Public Notification Rule Compliance Help for Water System Owners and Operators

This page provides resources for drinking water system owners and operators. The following documents will assist you in complying with the requirements of the Public Notification (PN) rule. 

For help completing a public notice:

• Access the Public Notification Handbook and Public Notice templates (available in Microsoft Word) below; or
• Contact your state for guidance and templates.

Public Notification Rule Handbooks

EPA has developed two public notification handbooks to help with implementation of the PN Rule. The Revised Public Notification Handbook is for community water systems & non-transient non-community water systems. The Public Notification Handbook for Transient Non-community Water Systems if for transient systems. These documents are for Public Water Systems.

• Revised Public Notification Handbook (pdf) (2.2 MB, March 2023, EPA 816-R-23-002)
• Public Notification Handbook for Transient Non-community Water Systems (pdf) (1.52 MB, March 2023, EPA 816-R-23-001)

Public Notification for a Lead Action Level Exceedance

Starting October 16, 2024, water systems will be required to issue a Tier 1 Public Notification (PN) when there is an exceedance of the lead action level no later than 24 hours after the systems learns of an exceedance. The following documents include a fact sheet summarizing the requirements following a lead action level exceedance for timing, content, and delivery of a Tier 1 Public Notice and a PN template .  For more information and additional resources, see Lead and Copper Rule Implementation Tools .

• Tier 1 Public Notice Factsheet (pdf) (179.57 KB, 4/11/2024, 816-F-24-003)
• Tier 1 PN template for lead ALE (pdf) (578.07 KB, 4/11/2024, 816-F-24-001)

Microsoft Word files of Public Notice Templates

These templates can be used and customized by drinking water systems to ensure they meet PN content requirements.

• PN templates in Microsoft Word format
• Tier 1 PN template for lead ALE (docx) (82.4 KB, 4/11/2024, EPA 816-F-24-001 )
• Spanish Tier 1 PN template for lead ALE (docx) (84.41 KB, August 26, 2024)

Communication Tips

This fact sheet will discuss the importance of communicating with the public about chronic contaminants – both regulated and unregulated. It includes some questions to think about, ideas on how to reach out to customers and best practices for effective communication.

• Talking to your Customers about Chronic Contaminants in Drinking Water (PDF)(2 pp, 381 K, About PDF) EPA 816-F-07-022, October 2007

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For more information, please see the Public Notification Rule page.