Water systems must deliver safe and reliable drinking water to their customers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If the drinking water supply becomes contaminated, many people can become seriously ill or die. Therefore, state and federal laws require water systems to notify their customers any time a problem with drinking water poses a health risk.

The Office of Drinking Water’s (ODW) highest priority is responding to drinking water emergencies. We work hand-in-hand with water systems to resolve problems. Notifying water system customers  when their water may not be safe to drink, gives them time to protect themselves and their families.

Public notification requirements help ensure customers know - as soon as possible - if a situation poses a public health risk. The rules apply to all Group A public water systems. (Group A systems serve more than 14 connections or more than 24 people).

Group A public water systems must notify their customers whenever they:

• Violate drinking water quality or monitoring requirements.
• Operate under a variance or exemption.
• Have any situation that poses a public health risk, such as a disruption in service.
• Receive an order from the Office of Drinking Water.
• Fail to comply with an ODW order
• Receive a red operating permit.

Public notification requirements also give water systems an opportunity to educate their customers about drinking water quality, and build trust by sharing information openly. Notices used in this positive way can help customers understand the basis for rate increases necessary for additional drinking water treatment and protection.

Public notification timing and distribution requirements

Notifying customers in a timely manner about actual or potential threats related to their drinking water allows them to make informed decisions affecting their health. Public notification timing and distribution requirements depend on the level of threat associated with the violation or event.

• Tier 1: Acute health concerns require notification within 24 hours.

• Tier 2: Chronic health concerns require notification within 30 days.

• Tier 3: Reporting and monitoring violations require notification within 365 days.

You must send a copy of all public notifications and the appropriate Public Notice Certification to ODW.

Water systems may combine notices for individual violations into their annual Consumer Confidence Reports, as long as they meet the public notification timing requirements.

The rules, including the following, are online at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=246-290 (See Part 7, Reporting, Subpart A.)

• A list of violations and situations that require 24-hour notification.
• Simplified health effects language.
• Standard language for monitoring violations.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators developed a Public Notification Handbook with sample public notices.

You can access public notification forms and links to ODW publications in the right column of this page.

You can also call your ODW Regional Office for technical assistance. We are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you have an after-hours emergency, call (877) 481-4901.

Eastern Regional Office, 509-456-3115

• Serving Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman, and Yakima counties.

• Serving Island, King, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom counties.

• Serving Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Skamania, Thurston, and Wahkiakum counties.

More detailed contact information is available on our Staff Contact page.

DOH PUB.# 331-239
June 2007