Steps for Creating a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)

In this article, we lay out the steps for creating a compliance CCR

A Consumer Confidence Report, also known as a “Drinking Water Quality Report,” summarizes information about the local drinking water. Mandated by Congress under the Safe Drinking Water Act and enforced by state-level primary agencies, all community water systems are required to create and distribute a Consumer Confidence Report on an annual basis. Typically, the CCR is prepared and distributed in the first half of the next calendar year (e.g. Feb-Jun 2026 for the 2025 CCR). Starting in 2026, water systems serving greater than 10,000 people must provide a CCR twice per year.

Here are the steps for creating a compliant CCR:

1. Gather required water quality data, including:

   1. Detected contaminants (regulated and unregulated if required)

   2. Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs), Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs)

   3. Violations (monitoring, reporting, treatment technique, MCL, etc.)

   4. Lead and copper results

   5. Turbidity (if surface water is used)

   6. Disinfection byproducts and disinfectant residuals

2. Verify data and calculation accuracy

3. Compile required content

   1. Every CCR must contact the following EPA requirements:

      1. Basic system information: water system name, contact info, sources of water

      2. Source water assessment summary: susceptibility to contamination

      3. Detected contaminants table:

         • Names of contaminants

         • Ranges and levels detected

         • MCL, MCLG, and units

         • Likely source of contamination

      4. Health effects language (EPA-specified for certain contaminants and violations)

      5. Violation explanations and actions taken

      6. Educational statements:

         • Vulnerable populations (immunocompromised, infants, elderly)

         • Information on nitrate, arsenic, lead, and cryptosporidium (if applicable)

      7. How the public can participate (meetings, contact info)

      8. EPA safe drinking water hotline number

   2. Every CCR must also abide by state-level requirements

4. Format for readability

5. Distribute to customers

   1. CCRs must be delivered by July 1 of each subsequent year

   2. CCR must be directly delivered to each customer with good-faith efforts to reach non-bill-paying customers

   3. This can mean sending a copy by mail but all states now allow for electronical distribution of CCR. It can still be helpful to sending a physical copy to engage with customers.

6. Certify with primary agency

   1. Submit a CCR Certification Form to your state by the required deadline (usually by October 1)

For a base level report, you can consider the EPA’s iWriter tool (https://sdwis.epa.gov/ords/safewater/r/safewater_ccr/ccr_iwriter). However, the output is not visually pleasing and more important, the report is not optimized for each state’s individual rules.

Alternatively, you can contact us at Veritosa, where we do the entire process for you in a fully compliant, professional designed, and cost-effective way. You can contact us at vtosa.com.