South Carolina Code of Regulations › Chapter 61 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL › Subchapter 61-58.11 - Control of Lead and Copper › Section 61-58.11.G - Public Education and Supplemental Monitoring Requirements

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 6, June 28, 2024
All water systems must deliver a consumer notice of lead tap
				water monitoring results to persons served by the water system at sites that
				are sampled, as specified in paragraph (4) of this section. A water system with
				lead, galvanized requiring replacement, or lead status unknown service lines
				must deliver public education materials to persons with a lead, galvanized
				requiring replacement, or lead status unknown service line as specified in
				paragraphs (5) through (7) of this section. All community water systems must
				conduct annual outreach to local and state health agencies as outlined in
				paragraph (9) of this section. A community water system serving more than
				10,000 persons that fails to meet its annual lead service line replacement goal
				as required under R.61-58.11.F(6)
				shall conduct outreach activities as specified in paragraph (8) of this
				section. A water system that exceeds the lead action level based on tap water
				samples collected in accordance with R.61-58.11.H shall deliver the
				public education materials contained in paragraph (1) of this section and in
				accordance with the requirements in paragraph (2) of this section. Water
				systems that exceed the lead action level shall offer to sample the tap water
				of any customer who requests it in accordance with paragraph (3) of this
				section. All small community water systems and non-transient, non-community
				water systems that elect to implement point-of-use (POU) devices under
				R.61-58.11.O must provide public
				education materials to inform users how to properly use POU devices in
				accordance with paragraph (10) of this section.
(1) Content of Written Public Education
			 Materials.
(a) Community water systems and
			 non-transient, non-community water systems. Water systems must include the
			 following elements in printed material (e.g., brochures and pamphlets) in the
			 same order as listed in paragraphs (1)(a)(i) through (vii) of this section. In
			 addition, language in paragraphs (1)(a)(i), (ii), and (vi) of this section must
			 be included in the materials, exactly as written, except for the text in
			 brackets in paragraphs (1)(a)(i), (ii), and (vi) of this section for which the
			 water system must include system-specific information. Any additional
			 information presented by a water system must be consistent with the information
			 in paragraphs (1)(a)(i) through (vii) of this section and be in plain language
			 that can be understood by the general public. Water systems must submit all
			 written public education materials to the Department prior to delivery. The
			 Department may require the system to obtain approval of the content of written
			 public materials prior to delivery. Water systems may change the mandatory
			 language in paragraphs (1)(a)(i) and (ii) of this section only with Department
			 approval.
(i) IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT LEAD
			 IN YOUR DRINKING WATER. [INSERT NAME OF WATER SYSTEM] found elevated levels of
			 lead in drinking water in some homes/buildings. Lead can cause serious health
			 problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Please read this
			 information closely to see what you can do to reduce lead in your drinking
			 water.
(ii) Health effects of lead.
			 Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age
			 groups. Infants and children can have decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead
			 exposure can lead to new learning and behavior problems or exacerbate existing
			 learning and behavior problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead
			 before or during pregnancy can have increased risk of these adverse health
			 effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure,
			 kidney, or nervous system problems.
(iii) Sources of Lead.
(A) Explain what lead is.
(B) Explain possible sources of lead in
			 drinking water and how lead enters drinking water. Include information on
			 homes/building plumbing materials and service lines that may contain
			 lead.
(C) Discuss other important
			 sources of lead exposure in addition to drinking water (e.g., paint).
(iv) Discuss the steps the
			 consumer can take to reduce their exposure to lead in drinking water.
(A) Encourage running the water to flush out
			 the lead.
(B) Explain concerns with
			 using hot water from the tap and specifically caution against the use of hot
			 water for preparing baby formula.
(C) Explain that boiling water does not
			 reduce lead levels.
(D) Discuss
			 other options consumers can take to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water,
			 such as alternative sources or treatment of water.
(E) Suggest that parents have their child's
			 blood tested for lead.
(v) Explain why there are elevated levels of
			 lead in the system's drinking water (if known) and what the water system is
			 doing to reduce the lead levels in homes/buildings in this area.
(vi) For more information, call us at [INSERT
			 YOUR NUMBER] [(IF APPLICABLE), or visit our Web site at [INSERT YOUR WEB SITE
			 HERE]]. For more information on reducing lead exposure around your
			 home/building and the health effects of lead, visit EPA's website at
http://www.epa.gov/lead
or contact
			 your health care provider.
(vii)
			 Information on lead service lines. For systems with lead service lines, discuss
			 opportunities to replace lead service lines and explain how to access the
			 service line inventory so the consumer can find out if they have a lead service
			 line. Include information on programs that provide financing solutions to
			 assist property owners with replacement of their portion of a lead service
			 line, and a statement that the water system is required to replace its portion
			 of a lead service line when the property owner notifies them they are replacing
			 their portion of the lead service line.