Small businesses on well water, considered by the Pa. Dept. of Environmental protection as public water systems, can expect a big
change in the number of water tests required to test for coliform. This EPA proposal will affect all companies
that serve 25 people a day or employ 25 people for at least 60 days a year.
Some of the businesses likely to be affected by the new proposed
testing standards are restaurants, motels, campgrounds, certain agribusinesses,
golf courses, swimming pools, or any business at all with 25 workers not served
by a municipal water system. If your
business uses well water to cook or if you have drinking fountains, showers,
baths or dishwashers using well water, you will probably be subject to the new
proposed rules. Food trucks, home bakeries and similar companies are exempt.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, in
carrying out this EPA mandate, plans to increase the coliform water testing
requirement from quarterly to monthly.
Implementation is expected no sooner than April 1 of next year. Regulators say the
increase in testing is justified in order to better protect the public by ensuring water meets microbial health standards every month. Under the current rule the water quality could potentially not be known for a period up to six months. Also regulators say monthly sampling will also mean simplified requirements regarding followup samples after a coliform-positive test result.
Under the new regulation, if a test for coliform comes back
positive, the number of required check samples will be reduced from 4 samples to 3 samples. The current regulation, requiring 5 follow up samples in the next month, will be eliminated.
A private laboratory tells NFIB the cost for a water test for
private small businesses costs from $25 to $30.
The lab says costs can be higher if a company is not on a standard
testing schedule or if multiple tests must be done after a coliform-positive
test result. All businesses, including those
that are always compliant, can expect to pay between $200 and $300 more each
year for the additional testing required under the proposed rule. It is possible that non-compliant businesses could
see slightly lower costs after a coliform-positive
test result due to less stringent follow up that is proposed.
Affected businesses will be required to have a “Sample
Siting Plan” showing the location in the water system where samples will be
routinely collected. Seasonal businesses, such as campgrounds, golf courses and
others will also have to follow a procedure and complete a form for reopening
and preparing the water system.
Pennsylvania DEP will be offering training as the EPA rule is
implemented.
The public and small businesses will be able to comment on
this DEP proposal in the summer. DEP encourages businesses to visit their website on this issue at www.tinyurl.com/PaRTCR
