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Public Notification Rule

mother and her children drinking water out of glass
Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

Public Notification Rule

Contact your EGLE drinking water staff when you intend to deliver a public notice to ensure you meet content and delivery requirements. Your EGLE drinking water staff can provide a Public Notice template that best fits your situation. To immediately notify your customers to boil their drinking water, the following templates may apply while you contact your EGLE drinking water staff.

Boil Water Notice Templates

E. coli Bacteria Detected in the Distribution System

The maximum contaminant level is violated.

E. coli Bacteria Detected in the Distribution System Template

E. coli Bacteria Detected in the Source Water

This usually follows a positive sample result for total coliform bacteria in the distribution system.

E. coli Bacteria Detected in the Source Water Template

Loss of Pressure in the Distribution System

The water pressure dropped in the distribution system, but total coliform bacteria NOT detected. However, as a precaution, consumers should use boiled or bottled water until further notice. Not every loss of pressure event may warrant a public notice, so work with your EGLE drinking water staff.

Loss of Pressure in the Distribution System Template

Total Coliform Bacteria Detected

Total coliform bacteria detected in the water, but E. coli or fecal coliforms NOT detected. A violation of the state drinking water standard MAY OR MAY NOT have occurred. However, as a precaution, consumers should use boiled or bottled water until further notice. Not every total coliform bacteria detection may warrant a public notice, so work with your EGLE drinking water staff.

Total Coliform Bacteria Detected Template

Ten Required Elements of a Public Notice

Every notice that is required under the Safe Drinking Water Act must contain these ten elements. But water supplies may wish to notify consumers about an event, even if not required to by law. Contact your EGLE drinking water staff to ensure your required notices contain these ten content elements:

  1. Description of the violation or situation
  2. When the violation or situation occurred
  3. Potential health effects
  4. The population at risk
  5. Should alternate water supplies be used
  6. Actions consumers should take
  7. What is being done to correct the violation or situation
  8. When the system expects to return to compliance
  9. Contact information
  10. Required distribution language

Authority

Michigan administrative rules R 325.10401 through R 325.10409 promulgated under the Safe Drinking Water Act 1976 PA 399, as amended, MCL 325.1001 et seq. This rule is as stringent as the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations, Public Notification Rule, Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations 141.201 et seq. promulgated under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, Public Law 93-523, as amended, 42 USC 300f et seq.