Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

A.  If any source does not comply with the maximum contaminant levels required by the state or federal agency for the production of bottled water, the bottler must show by analysis that his treatment reduces the contaminant(s) below the maximum contaminant levels in the finished product.  Approval of the source water product derived from a source other than a public water supply must be based upon a field inspection of the source and a review of information prepared by a professionally qualified hydrogeologist that shall demonstrate the integrity of the source and safety of the catchment operations and that shall include:

(1)  An evaluation of the chemical, physical, microbiological, and radiological characteristics of the source.  

(2)  A report on the regional geology surrounding the site and the specific site geology.  A description of the vertical and horizontal extent of the source aquifer using existing data; the information will be used to define the recharge area of the aquifer, or in the case of regional aquifers, the zone of influence of the subject source.  

(3)  A report detailing the development of the source, the method of construction including spring design, well installation, surface catchment and intake structures, and transmission facilities as appropriate.  

(4)  A watershed survey of the recharge area or zone of influence of subject source that identifies and evaluates actual and potential sources of contamination, and which shall be updated every three years, including any reported discharge that may affect the source.  

(5)  Based on the findings in Paragraph (4) of this Subsection, a plan for special monitoring of any significant contaminant source and for taking restrictive preventive or corrective measures as appropriate to protect the source water and the product water.  

B.  The plant operator shall be responsible for sampling and analysis of all approved sources for the contaminants specified in La. Rev. Stat. 40:733.  Such monitoring shall be at least annually, except that analysis for microbiological contaminants shall be weekly if the source is other than a public water system.  

C.  Approved sources shall be monitored on a frequency of no less than once every four years for the contaminants listed in La. Rev. Stat. 40:740(B) or for which U.  S.  EPA under the Safe Drinking Water Act or the department requires source water monitoring.  

D.  Those systems using chlorination or chlorinated public water supplies shall also monitor for contaminants listed in La. Rev. Stat. 40:740(C).  The definition of “source” as applied to La. Rev. Stat. 40:740(B) and (C) allows bottlers using public water supplies to take samples at the filler or from the source, all other bottlers being required to obtain samples from the groundwater source.  

E.  In lieu of source monitoring required by this Section, a plant operator using a public water system as its source may obtain and display a certificate from said system demonstrating that the public water system conducts the monitoring required by this Section.  

F.  In lieu of source water monitoring for any volatile organic contaminant covered by Subsections C and D of this Section that is confirmed to be present in the source water, the bottler may treat said source using granular activated carbon treatment or an equivalent treatment operated in accordance with good manufacturing practices as provided in 21 C.F.R. § 129.80.  

G.  The department may also exempt any water bottler from the monitoring requirements of Subsections C and D of this Section or reduce the frequency or scope of said source monitoring based on a showing satisfactory to the department that the source does not contain the compound(s) for which monitoring is required and is not vulnerable to contamination by the compound(s) because for surface water sources the compounds are not applied, manufactured, stored, disposed, or shipped upstream, and for groundwater sources, the compounds are not applied, manufactured, stored, disposed, or shipped in the groundwater recharge basin, or that a reliable indicator chemical may be monitored in lieu of said compound(s).  

H.  Where a bottled water plant operator, water dealer, or regulatory agency knows or has reason to believe that a contaminant not otherwise monitored is present in the source water because of a spill, release of a hazardous substance, or otherwise, and its presence would create a potential health hazard to consumers, the plant operator or water dealer upon receipt of such information shall monitor the source water for said contaminant.  

I.  Detection of contaminant in source monitoring required pursuant to La. Rev. Stat. 40:735 shall be followed immediately by a program of periodic monitoring to confirm the presence in the source water of said contaminant(s).  If such listed unregulated contaminant(s) is confirmed to be present in the source water at a concentration that exceeds a published U.S. EPA health advisory, or a U.S. FDA or a department action level for drinking water, the plant operator or water dealer shall employ appropriate treatment techniques to remove or to reduce said contaminant in the product water below said concentration and shall employ a program of periodic monitoring for said contaminant in the source water until such time as said contaminant is not detectable in the source water.  

J.  The required source water monitoring shall be performed by qualified personnel and required analysis shall be performed by an approved laboratory.  Records of the required sampling and analyses shall be maintained on file at the plant for not less than five years and shall be available for official review upon request of the department.  

Acts 1991, No. 623, §1.