OHA Drinking Water Services
Glossary

Regulating Agency:

The regulating agency has primary responsibility to provide oversight and help to the water system.


Water System Classification Types:


Source Type/Primary Source:


Facility Types:


Type of Filtration:
Sampling Groups for Chems:


Chemical Detects:
These are detections of chemicals above a certain threshold (anything greater than 0 for the SOC and VOC groups, greater than half the MCL for the IOC group). That there was a single detect does not mean that a problem exists -- some reasons for single 'hits' include the use of solvents in the area (WD40 for example), gasoline operated machines, deodorant blocs/devices in restrooms, or painting in the vicinity while collecting the sample. The tests for the SOC and VOC groups are very sensitive and can have a detection from something wafting in the air. All chemical detects should be followed up with at least another test.

Coliform Bacteria:

Coliform bacteria are indicator bacteria that are used in testing drinking water. These organisms are found everywhere in nature but when found in drinking water usually means that something has happened to the water system. There are two main types of coliform bacteria - Total and Fecal. Total coliform when found in drinking water can cause intestinal distress and upset in people but rarely anything dangerous. Fecal coliform are associated with sewage or animal wastes and indicate that a serious breakdown in treatment or that contamination has occurred and immediate action is required of the water system to correct the problem.

Type of samples:

Lead and Copper
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL):

The highest level of a contaminant that EPA allows in drinking water. MCLs ensure that drinking water does not pose either a short-term or long-term health risk. A number of chemicals that are tested for are 'unregulated' and do not have a maximum level set. Usually shown at mg/l -- milligrams per liter.

Violations:

Violations tend to fall into three main types -- monitoring violation (failed to report test results or failed to do the test); exceed the MCL for a contaminant; or failure to properly treat surface water (treatment technique violation). All the different violatons are listed below.

The Date of the violation is the first day of the month the violation occurred in. If the violation is for a quarter then the date is the first day of the last month of the quarter -- March 1 for the January, February, March quarter; June 1 for April, May, June quarter; September 1 for July, August, September quarter, and December 1 for October, November, December quarter.

Federal Enforcement Codes Used by Oregon:

EnforceCode Enforcement Name Description
SIA ST VIOLATION/REMINDER NOTICE Informal written or oral notification to PWS from State that a violation has occurred, explaining what the violation was. It may specify that PN should occur and what actions may occur if the system does not return to compliance. (FRDS-DED 1/93)
SIB ST COMPLIANCE MEETING CONDUCTED Meeting between State officials and representatives of the PWS to discuss violation(s) and to explain the requirements for compliance. This is an informal meeting as opposed to an enforcement meeting. (FRDS-DED 1/93)
SIC ST TECH ASSISTANCE VISIT Meeting between State and PWS to discuss the PWS's status, the requirements for M/R and operational problems. The State usually provides assistance of a technical nature to return the PWS to compliance. (FRDS-DED 1/93)
SID ST SITE VISIT (ENFORCEMENT) Site visit for enforcement purposes. A visit to the PWS to attempt to confirm or discover additional regulatory violations. A site visit can be considered a preliminary step for a formal enforcement action. (FRDS-DED 1/93)
SIE ST PUBLIC NOTIF REQUESTED Request by the State for a PWS to give public notification that a violation of the regulations has occurred. This request can be oral or written and would generally follow the violation notice. (FRDS-DED 1/93)
SIF ST PUBLIC NOTIF RECEIVED Public Notification received from PWS. State receipt of public notification issued by the PWS in response to a violation. (FRDS-DED 1/93)
SFG ST PUBLIC NOTIF ISSUED Public notification issued by the primacy agency. It may be issued in response to violations about which the supplier did not notify the public or where the State feels there is a risk to health. May be issued with a Boil Water Order. (FRDS-DED 1/93)
SFH ST BOIL WATER ORDER State issued Boil Water Order. Order which notifies the system's customers of a deficiency that could result in an acute risk to health, and that they should boil the water before using it (for drinking, cooking, possibly bodily contact). (FRDS-DED 1/93)
SFJ ST FORMAL NOV ISSUED State issued Formal Notice of Violation. A formal notification to a PWS that it is in violation of a drinking water regulation, that it must take some action to rectify its problem and that formal legal action may follow if they don't. (FRDS-DED 1/93)
SFN ST SHOW-CAUSE HEARING A hearing held to provide opportunity for the violator to present information to the State and the public on its reasons for not complying with the State SDWA. Such hearings often result in compliance agreements or other formal actions. (FRDS-DED 1/93)
SFK ST BCA SIGNED State Bilateral Compliance Agreement signed. An agreement signed by both the State and the PWS that contains a schedule to return the system to compliance. The agreement should comport with OGWDW guidance on the use of BCAs. (FRDS-DED 1/93)
SFL ST AO (W/O PENALTY) ISSUED State Administrative Order/Compliance Order issued without penalty. An order issued by the Executive branch of the State government that orders the PWS to come into compliance or to undertake remedial actions. No penalty is assessed. (FRDS-DED 1/93)
SFO ST AO (W/PENALTY) ISSUED State Administrative Order/Compliance Order issued with Penalty. An order issued by the Executive branch of the State government that orders the PWS to come into compliance or to undertake remedial actions. A penalty is assessed. (FRDS-DED 1/93)
SFM ST ADMIN PENALTY ASSESSED State Administrative Penalty assessed. A penalty assessed by a non-judicial body in response to a violation of the regulations or failure to take actions ordered by the primacy agency to achieve compliance. (FRDS-DED 1/93)
SFP ST CIVIL CASE UNDER DEVELOPMENT State Civil Case under development. Technical/legal staff are preparing documents to refer a civil case to the State Attorney General. (FRDS-DED 1/93)
SF9 ST CIVIL CASE REFERRED TO AG State Civil Case referred to State Attorney General. The sending of the required litigation report and other documents to the State Attorney General for the filing of a civil case in State court. (FRDS-DED 1/93)
SFQ ST CIVIL CASE FILED State Civil Case filed in State court. The action by the State Attorney General to place the civil case on the docket on the appropriate State court. (FRDS-DED 1/93)
SF% ST CIVIL CASE CONCLUDED State Civil Case concluded. State civil case resolved through verdict, pleas, injunction, etc. (FRDS-DED 1/93)
SFR ST CONSENT DECREE/JUDGEMENT State Consent Decree or Consent Judgement. A formal agreement filed in a State court between the PWS and the primacy agency that settles a civil case and that specifies the actions that must be taken by the PWS to achieve compliance. (FRDS-DED 1/93)
SFS ST DEFAULT JUDGEMENT State Default Judgement. A State court judgment that is rendered, in accordance with State civil procedure, generally as a consequence of the non-appearance of the system owner/operator. (FRDS-DED 1/93)
SFT ST INJUNCTION State Injunction. A final order issued by the State court that directs the PWS to take certain actions (or forbids the PWS to take certain actions). An injunction usually contains penalties for violations of its terms. (FRDS-DED 1/93)
SFU ST TEMP RESTRAIN ORDER/PRELIM INJUNC State Temporary Restraining Order/Preliminary Injunction. An immediate, non-final order issued by the State court that forbids the PWS to take certain actions, or orders the PWS to take certain actions. Often used in emergency situations. (FRDS-DED 1/93)
SF& ST CRIM CASE REFERRED TO AG State Criminal Case referred to the State Attorney General. The sending of required litigation report and other documents to the State Attorney General for the filing of a criminal case in State court. (FRDS-DED 1/93)
SOX ST COMPLIANCE ACHIEVED For M/R violations, SOX indicates that the State has determined that the system is monitoring & reporting properly. For MCL violations, SOX means that the system is now operating below the MCL. Only required for Chem/Rad violations. (FRDS-DED 1/93)



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