Business Wire - Tuesday April 27, 1999

Your local water supplier will be letting you know just that very soon. Under a new federal consumer information regulation, water utilities must inform their customers about the quality of their water, as well as other vital public health information.

Beginning in 1999, community water systems serving more than 25 people must provide their customers with annual "consumer confidence reports" detailing the quality of the drinking water they serve. In Washington State, these reports are expected to reach 4.8 million customers of more than 2,000 community water systems.

Many water suppliers in Washington cities, including Bellevue, Tacoma, and Olympia, will issue their reports in early May this year, to coincide with National Drinking Water Week, May 2-8. Customers in other cities, such as Seattle and Everett, will receive their reports in June. All water quality reports must be issued by October 19 this year, and by July each year thereafter.

Washington State Department of Health Secretary Mary Selecky urged consumers to use these reports to become better educated about their water. "Information is a powerful tool in protecting the public's health," Selecky, said. "This new public-right-to-know rule is a giant step forward in consumer information and public understanding of drinking water. It requires drinking water suppliers to provide the same kind of information we've come to expect from the labels on our food."

"Does your water come from a lake, a river, or from under the ground? Have bacteria or chemicals been detected? The reports will tell customers where their water comes from, what's in it, and how those substances might affect their health," Selecky said.

Selecky said people who are vulnerable to illnesses, such as organ transplant recipients, HIV/AIDS patients, the very young, and the very old, need this information to make knowledgeable decisions about what water they should drink. Educated consumers are more likely to help protect their drinking water sources and understand the true costs of safe drinking water as well, she said. Consumer advocates and water suppliers alike support this important right-to-know rule.

"Our members support this effort to heighten consumer awareness of the quality of our drinking water, and look forward to the improved level of public involvement in drinking water issues this new program will promote," said Greg Brizendine, manager of the East Wenatchee Water District and chair of the state Water Supply Advisory Committee. The Water Supply Advisory Committee, appointed by the Legislature to represent a range of drinking water interests, including utility owners and operators, consumers, and environmental advocates, has assisted the Department of Health in carrying out this new federal regulation in Washington state.

"Consumers have a right to know what is in their drinking water, and utilities want to provide this information," said Clair Olivers, Association Director for the Pacific Northwest Section of the American Water Works Association and City of Everett public works director. "Water utilities continually test drinking water and monitor for contaminants. These reports are a great opportunity for water utilities to get this information to their consumers. The reports will also include information about where the water comes from and ways that consumers can get involved in water quality decisions."

"The League of Women Voters believes that democratic government depends upon the informed and active participation of its citizens and requires that governmental bodies protect the citizen's right to know," said Elizabeth Pierini, President, League of Women Voters of Washington. "These reports will provide an opportunity for the public to learn about the quality of their water. The League believes this knowledge will encourage people to become more involved in protecting this valuable resource."

"Public utility districts, like other water utilities, want to make sure customers know how their drinking water is obtained and treated. Customers have a right to this information, and well-informed customers can help utilities make good decisions about water supply and treatment," said John Kounts, Water Program Director of the Washington Public Utility District Association.

"Because PUDs are owned and governed by our customers, we see consumer confidence reports as one more opportunity to communicate sound information to our customer-owners."

Requirements for these reports are the centerpiece of the right-to-know provisions in the 1996 amendments to the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Nationwide, some 248 million people are expected to receive reports from 55,000 water systems.

Contact:

Washington Dept. of Health Division of Drinking Water Gregg Grunenfelder, 360/236-3110

OR

Communications Office Steve Kelso, 360/236-4078

OR

http://epsilon.doh.wa.gov/

OR

Water Supply Advisory Committee, E. Wenatchee Water District Greg Brizendine, 509/884-3569

OR

American Water Works Association, City of Everett Clair Olivers, 425/257-8890

OR

League of Women Voters of Washington Elizabeth Pierini, 206/622-8961

OR

Washington PUD Association John Kounts, 206/467-1326
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