The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is responsible for implementing the Safe Drinking Water Act and associated Safe Drinking Water regulations (25 Pa. Code, Chapter 109).
The Safe Drinking Water Act and regulations define a public water system as a system that provides water to the public for human consumption, and which has at least 15 service connections or regularly serves an average of at least 25 individuals daily at least 60 days out of the year.
Generally, if a building is supplied tap water by a water company or municipal authority without further treating the water, then the building does not meet the definition of a public water system. The entity providing water to the building is the regulated public water system.
However, if a building is supplied water from an on-site well or spring or other source of water and the building regularly provides water for human consumption to an average of at least 25 individuals daily at least 60 days out of the year, the building is regulated as a public water system.
PA's Chapter 109 Safe Drinking Water regulations are based on the federal Safe Drinking Water Act and regulations. These regulations establish national limits on contaminant levels in drinking water to ensure the water is safe for human consumption. The regulations then specify testing frequencies for the contaminants as well as establish requirements for operation and maintenance of the public drinking water system components.
Currently, Pennsylvania has approximately 8,500 public water systems. About 2,000 of these systems are community water systems; that is systems that serve residential areas such as cities, towns, sub-developments, and manufactured housing communities. The other 6,500 public water systems are non-residential systems. Facilities such as schools, restaurants, campgrounds, businesses with 25 or more employees, places of worship, and childcares. Again, any facility supplied by an on-site water supply such as a well that provides water for consumption to an average of at least 25 individuals daily at least 60 days out of the year.
As a certified DHS child care facility, over the next year you will receive a letter and survey from DEP asking for information about where your facility obtains its tap water. You should complete the survey to the best of your ability and return it to the return address provided by DEP. If DEP needs more information, they will follow up with you including potentially a site visit. If your facility meets the definition of a public water system you will need to work with DEP to comply with the Safe Drinking Water regulations. Failure to return the survey could/may affect your next DHS license renewal.
