OAR 333-064-0040: Action Response for Laboratory Drinking Water Analysis Results

(1) If an accredited laboratory is authorized by the water supplier to report results of analyses required by OAR 333-061-0036 and performed by the laboratory directly to the Oregon Health Authority (Authority), then it must do so within 10 days after the end of the month, or within 10 days after the end of the monitoring period. (2) If a result exceeds the maximum contaminant level (MCL) specified in OAR 333-061-0030: (a) The accredited lab that issues the final test report must: (A) Validate the results of any sample analysis and report that analysis directly to the Authority and to the water supplier within 48 hours or two business days of completing the analytical run if the sample analysis: (i) Exceeds the MCL for nitrate as specified in OAR 333-061-0030(1); or (ii) Is positive for coliform bacteria. (B) Report any sample analysis directly to the Authority and to the water supplier within 24 hours or on the next business day after validating a sample result that exceeds the MCL for any chemical analyte specified in OAR 333-061-0030 other than nitrate. (C) Report any sample analysis directly to the Authority and to the water supplier within 24 hours or on the next business day after obtaining a sample result from a subcontracted laboratory, if the sample analysis: (i) Exceeds the MCL for nitrate as specified in OAR 333-061-0030(1) or is positive for coliform bacteria; or (ii) Exceeds the MCL for any chemical analyte specified in OAR 333-061-0030 other than nitrate upon validating the sample analysis. (b) Accredited, subcontracted laboratories must: (A) Validate the results of any sample analysis and report that analysis to their client laboratory within 48 hours or two business days of completing the analytical run if the analysis: (i) Exceeds the MCL for nitrate as specified in OAR 333-061-0030(1); or (ii) Is positive for coliform bacteria. (B) Report any sample analysis to their client laboratory within 24 hours or on the next business day after validating a sample result that exceeds the MCL for any chemical analyte specified in OAR 333-061-0030 other than nitrate. (3) The laboratory must notify the public water system and, if authorized by the water system, the Authority of all unregulated contaminants detected and their concentrations from each specific method used to measure the regulated contaminants. (4) The laboratory must use report forms that have been approved by the Authority for reporting drinking water test results to the Authority.