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REGULATIONS I WATERQUALITY % <br />WHAT IS A <br />PUBLIC HEALTH <br />ADVISORY? <br />Water suppliers issue a public health <br />advisory to protect you when drinking <br />water does not meet EPA standards <br />or if there is suspected or confirmed <br />waterborne disease emergency. The <br />notice will describe any precautions you <br />need to take, such as boiling your water. <br />SPRVVS issues public health advisories <br />when SPRVVS determines that consum- <br />ers should take precautionary measures <br />with their tap water. A public health <br />order is a preventive measure to protect <br />public health from waterborne disease <br />or from using contaminated water. Dif- <br />ferent types of public health orders may <br />be issued in respond to different types <br />of unpredicted event to protect public <br />health, which may include: <br />(1) Boil Water Notice <br />When a loss of pressure occurs <br />from a water main break, an equipment <br />malfunction, or system maintenance, <br />SPRVVS will issue a boil water notice <br />and bacteriological sampling require- <br />ments will go into effect. <br />Boil water notices in these cases are <br />precautionary and do NOT necessarily <br />mean that contamination has been de- <br />tected or is suspected. In other cases, <br />when water disinfection processes failed <br />or due to disinfectant shortage, a boil <br />water notice will also go into effect while <br />corrective measures are taken. In this <br />case, resampling continues until the <br />corrective measures are completed. <br />(2) Do Not Drink Notice <br />Notice will be issued when the <br />water contains a chemical contaminant <br />that cannot be removed by boiling. In <br />this case, bottled water should be used <br />for drinking or cooking. <br />(3) Do Not Use Notice <br />Notice will be issued ifthere is a <br />contaminant in the water that may be <br />inhaled or otherwise harmful on contact. <br />4* <br />HOW WOULD I KNOW IF THE WATER <br />IS NOT POTABLE TO DRINK? <br />Public health order notifications will be <br />sent out via the Ramsey County Avert <br />System (sent to cell phones) along with <br />social and traditional media. Consumers <br />must follow the alert instructions to take <br />appropriate action for a certain duration <br />until SPRVVS notifies consumers when <br />it has remedied the problem and the <br />order is lifted. Consumers may also find <br />more public health order notification <br />information on the SPRVVS website at <br />www.stpaul.govAvater when an order is <br />issued. The order will not be lifted until <br />water quality testing shows that the water <br />meets EPAdrinking water standards. <br />SPRVVS will lift the order when the water <br />is considered potable and no longer <br />poses a threat to public health. <br />SPRVVS will always notify the <br />Minnesota Department of Health <br />when a Public Health Advisory notice <br />is issued to impacted consumers. <br />MDH has the authority to issue an <br />advisory on behalf a public water <br />system, and MN Statute 144.383 <br />states, "In order to ensure safe <br />drinking water in all public water <br />supplies, the commissioner has the <br />following powers: (b) To develop an <br />emergency plan to protect the public <br />when a decline in water quality or <br />quantity creates a serious health risk, <br />and to issue emergency orders if a <br />health risk is imminent" <br />Consumers can contact MDH or <br />SPRVVS for questions when receiving <br />a Public Health Advisory notice. <br />Page 35 of 76 <br />