New Format for the Noncom Scoop
The newsletter for Minnesota's noncommunity public water systems, the Noncom Scoop, is evolving with the times!! Although we will still publish the newsletter each spring, we plan on also sending shorter editions, called Noncom Notes, more frequently. This means you can receive important news and articles more quickly with the addition of this publication, Noncom Notes.
Noncommunity Staffing
- For those of you in northern Crow Wing County, please welcome Ernie Jorgensen. Ernie is the new sanitarian for that area of the state.
- In addition, Craig Gilbertson, Delegated Program Coordinator has retired. Plans are underway for his replacement.
Minnesota Rural Water Association Training Opportunities
Class D Training:
February 26 in Roseau
March 6 in St. Cloud
Class E Training:
February 6 in Little Falls
For additional information, please visit the Minnesota Rural Water Association training website.
New Drinking Water Risk Communication Toolkit
Have you ever had a customer ask, "Is my water safe to drink?" How about, "Why does my water have an odor/color?" When you answer these questions, you are engaging in risk communication. The Minnesota Department of Health’s (MDH’s) Environmental Health Division has a new Drinking Water Risk Communication webpage that can help you improve your risk communication skills. (It was designed primarily for public water suppliers, but it is useful for all water professionals.) In a more connected and digital world, well contractors and water professionals need to communicate accurately, and in a more timely fashion, about risks associated with drinking water contaminants. Giving people accurate risk information at the right time will help them make educated decisions about their drinking water.
The toolkit contains strategies, examples, and templates to help you communicate about drinking water and the risks associated with contaminants in drinking water. You can use the toolkit to learn how to:
• Create simple-to-use, accurate, and clear messages about drinking water.
• Develop consistent messages to maintain and build confidence in tap water.
• Identify effective methods for communicating about contaminants in drinking water.
• Request example messages on challenging or hot topics from MDH.
For more information, contact Drinking Water Protection - 651-201-4700
2019 Annual Monitoring Calendars for Nontransient Noncommunity Public Water Systems
Is your Public Water System (PWS) classified as a Nontransient Noncommunity(NTNC) PWS? If yes, you can expect your annual monitoring calendar to arrive in late January. These calendars are printed on card stock and contain what water sampling is currently scheduled for 2019 at your NTNC PWS. It includes both samples to be collected by MDH staff and samples to be collected by your PWS. The certified water operator(s) at your PWS are also listed, along with the date of expiration for their certificate. Water operators should please look over the calendar and become familiar with what to expect in 2019, including if they need to renew their certificate in 2019. If any information on the calendar needs updating, please let your MDH compliance officer know. The current compliance officer for your PWS is listed in the upper right hand area on the annual monitoring calendar. It will be Rochelle Steinbruckner, or Mark Kluhsman.
Reminder to Owners and Operators of Seasonal Systems
Seasonal public water systems are those that do not operate on a year-round basis, and start up and shut down at the beginning and end of each season. Seasonal systems are required to start up each spring with an approved start-up procedure, and notify MDH of its completion.
If you are the owner/operator of a seasonal water system, you will receive a reminder notice in the spring. After starting up your water system, be sure to complete the notice with the date the procedure was completed, and return it to MDH.
Although providing certification of the start-up procedure is only required for the water systems that fully depressurize all their water system(s) in the off-season, water systems that depressurize a portion of their system should also be following the approved start-up procedure. This will help to ensure these systems are maintained in a sanitary condition.
Please note that seasonal systems that do not complete the approved start-up procedure will be in violation of the Revised Total Coliform Rule and placed on a monthly coliform bacteria sample schedule. The owner/operator of the system will then become responsible for collecting water samples as well as overnight shipping costs.
Additional information relating to the Seasonal Start-up Procedure and other water system related information is available on the Drinking Water Protection (Restaurants, Resorts, Campgrounds - Transient) webpage.
Please contact your designated sanitarian if you have questions. Call 651-201-4700 or 888-345-0823. If you are in a delegated local program jurisdiction, please contact the appropriate office.
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