Test Yourself
What Do You Know About Sanitary Surveys? Donna Kaluzniak
1. P er the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Sanitary Survey Program website, a sanitary survey is a review of the water source, facilities, equipment, operation, and maintenance of a public water system to evaluate the adequacy for producing and distributing safe drinking water. Sanitary surveys are conducted a. in a meeting at FDEP’s district office with a thorough review of all reports and documents. b. by telephone interview between FDEP and the water system manager. c. through an online survey form completed by the utility director and submitted to FDEP. d. with an onsite visit to work and communicate with water systems in a preventative mode. 2. Per the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website, Sanitary Surveys, sanitary surveys are conducted at community water systems a. annually. b. biannually. c. every three years. d. only when deemed necessary due to noncompliance with permit limits. 3. P er FDEP’s Sanitary Survey Program website, how many elements comprise a sanitary survey? a. Three b. Five c. Eight d. 10 4. P er EPA’s Sanitary Surveys website, the description of the operator compliance element of a sanitary survey a. ensures treatment plants are staffed 24 hours a day. b. ensures water systems have qualified professionals that meet all applicable operator certification requirements. c. means the treatment plant operator ensures compliance with regulations. d. means the water system staff follows all safety regulations.
5. P er EPA’s guide, “How to Conduct a Sanitary Survey of Drinking Water Systems,” the elements of the sanitary survey address various measures that work together to prevent drinking water contamination. This is called a a. collaborative work approach. b. multiple-barrier approach. c. tiered safety mechanism. d. wide net approach. 6. Per EPA’s guide, “How to Conduct a Sanitary Survey of Drinking Water Systems,” serious sanitary deficiencies in water systems, such as defects in design, operation, or maintenance, or a failure or malfunction of the sources, treatment, storage, or distribution system that could cause the introduction of contamination into drinking water, are defined as a. penalty-related deficiencies. b. reportable deficiencies. c. serious deficiencies. d. significant deficiencies. 7. Per Florida Administrative Code (FAC) 62-550, Drinking Water Standards, Monitoring, and Reporting, what type of plan must be available for review and possible revision during a sanitary survey? a. Capital improvement plan b. Microbiological sampling plan c. Process safety management plan d. Risk management plan 8. Per the EPA Region 8 presentation on significant deficiencies, what is a common significant deficiency found on water storage tanks? a. Lack of #24 mesh screen on the air vent. b. Lack of #36 mesh screen on the overflow. c. Overflow is piped to an elevation between 12 and 24 inches above the ground surface. d. Tank needs painting. 9. Per the EPA Region 8 presentation on sanitary surveys and significant deficiencies, what constitutes a significant deficiency in the area of management? a. A flooded meter vault. b. Cross connection in the distribution system. c. Lack of an emergency response plan. d. Source water contamination.
34 October 2021 • Florida Water Resources Journal
10. P er EPA’s guide, “How to Conduct a Sanitary Survey of Drinking Water Systems,” records of sanitary surveys must be kept on file by the state for how long? a. Three years b. F ive years c. 10 years d. 1 2 years Answers on page 62 References used for this quiz: • Florida Administrative Code (FAC) 62-550, Drinking Water Standards, Monitoring, and Reporting: https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ ChapterHome.asp?Chapter=62-550 • Florida Department of Environmental Protection Sanitary Survey Program website: https://floridadep.gov/water/source-drinkingwater/content/sanitary-survey-program • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Sanitary Surveys website: https://www.epa.gov/dwreginfo/sanitary-surveys • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2019, “How to Conduct a Sanitary Survey of Drinking Water Systems”: https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2019-08/ documents/s anitary_survey_learners_ guide_508_8.27.19.pdf • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 8 presentation on significant deficiencies: https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-03/ documents/sanitary_surveys_significant_ deficiencies_surface_water_systems.pdf • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 8 presentation on sanitary surveys and significant deficiencies: https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-03/ documents/sanitary_surveys_significant_ deficiencies_transient_systems.pdf
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