Division of Environmental Health Drinking Water Program

What to do After a Sanitary Survey

After the Sanitary Survey

1. End of Inspection Review
   • At the end of the onsite inspection, the surveyor should discuss with you a preliminary summary of their findings and alert you to items to address. After the inspector completes their formal report, a copy will be provided to the owner/operator.
2. Survey Reporting Timelines
   • If a third-party inspector conducted your survey, a completed report must be submitted within 30 days of the site visit to DEC and a copy provided to the owner/operator of the water system. DEC will respond to the owner/operator in writing with a sanitary survey letter upon completion of their review of the survey report.
   • If DEC conducted your survey, DEC will respond to the owner/operator with a sanitary survey letter and completed survey report within 90 days of the onsite inspection.
3. DEC Sanitary Survey Letter
   • If no deficiencies were identified during the sanitary survey, the DEC sanitary survey letter will state that no deficiencies were found and provide details when your next sanitary survey will be due and may include recommendations you may want to consider implementing for your water system.
   • If deficiencies were identified during the sanitary survey, the DEC sanitary survey letter will detail the follow up steps required of the PWS owner/operator to address any deficiencies, when your next sanitary survey is due and may include recommendations, you may want to consider implementing for your water system.
4. Deficiencies - two types
   • Significant Deficiency (18 AAC 80.1990(a)(137) - means a defect, including a failure or malfunction, in a public water system's source, design, treatment, storage, distribution, operation, management, maintenance, or security, that the department determines to be causing, or to have potential to cause, contamination of water delivered to consumers or any other risk to public health or safety;
   • "Minor" Deficiency (18 AAC 80.1990(40) - means a condition of a public water system, or an action or omission of an owner or operator of a public water system, that directly or indirectly causes, or has the potential to cause, (A) a risk to public health; (B) an unplanned interruption of service in the public water system; or (C) any deviation from professional standards of engineering, sanitation, or public health applicable to public water systems;
5. Review letter & correct deficiencies 
   • Be sure to thoroughly review the Sanitary Survey Letter and take the following actions:
     • If a significant deficiency was identified, the PWS owner/operator must consult with the DEC Drinking Water Program within 30 days of receiving the Sanitary Survey Letter. The Sanitary Survey Letter will contain the contact information (phone number and e-mail) of the Environmental Program Specialist (EPS) to contact. Typically, this will be the EPS sending you the Sanitary Survey Letter.
     • PWS will have 120 days from the date of the Sanitary Survey Letter to correct significant deficiencies unless an extended timeline has been approved by the State.
     • If a minor deficiency was identified the PWS owner/operator must correct the deficiency or submit a corrective action plan within 120 days of receiving the Survey Letter. Documentation of corrections for minor deficiencies are not required to be submitted to DEC but it is recommended.
   • Correcting Deficiencies:
     • Keep track of the corrective actions you are taking to resolve a deficiency. Make sure to note what you did and when you did it, along with photos (if applicable) of the corrections.
     • Correct the deficiency & provide documentation to DEC by the deadline outlined in the survey letter or in your extended action plan approved by DEC.
     • If a deficiency can't be resolved within the corrective action deadline, contact the EPS to discuss the issue as soon as possible.