How do I find out if my water is safe to drink?
You can contact your water supplier and ask if the water meets federal, state, or provincial standards. If it does, the water is safe to drink. You can also ask your city, county, state, or provincial health department. In the United States, federal law states that consumers must be notified if violations of regulations occur. Federal law also requires most water utilities to provide customers with an annual water quality report called a Consumer Confidence Report.
What are the drinking water standards for the State of Virginia?
Virginia drinking water standards are the same as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards in the Safe Drinking Water Act. Visit EPA's web site for drinking water standards at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/standards.html for additional information on this subject.
Am I or will I become a drinking water system owner?
You are a drinking water system (waterworks) owner if you serve piped water for drinking or domestic use to at least 15 connections, to an average of 25 individuals for at least 60 days out of a year, or to the public. You are a waterworks owner if you serve drinking water to 15 homes or to 25 persons in one home or business.
Am I a drinking water system owner if I obtain water from an existing system?
If you obtain all drinking water service from an existing regulated water system, becoming part of it, and not reselling or retreating the water, you are not an system owner. The Virginia Department of Health suggests you contact existing system owners to determine if service is possible through an existing system or other arrangement.
Am I really prepared for the responsibility and complex business of delivering drinking water?
You need to determine your financial, technical, managerial and operational capabilities; adequate capabilities will allow you to operate successfully over the long term and to comply with drinking water regulations.
The Code of Virginia states "the Board of Health shall recognize the relationship between an owner's financial, technical, managerial and operational capabilities and his capacity to comply with state and federal drinking water standards. The application shall include a comprehensive business plan detailing the technical, managerial, and financial commitments to be made by the owner in order to assure that the waterworks' performance requirements for providing the water supply will be met over the long term." You may obtain a copy of the Waterworks Regulations from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH).
In addition, if the VDH requires hiring an operator, the waterworks owner must employ appropriately licensed operators. The Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation licenses and regulates operators.
What do I have to do? How do I start? Am I required to get a permit?
You must file an application for a permit. The Code of Virginia states that no one shall establish, construct, operate, change, alter or improve any waterworks without a permit from the Commissioner of Health. You may obtain this application and a handout entitled "Process Overview" from any office listed below. The handout outlines the VDH process from your first step to your ongoing, long term operation. In addition, you need to contact your local planning and zoning offices to obtain any local permits.
Will I need professional services?
You probably will need engineering, surveying, legal, and accounting services. Before you incur costs for these services, we encourage you to schedule a visit with any of the Virginia Department of Health field offices. During this visit, the VDH staff will discuss with you the demands of the drinking water business and provide you with information that will be helpful in your decision-making process.
Will I find the application process and planning useful?
Your use of the application process and the necessary planning will help you assure successful, long-term delivery of drinking water. You will make informed decisions regarding whether to create a waterworks or choose to pursue other alternatives.
You will enhance your knowledge of the complexity of the waterworks industry while properly preparing a preliminary engineering report and comprehensive business plan. Your planning will provide guidance for the business's future and will support application for financing and for issuance of permits to construct and operate a waterworks.
Am I required to complete the comprehensive business planning portion (PART C) of the application?
You must submit the comprehensive business plan (PART C) if you are a potential first-time owner of a Virginia waterworks.
The VDH will notify an existing waterworks owner if he must submit the comprehensive business plan (PART C). Normally, those owners demonstrating a history of compliance will not be required to complete Part C of the application.
Do I have to contact the State Corporation Commission?
Before you serve or plan to serve 50 or more customers (connections), you must apply to the State Corporation Commission (SCC) for a certificate of public convenience and necessity. As early as possible, you may contact the SCC's Division of Energy Regulation at 804 - 371-9611.
Can I buy an existing waterworks?
Yes, but you need to contact both the VDH and State Corporation Commission (SCC) before taking action. VDH waterworks operation permits are not transferable and may require submitting a comprehensive business plan. Before an owner acquires assets, the SCC must approve any transfers of assets. For more information on asset transfer, contact the SCC's Division of Public Utility Accounting at 804 - 371-9950.