Wisconsin Administrative Code
Department of Natural Resources
NR 800 - Environmental Protection - Water Supply
Chapter NR 809 - Safe Drinking Water
Subchapter VII - Public Notification of Drinking Water Violations
Section NR 809.954 - Public notice content

Universal Citation: WI Admin Code ยง NR 809.954

Current through August 26, 2024

(1) PUBLIC NOTICE ELEMENTS FOR VIOLATIONS OF NATIONAL PRIMARY DRINKING WATER REGULATIONS (NPDWR) OR OTHER SITUATIONS REQUIRING A PUBLIC NOTICE. When a public water system violates a national primary drinking water regulation or has a situation requiring public notification, each public notice shall include all of the following elements:

(a) A description of the violation or situation, including the contaminants of concern, and, as applicable, the contaminant levels.

(b) When the violation or situation occurred.

(c) Any potential adverse health effects from the violation or situation, including the standard language under sub. (4) (a) or (b), whichever is applicable.

(d) The population at risk, including subpopulations particularly vulnerable if exposed to the contaminant in their drinking water.

(e) Whether alternative water supplies should be used.

(f) What actions consumers should take, including when they should seek medical help, if known.

(g) What the water supplier is doing to correct the violation or situation.

(h) When the water supplier expects the public water system to return to compliance or resolve the situation.

(i) The name, business address and phone number of the water supplier or designee of the public water system as a source of additional information concerning the notice.

(j) A statement to encourage the notice recipient to distribute the public notice to other persons served, using the standard language under sub. (4) (c), if applicable.

(2) PUBLIC NOTICE ELEMENTS FOR PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS OPERATING UNDER A VARIANCE OR EXEMPTION.

(a) If a public water system has been granted a variance or an exemption, the public notice shall contain all of the following:
1. An explanation of the reasons for the variance or exemption.

2. The date on which the variance or exemption was issued.

3. A brief status report on the steps the water supplier is taking to install treatment, find alternative sources of water, or otherwise comply with the terms and schedules of the variance or exemption.

4. A notice of any opportunity for public input in the review of the variance or exemption.

(b) If a public water system violates the conditions of a variance or exemption, the public notice shall contain all of the elements in sub. (1).

(3) PUBLIC NOTICE PRESENTATION.

(a) Each public notice required by this subchapter shall meet all of the following requirements:
1. Shall be displayed in a conspicuous way when printed or posted.

2. May not contain overly technical language or very small print.

3. May not be formatted in a way that defeats the purpose of the notice.

4. May not contain language which nullifies the purpose of the notice.

(b) Each public notice required by this subchapter shall comply with multilingual requirements, as follows:
1. For public water systems where 5% or more of the population served consists of non-English speaking consumers, the public notice shall contain information in the appropriate languages regarding the importance of the notice or contain a telephone number or address where persons served may contact the public water system to obtain a translated copy of the notice or to request assistance in the appropriate languages.

2. In cases where the public water system is unable to accurately determine whether non-English speaking consumers constitute 5% of the population served, the department may require that the public notice shall include the same information as in subd. 1., to reach non-English speaking persons served by the public water system.

(4) PUBLIC NOTICE STANDARD LANGUAGE. Water suppliers for public water systems shall include the following standard language in their public notice:

(a) Standard health effects language for MCL or MRDL violations, treatment technique violations, and violations of the condition of a variance or exemption. Water suppliers shall include in each public notice the health effects language specified in Appendix B corresponding to each MCL, MRDL and treatment technique violation listed in Appendix A, and for each violation of a condition of a variance or exemption.

(b) Standard language for monitoring and testing procedure violations. Water suppliers shall include the following language in their notice, including the language necessary to fill in the blanks, for all monitoring and testing procedure violations listed in Appendix A: We are required to monitor your drinking water for specific contaminants on a regular basis. Results of regular monitoring are an indicator of whether or not your drinking water meets health standards. During [compliance period], we "did not monitor or test" or "did not complete all monitoring or testing" for [contaminant(s)], and therefore cannot be sure of the quality of your drinking water during that time.

(c) Standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all persons served. Water suppliers shall include in their notice the following language, if applicable: Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly, for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses. You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Wisconsin may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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