3 Things All Utility Customers Should Know

Did you know that the state of Texas maintains a database that you can use to find out information about your public water system? The database is public information and is called “Drinking Water Watch” and the website can be found on the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) website, here. You can search for your public water system by entering your system’s PWS ID, name, or partial name and you can narrow down the search by using system type, county, or type of water source. The database is a great resource to find your provider’s sample schedules, any possible violations and public notice due dates if applicable. Additionally, the database can be used to search for bacteriological and chemical sample results. Your provider is also required to update Drinking Water Watch and maintain the proper contact information so communication and compliance information, from the TCEQ, is given to the appropriate personnel in the event of a violation or emergency. A glossary of commonly used terms on “Drinking Water Watch” can be found here.

You may not be aware, but your public water system is required to maintain strict guidelines when it comes to protecting your water supply. All systems are required to maintain internal procedures to immediately notify the TCEQ’s executive director by phone if any of the following events occur, which may impact the production or delivery of safe water in your system: • An unusual or unexplained-unauthorized entry at the property of the public water system • An act of terrorism against the public water system • An unauthorized attempt to probe or gain access to proprietary information that supports the key activities of the public water system • Theft of property that supports the key activities of the public water system • A natural disaster, accident, or an act that results in damage to the public water system It is required by state law that your water provider maintains intruder resistance fencing around all facilities. The fence must be 6 feet or greater in height, constructed of either wood, concrete, masonry, or metal and be finished with three strands of barbed wire extending outward from the top of the fence at a 45-degree angle. The smooth side of the fence must be on the outside. However, if your water provider chooses not to use barbed wire, the fence must be eight feet in height. The fence is required by state law to be in good condition and close enough to ground level to prevent intruder passage. All potable water storage tanks and pressure tanks must be installed in a lockable building that is designed to prevent intruder access or must be enclosed by an intruder resistance fencing with lockable gates. The gates and doors must be locked whenever the facility is unattended. continued on next page

By July 1 every year, your water provider shares important information with all customers via mail, email, or other form of online communication: your Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). The CCR for your water provider serves to inform you about the quality of your drinking water. This annual water report is required by the Safe Drinking Water Act. The CCR lists the regulated contaminants found in your drinking water as well as health effects information related to violations of drinking water standards. The CCR summarizes previously collected water sample data by your water utility in accordance with regulations established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Information contained in the CCR includes chemical and bacteriological data; your water utility’s compliance with drinking water standards; information regarding the source(s) of water used by your water utility (i.e.., rivers, lakes, reservoirs or aquifers); educational health information; water utility contact information; and information about public participation opportunities. Electronic delivery with a direct internet link is the way most utilities are now delivering these reports. Your water utility may notify you in a billing statement or by other means that the report has been posted on their website along with the URL where it can be found. Some utilities are still mailing the reports and those with 500 or fewer customers may choose to deliver them door-todoor. If you live in a multi-family housing unit or work in a school or community center, the utility may post notices that the CCR is available or make other efforts to ensure that everyone who consumes their water knows where to access the report. Again, the purpose of the Consumer Confidence Report is to keep consumers informed about the quality of their drinking water. Therefore, it is important that you keep an eye out for this document and take the time to read the information enclosed within. Should any questions or concerns arise, do not hesitate to contact your local water utility for an explanation.

The TRWA Newsletter is packed with information affecting the rural water industry and tips every week on how to connect with customers, serve your community and make your system run more smoothly. Subscribe here. Not involved with a system? Get connected to us on Facebook to learn the latest from TRWA programming, the Texas Rural Water Foundation, and our initiatives to strengthen the growing rural water industry in Texas.