Content and new customers
Each notice must describe the violation or situation, including the contaminant(s) of concern and (as applicable) the levels; when it occurred; and any potential adverse health effects, including the applicable standard language.
“(1) A description of the violation or situation, including the contaminant(s) of concern, and (as applicable) the contaminant level(s); (2) When the violation or situation occurred; (3) Any potential adverse health effects from the violation or situation, including the standard language under paragraph (d)(1) or (d)(2) of this section, whichever is applicable;”
Each notice must also give the population at risk (including particularly vulnerable subpopulations), whether alternative water supplies should be used, and what actions consumers should take, including when to seek medical help, if known.
“(4) The population at risk, including subpopulations particularly vulnerable if exposed to the contaminant in their drinking water; (5) Whether alternative water supplies should be used; (6) What actions consumers should take, including when they should seek medical help, if known;”
Each notice must also say what the system is doing to correct the violation or situation, and when it expects to return to compliance or resolve the situation.
“(7) What the system is doing to correct the violation or situation; (8) When the water system expects to return to compliance or resolve the situation;”
Each notice must give the name, business address, and phone number of the water system owner, operator, or designee as a source of additional information.
“The name, business address, and phone number of the water system owner, operator, or designee of the public water system as a source of additional information concerning the notice; and”
Each notice must include a statement encouraging recipients to distribute the notice to other persons served, using the standard language in 141.205(d)(3), where applicable.
“A statement to encourage the notice recipient to distribute the public notice to other persons served, using the standard language under paragraph (d)(3) of this section, where applicable.”
Each notice must be displayed conspicuously when printed or posted, and must not contain overly technical language or very small print, be formatted in a way that defeats its purpose, or contain language that nullifies its purpose.
“(i) Must be displayed in a conspicuous way when printed or posted; (ii) Must not contain overly technical language or very small print; (iii) Must not be formatted in a way that defeats the purpose of the notice; (iv) Must not contain language which nullifies the purpose of the notice.”
For systems serving a large proportion of non-English speaking consumers (as determined by the primacy agency), the notice must contain information in the appropriate language(s) about the importance of the notice, or a telephone number or address for a translated copy or assistance.
“For public water systems serving a large proportion of non-English speaking consumers, as determined by the primacy agency, the public notice must contain information in the appropriate language(s) regarding the importance of the notice or contain a telephone number or address where persons served may contact the water system to obtain a translated copy of the notice or to request assistance in the appropriate language.”
Each notice must include the Appendix B health effects language for each MCL, MRDL, and treatment technique violation listed in Appendix A, and for each violation of a condition of a variance or exemption.
“Public water systems must include in each public notice the health effects language specified in appendix B to this subpart corresponding to each MCL, MRDL, and treatment technique violation listed in appendix A to this subpart, and for each violation of a condition of a variance or exemption.”
Community water systems must give a copy of the most recent notice for any continuing violation, variance or exemption, or other ongoing situation to all new billing units or new customers prior to or at the time service begins.
“Community water systems must give a copy of the most recent public notice for any continuing violation, the existence of a variance or exemption, or other ongoing situations requiring a public notice to all new billing units or new customers prior to or at the time service begins.”
40 CFR 141.206, Notice to new billing units or new customers
Non-community water systems must continuously post the notice in conspicuous locations to inform new consumers, for as long as the violation, variance, exemption, or other situation persists.
“Non-community water systems must continuously post the public notice in conspicuous locations in order to inform new consumers of any continuing violation, variance or exemption, or other situation requiring a public notice for as long as the violation, variance, exemption, or other situation persists.”
40 CFR 141.206, Notice to new billing units or new customers