Indicators Summary July 2015.doc
All—Attached, please find the annual End-of-Year Evaluation of Michigan DEQ’s implementation of the PWSS in
Michigan for FY 2014; and the Measures and Indicators page which is a compilation of the most recent data for all
quantitative measures that Region 5 uses to regularly assess State program performance. Thank you for your comments
and edits, which | have included.
If you have any comments or questions regarding the Evaluation or the Measures and Indicators page, please let me
know.
Thank you for all your hard work!
Jennifer
Jennifer Kurtz Crooks
Michigan Program Manager
Ground Water and Drinking Water Branch
U.S. EPA Region 5
77 West Jackson Bivd.
Chicago, Illinois 60604
312.886.0244
[email protected]
312.582.5853 (fax)
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Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (Michigan DEQ), Office of Drinking Water and
Municipal Assistance, Public Water System Supervision (PWSS) Program Work Plan Summary and
FY 2014 End-of-Year Evaluation
Contacts:
Michigan DEQ Field Operations Section Chief: Richard Benzie,
[email protected], (517) 284-6512;
Michigan DEQ Environmental Health Section Chief: Carrie Monosmith,
[email protected],
(517) 290-2601.
U.S. EPA Region 5 Michigan State Program Manager, Ground Water and Drinking Water Branch
(GWDWB): Jennifer Kurtz Crooks,
[email protected], (312) 886-0244
Federal funding used: PWSS grant; Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Set-asides: 1) Small
System Technical Assistance set-aside, 2) PWSS Program set-asides to supplement the PWSS program,
and 3) Local Assistance set-asides that includes Wellhead Protection and Capacity Development.
FY 2014 End-of-Year Evaluation Synopsis: Analysis of the various programs within Michigan’s drinking
water program (below), and the data gleaned from implementation of these programs (see attached
Measures and Indicators page), show many program improvements by Michigan DEQ. It is important to
note that Michigan DEQ does not currently have adequate electronic reporting capabilities, due to
competing priorities and resource limitations. Information Technology (IT) support from the
Department of Technology, Management and Budget (DTMB) is now being provided to support
WaterTrack until the noncommunity water system (NCWS) data moves to SDWIS/State or SDWIS-Prime.
Financial/staff limitations within the Michigan PWSS program are an ongoing obstacle.
For FY 2014, Region 5 commends Michigan DEQ for exceeding its targets for all National Drinking Water
and Source Water Protection Measures, which include those from U.S. EPA’s Office of Ground Water
and Drinking Water (OGWDW) and the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA). During
the most recent Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Performance Evaluation in May 2015, the
Region noted Michigan DEQ’s continued use of set-asides for innovative purposes and projects. The
DWSRF set-aside workplans are very well written from a technical and financial perspective. Progress is
noted in all activities funded with DWSRF set-asides. The FY 2014 Program Evaluation Report (PER) for
the Michigan State Revolving Fund Programs, prepared by Region 5 State and Tribal Programs Branch
and dated July 27, 2015, should be consulted for more information regarding the State’s DWSRF
program.
The most recent Regional Shared Goals, which represent CY 2014 (final data as of April 2015), show
Michigan DEQ met 6 milestones of the 7 goals. The non-transient noncommunity water system
(NTNCWS) goal not met indicated that more than 5% (5.2%) NTNCWSs have significant/major
monitoring violations for acute-based standards; namely for total coliform and nitrate.
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Resources and Expertise: Michigan DEQ employs a highly trained staff with the technical expertise to
carry out all mandatory components of the PWSS program (including engineering plan and
specification review, sanitary surveys and emergency response. ) However, due to lack of adequate
funding, the drinking water program cannot hire sufficient staff to accomplish all program activities.
As a result, the PWSS program prioritizes activities, placing emphasis on those with direct impact on
public health. Contracts with the Local Health Departments (LHD) to conduct the PWSS program at
NCWSs, have been successful in ensuring public health is protected. However, the upcoming
implementation of the Federal Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR) in FY 2016 with no additional
Federal funding, may force the Michigan DEQ to prioritize LHD activities, and could increase the
number of primacy activities the LHDs will be unable to complete. Michigan DEQ has indicated that
if the Federal PWSS grant continues to be reduced or if the DWSRF set-asides are reduced, adequate
staffing levels may be difficult to maintain and Michigan DEQ’s ability to meet federal PWSS primacy
requirements could be jeopardized. The Region continues to offer assistance to the State, which
includes compliance assistance and enforcement partnership.
Rules and Primacy: Michigan DEQ has been granted primacy for all Federal drinking water regulations,
and is implementing all drinking water rules. The State submitted its draft RTCR for Region 5 review,
and the Region provided comments for public hearing in February 2015. The Region looks forward
to receipt of the RTCR primacy package in FY 2016.
For the past several years, Michigan DEQ disinvested in a number of program activities that were
partially implemented in FY 2014. Partial implementation includes:
1. Lead Consumer Notification of tap results at NTNTCWSs: