Water System Owner

Roles and Responsibilities:

A Best Practices Guide

Introduction

Purpose

This Guide will help you better understand:

 Your roles and responsibilities in delivering safe drinking water to your

system's customers.

 Additional responsibilities, which can vary depending on your system size,

characteristics (e.g., complexity of treatment), managerial structure, and

regulatory requirements.

All system owners share several key responsibilities that are critical to meeting

your ultimate goal - providing an adequate and safe supply of drinking water.

Target

Audience

This Guide is intended for owners and operators of all public water systems

serving fewer than 10,000 persons.

System Operation

Ww a ork to ensure that the system as a hole is functioning properly, efficiently, and in

f wa . inancially responsible y

General Responsibilities

 Annually assess your system's technical, managerial, and financial capacity:

 Ensure that your system's infrastructure (pumps, pipes, tanks, etc.) is in good

working order.

 Determine whether staffing levels are adequate.

 Work with the system operator to ensure that all staff training needs are met.

 Review your system's budget annually to assess whether your system is collecting

enough revenue each year to cover costs of operating and maintaining the system.

 Determine and plan future infrastructure maintenance and replacement needs with the

system operator.

 Develop and maintain an asset management plan to inventory assets of the system.

 Develop and maintain a Cross Connection Control and Backflow Prevention

Program.

 Discuss treatment optimization with the system operator and develop an optimization

plan that includes goals for the water system to meet.

 Identify available sources of local, state, and federal funding with help from regulators,

planning departments, and technical assistance providers.

For additional information:

Call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791, visit the EPA Web site at

www.epa.gov/safewater/, or contact your state drinking water representative.
Communication

Mw d aintain a positive relationship ith customers, regulators, and the system operator an

k w. eep them informed of your efforts to provide high quality drinking ater

General Responsibilities

 Maintain open channels of communication with staff concerning budget issues,

regulatory changes, or planned staffing changes.

 Inform customers of the need for infrastructure investments and rate changes and the

resulting link to maintaining drinking water quality.

 Confirm that annual Consumer Confidence Reports are accurate and delivered on time,

if applicable.

 Meet regularly with the operator for updates on routine system inspections and

scheduled maintenance.

System Security

Protect your system against natural disasters and vandalism.

General Responsibilities

 Invest in any necessary security upgrades (e.g., fences around system facilities, closedcircuit television). Inspect critical facilities and components, including door locks and

fencing, as part of daily inspections

 Update the Emergency Response Plan and participate in exercise drills with the

system operator.

 Make sure that you and the system operator know whom to contact in case of an

emergency.

 Develop procedures for handling new and terminated employees (e.g., collecting keys,

changing locks and computer passwords).

 Communicate with state and local officials and your community to increase your

awareness of new developments and tools.

Regulatory Compliance

Sw r upport your system in complying ith all relevant regulations and protecting you

customers' health.

General Responsibilities

 Make sure the system operator is aware of all relevant regulations, including sampling,

reporting, and record keeping requirements.

 Stay informed of sample results and make sure all follow-up sampling, reporting,

record keeping, and public notification requirements are met.

 Ensure the system is in compliance with existing and upcoming regulations; work with

regulators as necessary.

 Communicate with state and local officials to increase your awareness of new and

upcoming regulations and tools that can help promote regulatory compliance and

system security (e.g., guidance material, new treatment technologies, etc.).

Office of Water September 2006 EPA 816-F-06-036