What is Policy 4: Surface water treatment rule performance assessment, proper operation, and fostering improved operations?
Safe Drinking Water Policy 4 explains how the Safe Drinking Water Program (the department) evaluates public water systems that treat surface water. It ensures these systems meet regulatory standards for removing or inactivating harmful microorganisms and encourages public water systems to improve their treatment processes to reduce health risks to consumers.
Policy 4 sets clear requirements beyond standard reporting to comply with Surface Water Treatment Rules (SWTRs). The division updates this policy regularly to keep up with regulatory changes and to maintain industry standards with input from stakeholders.
The division will also update the Policy 4 Guidance document. This guidance helps water systems understand the operational practices that the department evaluates during sanitary surveys. It defines what the department considers a “properly operated” surface water treatment plant.
We plan to host a stakeholder engagement in the summer to review the language of Surface Water Treatment Rule Policy #4.
The division will engage external stakeholders for initial feedback on current versions of Policy 4 and Policy 4 guidance, utilize feedback to develop updates internally, and engage stakeholders for feedback on final versions. The division plans to hold a meeting in the summer to close out this engagement process. Sign up to receive notifications about this effort.
We will provide a copy of the meeting recording, chat, meeting presentation, and other meeting materials in our public folder.
Scheduled large group stakeholder meeting
We plan to host a stakeholder meeting by the end of the summer to review the proposed updates to Policy 4 and Policy 4 guidance based on stakeholder feedback.