Sanitary Surveys of Drinking Water Systems

Aug 12, 2023

A sanitary survey is a periodic inspection of water system facilities, operations and records used to identify conditions that may present a sanitary or public health risk. Washington state drinking water rules require all Group A public drinking water systems to have a routine sanitary survey once every three to five years.

The Department of Health Office of Drinking Water (ODW) conducts sanitary surveys. However, in some counties, ODW contracts with local health jurisdiction staff or an independent consultant to conduct the surveys.

ODW staff will notify you when a sanitary survey is required. The surveyor will then contact you to arrange a time to conduct the survey. The surveyor will try to meet your scheduling needs. Water systems that do not schedule a survey will receive another notice with a deadline for obtaining an inspection. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in:

ODW or your local health jurisdiction collects your sanitary survey fee. If ODW collects the fee, you will get a bill with your final inspection report. If the local health jurisdiction collects the fee, it is payable when they schedule a survey or when you get your final inspection report.

The sanitary survey fee change goes into effect January 2014. We've created a question and answer document (PDF) with more information.

A one-page illustrated guide to fixing common problems that small drinking water systems encounter in protecting wellheads from contamination.

Sanitary Protection of Reservoirs - Hatches (PDF, DOH 331-249)

A one-page illustrated guide with tips for small water system operators on how to deal with storage reservoir hatches.

Sanitary Protection of Reservoirs - Vents (PDF, DOH 331-250)

A one-page illustrated guide with tips for small water system operators on how to deal with storage reservoir vents.

Pressure Relief Valves on Pressure Tanks (PDF, DOH 331-429)

A one-page illustrated guide to determining the proper way to protect pressurized storage tanks from over-pressurization and catastrophic failure.

Chlorine Contact Time (PDF, DOH 311-343)

A one-page general guide illustrating the principles used in determining the level of contact time and the free chlorine residual necessary to achieve 4-log inactivation of viruses in groundwater.

If you have questions, call (800) 521-0323 or ODW regional office in your area:

Southwest Regional Office - Denise Miles, 360-236-3028

Northwest Regional Office - Brian Boye, 253-395-6778

Eastern Regional Office - Mark Steward, 509-329-2136