Sylvia Miller's List: DEQ-PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY

Public Water Supply Systems
Regulated Activities

A water system that has at least 15 service connections or that regularly serves at least 25 persons daily for any 60 or more days in a calendar year is regulated as a public water supply by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Plans and specifications for public water supply wells must be approved, as well as plans for construction, alteration or extensions of any water system or treatment facilities. Operators in charge of community public water supplies and nontransient noncommunity public water supplies must be certified by the DEQ.

Water supply systems for food and lodging establishments that do not serve 15 or more service connections or 25 or more people for any 60 or more days in a calendar year are regulated by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.

Application Requirements

Prior to operating, constructing, altering or extending a public water supply, the applicant must submit an engineering report along with the necessary plans and specifications to the DEQ or a delegated division of local government for review and written approval.
The engineering report, plans and specifications for a community public water supply must be prepared and designed by a professional engineer according to specific engineering criteria. An engineer may be required to prepare plans and specifications for a noncommunity public water supply when the complexity of the proposed system warrants that level of involvement by an engineer.
The applicant must identify the legal entity responsible for the ownership, operation, maintenance and perpetuation of the public water supply system. If a change of ownership occurs, the DEQ must receive written notice within 30 days.
The department has 60 days to approve, approve with conditions, deny the application, or to request more information. The DEQ or a delegated division of local government will issue a written approval for a public water supply system if it determines that the design report, plans and specifications are complete and the applicant has complied with department rules.
If construction, alteration or extension of the community public water supply system has not been completed within three years after approval, the applicant must resubmit all of the information required in 1-3 above.
The proposed public water supply system must comply with the Montana Water Quality Act (75-5-101 et seq. , MCA). See WATER QUALITY PERMITTING, p. 180.
Within 90 days after the construction, alteration or extension of the public water supply system, the project engineer must certify to the DEQ that the required work was completed according to the approved plans and specifications.
Fees

An annual active service connection fee is required and must be postmarked or delivered to the department by March 1st. The annual fee for a community public water supply system is $2 per service connection, with a $100 fee minimum. The annual fee for a nontransient, noncommunity public water supply system is $100. The annual fee for any other noncommunity public water supply system is $50.

Water treatment operators must pay a $70 application fee that entitles the applicant to take one or more exams for 12 months from the date of application. Each exam is $70. The annual renewal fee is $30 (DW), $40 (WW) and must be postmarked or delivered to the department by June 30th.

Public Water Supply Contacts
Responsibility Contact Phone
Bureau Chief of Public Water and Subdivisions Jon Dilliard 444-2409
Rules/Project Expert Eugene Pizzini 444-6972
Financial Specialist Bureau Coordinator Elizabeth Tobel 444-3071
Computer Systems Analyst Jason Newton 444-7449
 

ENGINEERING SERVICES PROGRAM
Engineering Services Program staff performs plan and specifications review of proposed improvements to public water and wastewater systems; inspect public systems, administers contracts for Plan Review and water supply inspection services. The program is responsible for the implementation of Phase II& V, lead and copper, and the radionuclide rules.
Responsibility Contact Phone
Science Program Manager Steve Kilbreath 444-3638
Engineering Plan Review Denver Fraser 444-5318
Engineering Plan Review Patrick Johnson 444-6713
Engineering Plan Review Rachel Clark 444-6722
 

COMPLIANCE PROGRAM
The program provides operator training, technical assistance and sanitary surveys to public water suppliers. The program has responsibility for implementing the Surface Water Treatment Rule (SWTR), Disinfectants/ Disinfection Byproducts Rule (DBP) Consumer Confidence Reports (CCR) and Cross-Connection Control.  The program is also responsible for the implementation of   Phase II & V, Lead and Copper, and the Radionuclide Rules.
Responsibility Contact Phone
Compliance Program Manager Shelley Nolan 444-4071
Monitoring & Reporting Section Supervisor Andrea Vickory 444-3358
Field Services Section Supervisor Greg Butts 755-8967
Lead and Copper, TCR Margarite Thomas 444-3967
Ground Water Rule, MT Chlorination Betsy Hovda 444-2691
Disinfection By-Products John Jose 444-5312
TCR/Nitrates Rules (Community, NTNC) Vacant 444-5314
Hydrogeology, GWUDISW Jake Kandelin 444-4633
Phase II & V, RAD, Chems, CCR, Waivers Ben Schendel 444-6741
Computer Systems Analyst, Data Management Section Lead Steve Martin 444-3744
Data Control Tech Mike Gamble 444-2954
Data Control Tech Wally Jemmings 444-7460
TCR  - (Transient) Cory Mikita 444-3425
CCR, Coordination of Compliance and Enforcement Actions Lloyd Stevens 444-5360
Field Inspector, Sanitary Surveys Luella Schultz 444-4769
Field Inspector, Sanitary Surveys James Williamson 444-7494
Field Inspector, Sanitary Surveys Gerard Gernand 444-5881
Surface Water Compliance Lisa Kaufman 444-5313
Collection Specialist Administrative Lead Teresa Sturm 444-2429
Admin Support Gina Garrity 444-2859
Admin Support Vacant 444-0490
 

The Operator Certification Program certifies operators in eighteen classes of water distribution, water treatment, and wastewater treatment systems that serve the public. Through this office, applications are sent and processed, study materials are mailed, exams are scheduled and given twice yearly, and certificates for fully certified and operator-in-training operators are issued. This program also coordinates all activities of the Governor-appointed Water and Wastewater Operators Advisory Council and the Continuing Education Credit Review Committee (CECRC).
Responsibility Contact Phone
Program Manager Shelley Nolan 444-4071
License Permit Tech: Applications, study materials, exams, certifications, compliance
Julie Allen

444-4584

Lead License Permit Tech: Certification renewals, CECs, Web publishing, applications, study materials, exams Reta Therriault 444-3434
 

BILLINGS OFFICE
Staff in the Billings Office performs section responsibilities as described above in the eastern half of the state. Billings office provides coverage for these counties: Big Horn; Carbon; Carter; Custer; Daniels; Dawson; Fallon; Fergus; Garfield; Golden Valley; McCone; Musselshell; Park; Petroleum; Phillips; Powder River; Prairie; Richland; Roosevelt; Rosebud; Sheridan; Stillwater; Sweet Grass; Treasure; Valley; Wheatland; Wibaux; and Yellowstone.
Responsibility Contact Phone
Office Supervision Vacant 247-4446
Administrative Support Tara Wilcox 247-4445
Engineering Plan Review Matt Waite 247-4455
Field Inspector, Sanitary Surveys Sandy Arnold 247-4427
Field Inspector, Sanitary Surveys Karl Carlson 247-4444
Field Inspector, Sanitary Surveys Monte Smith 247-4438
MISSOULA   Field Inspector,  Sanitary Surveys Greg Wermers 258-3720
 

KALISPELL OFFICE
Staff in the Kalispell Office performs section responsibilities as described above in the northwest corner of the state. The office provides coverage for these counties: Flathead, Lincoln, Lake, Mineral and Sanders.
Responsibility Contact Phone
Office Supervision, Cross-Connection Control, and Waiver Program Greg Butts 755-8967
Engineering Plan Review Vacant  
Engineering Plan Review Emily Gillespie 755-8979
Field Inspector, Sanitary Surveys Mike Kropp 755-8971
Field Inspector, Sanitary Surveys Melee Valett 755-8972
Water Security & Emergency Preparedness, Field Inspector, Sanitary Surveys Dusti Lowndes 7

Home » Water Quality Information » Public Water Supply » Public Water Supply Laws and Rules
Public Water Supply Laws and Rules
Montana Statutes and Rules

Public Water Supply Act
Statute:  75-6-101, et seq., MCA
Rules:    Public Water and Sewage System Requirements
ARM:    17.38.101 through 607
 
Subchapter 1 - Public Water and Sewer Plans, Cross Connections, and Drilling Water Wells
Subchapter 2 - Public Water Supply Requirements
Subchapter 3 - Cross-Connections in Drinking Water Supplies
Subchapter 4 - Reserved
Subchapter 5 - Water Hauled for Cisterns
Subchapter 6 - Administrative Enforcement Procedures
Subchapter 7 - Miscellaneous
Water Treatment Plant Operators Act
Statute:  37-42-101, et seq., MCA
Rules:    ARM 17.40.201 through 215
Federal Statutes and Regulations

Safe Drinking Water Act
Statutes:  Title 42, Chapter 6A, Subchapter 12, Part B
Regulations:  40 CFR, Part 1, National Primary Drinking Water Regulations and 40 CFR, Part 2, National Primary Drinking Water Regulations Implementation