DEP proposal to increase requirements and fees
If you own a Pennsylvania campground, golf course, restaurant, motel, marina, attraction, or other business that provides well water to the public, we want to alert you to changes proposed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environment for Public Water Systems (PWS). A PWS is a system that provides water for human consumption, and that serves at least 15 service connections, or at least 25 people daily, for at least 60 days a year. Businesses with 25 or more employees fall under this definition.
The proposal will also impact bottled water suppliers, water haulers, and those doing business with municipal water systems.
DEP has just issued draft regulations that increase fees and add additional requirements for all businesses with public water systems. There will be a comment period during which you can offer feedback and let DEP know the impact of its proposal on your business.
- For the first time, businesses with public water systems would be required to have auxiliary power or a generator that can provide the same quantity and quality of water in an emergency. If your business currently has a backup system, but it isn’t of adequate size, you may be required to purchase a new one.
- If you ever replace your existing water system and don’t replace it with a system very similar to the one you currently have, there will be a more significant approval process and higher fees.
- For water systems that use surface water, there will be significant new compliance requirements.
NFIB Pennsylvania will keep you apprised of new details on the proposed regulation of Community Water Systems and the let you know when the comment period opens. Contact NFIB Communications Director, Suzanne Stoltenberg, [email protected] or call 717-232-8582 x 1. For detailed information see links at bottom of this article.
The new proposed fee structure range:
(Nontransient regularly serves at least 25 of the same persons over six months per year –Transient serves an ever-changing or transient population)
Annual fees: (Note: No fee currently)
Nontransient Noncommunity Water Systems (NTNC) $100 – $1,000
Transient Noncommunity Water Systems (TNC) $50 – $500
Bottled Water Systems 2,500
Vended, Retail & Bulk Water Haulers $1,000
Permitting Fees: (Note: Currently there is a $750 fee for major amendment to permits)
Permit/Major Amendment $300 – $10,000
Minor Amendment $100 – $5,000 (replacing the system you have with a similar one)
Operations Permit $50
Emergency $100
Change in Legal Status $100
Permitting Fees for bottled, vended, retail, and bulk water hauling systems (Note: Currently the fee for a major amendment is $750, and fee for out-of-state bottled water is $100)
Major amendment (current fee is $ 750) $500 – $10,000
Minor Amendment $100 – $1,000
Operations Permit $50
Change in Legal Status $100
Out-of-State Bottled Water (current fee $100) $ 1,000
Emergency Permit $100
Noncommunity Water System (Note: no fees currently)
Application for Approval $50
4-log Permit $50
Feasibility Study Fees (Note: no fees currently)
Feasibility Study $300 – $10,000
Monitoring Waiver Fees (Note: current fees are $100-$2000 for SOC use and $100-$2000 for SOC Susceptibility)
Source: Volatile Organic Contaminants (VOC) Use $100
Synthetic Organic Contaminants (SOC) Use $100
SOC Susceptibility $300
Inorganic Contaminants (IOC) $100
You can learn more from the DEP website by clicking on the links below:
- Proposed Rulemaking: Safe Drinking Water General Update and Fees (25 Pa. Code, Chapter 109)