Most NIH facilities are supplied by external water providers who provide all services necessary to comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act.
The NIH Drinking Water program is focused on the NIH Animal Center (NIHAC) facility in Poolesville, MD, because NIHAC is the only NIH location operating from its own water supply system. NIHAC disinfects groundwater pumped from surrounding groundwater wells and conducts bacteriological monitoring, inorganic monitoring, and chemical analysis. Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) issued a water appropriations permit limiting the amount of water that is permissible to pump from the groundwater wells. NIH submits a quarterly report to MDE with analytical monitoring and water withdrawal volumes.
To further promote safe drinking water, NIH Office of Research Facilities (ORF) maintains backflow preventers on potable water systems to prevent contamination of drinking water lines. These devices are installed on fire suppression lines, irrigation lines, and water supply lines feeding equipment. Backflow preventers are tested annually. Test results are submitted electronically to the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC). Activities that trigger notification to NIH DEP are below.
- permits for supplemental chlorination (i.e. CRC),
- repair to broken lines (bacteriological sampling, disinfection, etc.),
- installation of new backflow preventers.
Click here for more info on Drinking Water Safety at NIH. This website includes information for addressing questions or concerns regarding NIH drinking water.
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