in Mississippi

23). This fund may receive monies from any available public or private source, including fees,
proceeds, and grants. The fund uses the fees and other revenue streams to pay all reasonable
direct and indirect costs of water quality analysis.
The National Primary Drinking Water Regulations, as published under 40 C.F.R. § 141.21,
stipulates that it is the responsibility of each supplier of water to comply with the monitoring and
analytical requirements under the act. The required frequency of monitoring and reporting
depends on the size of the population that the water systems serve. The larger the population, the
more frequently PWSs must monitor and report their findings. The Division of Water Supply
compiles data for the calendar year and sends the information to all community water systems in
Mississippi. This allows PWSs to report the data to customers served by that water supply. Every
Community Water System is required to deliver to its customers a brief, annual water quality
report.
Once the samples are gathered, the PWS monitors the public drinking water by checking for
contaminants using two different control processes: Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) and
Treatment Techniques (TT). The EPA establishes these MCLs, which are national limits on the
specific amount of contaminants in drinking water. When the amount of a specific contaminant
is below the MCL, the PWS deems the water safe for human consumption. However when the
contaminant levels exceed the MCLs, the PWS will be found to be in violation of the required
standards. Mississippi’s maximum contaminant levels are consistent with the contaminant levels
stipulated in the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations published under 40 C.F.R. § 141.
When the EPA finds the PWS to be in violation of regulations or standards, the EPA requires the
PWS operator to notify the consumers. Federal law requires this notification to include a clear
and understandable explanation of the nature of the violation, its potential adverse health effects,
steps that the PWS is undertaking to correct the violation, and the possibility of alternative water
supplies during the violation.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS
All highway roadside parks, rest areas, weigh stations, or welcome centers with wastewater
treatment facilities shall hold a valid permit issued by the MDEQ in accordance with guidelines
set forth by the EPA. The Roadway Design Division is responsible for obtaining the initial
permit(s) for the construction or reconstruction of a wastewater treatment facility. The
Maintenance Division is responsible for permit renewals for all wastewater treatment facilities.
The Maintenance Division must keep all permit renewals on file with copies made available to
the District Wastewater Treatment Operators. No source shall discharge treated or untreated
wastewater into any public stream without a valid permit. The wastewater treatment plants shall
be operated at all times in strict accordance with permit requirements (Miss. Admin. Code 37-1-
13:17001).
Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL)
Mississippi's TMDL program, a branch of the Surface Water Division, is responsible for
developing TMDLs. A TMDL reports the acceptable amount of a specific pollutant a stream can
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