---
title: O.C.G.A. § 12-5-184. Notice of violations, variances, and exemptions involving public water systems.
collection: code
id: 12-5-184
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 12-5-184 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-5-184
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-5-184.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-5-184/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t12-(v10)-2021-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=67595359_0#page=513
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES / WATER RESOURCES / WELLS AND DRINKING WATER / PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 12-5-184. Notice of violations, variances, and exemptions involving public water systems.

Whenever a public water system:

(1) Is not in compliance with the Georgia primary drinking water regulations, including, but not limited to, failure to comply with a maximum contaminant level;

(2) Fails to perform monitoring required by regulations adopted pursuant to this part;

(3) Is subject to a variance granted for an inability to meet a maximum contaminant level requirement;

(4) Is subject to an exemption from a maximum contaminant level; or

(5) Fails to comply with the requirements prescribed by a variance or exemption,

the owner or operator of such system shall as soon as practicable notify the local public health department, the director, and communications media serving the area served by the system, of the nature, extent, and possible adverse health effects of such situation. Such notice shall also be given by the owner or operator of such system in a form and manner and to the extent reasonably prescribed by the director, which shall, at a minimum, include publication in a newspaper of general circulation within the area served by such water system at least once every three months so long as the violation, variance, exemption, or other such situation continues. Such notice shall also be included with the water bills of the system so long as such situation continues, as follows: If the water bills of a public water system are issued more often than once every three months, such notice shall be included in at least one water bill of the system for each customer every three months; if the system issues its water bills less often than once every three months, such notice shall be included in each of the water bills issued by the system for each customer; provided, however, that the director may prescribe in regulations alternative notice requirements.

## History

Ga. L. 1977, p. 351, § 13.

## Administrative Rules and Regulations

Rules for safe drinking water, Official Compilation of the Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection, Subject 391-3-5.