07/01/2017
This post concerns the smallest water systems out there, otherwise known as Transient-Non-Community water systems. These are systems serving people at places like campgrounds, firehalls, social halls, small businesses, etc. These systems all too often are not well attended to, that is until they have a problem with water testing. These systems are required to collect and have analyzed by a certified drinking water laboratory, a monthly Total Coliform water sample. This is where these small places get into trouble. If that sample comes back from the lab with a detection for e-coli in the water, you now have a big problem. In Erie County, the Erie County Health Department is going to get involved, in other parts of the state, PA DEP will be involved. First you will be under a boil water or do not use advisory. Second, you will need to have a professional conduct a Level II Assessment of the water system. Based on that assessment, you are going to be spending money maybe lots of money. If it is determined necessary, you may have to begin to perform 4-Log treatment of your water. This will involve an engineer to design the expanded treatment facilities, permitting by PA DEP to construct and operate the new treatment, and additional monitoring of the water, and hiring a PA Certified Water System Operator to oversee/manage the water treatment facilities. Additional monitoring involves performing and recording a daily Entry point chlorine residual everyday. 7 days a week, 365 days a year, Saturday, Sunday, and holidays included, that means Christmas and Easter too. These readings are then reported to DEP at the end of each month. If noone is available to do these daily tests, you may need to install an on-line chlorine analyzer with data logger and a monitoring system that will notify you or someone if the chlorine residual drops below a certain point or goes too high, in addition to other monitored items. Cost for this system, a mere $6,000.00 or more. These are just some of the costs you may be facing. I have put this post on here because I am seeing this happen more and more frequently. This is an abreviated version of what may transpire, please be aware of the enormous costs you may be facing!!
