The State of Montana requires the owner of a public water supply to retain a Certified Operator, and has provided the path to training and certification at various levels, dependent on the size and complexities of the system. Failure to comply can result in stiff fines, penalties or additional judicial action. Depending on the individual circumstances, these assessments range from $100 to $1,000 per day or up to $5,000/day if the violation has created an imminent danger to the health or safety of the pubic or caused significant environmental harm.
The references below provide links to the specific Montana Code and Administrative Rules which are relevant to Water Supply management.
- Administrative Rules of Montana – requiring a certified operator to perform monitoring and reporting
- Montana Code Annotated 2014 – penalties for violations-waiver
- Administrative Rules of Montana – individual civil penalties: when assessed
- Rule: 17.24.1217 http://www.mtrules.org/gateway/ruleno.asp?RN=17.24.1217
- Montana Administrative Rule – total adjusted penalty – days of violation
- Rule: 17.4.305 http://www.mtrules.org/gateway/ruleno.asp?RN=17.4.305
- Administrative Rules of Montana – list of rules
- Public Water and Sewage System Requirements http://www.mtrules.org/gateway/ChapterHome.asp?Chapter=17.38
- Administrative Rules of Montana – Public Water . . . System Requirements
- Rule Subchapter: 17.38.2http://mtrules.org/gateway/Subchapterhome.asp?scn=17.38.2
- Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
- Public Water supply Section Non-Transient Non-Community
- Drinking Water regulations for Non-transient Non-community Public Water Supplies http://www.lakemt.gov/envhealth/pdf/Non-transient%20non-community.pdf
- EPA information
- National Recommended Water Quality Criteria http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/standards/criteria/current/index.cfm
- Drinking Water Science and Regulatory Support http://water.epa.gov/drink/standards/hascience.cfm
- Montana DEQ
- Drinking Water Regulations Summary Transient Water Systems Rev May 2010 http://montana.gov/search.mcpx?q=Drinking%20Water%20Regulations%20Summary%20Tansient%20Water%20Systems&via=homepage&cx=013380590290877010950%3A3ubczas3i44&cof=FORID%3A11&ie=UTF-8&advs=MONTANA.GOV
- Public Water Supply Section – Community Summary – Drinking Water Regulations for community Public Water Supplies http://deq.mt.gov/wqinfo/pws/docs/99csum.pdf
- Circular DEQ-7 Montana Numeric Water Quality Standards http://montana.gov/search.mcpx?q=Circular+DEQ-7&cx=013380590290877010950%3A3ubczas3i44&cof=FORID%3A11&ie=UTF-8&q.x=16&q.y=10
Still have questions? We are happy to help you determine if you have already met the requirements as they currently apply to your situation, or to recommend cost-effective steps you might consider to become compliant.