2016 Boards and Commissions

Advisory Council on Public Water Supply

General Information

Formal Name:Advisory Council on Public Water Supply
Contact Person:Howard Isaacs, Administrator, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health, Office of Drinking Water and Environmental Health, 301 Centennial Mall, PO Box 95026, Lincoln NE 68509-5026, Phone: 402-471-0510, Fax: 402-471-643
Purpose:The purpose of the Council is to advise and assist the Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health in administering the Nebraska Safe Drinking Water Act.
How Many Affectable:1,344 Public Water Systems
How Many Served:1,602,411
Year Created:1976
Year Active:1976
Sunset Date:NA

Authorization

Authorization Citation:Nebraska Safe Drinking Water Act, Chapter 71, Article 53 Statute 71-5311
Parent Agency:Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health

Memberships and Meetings

Number Of Members:7
Who Appoints:Governor
Legislative Approval:NA
Qualifications Of Members:professional engineer; licensed physician; two consumers of a public water supply system; two operators of water systems one serving a population of 5,000 or less and one serving a population of more 5,000; one individual who owns a public water system, a member of the governing board of a public or private corporation that owns a public water supply system, or in the case of a political subdivision that owns a public water supply system, a member of the subdivisions governing board or board of public works or similar board that oversees the operation of a public water supply system.
Per Diem:No
Expense Reimbursement:Yes - actual and necessary expenses
Term Length:3 years
Terms Rotate or Expire At Once:Terms Rotate

Meetings Required In:

Required FY 13-14:1
Held FY 13-14:3
Required FY 14-15:1
Held FY 14-15:1
Required FY 15-16:1
Held FY 15-16:1

Operations

Support Staff:Yes
Shared or Separate:Shared
FY 13-14 Budget:$0
FY 14-15 Budget:$0
FY 15-16 Budget:$0
Other Funding Sources:No
Spending Authority:No

Accomplishments

Since July 1, 2012:ACCOMPLISHMENTSSince July 1, 2012 - The Department developed and the Council reviewed and recommended approval the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Ranking Criteria and Project Priority Lists on a yearly basis.Under 71-5310 of the Nebraska Safe Drinking Water Act, the Director, with the approval of the Council, may authorize exemptions (extensions of time) to the drinking water standards. Nebraska uses the exemption as a tool to provide Nebraskas public water systems flexibility in complying with new rules promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Council reviewed and recommended the Department grant additional exemptions to four (4) communities from the Arsenic Rule. Those systems include: the Village of Shelby, the City of Stromsburg, the Village of Haigler and the Village of Wauneta.The Council reviewed the following chapters of Title 179, Regulations Governing Public Water Supply Systems:Chapter2-002Drinking Water Standards and Treatment Techniques3 Monitoring and Analytical Requirements 4Public Notification of Drinking Water Violations 5Reporting and Record Keeping 6Variances and Exemptions 8Ground Water Rule 12Control of Lead and Copper 13Surface Water Treatment 14Consumer Confidence Report 16Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts 23Initial Distribution System Evaluation 24Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts 25Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment 26Revised Total Coliform RuleThese chapters contained revisions due to the implementation of the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act for: the Ground Water Rule, Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment, Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts, Short Term Revisions to the Lead and Copper Rules and the Revised Total Coliform Rule.These regulations became effective December 22, 2012 (Chapters 5 and 12), June 11, 2013 (Chapters 23, 24 and 26) and March 22, 2016 (Chapters 2-002, 3, 4, 6, 8, 13, 14, 16 and 26).