2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 22: HEALTH AND WELFARE › Subtitle 2: HEALTH › Part 5: FOODS AND DRUGS › Chapter 601: WATER FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION › Subchapter 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS › 22 §2601. Definitions

§2601. Definitions
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following words shall have the following meanings.   [PL 1975, c. 751, §4 (NEW).]
1.  Contaminant.
"Contaminant" means any physical, chemical, biological or radiological substance or matter in water.
[PL 1975, c. 751, §4 (NEW).]
1-A.  Administrative compliance order.
"Administrative compliance order" means an administrative order that is issued by the commissioner against a public water system in violation of state drinking water laws, regulations or rules.
[PL 1993, c. 678, §1 (NEW).]
1-B.  Administrative consent order.
"Administrative consent order" means an order issued by the commissioner pursuant to a bilateral agreement between the commissioner and a public water system in violation of state drinking water laws, regulations or rules.
[PL 1993, c. 678, §1 (NEW).]
1-C.  Administrative penalty.
"Administrative penalty" means a fine imposed by the commissioner against a public water system in violation of state drinking water laws, regulations or rules.
[PL 1993, c. 678, §1 (NEW).]
1-D.  Administrative remedy.
"Administrative remedy" means an administrative compliance order, an administrative consent order or an administrative penalty.
[PL 1993, c. 678, §1 (NEW).]
2.  Feasible.
"Feasible" means capable of being done within the current limitation of economics and technology, as determined by the commissioner.
[PL 1975, c. 751, §4 (NEW).]
3.  Maximum contaminant level.
"Maximum contaminant level" means the maximum concentration of a contaminant allowed under the State Primary Drinking Water Regulations in water supplied for human consumption.
[PL 1975, c. 751, §4 (NEW).]
4.  National Drinking Water Regulations.
"National Drinking Water Regulations" means the drinking water regulations promulgated by the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act, P.L. 93-523.
[PL 1975, c. 751, §4 (NEW).]
4-A.  Notice of noncompliance.
"Notice of noncompliance" means a formal written complaint or a notice of violation of state drinking water laws, regulations or rules.
[PL 1993, c. 678, §1 (NEW).]
5.  Operator.
"Operator" means an individual either employed or retained by a public water system who, as part of the individual's job duties, is assigned the responsibilities for operational activities that will have a direct impact on the quality or quantity of water provided to consumers.
[PL 1999, c. 688, §1 (AMD).]
6.  Person.
"Person" means any individual, partnership, company, public or private corporation, political subdivision or agency of the State, department, agency or instrumentality of the United States or any other legal entity.
[PL 1975, c. 751, §4 (NEW).]
7.  Political subdivision.
"Political subdivision" means any municipality, county, district or any portion or combination of 2 or more thereof.
[PL 1975, c. 751, §4 (NEW).]
8.  Public water system.
"Public water system" means any publicly or privately owned system of pipes or other constructed conveyances, structures and facilities through which water is obtained for or sold, furnished or distributed to the public for human consumption if such a system has at least 15 service connections, regularly serves an average of at least 25 individuals daily at least 60 days out of the year or bottles water for sale. Any publicly or privately owned system that only stores and distributes water without treating or collecting it; obtains all its water from, but is not owned or operated by, a public water system; and does not sell water or bottled water to any person is not a "public water system." The term "public water system" includes any collection, treatment, storage or distribution pipes or other constructed conveyances, structures or facilities under the control of the supplier of water and used primarily in connection with such a system, and any collection or pretreatment storage facilities not under that control that are used primarily in connection with such a system. The system does not include the portion of service pipe owned and maintained by a customer of the public water system.
For purposes of this subsection, a connection to a system that delivers water by a constructed conveyance other than a pipe is not considered a connection if:
A. The water is used exclusively for purposes other than residential uses. For the purposes of this subsection, the term "residential uses" includes drinking, bathing, cooking and other similar uses; and   [PL 1997, c. 705, §1 (NEW).]
B. The commissioner determines that alternative water to achieve the equivalent level of public health protection provided by the applicable state primary drinking water regulation is provided for residential or similar uses; or   [PL 1997, c. 705, §1 (NEW).]
C. The commissioner determines that the water provided for residential or similar uses is centrally treated or treated at the point of entry by the provider, a pass-through entity or the user to achieve the equivalent level of protection provided by the applicable state primary drinking water regulation.   [PL 1997, c. 705, §1 (NEW).]
[PL 1997, c. 705, §1 (AMD).]
8-A.  Roadside spring.
"Roadside spring" means any spring, well or other water diverted by pipes for the use of the public to obtain water by using containers or other methods, including but not limited to water being diverted and collected by a landowner by tiles, pipes, catch basins, buildings or other appurtenances.
[PL 1997, c. 45, §1 (NEW).]
9.  Supplier of water.
"Supplier of water" means any person who controls, owns or generally manages a public water system.
[PL 1975, c. 751, §4 (NEW).]
9-A.  Violation.
"Violation" means noncompliance with state drinking water laws, regulations and rules regardless of whether that noncompliance is intentional, negligent or otherwise.
[PL 1993, c. 678, §1 (NEW).]
10.  Water treatment plant.
"Water treatment plant" means that portion of the public water system which is designed to alter the physical, chemical, biological or radiological quality of the water or to remove any contaminants.
[PL 1975, c. 751, §4 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1975, c. 751, §4 (NEW). PL 1993, c. 410, §DD2 (AMD). PL 1993, c. 678, §1 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 45, §1 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 705, §1 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 688, §1 (AMD).