Public Water System Service Disruption Reporting

Ohio EPA has created this electronic reporting tool to allow public water system owners and operators to report disruptions of service. The tool may be used from a computer or mobile device, and is available 24 hours a day. This application is to be used by owners and operators of public water systems to report emergencies and disruption of service events per Ohio Administrative Code 3745-83-01(I).

The owner or operator shall report to the appropriate Ohio environmental protection agency district office as soon as possible, but within twenty-four hours, the discovery of any serious plant or distribution system breakdown or condition causing or likely to cause any of the following:
(a) Any discharge of water not in accordance with Chapter 6109. of the Revised Code or the rules adopted thereunder.
(b) Any major interruption in service or disinfection.
(c) Any hazard for employees, consumers, the public or the environment.

If you do not wish to use this tool you must continue to notify your district office representative by phone during normal business hours or the Ohio EPA’s emergency hotline at 1-800-282-9378 after business hours on weekdays and on weekends.
Central District Office
(614) 728-3778
Northeast District Office
(330) 963-1200
Northwest District Office
(419) 352-8461
Southeast District Office
(740) 385-8501
Southwest District Office
(937) 285-6357
   

The following types of incidents should be reported to Ohio EPA:

  1. A disruption of service or water line repair where there is:
    • a loss of pressure in the lines being repaired;
    • depressurization in the area around the repair;
    • an uncontrolled shutdown of a portion of the distribution system; or
    • signs of possible contamination intrusion
  2. Loss of power that impacts the provision of water;
  3. Incidents impacting critical users identified in the system’s contingency plan;
  4. Plant upsets;
  5. Pump or motor failure;
  6. Treatment technique violation;
  7. Exceedance of a maximum contaminant level (MCL) or an action level (ALE);
  8. Incidents with media attention; or
  9. A detection of contamination in the system or source water.

When the PWS incident disruption application is launched, it will ask for specific information outlined below regarding the incident you are reporting. For detailed instructions regarding the information required to complete the disruption report, download the PWS Disruption Instructions. Ohio EPA staff will use this information to determine what kind of response is required.

  1. Reporting information: provide your name, company, phone number and email address.
  2. If you are not the primary contact, you will need the same reporting information for the person you are designating as the primary contact. This would be the person Ohio EPA staff should contact for follow-up.
  3. The primary county for the PWS and whether it is a community or non-community water system type. 
    • Community systems are cities, villages, mobile home parks and nursing homes…etc
    • Non-Community systems are schools, hospitals, hotels, factories, campgrounds, restaurants and gas stations…etc.
  4. The type of incident, for instance, power outage or line break.
  5. The date and time of the incident, a description of where and what has happened along with what may have caused it.
  6. Estimate the number of customers being impacted.
  7. Estimate how long it will take to restore service.
  8. Indicate whether you are providing bottled or alternative water
  9. Indicate whether any satellite water systems are being affected.
  10. Whether there are any critical users being impacted and if so, who are they? For instance, hospitals, nursing homes…etc.
  11. Whether there are any notifications going to the health department, EMA or the media.

 

DDAGW Site Links

 
 800-282-9378