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Basic Information about Wyoming and Tribal Drinking Water Programs in EPA Region 8

The EPA Region 8 Drinking Water Program directly implements the Public Water System Supervision (PWSS) Program for Wyoming and for Indian Country in Region 8. This Drinking Water Online website is part of our technical assistance and data outreach responsibilities.

To reach our staff, please view the EPA Region 8 Drinking Water Section Contact List.

On this page:

Wyoming Drinking Water Program

Administration of the Drinking Water Program in Wyoming

Wyoming is the only State that has not applied to the US Environmental Protection Program for authority to administer the public water supply program. Therefore, Region 8 directly implements the Safe Drinking Water Act in the State of Wyoming. This covers public water systems with 15 or more service connections or that serve 25 or more persons for at least 60 days per year.

As of April 2020 there are 778 active public water supply systems in Wyoming. Sixteen percent of these systems receive at least some of their water from surface water sources. The remaining 84% receive their water from ground water (wells). Eighty-three percent of active Wyoming systems serve populations of less than 500. Only 1% (9 systems) serve populations of 10,000 or more. Each public water system is classified into one of three categories:

  • community public water system, i.e., towns, cities, mobile home parks, private subdivisions, etc., that have 15 or more service connections used by year-round residents or regularly serves 25 or more persons year-round;
     
  • transient non-community public water systems, i.e., campgrounds, restaurants, highway rest areas, motels, hotels etc., are non-community water systems that do not regularly serve at least 25 of the same persons over six months per year; and
     
  • non-transient non-community public water systems i.e., mining and industrial operations, schools and churches, etc., are public water systems that are not community water systems and that regularly serves at least 25 of the same persons over 6 months per year.

In Wyoming, 41% are community systems, 48% are transient non-community systems, and 12% are non-transient non-community systems.

Various State agencies in Wyoming and EPA Region 8 coordinate activities to ensure that consumers are served safe drinking water.

EPA Region 8 is responsible for:

  • Reviewing water system sampling results to ensure safe drinking water supplies and determine compliance with regulations
  • Sanitary surveys
  • Technical assistance to water operators
  • Laboratory certification
  • Formal enforcement

The State of Wyoming is responsible for:

  • Conducting plan and specification reviews and permitting for construction of new and modified water system facilities
  • Well drilling permits
  • Water rights
  • Operator certification
  • Capacity development
  • Source water and wellhead protection
  • Operation of state laboratories
  • Local food and beverage establishment inspections
  • Financing drinking water projects
  • General public health protection

EPA works closely with the Wyoming Association of Rural Water Systems (WARWS) and the Midwest Assistance Program (MAP) to provide training and technical assistance to operators of public water systems in the State of Wyoming.

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Wyoming Public Water System Operations

The State of Wyoming manages an Operator Certification Program to help water system operators protect public health by providing safe drinking water. The program ensures that operators of public water systems obtain the correct training to become certified, keep their certifications current, and also requires that facilities are operated by correctly certified operators.

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Wyoming Violations

Violations occur when public water systems fail to monitor for the required contaminants, when significant deficiencies are not corrected or required treatment systems are not operated correctly, or when the level of a specific contaminant detected in a sample exceeds the maximum contaminant level (MCL). Additional monitoring may be required depending on the level of a contaminant that is detected, in accordance with the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations.

Public water systems that have significant violations receive an Administrative Order. This Order identifies the violations and specifies measures that must be taken to correct any deficiencies, or to return to compliance with the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. Monetary penalties are not included with an Administrative Order; however, violation of the Administrative Order may lead to monetary penalties. If an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health exists, EPA may issue an Emergency Administrative Order that may require a boil water advisory, a "do not use" order, or other measures to protect public health until the cause of the problem has been identified and corrected. More serious violations may be addressed by civil judicial actions.

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Tribal Drinking Water Program

Administration of the Drinking Water Program on Tribal Lands

Primacy for the administration and enforcement of the Public Water System Supervision (Drinking Water) Program has not been delegated to Tribal Governments in Region 8. EPA Region 8 directly implements the Program promulgated under the Safe Drinking Water Act in Indian country. This applies to any public water system with 15 or more service connections or that serves 25 or more persons for at least 60 days per year.

As of April 2020 there are 150 active Tribal public water supply systems. Thirty-one percent get their water from surface water sources, while 69% get their water from ground water (wells). Sixty-six percent of the systems serve populations of less than 500. Only one system serves a population of greater than 10,000. Each public water system is classified into one of three categories:

  • community public water system, i.e., towns, cities, mobile home parks, private subdivisions, etc., that have 15 or more service connections used by year-round residents or regularly serves 25 or more persons year-round;
     
  • transient non-community public water systems, i.e., campgrounds, restaurants, highway rest areas, motels, hotels etc., are non-community water systems that do not regularly serve at least 25 of the same persons over six months per year; and
     
  • non-transient non-community public water systems i.e., mining and industrial operations, schools and churches, etc., are public water systems that are not community water systems and that regularly serves at least 25 of the same persons over 6 months per year.

Seventy-five percent of the systems are community systems, 16% serve transient non-community systems, and the remaining 9% serve non-transient non-community systems.

EPA works with various Federal agencies to coordinate activities to ensure that consumers are served safe drinking water. The Indian Health Service and the Bureau of Reclamation provide technical assistance as it pertains to the construction and the operation and maintenance of Tribal public water supply systems.

EPA also hires contractors to help provide training and technical assistance to operators of Tribal public water systems.

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Tribal Public Water System Operations

The National Primary Drinking Water Regulations require operators to routinely monitor for a variety of contaminants using approved sampling and analysis methods. The number of samples and the frequency at which samples must be collected depend on a variety of factors, including:

  • whether the drinking water source is surface or ground water,
  • the population served by the water system,
  • the classification of the water system, and
  • prior compliance data, and
  • whether the system has received a monitoring waiver or exemption.

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Tribal Violations

The EPA routinely provides regulated facilities with compliance assistance as part of its regulatory responsibility. When a facility violates an environmental law or regulation, the EPA is authorized to require compliance and assess civil penalties to uphold its mission. Typically, for facilities located in Indian country that are not owned, managed, operated or controlled by a federally recognized tribe, this is achieved by issuing an order or other administrative or judicial enforcement action, while keeping the tribal government informed of the EPA’s efforts and progress. For facilities owned, managed, operated or controlled by a tribal government, the EPA offers government-to-government consultation and appropriate assistance to assist the tribal government in resolving the noncompliance, prior to proposing formal enforcement actions for non-emergency situations. These steps unique to the EPA’s regulation of tribal facilities are consistent with the federal trust responsibility and government-to-government relationship with federally recognized tribes. If an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health exists, EPA may issue an Emergency Administrative Order that may require a boil water advisory, a "do not use" order, or other measures to protect public health until the cause of the problem has been identified and corrected.

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