(a) The department shall exercise general supervision over the operation and maintenance of public water supplies and public sewerage systems throughout the state. Such general supervision shall include all of the features of operation and maintenance which do or may affect the sanitary quality of the water supply and all of the features of operation and maintenance which do or may affect the proper treatment or disposal of sewage. For exercising such general supervision over the operation and maintenance of public water supplies and public sewerage systems, the department is authorized to investigate the public water supplies and public sewerage systems as often as is deemed necessary by the commissioner, and may adopt and enforce regulations governing the operation and maintenance of public water supply and public sewerage systems. Records of operation of public water supplies and of public sewerage systems shall be kept on blanks furnished by the department, and this data shall be submitted to the department at such times and intervals as the department may direct. Samples of water or sewage shall be submitted to the department when and in such manner as the department may direct. When the department shall have required the submission of such records or reports of operation and samples of water or sewage, the person in charge of the public water supply or public sewerage system shall promptly comply with such request.

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 68-221-103

  • Commissioner: means the commissioner of environment and conservation or the commissioner's authorized agent. See Tennessee Code 68-221-101
  • Department: means the department of environment and conservation through its executive officer, the commissioner of environment and conservation, or the commissioner's legally designated representative. See Tennessee Code 68-221-101
  • Person: means any and all persons, natural or artificial, including any individual, firm or association and any municipal or private corporation organized or existing under the laws of this or any other state or country. See Tennessee Code 68-221-101
  • Public sewerage system: means the conduits, sewers, and all devices and appurtenances by means of which sewage is collected, pumped, treated or disposed of finally. See Tennessee Code 68-221-101
  • Public water supply: means any waterworks system as defined in subdivision (12), whether privately or publicly owned, where water is furnished to any community, collection or number of individuals for a fee or charge or any other waterworks system which, on account of the people who are or may be affected by the quality of the water, is classified as a public water supply by the department. See Tennessee Code 68-221-101
  • Sewage: means all water-carried human and household wastes from residences, buildings, institutions or industrial establishments, together with such ground, surface, or storm water as may be present. See Tennessee Code 68-221-101
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b) Whenever a public water supply system:

(1) Is not in compliance with departmental public water supply system regulations;
(2) Fails to perform monitoring required by regulations adopted by the department;
(3) Is subject to a variance or an exemption granted by the department; or
(4) Fails to comply with the requirements prescribed by a variance or exemption;

the system shall as soon as practicable notify the persons served by it of the fact and the extent and nature and possible health effects of such fact. Notice shall be given in such form and manner as required by departmental regulations.

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