CLICK HERE TO SEE DEP TRAINING AND
LINK TO TRAINING VIDEOS
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 administered by DEP affects 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 changes in water 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 water testing changes. Food trucks, home bakeries and
similar companies are exempt.
The Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection, in carrying out this EPA mandate, is increasing 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 follow up 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.
