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Monitoring Waiver Application Forms

Monitoring Contacts

Regional Office

Water Quality Managers

or

Public Health District

assigned to your system


Drinking Water:

Monitoring Requirements and Waivers

for Public Water Systems

   
What Are Monitoring Waivers?
Who Can Apply for Monitoring Waivers?
How Do I Apply for Monitoring Waivers?
How Often Do I Apply for Waivers?
Do I Have to Apply for Monitoring Waivers?
 
 
 What Are Monitoring Waivers?

Monitoring waivers are reductions in the repeat monitoring frequency for certain inorganic and organic chemical contaminants. Monitoring waivers are allowed by federal rules and each state has the option to allow them or not. Idaho adopted rules to allow monitoring waivers because of the low occurrence of contamination in public water systems and to help systems, particularly small systems, save money.

 
 Who Can Apply for Monitoring Waivers?

All community and non-community non-transient water systems that are current on their annual drinking water fee assessments may apply for monitoring waivers.

Community water system (CWS): a public water system that serves at least 15 service connections used by year-round residents OR regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Examples: municipal systems, subdivisions and trailer parks

Non-community non-transient water system (NCNTWS): a public water system that regularly serves at least 25 of the same persons over 6 months of the year and is not regulated as a community water system. Examples: schools, factories and churches

 
 How Do I Apply for Monitoring Waivers?

To apply for monitoring waivers, you must fill out an application form and agreement, based on federal requirements, to determine levels of contamination and the vulnerability of the system to contamination. (Vulnerability information may be obtained from the Source Water Assessment Report for your system. Not having a Source Water Assessment does not affect your eligibility for waivers.)

 

Fill out the questions to the best of your ability and do not guess; write “unknown” for questions if you are unsure about the answer. Return the signed and completed application and agreement to your local public health district or nearest DEQ Regional Office. Make sure any additional requested materials are included (e.g. questions 3d and 4a may require additional information). Make copies for your records. Your application will be processed within 60 days of receipt unless you are notified otherwise.

Link to monitoring waiver forms on this Web site.

 
 How Often Do I Apply for Waivers?

Monitoring cycles are nine years; monitoring periods are three years. Monitoring waivers may effective for one, two, or three monitoring periods, depending on the contaminant, and must be renewed according to the following schedule:

Waiver
Renewal Timeframe*
Year(s) Due
IOCs** 9 years for ground and surface water sources 2011
VOCs GW 6 years for ground water sources 2008
VOCs SW 3 years for surface water sources 2005 and 2008
SOCs 3 years for ground and surface water sources 2005 and 2008
Asbestos 9 years for ground and surface water sources 2011
Cyanide 9 years for ground and surface water sources 2011
Dioxin 3 years for ground and surface water sources 2005 and 2008

*   Unless otherwise notified
**  Excluding nitrate, nitrite, sodium and arsenic

 
 Do I Have to Apply for Monitoring Waivers?

Yes, if you want to be considered for a reduced monitoring schedule. Monitoring waivers are only granted through the application process. You don’t have to apply for a reduced frequency, but a monitoring waiver can save your system a considerable amount of money, especially for synthetic organic contaminant monitoring.



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