Tribal Members Involvement in Safe Drinking Water on Tribal Lands

Public Notification

The tribal utility is required to notify the community of problems with their drinking water that may pose a risk to public health.

Public Notification is required:

• Whenever the system is in violation with any of the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations;
• The system fails to test its water;
• If the system has been granted a variance or an exemption; or
• When there is an emergency affecting the drinking water posing a risk to public health.

In addition, utilities serving community water systems must issue annual Consumer Confidence Reports of the status of their water quality.

Public notifications should also identify the roles and responsibilities between the:

• Tribal leader or system owner;
• Utility board; and
• Utility staff regardless of whether or not an independent utility board is established.

The community has the right to know:

• Who is responsible for the system; and
• What happens when there is a violation or other problem that affects the drinking water.

Talking to Your Customers About Chronic Contaminants in Drinking Water: A Best Practices Guide (PDF)(2 pp, 356 K, About PDF)- provides a summary about the dangers of chronic contaminants and how water systems protect against contamination.