Laws & Regs
What federal law requires states to adopt drinking water standards?
Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
What tool standardizes monitoring requirements across contaminant groups?
Standardized Monitoring Framework (SMF)
What fill method is not required for coliform samples?
Fill to 100 mL line, no rinsing, no air space (meniscus at top)
Which online portal do labs use to submit results to the SWRCB?
CLIP (California Laboratory Intake Portal)
How many contaminants currently have enforceable MCLs?
94
In which Title of the California Code of Regulations are drinking water monitoring rules found?
Title 22 – Social Security
Name one factor that determines how often a system must monitor for a contaminant.
Source water type, contaminant type, system size, monitoring history (any one)
Which preservative is used in coliform sample bottles?
Sodium thiosulfate
What does PS Code stand for in sampling?
Primary Station Code
Name two secondary contaminants covered by SMCLs.
Manganese, iron, chloride, sulfate, TDS, etc.
What are the three main types of drinking water standards (MCL, MRDL, SMCL)?
Maximum Contaminant Level, Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level, Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level
True or False: Monitoring schedules are unique to each water system.
True
For DBPs, which preservative is commonly used in TTHM bottles?
hydrochloric acid (HCl) & sodium thiosulfate
What Tier of Public Notification is required within 24 hours?
Tier 1
What is the maximum hold time for metals sampling?
180 days (28 days for mercury)
Which California Code contains the state’s Safe Drinking Water Act?
Health & Safety Code, Division 104, Part 12, Chapter 4 (§116270 et seq.)
What website publishes California’s monitoring schedules?
PDWW (Public Drinking Water Watch)
What is the hold time for coliform samples from distribution systems?
30 hours
How long must water systems keep records under 22 CCR §64470?
5 to 10 years, depending on record type (e.g., bacteriological 5 years; chemical/radiological 10 years)
What type of sample requires a 10-liter bottle?
Giardia/Cryptosporidium samples
Which U.S. Code Title and Chapter contains the Safe Drinking Water Act?
Title 42, Chapter 6A, Subchapter XII
What is PDWW, and what does it track?
Public Drinking Water Watch; publishes system-specific monitoring schedules and compliance info
What size and type of bottle is used for lead and copper samples?
1-liter wide-mouth plastic bottle, no preservative
What annual report must all water systems issue to the public?
Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)
What monitoring program lists 30 unregulated contaminants water systems must sample for?
UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle)