The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered Steven Carter, owner of the Hazel River Water System, to take immediate steps to improve the quality of drinking water he supplies to 40 people in Culpeper, Virginia. The presence of bacteria is an indication of contaminated water, which could pose a significant health risk to the users of the water supply. Failing to monitor drinking water makes it impossible to determine if a health hazard exists and if measures need to be taken to correct the situation. When scheduled testing is not done, we are concerned that the public may not be receiving safe drinking water.
Testing is especially important in systems where bacteria is found.
In these cases, the supplier must notify the users and correct the problem. Virginia has requested EPA enforcement to bring this system into compliance, after citing the system 32 times in the last three years. Among other things, the order directs the owner to immediately start testing the water, and to develop an overall compliance plan for EPA approval.