Below is a checklist to help owners or operators manage their local water systems. 

Key to successful management is communication with your laboratory to correctly interpret the data as well as communication with the Drinking Water Branch (DWB).  This is not a complete list; rather, the operator should modify this list to fit specific, local needs.  This information is based upon Kentucky Administrative Regulations (KAR) for public water supply, 401 KAR Chapter 8.

• Water systems must verify the data they receive from the laboratory prior to submitting the data to the DWB for compliance.  Are you talking to your laboratory? 
• Are you really looking at the data the laboratory provides?  Is the data in the correct format? 
• When was the last time you spoke with your laboratory about your data?  Is your laboratory sampling person taking samples at the appropriate sampling locations? 
• Remember, the owner or operator of the water system is responsible for submitting correct data, not the laboratory (401 KAR 8:020 General Provisions).  For information and regulatory requirements pertaining to certified laboratories, see 401 KAR 8:040.
• How is your filing system? 
• Is your record keeping up to date?  Refer to 401 KAR 8:020 for monthly operating reports and maintaining records.
• Have you set up a compliance schedule?  If you need help with compliance, contact your compliance officer.  You may also contact someone from Technical Assistance in the DWB. 
• When was the last time you calculated the population in your system?  Refer to 401 KAR 8:030, Section 6, for classification of water treatment plants and water distribution systems.  In addition to classifying your system, the number of samples for monitoring may be dependent upon population served.
• Are you familiar with all the new rules and monitoring schedules that apply to your water system in terms of population served? 
• Have you set up a compliance schedule according to population served?  If you need help with the new rules, contact your compliance officer in the Drinking Water Branch or Technical Assistance for information on the new rules that apply to your water system. 
• Have you updated or revised your daily operating log to reflect appropriate and adequate in-plant testing and chemical feed?  If necessary, contact Technical Assistance in the DWB.
• Is your plant laboratory equipment up-to-date and calibrated?  Refer to 401 KAR 8:020, Section 2(6) on "proper operation and maintenance, including appropriate quality assurance procedures."
• Is your plant on-line testing equipment (i.e., turbidimeters, chlorine analyzers, etc.) up-to-date and calibrated?  For turbidimeters, see the "protocol for using on-line continuous recording turbidimeters for turbidity compliance."
• When was the last time you informed the mayor or board of the new drinking water rules and compliance?
• If you are having a treatment problem, have you contacted Technical Assistance in the Drinking Water Branch for help? 
• Are you removing Total Organic Carbon (TOC)?  If you need help with TOC removal, contact Technical Assistance in the DWB.
• Have you evaluated the Step 2 TOC removal Jar Test?  If you need help with Jar Tests, contact Technical Assistance.
• Have your water plant and distribution system assessed security needs or developed a security program?  Contact Technical Assistance if you need help with security issues.
• If you sell water to another system, do you have written contracts regarding monitoring?  If you purchase water from a system, when was the last time you spoke with the seller?  Are you familiar with your contract requirements?  What is the total population?
• Do you have a procedure for issuing boil water advisories or notices?  Do you and the local Health Department have an agreement or contract when issuing boil water advisories or notices?  See the Web page on boil water notification.
• Do you inform your local Division of Water (DOW) Regional Office of main breaks?  For a listing of DOW regional offices and supervisors, see the Web page for the Field Operations Branch.
• The owner or operator of a water system is responsible for determining monitoring requirements, frequency of sampling and for submitting monthly operating reports to the Kentucky Division of Water, Drinking Water Branch per public water supply regulations, 401 KAR Chapter 8:010 through 8:700.

Because of the many new rules from the 1996 Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act, operators need to become familiar with new compliance requirements. The U.S. EPA considers the new rules to be "self-implementing." That means EPA considers the owner or operator of the water system to be responsible for fulfilling the requirements of the new rules.  If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the Drinking Water Branch at 502-564-3410.