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40 firms violate drinking water regulations
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Posted on Dec 02 2005
Notice of Violations were issued to 40 companies for their failure to either prepare and deliver a Consumer Confidence Report or submit a certification to DEQ that they have produced and delivered a CCR. This violates the CNMI’s Safe Drinking Water Regulations.
A CCR is an annual report due every July 1 of each year. A report that informs the water systems consumers of what chemical or bacteriological contaminants were detected in the water used for consumption over the past year of operation. Each community water system is required to produce a CCR.
Water systems that do not take corrective actions will be issued an administrative order that may include fines. The maximum penalty for violating the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations is $25,000 per day for each violation.
In DEQ’s violation notice, water companies were given a deadline of November 30, 2005. Only half of the companies delivered reports to the DEQ office on the deadline. DEQ Safe Drinking Water program is available for consultation and or providing technical assistance in report preparation. A template for CCR is also available online at http://www.epa.gov/safewater.
For more information about Public Water Systems and Consumer Confidence Reports, please contact DEQ’s Safe Drinking Water branch at 664-8500. (PR)
