R309-400-1. Purpose

(1) The purpose of this rule is to establish the Improvement Priority System (IPS) used by the Division to assign compliance ratings to public water systems and to prioritize enforcement action based on points assessed for noncompliance with drinking water rules. (2) IPS program is used by the Division to evaluate public water system compliance with Title R309 and to prioritize noncompliance for enforcement action. Under IPS, the Division assesses points for noncompliance or public health risk and assigns ratings to public water systems. This rule directly correlates with the EPA's Enforcement Targeting Tool (ETT), as outlined in the EPA Enforcement Response Policy (2009), and is used nationally to identify systems with the most serious or persistent violations. State primacy agencies are required to maintain an enforcement program consistent with federal guidance under the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C Sec 300g-2(a)(1), and implementing regulations at 40 CFR 142.10(b)(2) (January 11, 2006), which requires states to adopt and enforce regulations at least as stringent as federal requirements. Utah's rule is not more stringent than federal regulations, but it fulfills this primacy requirement by providing a state-level framework to ensure enforcement is consistent with the federal program. IPS is also used to track compliance across each Division rule, aligning Utah's enforcement priorities with EPA's national strategy to protect public health.