Table of Contents

BACKGROUND

Based on a complaint regarding the presence of bacteria in the community water system, a request was made by the Amador County Grand Jury to obtain sample test results from the Amador County Environmental Health Department.

An Environmental Health Specialist with the Amador County Environmental Health Department was contacted for information regarding the Tabeau Mobile Home Park water system. Copies of the bacteriological sample results from March 1998 through July 1998 were obtained. In addition, the Environmental Health Specialist provided a copy of the Delegation Agreement with the State of California and the regulations that pertain to public water system bacteriological sampling.

All materials provided by the Amador County Environmental Health Department were reviewed to ensure the bacteriological testing performed at the Tabeau Mobile Home Park was within compliance guidelines. In addition, the documentation that accompanied the original complaint was compared to the information supplied by the Amador County Environmental Health Department in order to determine if any discrepancies existed.

A summary of the findings was prepared and submitted to the complainant after all data had been collected and analyzed.

FINDINGS

1. Test results conducted by the Amador County Environmental Health Department indicated the Tabeau Mobile Home Park's community water system met the State Health Department standards set for the presence of coliform bacteria in drinking water in March and April 1998.
2. Bacteriological testing on May 5, 1998, revealed the presence of coliform bacteria in amounts greater than allowable by the State Health Department for drinking water.
3. Follow-up testing was performed on the Tabeau Mobile Home Park's water system on May 7, 1998, in accordance with the regulations for public water system bacteriological sampling. Footnote 3. Four (4) bacteriological samples were collected and analyzed. Three (3) of the bacteriological samples taken on May 7, 1998, confirmed the presence of coliform bacteria in amounts greater than those allowable by the State Health Department for drinking water. One (1) sample test taken on May 7, 1998, met State Health Department standards.
4. Following the testing on May 7, 1998, the water purveyor (Tabeau Mobile Home Park) was required to provide public notification to the tenants of the park within three (3) working days. Notification was made to all tenants on May 12, 1998, in compliance with this regulation. In addition, the tenants received a written recommendation advising them to use bottled drinking water or boiled tap water until the matter was resolved.
5. On June 1, 1998, a "Boil Water Notice" was issued to all tenants of the Tabeau Mobile Home Park as a result of the repeat bacteriological test samples conducted on May 7, 1998.
6. In compliance with the standards established by the State Health Department, five (5) sample bacteriological tests were conducted at the Tabeau Mobile Home Park on June 4, 1998. Four (4) of the sample bacteriological tests revealed the water met the State Health Department's standards for the presence of coliform bacteria in drinking water. One (1) test, however, showed the Tabeau Mobile Home Park water system still contained coliform bacteria in amounts greater than allowable for drinking water.
7. Based on the bacteriological test results collected on June 4, 1998, the "Boil Water Notice" was continued until further testing of the community water system could be conducted.
8. Subsequent testing was conducted on June 25, 1998, at the Tabeau Mobile Home Park. Five (5) water samples were tested, and the results revealed the community water system met State Health Department standards for the presence of coliform bacteria in drinking water.
9. Regular monthly testing of the Tabeau Mobile Home Park water system was performed on July 7, 1998. The test samples revealed the coliform bacteria were no longer present, and that the water system was in compliance with State Health Department standards for drinking water.
10. On July 10, 1998, the Amador County Environmental Health Department formally rescinded the "Boil Water Notice". All tenants of the Tabeau Mobile Home Park were provided with written notification that the "Boil Water Notice" had been rescinded. Such notification was made to the tenants on July 10, 1998, in compliance with the California Health and Safety Code.
11. The Amador County Environmental Health Department notified the Tabeau Mobile Home Park that monthly routine bacteriological sampling could be resumed.
12. Isolation of the source of contamination was not determined.

The Tabeau Mobile Home Park acted in compliance with the regulations and standards established by the State Health Department for public water systems. In addition, the Tabeau Mobile Home Park (water purveyor) made proper notification to the Amador County Environmental Health Department and all consumers of the water system within the established timelines.

Routine monitoring of the system will continue to be performed in accordance with the regulations for public water systems as established in the California Health and Safety Code.

RECOMMENDATIONS

No further action is warranted.

Footnote 3.California Code of Regulation, Title 22, Section 64424, Repeat Sampling, states, "If a public water system for which fewer than five routine samples/month are collected has one or more total coliform-positive samples, the water supplier shall collect at least five routine samples the following month."