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Rule Details
Rule Number:
23P023
Title:
Water Supply Rule.
Type:
Standard
Status:
Adopted
Agency:
Agency of Natural Resources
Legal Authority:
10 V.S.A. ยง 1672
Summary:
The Rule amendment proposes to incorporate by reference the federal Revised Total Coliform Rule, responsible for assessing bacteriological and pathogen vulnerability of all public drinking water systems. It adds a few Vermont-specific topics required by the federal regulation when incorporating by reference as required to be specifically identified in our primacy application to EPA. This amendment also seeks to revise the standards and process for operator licensing/certification to better-protect public health at larger or more complicated public drinking water systems by requiring additional certified staff. It makes minor amendments to the treatment specifications for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. The rule also provides greater and more uniform protection for isolation distances from public drinking water sources (including wells) by aligning better with existing Wastewater System and Potable Water Supply Rule. There are also a series of minor changes, primarily fixing internal citations.
Persons Affected:
The individuals and entities most directly impacted will be owners and operators of public water systems in Vermont. Also, 60-70 of Vermonters rely on public drinking water systems to supply their homes with potable drinking water, so they will be better protected through this rule. Additional visitors and citizens will ultimately be affected by the change to drinking water quality standards as they rely on drinking water from public water systems where they work, recreate, dine, or visit in other tourist-related activities and locations.
Economic Impact:
Any cost impact to water systems due to the Revised Total Coliform Rule requirements has already been borne since the rule went into effect in 2016. There was already a sampling framework under which systems paid for water quality sampling; in some instances the number and frequency of sampling increased, in others it decreased. The cost of a single coliform sample is approximately $25. The cost to obtain a certification for a qualified operator already on-staff is $85 per 3-years. Many larger and complicated systems already have these individuals on-site/on-hand and are already experiencing these costs. If a system would need to contract with a distribution operator it is estimated to cost approximately $10,000 per year. Hiring on-site staff where it does not currently exist would be greater than $10,000 and would be at the discretion of the public water system with respect to adequate compensation.
Posting date:
Aug 23,2023
Hearing Information
Information for Hearing # 1
Hearing date:
Location:
Agency of Natural Resources, Catamount Conference Room
