PROGRAMS: Public Water Supply
Supervision
The Department of Planning & Natural Resources (DPNR)
is responsible for implementing and enforcing drinking water
regulations in the USVI.
The Public Water Supply Supervision (PWSS) program of
DPNR/DEP assures that all public water systems comply with Title 19, Part VI, Chapter
51, Subchapter 1303 of the V.I.C (PDF File).
Surveillance
& Technical Assistance
A
Sanitary Survey is an on-site review of
the water source, facilities, equipment, operation and maintenance
procedures and management practices of a public water system for the
purposes of evaluating the adequacy of such for producing and
distributing safe drinking water.
Annual Registration and
Inspection of Tankers That Haul Water For Human Consumption.
-
Collect surveillance samples during each
Sanitary Survey and water hauler inspection. These samples are
analyzed by a DPNR/EPA certified lab for microbiological
contamination.
-
Provide technical assistance to water
purveyors and investigate water quality complaints by the public.
Surveillance samples are collected during
each sanitary survey and water hauler inspection, and are analyzed by a
DPNR/EPA certified lab for microbiological contamination.
Data Management
DEP/PWSS
maintains an inventory of public water systems in the Territory. The
inventory contains administrative & technical information for each
public water system, including water quality monitoring data.
Public
water systems are required to self-monitor the quality of water
distributed by their facilities by having samples collected and
analyzed by a DPNR/EPA certified lab. The analytical results must then
be submitted to DEP/PWSS.
The PWSS
program regulates and enforces the following self-monitoring
requirements:
1.
Total Coliform
Rule
-
Routine monthly
microbiological monitoring of total Coliform, and/or fecal Coliform
or E. coli under section 1303-41 of the Virgin Islands Rules
Regulations (V.I.R.R.)
-
Routine daily turbidity
sampling under section 1303-42 of the VIRR.
2.
Lead
and Copper Rule
3.
Phase Chemical
Rule
-
Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs) monitoring at various frequencies under 1303 of the
V.I.C.
-
Inorganic Compounds
(lOCs) monitoring at various frequencies under 1303 of the
V.I.C.
-
Synthetic Organic
Compounds (SOCs) monitoring at various frequencies under 1303 of the
V.I.C.
-
Radionuclides monitoring
quarterly in accordance with 1303 of the V.I.C.
-
Dlicrobiological
contaminants pose an acute health risk and must therefore be
monitored by all public water systems.
-
Other contaminants pose a chronic health
risk and are therefore required to be monitored only by public water
systems that serve the same people on a daily basis for at least six
(6) months out of the year.
Enforcement
DEP/PWSS issues Notices of Violation
(NOVs), Administrative orders, and civil Penalties to public water
systems which are not in compliance with the monitoring requirements
of the Safe Drinking Water Act.
DEP/PWSS prepares an annual report on the
compliance status of all public water systems. This report is made
available to the public.
January 2000
|
