Previous Rulemakings
- Emergency planning at public water systems: proposed permanent rule amendments
- Very small public water systems requirements: proposed permanent rule adoption and amendments to streamline and consolidate requirements
1. Emergency planning at public water systems: proposed permanent rule amendments
The Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division (OHA) permanently amended Oregon Administrative Rule 333-061-0064 related to emergency planning for public water systems. The amendments were necessary to improve and streamline emergency planning requirements and to be consistent with the American Water Infrastructure Act.
Specific amendments and proposed rule language are identified in the documents available below, which include:
Summary of Key Rule Changes
- According to these proposed revisions, the emergency response plan rule would only apply to community and non-transient non-community water systems. Drinking Water Services still recommends that water suppliers responsible for transient and very small water systems maintain an emergency response plan for those water systems.
- For community systems serving more than 3,300 people, the revised rule aligns with the federal American Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) so that only one plan must be developed for water systems to meet the requirements of different emergency management requirements. Drinking Water Services is proposing the following in addition to the AWIA:
- Identifying connections delivering water to vulnerable groups.
- Developing response procedures for events involving high-risk contaminant sources or activities identified in a water system’s source water assessment.
- Describing procedures for notifying customers, water users and local media.
- A simplified emergency response plan will be required for community water systems serving 3,300 people or less and non-transient non-community water systems.
Public Hearing & Comment Period
If you wish to comment on these proposed rule revisions, you may submit written comments or provide oral testimony as follows:
Public comment was accepted until 5:00 p.m. on November 30, 2021. OHA revised the proposed rule to require regular software updates rather than automated updates and to specify that passwords must align with cybersecurity standards instead of mandating "strong" passwords.
2. Very small public water systems requirements: proposed permanent rule adoption and amendments to streamline and consolidate requirementsOHA permanently adopted OAR 333-061-0100 and permanently amended OAR 333-061-0010, 333-061-0020, 333-061-0036, 333-061-0060 and 333-061-0089 to streamline the requirements for very small water systems and consolidate those requirements into one administrative rule.
Specific amendments and proposed rule language are identified in the documents available below, which include:
Summary of Key Rule Changes
- Monitoring requirements are simplified.
- Treatment and construction standards for very small systems are simplified.
- Some administrative and plan review requirements are repealed.
Public Hearing & Comment Period
Public comment was accepted until 5:00 p.m. on November 30, 2021.