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Enforcing Drinking Water Regulations

The mission of the Department of Health Office of Drinking Water is to protect the health of the people of Washington State by assuring safe and reliable drinking water.

Formal Enforcement

A critical step in meeting this mission is the department's efforts to ensure water systems comply with state and federal drinking water regulations that protect public health. In general, regulations are enforced in a step-by-step manner. In order of severity, the steps are:

1. Notifying the water system of a violation and offering technical assistance

2. Coming to an informal compliance agreement

3. Issuing a departmental order

4. Issuing fines

To support these formal enforcement efforts, the office also uses less punitive methods of compelling water systems to meet requirements. One of the most powerful of these tools is the operating permit program, which requires all Group A water systems in the state to obtain an annual operating permit.

The color-coded operating permit system provides an easy method for water consumers to understand the status of the system providing their drinking water:

Red: A Red operating permit category indicates that the water system is inadequate. This could result in building permits, on-site sewage disposal permits, food service permits, liquor licenses and other permits or licenses being denied for properties connected to or to be connected to the water system. In addition, lending institutions may choose not to finance loans associated with these properties.

Blue:  Adequate for existing uses, but not adequate for adding new service connections.

Yellow:  Adequate for existing uses and new service connections up to the number of approved service connections unless otherwise limited by a compliance agreement.

Green:  Adequate for existing uses and adding new service connections up to the number of approved service connections.

Annual Violation Reports to the federal Environmental Protection Agency

Operating Permits for Drinking Water Systems fact sheet

Enforcement  

• Systems with Red Operating Permits as of June 1, 2008
 

• Annual Violation Reports to EPA
 

Publications

• Operating Permits for Drinking Water Systems fact sheet

 • Receivership

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