Public health advisory Coliform - Washington State Dept of Health

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Learn more about the
Division of Environmental
Health

Coliform
Public Health Advisory Packet

The Coliform Public Health Advisory Packet (DOH Pub. #331-260 Red Folder) is available from your Office of Drinking Water (ODW) regional office or you can order online from the ODW publications page.You can also download these materials individually by using the links in the right column.

The materials in this packet are tools to help you respond to the presence of fecal contamination in your water supply. If you have fecal contamination in your system, the Department of Health (DOH) will work closely with you to help resolve the situation and to determine if a public health advisory is required. These tools, along with DOH assistance, will help you identify the source of contamination, eliminate it, and make sure customers are adequately notified.

How to use the forms and templates

Drinking Water Warning (in right column): You may use this form to notify your customers in response to an E. coli or fecal coliform positive sample result. It is required if your system has an acute maximum contaminant level (MCL) violation. You may reformat this notice, but the content should remain the same.

Type or write information on the form until it is completely filled out. Then photocopy the warning and distribute to all of your customers. You can also staple or tape the warning to the door-hanger to make it easier to distribute door-to-door. For assistance, please call your regional office coliform program phone number below.

Door hanger (in right column): This is a tool to help you quickly inform your customers of contamination in the system and of precautions they can take. Supplies of these are available through local health departments and the ODW regional offices. Door hangers in both English and Spanish (printed on orange paper) are also available through the regional offices.

There are several ways to use these during a public health advisory:

Hand-write information on each of the door hangers.

Fill in the top portion of the door hangers. Then print labels with the water system name, ID#, county, contact person’s name and phone number, and the date that the notice was distributed. Attach a label to the bottom of each notice.

Complete the Drinking Water Warning form, make photocopies, and then staple a copy to the door hanger. This will draw attention to the notice.

Public Notice Certification (in right column): You must complete this certification and mail it to your ODW regional office within 10 days of notifying your customers of an acute MCL violation.

News releases (in right column): These templates (boil water advisory and rescind advisory) include sample information that DOH recommends including in a news release for television, radio and newspaper outlets. News releases are recommended for systems serving more than 100 connections. The department can assist you in contacting the news media, upon request. Contact your regional office for details.

For more information

Northwest Regional Office – Kent
Coliform Program: 253-395-6775
Main Office: 253-395-6750

Southwest Regional Office – Olympia
Coliform Program: 360-236-3044
Main Office: 360-236-3030

Eastern Regional Office – Spokane
Coliform Program: 509-456-2788
Main Office: 509-456-3115

DOH PUB. #331-260

Coliform Public Health Advisory Packet Contents:

Packet Instructions
PDF (227 KB)

Publications

English: Public Health Advisory: Coliform (Q & A) PDF (160 KB)

Spanish: Public Health Advisory: Coliform (Q & A) (PDF (160 KB)

Coliform Bacteria and Drinking Water (Fact Sheet) PDF (229 KB)

Troubleshooting Checklist for Coliform Contamination (Fact Sheet) PDF (167 KB)

Emergency Disinfection of Small Systems (Pamphlet) PDF (141KB)

English: Emergency Water Supply Guidelines for Food Service Establishments PDF (70 KB)

Spanish: Emergency Water Supply Guidelines for Food Service Establishments (PDF (70KB)

Drinking Water After-Hours Emergency Hotline (Brochure) PDF (729 KB)

Treatment of Drinking Water for Emergency Use (Brochure) PDF (439 KB)

Forms and News Release Templates (Word & PDF)

Drinking Water Warning(Word 28 KB)

Drinking Water Warning (PDF 86 KB)

Warning Notice (door hanger in Spanish/English) (Word 41 KB)

Warning Notice (door hanger in Spanish/English)(PDF 167 KB)

Door hanger in English only(Word 35 KB)

Door Hanger in English only(PDF 21 KB)

Public Notice Certification for Acute Coliform MCL(Word 48 KB)

Public Notice Certification for Acute Coliform MCL(PDF 133 KB)

News Release: Rescind Boil Water Advisory
(Word 31 KB)

News Release: Rescind Boil Water Advisory
(PDF 86 KB)

Information sheet

Coliform Reporting Addresses and Phone Numbers (with map)
(PDF 81 KB)

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Last Update : 05/27/2008 03:47 PM