizes information exchanges, 

operation assistance, and water quality 

monitoring. 

EPA gives information and assistance directly to 

tribal public water system operators, utility 

managers, and owners through training sessions, 

newsletters, telephone support, and system visits. 

On-site technical assistance is provided by 

engineers and qualified staff who work with 

tribes to assess current compliance status, 

develop monitoring schedules and compliance 

plans, and conduct sanitary surveys. EPA 

coordinates many of these activities with other 

federal agencies, including the Indian Health 

Service and the Bureau of Reclamation. 

Coordination also occurs with non-governmental 

organizations and inter-tribal consortia, including 

the Native American Water Association, the Rural 

Water Association, and the Rural Community 

Assistance Corporation. 

EPA is also responsible for initiating enforcement 

actions against owners or operators of public 

water systems in Indian country if a system is not 

in compliance with SDWA. In most cases, EPA 

relies on compliance assistance and informal 

enforcement actions to facilitate a tribally owned 

or managed public water system’s return to 

compliance. When a formal enforcement action is 

appropriate, EPA can initiate administrative 

orders, including emergency administrative 

orders, and refer civil and criminal cases to the 

Department of Justice. The “EPA Policy for the 

Administration of Environmental Programs on 

Indian Reservations” (EPA Indian Policy) guides 

the Agency’s approach to bringing civil 

administrative or judicial enforcement actions 

against systems owned or managed by tribal 

governments. 

Public water systems are required to monitor for 

89 different contaminants and conduct analyses 

using a variety of EPA-approved analytical 

methods. Where a system fails to perform some 

or all of the required monitoring, a separate 

monitoring and reporting violation is recorded 

for each missed contaminant. 

Table 1 shows the number of compliance 

assistance and enforcement activities directed 

toward public water systems in Indian country. 

The information is drawn both from SDWIS/FED 

and separate records maintained by some EPA 

Regions. EPA Regions are only required to report 

to SDWIS/FED on violations and formal 

enforcement actions related to the resolution of 

violations of SDWA; these data are, however, 

currently incomplete. Some EPA Regions 

maintain separate records that contain 

information on both formal and informal 

enforcement actions and compliance assistance 

activities. 

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE 

EPA provides financial assistance to public water 

systems in Indian country to help build tribal 

capacity to operate and maintain systems in 

compliance with SDWA. Capacity building is a 

long-term solution which focuses on giving tribes 

grants, training, and technical assistance as they 

develop their environmental programs. EPA’s own 

General Assistance Program builds tribal 

capacity by providing grants to develop core 

environmental activities, including drinking water 

programs. 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Section on Indian Country Page 15 • November 2001 
TABLE 1: NUMBER OF PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS

ON TRIBAL LANDS WITH VIOLATIONS BY RULE

PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS AND VIOLATIONS TOTAL NUMBER 

Total Number of Public Water Systems 981 

Total Number of Public Water Systems with Violations 231 

Total Number of Violations 2,480 

COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY SDWIS/FED SUPPLEMENTAL

Federal Administrative Order issued 1 1 

Federal Compliance Achieved 0 0 

Federal 1431 (Emergency) Order 0 1 

Federal Voluntary Reminder Notice 157 327 

Federal Compliance Meeting Conducted 7 499 

Federal Technical Assistance Visit 16 502 

Federal Site Visit (including sanitary surveys) 0 120 

Federal Public Notification Requested 1 10 

Federal Public Notification Issued 1 2 

Federal Public Notification Received 43 15 

Federal Boil Water Order 7 15 

EPA also distributes funds for specific drinking 

water program priorities. About $2.7 million (3% 

of the set-aside of public water systems 

appropriations) was allotted for implementing the 

Tribal Public Water System Supervision Program 

in fiscal year 1998. Through this program, EPA 

awarded a number of grants to tribes and tribal 

organizations to address various aspects of the 

drinking water program. 

In addition to the 3% set-aside, EPA received 

$3.8 million in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 for 

drinking water needs on Indian lands. EPA is 

focusing on activities such as: 

•	 Tribal Public Water System Supervision 

Program primacy workshops to provide 

general outreach material to all tribes eligible 

to pursue primary enforcement 

responsibility; 

• capacity development projects; 

•	 source water and wellhead protection 

projects; 

•	 development of a voluntary operator 

certification program for tribes; and 

•	 provision of operator training and 

certification to tribal operators. 

In the 1996 Amendments to SDWA, an 

infrastructure funding program was established 

to improve water supplies. Each year, 1.5% of the 

appropriation for the national Drinking Water 

State Revolving Fund program is set aside for 

American Indian communities and Alaska Native 

Villages. The initial set-aside from the 1997 

appropriation amounted to $19.25 million, an 

additional $10.87 million was set-aside from the 

1998 appropriation, and $11.625 million was 

set-aside from the 1999 appropriation. In 1998, 

EPA provided approximately $7 million to the 

Page 16 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Section on Indian Country 
state of Alaska to target drinking water 

infrastructure improvement for rural and Native 

villages. A small portion of these funds was used 

to support technical assistance and training. 

Furthermore, EPA funds tribal multi-media 

compliance and enforcement programs, including 

drinking water system activities. 

Finally, technical assistance and training for 

small tribally owned or operated public water 

systems are also provided. For example, EPA 

currently has two cooperative agreements with 

the National Rural Water Association to provide 

support to small public water systems, including 

those owned or operated by tribes. 

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 

In 1999, EPA Regions reported that 76% of the 

public water systems in Indian country did not 

report a violation of a health-based standard or a 

significant reporting violation. This represents an 

overall increase from 1998 when 72% of facilities 

did not report a violation of a health-based 

standard or a significant reporting violation. 

During 1999, there was a noticeable decrease in 

the total number of significant violations of 

monitoring and reporting requirements in Indian 

country from 3,897 in 1998 to 2,392 in 1999. 

This decrease, however, resulted from the fact 

that systems determine compliance with many 

chemical contaminants on a three year cycle. 

Reports for those contaminants were due in 

1998, with the result that monitoring and 

reporting violations in that year increased 

dramatically. 1999 was the first year of another 

three year cycle. With fewer reports due in 1999, 

there were fewer monitoring and reporting 

violations.1 

EPA continues to implement two primary 

recommendations from the 1996 and 1997 

reports: (1) improve collection and maintenance 

of compliance data for public water systems in 

Indian country; and (2) place a priority on 

decreasing the number of monitoring and 

reporting violations to gain a full understanding 

of whether health-based violations exist. EPA will 

accomplish these recommendations by: 

•	 continuing to work cooperatively with tribal 

governments and their utility managers and 

water system operators to improve 

compliance with monitoring and reporting 

requirements and with health-based 

standards, particularly the Total Coliform 

Rule and Surface Treatment Water Rule; 

•	 increasing EPA’s field presence, conducting 

more frequent sanitary surveys, and engaging 

in targeted technical and compliance 

assistance and enforcement; 

•	 improving the inventory of public water 

systems in Indian country; 

•	 improving the collection and entry into 

SDWIS/FED of compliance and enforcement 

information in a timely manner to avoid 

keeping multiple records; 

•	 continuing to support and encourage capital 

improvements for public water systems to 

improve the infrastructure (and therefore 

compliance with SDWA requirements) of 

public water systems in Indian country, 

including grants provided under the Drinking 

Water Tribal Infrastructure Improvement 

Program; and 

•	 focusing on small system compliance issues 

and the development of small system 

capacity. 

Ultimately, EPA will continue to respond to 

compliance and enforcement issues at public 

water systems owned or managed by tribal 

governments in a manner consistent with SDWA 

and the EPA Indian Policy. As such, EPA will 

usually emphasize compliance assistance as the 

first step in returning these systems to 

compliance. Where compliance assistance is 

ineffective and where, among other things, there 

is a significant threat to human health or the 

environment, EPA will take appropriate steps to 

return systems to compliance, including formal 

enforcement actions. 

1 Systems must monitor for most chemical contaminants one time within a standard three-year compliance period. 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — Section on Indian Country Page 17 • November 2001 

1999 National Summary of 

Public Water Systems Compliance 

INTRODUCTION 

The National Public Water Systems Compliance 

Report for 1999 describes how the 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its 

state partners are meeting the goal of ensuring 

that Americans receive safe drinking water from 

public water systems. The report also discusses 

the data we use to measure our success and the 

progress we are making in our efforts to increase 

its reliability and completeness. 

EPA prepares a National Public Water Systems 

Compliance Report for every calendar year. The 

report is an annual summary of violations at the 

nation’s public water systems. The report also 

summarizes and evaluates annual reports 

prepared by the states.1 

Public Water Systems 

A Public Water System (PWS) is a system for the 

provision to the public of water for human 

consumption through pipes or other constructed 

conveyances, if such system has at least fifteen 

service connections or regularly serves at least 25 

individuals at least 60 days out of the year. A public 

water system can be one of three types: 

• Community Systems (CWS) serve at least 15 

service connections or 25 people year-round in 

their primary residences. 

• Non-transient Non-community Systems 

(NTNCWS) serve at least 25 of the same 

persons over six months per year (e.g., schools 

or factories that have their own water source). 

• Transient Non-community Systems (TNCWS) 

serve at least 25 persons (but not the same 25) 

over six months per year (e.g., campgrounds or 

highway rest stops that have their own water 

source). 

The first part of this report draws information 

from the Safe Drinking Water Information 

System/Federal Version (SDWIS/FED), EPA’s 

national database, to provide a national picture 

of the maximum contaminant level, treatment 

technique, significant monitoring and reporting, 

and variance or exemption violations the states 

reported to EPA for 1999. EPA aggregates all 

reported violations at all public water systems in 

states, commonwealths, territories and 

throughout Indian country to present a national 

summary of all violations, all monitoring and 

reporting violations, and all violations of healthbased standards at the different kinds of public 

water systems. 

The second part of this report presents 

information on public water systems throughout 

Indian country. 

A glossary of terms used in this report appears 

in Appendix A. 

Summaries and evaluations of the states’ annual 

public water systems reports for 1999 are 

presented in Appendix B. 

PWS COMPLIANCE 

This report uses information from SDWIS/FED, 

the national database where EPA records 

information the states are required to report 

about their public water systems. For the 

national public water system compliance reports, 

EPA examines SDWIS/FED records of violations 

of primary drinking water regulations that 

specify: 1) the maximum permissible level of a 

contaminant in water that is delivered to any 

user of a public water system (Maximum 

Contaminant Level or MCL); 2) techniques for 

treating water to make it safe; and 3) monitoring 

and reporting requirements (how and when water 

must be tested and the results reported). 

1 The term “state” includes 56 states, commonwealths, and territories. All but Wyoming and the District of Columbia have 

federal approval to implement the drinking water program within their jurisdictions. Federal approval to implement the 

drinking water program is called primary enforcement authority, or “primacy.” During calendar year 1999, EPA implemented 

the drinking water program in Wyoming, the District of Columbia, and throughout Indian country and was responsible for 

reporting the violations in these jurisdictions to SDWIS/FED. 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — National Summary Page 1 • November 2001 
Information Sent to Customers: 

Consumer Confidence Report — Every community 

water system is required to send its customers (each 

service connection) a yearly report identifying the 

contaminants detected in its water and the risks of 

exposure to those contaminants. 

Public Notification Rule — Public water systems must 

notify their customers if there has been a violation of 

drinking water standards. 

Information on the Internet: 

Safewater Web Site (http://www.epa.gov/safewater) — 

provides information on the Safe Drinking Water Act, 

individual water systems, contaminants that may be in 

drinking water, and what individuals can do to help 

protect sources of their drinking water. 

Additional Information: 

Call the community water system — Billing statements 

should provide a number to call with questions. 

State Public Water Systems Compliance Report — 

Each state’s annual report discusses the violations at its 

public water systems. Most state reports include a list 

of violating facilities. 

National Public Water Systems Compliance Report 

(this report) — summarizes all reported violations at 

America’s public water systems. 

Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791) — 

answers questions about drinking water, lets callers 

order documents from EPA, and can refer callers to EPA 

experts if they need more information. 

Envirofacts Web Site (http://www.epa.gov/enviro) — 

allows the public to access EPA databases containing 

information on environmental activities that may affect 

air, water, and land anywhere in the United States. 

How Does The Public Find Out If Its Drinking Water Is Safe? 

As EPA reported in its Data Reliability Analysis 

of the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information 

System/Federal Version (SDWIS/FED) (EPA 816-

R-00-020, October 2000), the data in SDWIS/FED 

are generally accurate. This is particularly true of 

data related to the number of public water 

systems, their size, and their type. However, 

EPA’s analysis revealed that many states did not 

report some apparent violations — either to their 

own data systems or to EPA’s SDWIS/FED. 

Although states have corrected the data 

omissions EPA’s analysis discovered, EPA and the 

states are engaged in further data quality efforts 

to ensure that all violations are identified and 

reported to SDWIS/FED. Because these ongoing 

efforts will result in significant corrections and 

additions to the data in SDWIS/FED, this 1999 

report offers broad national findings rather than 

detailed analysis. 

Discussions of data quality concerns and EPA’s 

recommendations appear later in this report. 

FINDINGS 

In 1999, 167,564 public water systems 

together served 275 million users. The actual 

number of individuals served was smaller, 

because millions of Americans drank water 

from, and were counted as users by more than 

one public water system during the course of 

the year. 

Percentage of Systems by Type 

56% 

12% 

32% 

Transient Non-Community 

Community 

Non-Transient Non-Community 

Page 2 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — National Summary 
•	 54,101 community water systems served 

more than 256 million people in their 

primary residences. 

•	 20,429 non-transient non-community 

systems (schools, factories) served almost 7 

million people in places they frequented. 

•	 93,034 transient non-community systems 

(campgrounds, highway rest stops) served a 

constantly changing user base of more than 

12 million people. 

Most public water systems were small, but 

large systems served a majority of the people 

who drank water from a public water system. 

Size vs. Users Served2 

95% 

80% 

60% 

40% 

20% 

0% 

Small Systems Large Systems 

2% 

15% 

76% 

100% 

Percentage of Systems 

Percentage of Users Served 

•	 95% of America’s public water systems 

(including nearly all of the transient noncommunity systems) served 3,300 or fewer 

users. Together, these 159,219 small systems 

provided service to 15% of all users. 

•	 2% of America’s public water systems served 

more than 10,000 users. Together, these 

3,744 large systems provided service to 76% 

of all users. 

SDWIS/FED recorded no significant violations 

for most of America’s public water systems. 

•	 78% of the public water systems in America 

collected and tested the required samples 

and filed the required reports without 

reporting a violation. 

PWS with Violations 

78% 

22% 

No Violation

Violation of Some Kind

The states reported either a health-based 

violation or a significant monitoring and 

reporting violation at approximately 36,000 

public water systems in 1999. 

•	 Slightly more than 23,000 (64%) of these 

systems were non-community water systems, 

all but fifty of which served fewer than 3,300 

users. Together, these violating small noncommunity water systems served drinking 

water to 3 million users. 

•	 91% of the approximately 13,000 community 

water systems with a violation served fewer 

than 3,300 users. Together, these violating 

small community water systems served 

drinking water to 4.5 million users. 

2	 Because only 3% of public water systems are “medium” in size, i.e., serve between 3,301 and 10,000 users, and because only 

9% of the population is served by them, this report omits discussion of “medium” systems. 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — National Summary Page 3 • November 2001 
Most Americans received drinking water from 

public water systems that recorded no 

significant violations in 1999. 

Percentage of Users Served by PWS 

without Reported Significant Violation 

16% 

84% 

Users Served by System without Violation 

Users Served by System with Violation 

•	 84% of the population served by public water 

systems received drinking water from a 

system that neither reported a violation of a 

health-based standard nor was cited for a 

significant violation of a monitoring and 

reporting requirement. 

•	 84% of the population served by community 

water systems received drinking water from 

a system that neither reported a violation of a 

health-based standard nor was cited for a 

significant violation of a monitoring and 

reporting requirement. 

The vast majority of the 85,476 violations the 

states reported to SDWIS/FED in 1999 were 

for a public water system’s significant failure 

to monitor and report, rather than healthbased MCL or treatment technique violations 

detected and reported by a system. 

Type of Violation 

84% 

16% 

Monitoring and Reporting 

Health-Based 

•	 If a system did not monitor the quality of its 

water, it is impossible to know if it has 

violated a health-based requirement. For this 

reason, a system’s significant failure to 

monitor and report is a major violation that 

must be addressed and corrected. 

•	 51% of the 71,410 significant monitoring and 

reporting violations reported by the states 

were violations of the monitoring and 

reporting requirements of the Total Coliform 

Rule, a rule that applies to all types and sizes 

of public water systems. 

94% of America’s public water systems 

reported no violations of a health-based 

drinking water standard in 1999. 

PWS with Health-Based Violations 

94% 

6% 

Systems with Reported Health-Based Violations 

Systems with No Reported Health-Based Violations 

Page 4 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — National Summary 
Health-Based Violations and Illness

It is important to note that a public water system's 

violation of a health-based standard does not mean 

that the people who drank the system's water got 

sick. A health-based violation means either that the 

system has exposed its users to what EPA has judged 

as an unreasonable risk of illness, or that the system 

has failed to treat its water to the extent EPA has 

judged necessary to protect its users from an 

unreasonable risk of illness in the event that the 

regulated contaminant is present in source water. 

Many variables affect the likelihood of illness resulting 

from health-based violations, among them the 

duration of the violation, whether or not the violation 

occurred in an isolated section of a complex public 

water system, and the extent to which contamination 

exceeds the allowable level. While modern treatment 

systems have substantially reduced the incidence of 

waterborne disease, drinking water contamination 

remains a significant health risk management 

challenge. Studies by the Centers for Disease Control 

(CDC) indicate that between 1980 and 1998 there 

were 419 outbreaks of illness linked to contamination 

in drinking water resulting in an estimated 511,000 

cases of disease (Craun and Calderon, 1996; Levy et 

al., 1998; Barwick et al., 2000). The majority of 

outbreaks in the U.S. occurred at surface water 

systems. Nearly 80% of all reported cases of illness 

were associated with the 1993 Cryptosporidium

outbreak in Milwaukee, WI, which resulted in an 

estimated 403,000 cases (MacKenzie et al. 1994; 

McDonald et al. 2001). 

The number of waterborne disease outbreaks 

identified and reported in the CDC database is 

believed, however, to understate the actual incidence 

of outbreaks and cases of illness (Craun and 

Calderon, 1996; National Research Council, 1997). 

Recognized and reported waterborne disease 

outbreaks are usually the result of exposure to 

waterborne pathogens that cause acute 

gastrointestinal illness with diarrhea, abdominal 

discomfort, nausea, and vomiting. Because such 

illnesses are generally of short duration in healthy 

people, many individuals experiencing these 

symptoms do not seek medical attention. Where 

medical attention is sought, the pathogenic agent may 

not be identified through routine testing. 

Consequently, outbreaks are often not recognized in a 

community or, if recognized, are not traced to a 

drinking water source. Moreover, an unknown but 

probably significant portion of waterborne disease is 

endemic (i.e., isolated cases not associated with an 

outbreak) and, thus, is even more difficult to 

recognize. 

EPA's health-based standards are intended to provide 

an adequate margin of safety not just for healthy 

people, but also for populations that are at greater 

risk from waterborne disease. These sensitive 

subpopulations include children (especially the very 

young), the elderly, the malnourished, pregnant 

women, the disease impaired (e.g., diabetes, cystic 

fibrosis), and a broad category of those with 

compromised immune systems, such as AIDS 

patients, those with autoimmune disorders (e.g., 

rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus, multiple 

sclerosis), transplant recipients, and those on 

chemotherapy (Rose, 1997). Immunocompromised 

persons are more likely than healthy individuals to 

contract waterborme disease, the severity and 

duration of their illness is often greater, and they are 

at a greater risk of death. 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — National Summary Page 5 • November 2001 
The Maximum Contaminant Level for the Total 

Coliform Rule (TCR) is the health-based 

standard most frequently violated. 

Percentage of Health-Based 

Violations by Rule 

100% 

90% 

80% 

70% 

60% 

50% 

40% 

30% 

20% 

10% 

0% 

Chem TCR LCR SWTR 

8% 

70% 

7% 

15% 

Percentage of Health-Based Violations 

•	 SDWIS/FED recorded 14,066 violations of 

health-based standards in 1999. 70% of these 

violations were violations of the MCL for the 

Total Coliform Rule (TCR), which must be 

met by all types and sizes of public water 

systems.3 

No violations of variances or exemptions were 

reported to SDWIS/FED during 1999. 

•	 Under Federal law, states can grant variances 

or exemptions to public water systems in 

limited circumstances allowing them to install 

alternative technology or giving them more 

time to meet a standard if public health is 

adequately protected in the interim. Few 

public water systems were operating under a 

variance or exemption in 1999, and only four 

new variances or exemptions were granted 

during the year. The states did not report any 

violations. 

EPA and its state partners continue to take 

enforcement actions against violators.4 

During 1999, the 54 states (a term that included 

states, commonwealths, and territories) with 

federal approval to implement the drinking water 

program were also responsible for initiating 

enforcement actions in response to drinking 

water violations at public water systems in their 

jurisdictions. EPA implemented the drinking 

water program in Wyoming, the District of 

Columbia, and in Indian country. The Agency 

initiated enforcement responses in these areas 

and, occasionally, in the states — sometimes at a 

state’s invitation. Together, EPA and the states 

initiated almost 1,500 formal enforcement 

actions, each action potentially addressing 

multiple violations. 

•	 In 1999, the states issued a total of 1,211 

formal enforcement actions, including 808 

administrative orders without penalty, 337 

administrative orders with penalty, and 66 

civil referrals to the state’s Attorneys General. 

•	 During the same period, EPA issued a total of 

221 formal enforcement actions, including 

213 Federal administrative orders, five 

consent orders with penalties, and three 

referrals for civil judicial action. 

These totals do not take into account the 

informal enforcement actions or the public water 

systems that returned to compliance before EPA 

and state procedures would require initiation of a 

formal response. 

Perhaps the most meaningful way to measure the 

effectiveness of the EPA and state enforcement 

partnership is to compare the number of new 

significant noncompliers in 1999 to the number 

of significant noncompliers that remained 

unaddressed at the end of the year. EPA 

3 For the annual compliance reports, EPA tracks violations of the contaminant rules in four categories: 1) chemical 

contaminants (Chem) — violations of rules for organic, inorganic (except for lead and copper), and radioactive contaminants 

— compliance with many organic and inorganic standards is determined on the basis of shared samples, with one missed 

sample resulting in a monitoring and reporting violation of many standards; 2) total coliform (TCR); 3) lead and copper 

(LCR); and 4) surface water treatment (SWTR). Coliform bacteria are usually not a threat to humans, but their presence in 

drinking water can indicate a lapse in treatment and the possible presence of other, more dangerous, microbes. 

4 There are several reasons why there will be a difference between the number of violations in a year and the number of formal 

enforcement responses. For example, a state may choose to address a system's violations informally in a manner that returns 

the system to compliance before the time interval has elapsed that by EPA guidance would necessitate initiation of a formal 

enforcement response. Also, it is not uncommon for the regulator to address all of a violating system's multiple violations in a 

single enforcement response. In addition, formal enforcement responses addressing violations discovered late in one reporting 

year are generally not initiated until early in the following year. 

Page 6 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — National Summary 
designates a public water system a significant 

noncomplier if the system has serious, frequent 

or persistent violations that may pose a threat to 

public health. States and EPA give significant 

noncompliers priority attention in their efforts to 

return violators to compliance and address 

violations with enforcement actions. 

•	 In calendar year 1999, EPA designated 5,571 

public water systems significant 

noncompliers. Most (98%) of these significant 

noncompliers served fewer than 3,300 users. 

•	 Between January 1 and December 31, 1999, 

states and EPA addressed 6,410 significant 

noncompliers; 3,569 (64%) of the significant 

noncompliers that were new to 1999 and 

2,841 from prior years.5 Only 23 of the new 

significant noncompliers that remained 

unaddressed at the end of 1999 served 

10,000 or more users. 

•	 At the end of 1999, there were 2,002 new and 

1,447 old significant violators that had not 

been addressed. Fewer than 3% of these 

unaddressed significant noncompliers served 

3,300 or more users. 

DATA QUALITY 

The data used in this report came from EPA’s 

national SDWIS/FED database. SDWIS/FED is 

composed of data that states are required to 

submit to SDWIS/FED each quarter. EPA uses 

information in SDWIS/FED to assess progress in 

the implementation of regulations, to develop 

national enforcement and compliance priorities, 

and to provide information to the public. 

EPA periodically conducts data verifications 

(independent, on-site audits) of state drinking 

water programs to ensure that the state is 

determining compliance in accordance with 

Federal regulations. Data verifications help detect 

differences between data in a state’s files 

(whether electronic or hard copy), and data in 

SDWIS/FED. 

As part of the ongoing data reliability efforts 

described in past National Public Water Systems 

Compliance Reports, EPA examined the results of 

data verifications conducted from 1996 through 

1998. Those audits, which covered 27 states 

(including one where EPA itself administers the 

drinking water program) and one territory, 

analyzed data from almost 1,800 public water 

systems. The data audits reviewed inventory 

information (identifying systems, their number, 

their size, and their type), apparent violations 

that either were reported or should have been 

reported, and any enforcement actions initiated. 

EPA’s review showed that information the states 

reported to SDWIS/FED is generally very 

accurate. Most of the SDWIS/FED data problems 

EPA identified were instances where required 

data did not appear in SDWIS/FED. EPA found 

that a small percentage of this incompleteness is 

because SDWIS/FED will accept only properly 

transferred data. Most of the incompleteness 

resulted from states not reporting all of the 

apparent violations at their public water systems. 

EPA’s analysis of the data verifications found: 

•	 96% of all inventory data in SDWIS/FED was 

accurate and complete. 

•	 The overall quality of SDWIS/FED violations 

data is moderately high (estimated at 68%) 

for the Total Coliform Rule standard, but is 

very low for other health-based standards 

and for monitoring and reporting. 

•	 Most of the discrepancies between apparent 

and reported violations are because of 

unrecorded and unreported violations. This 

accounts for 56% of all discrepancies related 

to maximum contaminant level violations, 

83% of discrepancies related to Surface Water 

Treatment Rule treatment technique 

violations, and 94% of all discrepancies 

related to monitoring and reporting 

violations. 

•	 Only 10% of apparent monitoring and 

reporting violations had been reported to 

SDWIS/FED. 

•	 55% of the apparent MCL violations had been 

reported to SDWIS/FED. 

•	 SDWIS/FED contained accurate and complete 

information on 72% of the enforcement 

actions found in the states’ records. 

EPA’s review found that most of the discrepancies 

seem to have resulted from a state’s differing 

5 Public water systems designated significant noncompliers late in the year are typically addressed early in the next year. 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — National Summary Page 7 • November 2001 
interpretation of what a regulation required. EPA 

found no information suggesting that unreported 

violations resulted in negative health effects. The 

states have submitted corrected information to 

SDWIS/FED, and EPA and the states have worked 

to address the violations discovered by this 

analysis. 

EPA continues to work with all of its state 

partners to identify and resolve any problems 

that may have produced data discrepancies in the 

past and to ensure that complete and accurate 

documentation is available to help assess the 

safety of our nation’s drinking water. 

ENFORCEMENT AND COMPLIANCE 

ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS 

States and EPA engage in a variety of activities to 

help public water systems remain in and return 

to compliance, including formal enforcement 

actions, informal actions, and compliance and 

technical assistance. State and EPA compliance 

assistance efforts may include: 

•	 conducting on-site visits and sanitary surveys 

at public water systems (i.e., an on-site 

review of the water sources, facilities, 

equipment, operations, and maintenance to 

evaluate their adequacy in producing and 

distributing safe drinking water); 

•	 helping systems invest in preventive 

measures; 

•	 providing financial assistance for system 

improvements through the Drinking Water 

State Revolving Fund and other State funding 

programs; 

•	 reviewing water system plans and 

specifications; 

• conducting training sessions; 

• holding public information meetings; 

•	 lending specialized monitoring equipment; 

and 

•	 publishing informational bulletins and 

newsletters on training events and other 

educational opportunities. 

When a drinking water violation is detected, EPA 

guidelines require a response from the primacy 

agency as a condition of funding. Acceptable 

responses include a variety of formal and 

informal actions as the state or EPA attempts to 

return a violating public water system to 

compliance as quickly as possible. 

Generally, the primacy agency’s first responses to 

violations are informal actions, such as: 

• reminder letters; 

• warning letters; 

• notices of violation; 

• field visits; and 

• telephone calls. 

If the violation continues or recurs, the primacy 

agency must initiate a formal enforcement 

response that requires the violating public water 

system to return to compliance. Formal 

enforcement responses include: 

• citations; 

•	 administrative orders with or without 

penalties; 

•	 civil referrals to state attorneys general or to 

the Department of Justice; 

•	 other sanctions such as denying permission 

for system expansion; and 

• filing criminal charges. 

If a situation poses an imminent risk to public 

health, EPA and the state will issue an emergency 

order that requires the public water system to 

take the steps necessary to protect public health 

and return the system to compliance. 

INFORMATION ON AND 

EVALUATION OF STATE REPORTS 

EPA reviewed each 1999 annual state report to 

determine if it met the requirements of the 1996 

Amendments to SDWA. The contents of the state 

reports are summarized in Table B–1 in 

Appendix B. Table B–1 shows whether a state: 

• submitted a report to EPA; 

• included all required elements; 

•	 satisfied its statutory requirement to publish 

and distribute summaries of the report that 

inform the public of the availability of the full 

report; 

•	 identified the size and type of violating 

systems; 

Page 8 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — National Summary 
•	 discussed the compliance assistance and 

enforcement activities the state undertook in 

response to violations; 

•	 included a list of PWSs with MCL or 

treatment technique violations, as EPA 

recommended in its guidance to states on 

preparing their reports; 

•	 provided information to the public on 

availability of the reports; and 

•	 included additional information of interest to 

the public, such as the number of public 

water systems in the state, their sizes and 

types, and background on the Safe Drinking 

Water Act and its implementation. 

STATE-BY-STATE SUMMARIES 

EPA provides a state-by-state summary of 

information reported in each state report in 

Appendix B. The standardized format includes 

an overall summary of the violations data the 

Safe Drinking Water Act requires states to report 

(i.e., violations with respect to MCLs, treatment 

technique violations, significant monitoring and 

reporting violations, and variances and 

exemptions). The summary for each state also 

tells how to obtain a copy of the state’s full 

report. 

In some instances, the data reported by a state in 

July of 1999 may not agree with data currently in 

SDWIS/FED. EPA’s and the states’ continual 

efforts to ensure that the information in the 

SDWIS/FED database is as accurate as possible 

may have resulted in updates and corrections to 

the data since the state published its report. 

CONCLUSIONS AND ACTIVITIES TO 

ADDRESS RECOMMENDATIONS 

A large majority of Americans received water 

from systems which reported no violations of 

health-based standards, and for which the states 

reported no significant violations of monitoring 

and reporting requirements. 

There are significant differences in the numbers 

of violations reported in 1998 and 1999, most 

notably a 17% overall reduction in violations. In 

1999, public water systems did a much better 

job of testing their water and reporting the 

results. The number of significant violations of 

monitoring and reporting requirements fell by 

almost 15,000 — a 17% decrease in violations 

between 1998 and 1999. Even with more diligent 

monitoring, America’s public water systems 

detected and reported 2,204 fewer violations of 

health-based standards in 1999 — a 14% 

decrease from 1998. 

While the data indicate improved compliance at 

America’s public water systems, the Total 

Coliform Rule remains, by far, the rule most 

frequently violated. This rule, which applies to all 

sizes and types of public water systems, was also 

the most violated rule in 1996, 1997, and 1998. 

The 36,578 significant violations of monitoring 

and reporting requirements of the Total Coliform 

Rule represent 51% of all significant monitoring 

and reporting violations reported by states in 

1999. The 9,867 violations of the health-based 

standards for the Total Coliform Rule represent 

70% of all reported violations of health-based 

standards in 1999. Even if significant violations 

of the monitoring and reporting provisions of the 

Total Coliform Rule are down 15% at community 

water systems, and violations of the rule’s healthbased standards have decreased by 19%, there 

still is much that can be done to safeguard our 

nation’s drinking water. 

The following recommendations were 

incorporated into EPA’s enforcement and 

compliance assurance program planning for 

Fiscal Years 2000 and 2001. 

States and EPA should continue working 

together to address significant violations of 

monitoring and reporting requirements. 

States and EPA should continue working 

together to address violations of MCL and 

treatment technique requirements. 

EPA designated compliance with the SDWA 

microbial rules (the Total Coliform Rule and the 

Surface Water Treatment Rule) as a national 

priority for its enforcement and compliance 

assurance program for Fiscal Years 2000 and 

2001. 

In 2000 and 2001, EPA Regions are working with 

states to evaluate how well public water systems, 

especially large systems, comply with the 

microbial rules and whether enforcement actions 

are being initiated when appropriate. Regions 

and states are also identifying and evaluating 

microbial risks to watersheds in an attempt to 

focus enforcement and compliance efforts on 

ensuring the safety of drinking water sources. 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — National Summary Page 9 • November 2001 
Considerable effort will also be devoted to 

training and compliance assistance. EPA will 

work to build the capacity of small public water 

systems and Indian tribes to maintain 

compliance both with established rules and with 

new microbial rules such as the Interim 

Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule and the 

Ground Water Rule. 

With respect to the rest of the drinking water 

program, states and EPA are continuing their 

efforts to implement the recommendations of the 

1996 and 1997 national public water system 

reports: 

•	 EPA provides funding to support nine 

technology assistance centers that help small 

systems with training, technical assistance, 

and technology demonstrations. 

•	 States and EPA help promote compliance 

with existing drinking water requirements by 

conducting numerous assistance activities, 

such as on-site visits and the development 

and distribution of easy-to-read guides and 

checklists. 

•	 EPA funding established and maintains the 

Local Government Environmental Assistance 

Network (LGEAN), a source of free 

information on current and developing SDWA 

requirements (as well as technical assistance, 

peer counseling, and financial guidance). 

LGEAN can be accessed on the Internet at 

www.lgean.org or by calling toll-free 1-877-

TO-LGEAN (865-4326). 

•	 States worked with EPA to ensure community 

water systems sent consumers the first 

Annual Consumer Confidence Reports in 

1999, allowing the public to monitor the 

performance of local water systems. 

•	 Revisions to the Public Notification Rule 

mean that public water systems will send 

their customers more timely notification of 

drinking water violations. 

•	 EPA is developing a list of approved 

compliance technologies that will allow small 

systems more flexibility in treating drinking 

water while still providing adequate public 

health protection. 

•	 The states and EPA are pursuing enforcement 

actions against violating public water systems 

both to discourage violations and to level the 

playing field for systems that devote 

resources to maintaining compliance. 

EPA, states, and drinking water stakeholders 

should continue to work cooperatively to 

improve the quality of compliance data. 

Since September 1998, the findings and 

recommendations of the national public water 

systems reports have been incorporated into 

EPA’s ongoing efforts to ensure the reliability of 

data in SDWIS/FED. In its first national report, 

EPA noted that compliance data in many 

individual state reports differed from the data 

reported to SDWIS/FED. In 1998, EPA, states, 

and drinking water stakeholders agreed that our 

data quality goal should be “100% complete, 

accurate, and timely data submitted by public 

water systems and primacy agencies, consistent 

with SDWA reporting requirements.” Further 

analysis and discussions among the stakeholders 

led to establishment of interim milestones for 

how soon that goal will be achieved. 

EPA, states, and the drinking water stakeholders 

made significant progress on most of the data 

recommendations of the earlier national reports 

— in some instances achieving full 

implementation. Among the major 

accomplishments, EPA has: 

•	 improved the display of drinking water data 

in Envirofacts; 

•	 characterized and quantified the data quality 

problem; 

•	 taken interim steps to improve data quality, 

including improvements to the data entry 

tools states use to put information in 

SDWIS/FED and provision of a mechanism 

that enables water systems to confirm the 

accuracy of data before it is accepted by 

SDWIS/FED; and 

•	 made a long-term commitment to achieve and 

maintain data quality goals. 

More remains to be done to achieve the goal of 

100% accurate, complete, and timely 

information. Some of the next steps EPA, states, 

and the drinking water stakeholders have agreed 

to undertake include: 

Page 10 • November 2001 1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — National Summary 
•	 streamlining data reporting and reducing rule 

complexity; 

•	 conducting more training to ensure regulatory 

staff can accurately determine compliance 

with drinking water rules and data entry staff 

can upload complete and accurate data to 

SDWIS/FED; 

•	 making SDWIS/FED error reports more user 

friendly and understandable to state drinking 

water managers; 

•	 encouraging states to issue annual reminders 

to water systems of their compliance 

monitoring schedules; 

•	 providing states with individual, prioritized 

recommendations for improving their data 

quality; 

•	 performing more frequent data verification 

audits; and 

•	 calculating estimates for SDWIS/FED data 

quality every 3 years, or more frequently if 

data from a sufficient number of data 

verifications are available. 

1999 National Public Water Systems Compliance Report — National Summary Page 11 • November 2001