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Information for public water system owners and operators

“Public Water System” means a system for the provision to the public of piped water for human consumption, if such a system has at least 15 service connections or regularly serves an average of at least 25 individuals daily at least 60 days out of the year.

Types of public water systems

There are four types of public water systems. If you provide drinking water to the public and your water system meets the definition stated above, you're a public water system owner/operator.

A public water system can either be a:

  • Non-Community Systems serve people at work, school, food and entertainment establishments, including:

See the flow chart to help determine your public water system type.

Administrative codes

Wisconsin administrative codes for public water systems

Administrative Code Type
  Municipal Other than Municipal (OTM) Non-Transient Transient
NR 809
Safe Drinking Water [exit DNR]
NR 810
Operation/Maintenance of Public Water Systems [exit DNR]
NR 811
Operation/Design of Community Water Systems [exit DNR]
   
NR 812
Well Construction and Pump Installation [exit DNR]
   

eMOR

Electronic monthly operating report

The electronic monthly operating report (eMOR) is an online tool for reporting monthly pumpage, chemical addition, treatment at public water systems and other information as required by DNR. Monthly reporting is a requirement for all municipal water systems and some other qualifying water system types, per NR 810.07, Wisconsin Administrative Code [exit DNR]. Only a certified operator for the water system can submit the report. However, staff associated with the system who are not certified operators can enter data with the permission of the certified operator. Monthly reports are due within 10 days from the end of the month for which the data is reported. For example, data from July must be submitted by the 10th day of August.

Access to eMOR

Users will need a WAMS ID and to request access to the report through the DNR Switchboard. Staff who are not certified operators also need to complete an additional step of obtaining data entry access permission from the certified operator. After the switchboard registration is submitted, the registrant will receive an email with a PDF signature page for the certified operator to sign for approval.

eMOR Webinar

The following topics were covered at the indicated times. Watch the entire video or refer to specific sections for review.

  • Wisconsin Access Management Access System (WAMS) ID – 1:40 
  • DNR Switchboard – 3:35
  • EMOR overview – 22:20
  • EMOR data entry tutorial – 45:20
  • Common mistakes – 56:50
  • Managing notifications (not a required feature but may be helpful for some water systems) – 1:05:07
  • Calculations and field readings – 1:10:55
  • Water meters – 1:13:12
  • Chemical addition – 1:16:18
  • pH monitoring – 1:21:38
  • Chlorine test kit – 1:25:06
  • Nitrate test kit – 1:27:37

Questions

For questions about accessing the eMOR, please contact DNRPublicWaterApplicationSupport@Wisconsin.gov.

For questions about entering or submitting information for the eMOR, please contact your system's DNR representative.

Lead and copper

Lead and copper forms and information

EPA Lead and Copper Rule Guidance

A list of the EPA documents used by the department to guide implementation of the LCR are listed below. Note that where conflicting information exists among these documents, information in the most recent guidance document prevails.

Title Date Author
Reiteration/Clarification on Technical Recommendations regarding Corrosion Control Treatment and Lead and Copper Rule Implementation Letter June 2019 EPA Region 5
Sequential drinking water sampling as a tool for evaluating lead in Flint, Michigan Mar. 2019 EPA Office of Research & Development; EPA Region 5, Ground Water & Drinking Water Branch
3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities - Revised Manual Oct. 2018 EPA Office of Water
Important State LCR Authorities and When to Use Them April 2018 EPA Region 5
Memo: Implementation of the Lead and Copper Rule Provisions Related to Sample Site Oct. 2016 Peter Grevatt, EPA Office of Ground Water & Drinking Water
Beauvais Letter to Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and Environmental Council of States (ECOS) July 2016 EPA Office of Water
Optimal Corrosion Control Treatment Evaluation Technical Recommendations for Primacy Agencies and Public Water Systems Mar. 2016 EPA Office of Water
Beauvais Letter to DNR Feb. 2016 EPA Office of Water
Memo: Clarification of Recommended Tap Sampling Procedures for Purposes of the Lead and Copper Rule Feb. 2016 Peter Grevatt, EPA Office of Ground Water & Drinking Water
Lead and Copper Rule Requirements for Optimal Corrosion Control Treatment for Large Drinking Water Systems Nov. 2015 EPA Office of Water
Detection and Evaluation of Elevated Lead Release from Service Lines: A Field Study July 2013 Miguel Del Toral, Andrea Porter and Michael Schock
Lead and Copper Rule: Monitoring and Reporting Guidance for Public Water Systems Mar. 2010 EPA Office of Water
Lead and Copper Rule - Clarification of Requirements for Collecting Samples and Calculating Compliance Nov. 2004 EPA Office of Water
How to Determine Compliance with Optimal Water Quality Parameters as Revised by the Lead and Copper Rule Minor Revisions Feb. 2001 EPA Office of Water
Lead and Copper Rule Guidance Manual - Volume II: Corrosion Control Treatment Sept. 1992 EPA Office of Water

Additional Resources