Font ResizeFederal environmental regulators announced action Tuesday against 11 small Utah water systems.
Lisa Kahn, a spokeswoman for EPA's Denver regional office, said the violations primarily had to do with too-little or too-late monitoring of contaminants. None of the water systems will be fined, she said.
"These approval orders [EPA enforcement notices] are getting these systems back on track," said Kahn, "and that's what we wanted to see."
Although state regulators oversee the EPA's programs in Utah, they stopped short of writing up violations in all but one of the cases.
Patti Fauver of the Utah Division of Drinking Water said her agency focuses on providing technical assistance and support for the small water systems facing violations.
"We're looking for compliance, as opposed to enforcement," said Fauver, who said the state was not aware of anyone being harmed because of the violations.
The Chester Park Water System in Mount Pleasant, exceeded maximum allowances for total coliform bacteria. It also failed to monitor for total coliform bacteria, nitrate, lead and copper, pesticides, inorganic contaminants, and radionuclides, and neglected to complete a consumer confidence report.
Dutch John, did not submit a surface water monitoring plan and failed to monitor for E. coli bacteria, lead and copper, disinfectant
For about a week, the state advised Dutch John water customers to boil their water for at least a minute or to use bottled water.
East Carbon City also failed to submit a surface water monitoring plan and did not monitor for E. coli bacteria, nitrate, inorganic contaminants, volatile organic contaminants, and disinfection by-products.
Paradise RV Park in Panguitch did not monitor for total coliform bacteria and nitrate.
Sunset Park Water Co. in Tremonton failed to monitor for nitrate, lead and copper, volatile organic contaminants, pesticides and inorganic contaminants. It also exceeded the maximum contaminant level for total coliform bacteria and did not take required actions after exceeding allowable levels for lead.
EPA also expects to issue administrative orders soon to:
Clean Harbors-Aragonite in Tooele County did not monitor for nitrate, lead and copper, inorganic contaminants, and disinfection by-products.
Harmony Farms Water Users in New Harmony did not monitor for total coliform, nitrate, lead and copper, volatile organic contaminants, and radionuclides; they also exceeded the total coliform bacteria standard.
Sorrel River Ranch in Moab did not submit a surface water monitoring plan did not report turbidity results. It also failed to monitor for E. coli bacteria, nitrate, total coliform bacteria. The system has now submitted its surface water monitoring plan and begun monitoring for E. coli.
EPA issued notices of violation to the State for the following public water systems, but will not be issuing administrative orders to these systems for the reasons indicated:
The Mount Ogden Stake Camp in Ogden exceeded total coliform bacteria allowances and failed to monitor coliform and nitrate, but the state has deactivated the system pending a new one is developed.
EPA took issue with the Woods Ranch system in Parowan because of missing monitoring data for total coliform bacteria and nitrate but now has received the data and deemed the system in compliance.
Paragonah exceeded allowable coliform bacteria levels and failed to monitor for total coliform bacteria, nitrate, and inorganic contaminants. The state issued the system a bilateral compliance agreement covering the violations.
