327 IAC 8-2.1-13 - Special notice for exceedance of the SMCL for fluoride

Authority: IC 13-13-5-1; IC 13-13-5-2; IC 13-18-16-6; IC 13-18-16-7; IC 13-18-16-9

Affected: IC 13-18-16

Sec. 13.

(a) A community water system that exceeds the fluoride secondary maximum contaminant level (SMCL) of two (2) milligrams per liter as specified in 40 CFR § 143.3 *, determined by the last single sample taken in accordance with 327 IAC 8-2-4.1, but does not exceed the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of four (4) milligrams per liter for fluoride as specified in 327 IAC 8-2-4, must provide the public notice in subsection (c) to persons served. Public notice must be provided as soon as practical, but no later than twelve (12) months from the day the water system learns of the exceedance. A copy of the notice must also be sent to all new billing units and new customers at the time service begins and to the state public health officer. The public water system must repeat the notice at least annually for as long as the SMCL is exceeded. If the public notice is posted, the notice must remain in place for as long as the SMCL is exceeded, but in no case less than seven (7) days even if the exceedance is eliminated. On a case-by-case basis, the commissioner may require an initial notice sooner than twelve (12) months and repeat notices more frequently than annually.

(b) The form and manner of the public notice, including repeat notices, must follow the requirements for a Tier 3 public notice in section 10(c), 10(d)(1), and 10(d)(3) of this rule.

(c) The notice must contain the standard language, including the language necessary to fill in the blanks, that states, "This is an alert about your drinking water and a cosmetic dental problem that might affect children under nine (9) years of age. At low levels, fluoride can help prevent cavities, but children drinking water containing more than two (2) milligrams per liter (mg/l) of fluoride may develop cosmetic discoloration of their permanent teeth (dental fluorosis). The drinking water provided by your community water system [name] has a fluoride concentration of [insert value] mg/l. Dental fluorosis, in its moderate or severe forms, may result in a brown staining and/or pitting of the permanent teeth. This problem occurs only in developing teeth, before they erupt from the gums. Children under nine (9) should be provided with alternative sources of drinking water or water that has been treated to remove the fluoride to avoid the possibility of staining and pitting of their permanent teeth. You may also want to contact your dentist about proper use by young children of fluoride-containing products. Older children and adults may safely drink the water. Drinking water containing more than four (4) mg/L of fluoride (the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's and Indiana Department of Environmental Management's drinking water standard) can increase your risk of developing bone disease. Your drinking water does not contain more than four (4) mg/l of fluoride, but we're required to notify you when we discover that the fluoride levels in your drinking water exceed two (2) mg/l because of this cosmetic dental problem. For more information, please call [name of water system contact] of [name of community water system] at [phone number]. Some home water treatment units are also available to remove fluoride from drinking water. To learn more about available home water treatment units, you may call NSF International at 1-877-867-3435.".

* 40 CFR 143.3 is incorporated by reference and is available for copying at the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Office of Water Quality, 100 North Senate Avenue, Room N1255, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204.

Notes

327 IAC 8-2.1-13

Water Pollution Control Board; 327 IAC 8-2.1-13; filed Nov 20, 2001, 10:20 a.m.: 25 IR 1113; errata filed Feb 22, 2002, 2:01 p.m.: 25 IR 2254; errata filed Feb 6, 2006, 11:15 a.m.: 29 IR 1937; errata filed Apr 10, 2006, 2:46 p.m.: 29 IR 2547