| public water oversight
This section reviews what the Health District
Drinking Water Program responsibilities are for public water systems.
The basic elements of public water oversight include:
1. What is a public
water system?
2. What is the Health
District’s authority?
3. What services
does the Drinking Water Program provide?
WHAT IS A PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM?
Public water systems supply water to nearly
80% of Kitsap County residents. A public water system is defined
as any water supply that has more than two connections, or serves
25 or more people/day 60 or more days/year. Additionally many
systems that supply commercial uses may be classified as public
water sources.
If a water supply meets any of these criteria
it is classified as a public system regardless of who owns the
system.
There are two classifications of public water
systems:
- Group B water systems serve anywhere from
2 to 14 connections. Kitsap County does allow for an exemption
for water systems with only two connections to qualify as a
private 2-party well provided certain criteria are met. Details
of the private 2-party information may be found under Private
2-Party Policy.
- Group A water systems serve 15 connection
or more, or serve 25 or more people per day for 60 or more days
per year.
WHAT IS THE DRINKING WATER PROGRAM’S AUTHORITY?
The Health District Drinking Water Program (Drinking
Water Program) and the Washington
State Department of Health Drinking Water Program (DOH) are
partners in providing oversight of public water systems. In general
the Health District has primary authority over Group B water systems.
The Health District also operates under a Memorandum of Agreement
with DOH to provide plan review oversight of Group A water systems
up to 25 connections and Sanitary Survey assistance up to 100
connections. DOH oversees all other public water systems with
cooperation from the Health District.
The Drinking Water Program operates under
several local and State rules and regulations. The authority of
the program is described under RCW
19.27.097. The specific regulations
that address the program are Ordinance
1999-6 Rules and Regulations Regarding Public and Private Water
Systems.
WHAT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FOR PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS?
The Drinking Water Program provides several
services to public water systems and kitsap county residents:
- Review of water system plans for Group B
water systems and Group A systems up to 25 connections to ensure
compliance with design standards and that water quality and
quantity requirements have been met;
- Track water systems for compliance with water
sampling requirements;
- Provide technical assistance for water systems;
- Review water systems when requested for current
compliance with regulatory requirements. This process is frequently
completed during real estate transactions. Forms to request
status of water systems are called Loan
Status Report Request for Public Water Systems.
Additionally water systems are reviewed
for adequate supply of water for Building
Permits and Land Use Applications.
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