What is an initial monitoring year?

• A. The calendar year designated by the Department within a compliance period in which a public water system conducts initial monitoring at a point of entry.
• B. The calendar year in which the system begins operation.
• C. The calendar year immediately following certification.
• D. A calendar year selected by the system for initial sampling.

Answer: (A)

An initial monitoring year is the calendar year the regulator designates within a compliance period for a public water system to perform its first monitoring at a point of entry into the distribution system. The Department chooses this year to establish baseline data and set the schedule for subsequent monitoring. It isn’t simply the year the system begins operation, nor the year after certification, nor a year the system selects itself. The monitoring in this year occurs at the entry point to the distribution system to capture initial baseline levels for the required contaminants.