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TENNESSEE BECOMES THE FIRST STATE IN THE NATION TO RECEIVE PRIMARY ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY FOR THE CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT RULE

Release Date: 07/13/1999
Contact Information: Dawn Harris, EPA Press and Media Relations, 404-562-8421

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that Tennessee has become the first state in the nation to receive primary enforcement authority (primacy) for the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) rule under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The State of Tennessee will be the lead enforcement authority to ensure that the consumers’ right to know is respected by water suppliers.

John H. Hankinson, Jr., EPA Region 4 Administrator, said, “We believe that Tennessee’s CCR program will provide a great opportunity for water suppliers to educate consumers and draw them into an on-going dialogue about how to best provide safe drinking water to their communities. This “full disclosure” rule is a step toward more knowledgeable, better satisfied customers - and toward more active public participation in the protection and delivery of safe drinking water.”

The State of Tennessee submitted a complete and final primacy revision application for the CCR rule on April 5, 1999. The application describes a program as stringent as the federal rule that will aid water systems in providing important information to their consumers on the quality of drinking water and measures that are being taken to protect drinking water sources.

CCRs implement a requirement for “full disclosure” by water systems of the source(s) and contents of the tap water they supply. The CCR rule requires community water systems to provide annual reports to customers on the quality of their drinking water. Reports under the CCR rule will give consumers information on their drinking water and opportunities to get involved in its protection.

The CCR Rule is a result of the 1996 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act, which is now in its 25th year. Community water systems must deliver the first CCR within 13 months of the regulations effective date, or by October 19, 1999. Delivery of the second report is due by July 1, 2000 and subsequent reports by July 1 each year thereafter.