1. (1) All sanitary surveys described by this rule and defined in OAR 333-061-0020 shall be conducted by the Oregon Health Authority (Authority).

2. (2) Every community, non-transient non-community (NTNC) and transient non-community (TNC) water system must undergo a sanitary survey at least every five years at a frequency determined by the Authority. Water suppliers must provide the Authority, upon request:

   1. (a) Any existing information that will enable the Authority to conduct the sanitary survey, including but not limited to, records relating to: monitoring, reporting and data verification; water system management and operations; and operator certification.
   2. (b) Access to the entirety of the public water system, including but not limited to: source of supply; treatment; distribution system; finished water storage; pumps; and pump facilities and controls.
3. (3) Every sanitary survey shall be recorded and a report sent to the water supplier following the site visit. The sanitary survey report shall include, at a minimum, the following components of a water system: source of supply; treatment; distribution system; finished water storage; pumps, pump facilities and controls; monitoring, reporting and data verification; system management and operations; and operator certification compliance.

4. (4) The sanitary survey report will identify any significant deficiency specified in this section or any unmet drinking water regulations discovered during the site visit. Significant deficiencies include, but are not limited to:

   1. (a) Groundwater sources:

      1. (A) Well sanitary seal and casing not watertight;
      2. (B) Unscreened well vent exists;
      3. (C) Spring box not constructed of impervious, durable material;
      4. (D) Spring box access hatch not watertight;
      5. (E) Spring box access hatch not secured;
      6. (F) Spring collection does not exclude surface water; or
      7. (G) Spring overflow not screened.

   2. (b) Water Treatment:

      1. (A) No physical separation between treated and untreated water;
      2. (B) Turbidity standards not met;
      3. (C) Incorrect location for compliance turbidity monitoring;
      4. (D) For membrane filtration, direct integrity testing not performed as required;
      5. (E) For cartridge filtration, filters not changed according to manufacturer’s recommended pressure differential;
      6. (F) For diatomaceous earth filtration, body feed not added with influent flow;
      7. (G) For disinfection, unable to demonstrate CTs are met; or
      8. (H) For ultraviolet light, no auto-alarm or shutoff for inadequate intensity.

   3. (c) Distribution system:

      1. (A) 20 pounds per square inch (psi) not maintained at all service connections at all times; or
      2. (B) Pumps drawing from mainline not equipped to maintain at least 20 psi on the suction side.

   4. (d) Finished water storage:

      1. (A) Roof and access hatch not adequately secured;
      2. (B) Roof and access hatch not watertight;
      3. (C) No flap-valve, screen, or equivalent over drain and overflow; or
      4. (D) No screened vent.
   5. (e) Maximum contaminant level violations not addressed.
   6. (f) Compliance schedule deadlines not met.
   7. (g) No operator in direct responsible charge at the required certification level.
   8. (h) Other situations presenting an immediate public health risk, as determined by the Authority.

5. (5) Response required when significant deficiencies are identified:

   1. (a) For water systems that use surface water sources or groundwater under the direct influence of surface water (GWUDI) sources, water suppliers must respond in writing to the Authority within 45 days of receiving the sanitary survey report.

      1. (A) The water supplier's response must include:

         1. (i) The plan the water supplier will follow to resolve or correct the identified significant deficiencies;
         2. (ii) The plan the water supplier will follow to resolve or correct any unmet drinking water regulations identified during the sanitary survey or at any other time; and
         3. (iii) The schedule the water supplier will follow to execute the plan.
      2. (B) The plans and schedules identified above in subparagraphs (5)(a)(A)(i) through (iii) of this rule must be approved by the Authority.

   2. (b) For water systems that use only groundwater sources, water suppliers must consult with the Authority within 30 days of receiving written notice of a significant deficiency identified during the sanitary survey. Within 120 days of receiving written notice of a significant deficiency or an unmet drinking water regulation, water suppliers must:

      1. (A) Have corrected the significant deficiency or unmet rule requirement; or
      2. (B) Be in compliance with an Authority approved corrective action plan.
6. (6) Water suppliers that fail to respond to the Authority regarding correction of significant deficiencies within the timeframes specified in section (5) of this rule, are required to issue a tier 2 public notice as prescribed in OAR 333-061-0042(2)(b)(D).
7. (7) Water suppliers must correct the deficiencies identified in the sanitary survey according to an Authority-approved schedule as described in section (5) of this rule. Failure to do so constitutes a violation of this rule.

Statutory/Other Authority

ORS 448.131 & 448.150

Statutes/Other Implemented

ORS 448.131 & 448.150

History

PH 28-2025, amend filed 12/30/2025, effective 01/01/2026
PH 30-2019, amend filed 12/19/2019, effective 01/01/2020
PH 2-2018, amend filed 01/10/2018, effective 01/10/2018
PH 5-2016, f. 2-10-16, cert. ef. 4-1-16
PH 23-2015, f. 12-8-15, cert. ef. 1-1-16
PH 7-2010, f. & cert. ef. 4-19-10
PH 4-2009, f. & cert. ef. 5-18-09
PH 2-2008, f. & cert. ef. 2-15-08
PH 12-2003, f. & cert. ef. 8-15-03
OHD 17-2002, f. & cert. ef. 10-25-02
OHD 23-2001, f. & cert. ef. 10-31-01