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EPA ISSUES WARNINGS TO ARIZONA COMMUNITY WATER SYSTEMS

Release Date: 6/14/2001
Contact Information: Wendy L. Chavez, U.S. EPA, 415/744-1588

     25 Small Systems Failed to Comply With Reporting Laws
                               
     SAN FRANCISCO   The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently issued warning letters to owners and operators of 25 community water systems for failing to distribute water quality reports to their customers, as part of the 1996 right-to-know law, a violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act.

     The warning letters give the systems 30 days to distribute the report to their customers or the EPA may assess penalties up to $5,000.    

     "The Consumer Confidence Reports are an important tool for all to have information on the safety of their drinking water," said the EPA's Pacific Southwest Water Division Director Alexis Strauss.  "Water systems have a responsibility to provide this important information to their customers."

     Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population.  Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections.      

     The first report, covering 1998, was due October 1999.  The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality mailed notices reminding community water systems about the requirement in April and again in September 1999.  In April 2000, the ADEQ sent warning notices to those water systems who had not complied.  

     In May 2000, the EPA issued 189 administrative orders to water systems that had still not distributed their 1998 reports to their customers.  Twenty-five water systems did not comply with the order.

     The 1996 right-to-know law requires water systems to give customers an annual report with the following information: information on significant sources of contamination; the likely source of each contaminant; health effects of any contamination; identification of any violations of drinking water regulations; potential health effects and steps taken to correct the violation; type and location of the water source; a table showing contamination detected at the water system; name and phone number of a contact person; and other information.

The following water systems face EPA fines for failing to distribute their water quality reports:

Water system                       Area                Est. population
Arizona Windsong Water Co.         Sanders             serving   400
Leslie Canyon Water Users          Douglas             serving    60
Lacosta Water Users Assoc.         Douglas             serving    56
Sunrise Mobile Home Park           Sierra Vista        serving    22
Kachina Village MHP                Kachina Village     serving   240
Ash Creek Water Co.                Central             serving   105      
Eagle View Village/Matori Farms    Aguila              serving   200
P.A.I. Domestic/Matori Farms       Aguila              serving   120
Oatman Water Co.                   Oatman              serving   536
White Hills Water Co.              Bullhead City       serving   130
Joshua Hills Water Co.             Dolan Springs       serving   200
White Mt. Lakes Estates            White Mountain Lake serving   950
Running Bear Mobile Resort         Lakeside            serving   150
Rillito Water Users Assoc.         Rillito             serving   213
Decker Community Water             Tucson              serving    29
Bidegain Water Co.                 Kearny              serving    49
Kelvin-Simmons Co-op               Kearny              serving    33
Hong Kong Water Co.                Superior            serving    30
Maricopa Mt. Water Co.--East       Maricopa            serving   660  
Maricopa Mt. Water Co.--NW         Maricopa            serving   225
Davis Ranch Landowners             Marana              serving    46
Hidden Valley Farmettes            Maricopa            serving    74
Hacienda Acres Water System        Wittman             serving    80
Buffalo Run Mobile Home Park       Camp Verde          serving   180
Beverly Gardens                    Prescott            serving   150