AWWA Documentation and Reporting 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR), what action must a water system take when a routine sample tests positive for total coliform?
- Issue a Tier 1 public notice immediately
- Collect repeat samples within 24 hours and document all sampling locations and results (Correct answer)
- Shut down the distribution system pending investigation
- File a variance with the primacy agency
Correct answer: Collect repeat samples within 24 hours and document all sampling locations and results
RTCR requires systems to collect a defined set of repeat samples within 24 hours and document each sampling point, date, time, and laboratory result.
Question 2: Which element is REQUIRED in a Tier 2 public notification for an MCL violation?
- A description of the violation, potential health effects, corrective actions taken, and when safe water is expected (Correct answer)
- Only the MCL numeric value exceeded
- A list of all employees responsible for the violation
- The utility's insurance carrier contact information
Correct answer: A description of the violation, potential health effects, corrective actions taken, and when safe water is expected
EPA requires Tier 2 notices to describe the violation, explain potential health effects, state corrective actions, and provide a compliance timeline.
Question 3: A water utility's lead service line replacement report must be submitted to the primacy agency under the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) how often?
- Monthly
- Quarterly
- Annually (Correct answer)
- Every 5 years
Correct answer: Annually
Under LCRR, utilities must submit annual lead service line replacement reports to the primacy agency documenting lines replaced and remaining inventory.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of a Chain of Custody (COC) form when collecting water samples?
- To bill the customer for sampling costs
- To document sample integrity and traceability from collection to laboratory analysis (Correct answer)
- To satisfy the CCR annual reporting requirement
- To authorize overtime pay for sampling staff
Correct answer: To document sample integrity and traceability from collection to laboratory analysis
The COC form tracks every transfer of custody to ensure sample identity and integrity are legally defensible from field collection through lab analysis.
Question 5: An operator changes a chemical feed pump setting. According to AWWA operations best practices, this change should be documented in which log?
- The annual CCR
- The emergency response plan
- The operations log or process control record (Correct answer)
- The budget variance report
Correct answer: The operations log or process control record
Any change to treatment process settings must be entered in the operations log with date, time, operator name, reason, and new set point to maintain a complete process history.
Question 6: When a water main break occurs, AWWA recommends documenting all of the following EXCEPT:
- Break location, pipe material, diameter, and age
- Repair method and materials used
- Number of customers affected and outage duration
- The personal home addresses of the repair crew (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The personal home addresses of the repair crew
Infrastructure and customer impact data are operationally essential; personal crew residential addresses are irrelevant to infrastructure recordkeeping.
Question 7: Which AWWA manual provides guidance specifically on the preparation of water utility financial statements and rate documentation?
- M1 – Principles of Water Rates, Fees, and Charges (Correct answer)
- M22 – Sizing Water Service Lines and Meters
- M36 – Water Audits and Loss Control Programs
- M50 – Water Resources Planning
Correct answer: M1 – Principles of Water Rates, Fees, and Charges
AWWA M1 covers rate-setting principles, cost-of-service analysis, and the financial documentation water utilities need to justify rates to regulators and customers.
AWWA Documentation and Reporting 3
Under the Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR), what action must a water system take when a routine sample tests positive for total coliform?