Operational Responsibilities of a
Transient/Non-community Public Water System

This document is provides an overview of significant compliance activities and their cost for operating a transient/non-community public water system (NCWS). Such a system is defined as one designed to serve at least 25 people, for at least 60 days per year. Examples include water systems serving restaurants, campgrounds, motels, recreational areas, service stations, dental and medical offices.

The following are the responsibilities of the water system owner.

Water Quality Monitoring

Bacterial Monitoring
A few disease organisms in a single glass of water can cause illness. Thus water quality testing is done quite frequently. A new system typically samples four times a year or once a quarter for each quarter the system is open. The number of samples taken is based on the population served and the configuration of the system.

Chemical Monitoring
Water quality testing for chemical contaminants is much less frequent. Sampling is limited to the acute contaminant that may impact public health when the maximum contaminant levels are exceeded. Nitrate sampling is required once a year and nitrite sampling needs to be done once every three years.

Field Inspections
DES staff inspect all NCWS every five years. There is no cost for this inspection. However, if samples are taken by DES staff, the system owner is responsible for payment of all water quality testing fees.

Design Approval of Changes to the Existing System
Design review approval is needed for all changes to the water system. This includes, for example, expansion of the system to new customers, adding new treatment equipment and adding new wells.

Administrative Record Keeping System
Documentation relative to the system's sampling requirements (sites and schedules), water quality information, compliance information, and improvements and expansions, must be maintained. It is important for the owner to notify this office of address changes and other significant changes affecting the water system. Detailed recordkeeping requirements can be found in fact sheet WD-DWGB-7-1 “Water System Records Retention.”

It is ultimately the responsibility of the water system’s owner to ensure these requirements are implemented regardless of whether the property served by the water system is leased/rented to other parties.

Pricing is based on averages from laboratories that provided information in August 2007. A list of accredited laboratories that offer drinking water testing services may be found under Laboratory Accreditation at the DWGB website www.des.nh.gov/dwgb/nhelap.

For Additional Information
Please contact the Drinking Water and Groundwater Bureau at (603) 271-2513 or dwgbinfo@des.state.nh.us or visit our website at www.des.nh.gov/dwgb. All of the bureau’s fact sheets are on-line at www.des.nh.gov/dwg.htm. Additional public water information is also available at the DES One Stop Data Retrieval Site at www.des.nh.gov/OneStop.htm.

Note: This fact sheet is accurate as of October 2007. Statutory or regulatory changes, or the availability of additional information after this date may render this information inaccurate or incomplete.