Water Temperature and Testing 622-05-25-30-10

(Revised 4/1/2024 ML #3803)

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The foster care provider must ensure the water temperature in the home is monitored for safety. The water temperature settings should not exceed 120 degrees F. Licensing Specialist will educate the family regarding safe water temperature to prevent injuries.

 

Length of Exposure Required to Receive a Third-Degree Burn

 

Well Water Testing:

Water supply in compliance with regulations for human consumption as noted in NDCC 33.1-16.

The water supply must be from an approved municipal water supply system where available. When a municipal system is not available, a water sample must pass the approved drinking water standard bacteriological water analysis test. Well water testing must be done at initial application and annually thereafter.

 

The foster care provider shall obtain results from an Environmental Protection Agency approved laboratory for testing through licensing with the ND Department of Environmental Quality. The water testing results must be submitted to Children and Family Services (CFS) Licensing Unit in order for payment to be made on behalf of the home.

 

The CFS Licensing Unit has an agreement to pay for the required water tests (not chemical analysis) for foster care providers from these ND approved laboratories:

  1. ND Department of Health and Human Services State Lab (Bismarck) at 328-6272
  2. Fargo Cass Public Health (Fargo) at 476-4089
  3. First District Health Unit (Minot) at 852-1376
  4. Astro-Chem Lab, Inc. (Williston) at 572-7355
  5. Southwest District Health Unit (Dickinson) 483-0171

In order for the water test to be paid by the CFS Licensing Unit, the authorized Licensing Specialist must follow these procedures:

  1. The Licensing Specialist conducting the home study will requests a water bottle test kit from the lab located in closest proximity to the foster care provider. When calling verify the laboratory has an account with the CFS Licensing Unit and identify the request is for “Foster Care Licensing”.
  2. The approved lab may send you specific forms already coded for their purposes. If not, the family must indicate on the paperwork received "Foster Care Licensing” to help the lab identify where to bill the test costs.
  3. The provider will draw the water sample and complete the required laboratory form/s.
  1. Location Information: The home will be indicated as the mailing address/location where the water sample was taken.
  2. Billing Information: If the vendor is an approved laboratory (listed above) an account has been established for the CFS Licensing Unit to pay for the water testing.
  3. Water Results: All water testing results must be sent to cfslicensing@nd.gov Attn: Water Testing
  1. The family must send the water sample to the laboratory immediately. The lab must receive the water sample within 30 hours of the sample being taken or the sample will be thrown out. Also, plan accordingly as many labs have specified days the water samples can be tested (Ex: Monday – Wednesday only).
  2. The approved laboratory will send the completed lab report/results to CFS at cfslicensing@nd.gov Attn: Water Testing.
  3. CFS Licensing unit will record & verify the provider results for payment purposes and place results in the licensing file.
  4. CFS will initiate payment to the approved laboratory once per month.

NOTE: If the above procedure is not followed, the Department cannot pay for the water test.

 

Testing Preference:

The ND Department of Health and Human Services is the preferred laboratory for water testing, however, the CFS Licensing Unit does understand distance offers great barriers for rural communities outside of Bismarck. If an approved laboratory is not listed above, the lab and cost of the water testing must be pre-approved by CFS in order to develop a process for submitting a sample, obtaining the results and making payment.

 

Direct Payment to Foster Care Providers:

Providers who pay for the water testing directly will not be reimbursed by the CFS Licensing Unit. The billing must be done through the approved laboratory and follow the procedures listed in policy.

 

Community Wells:

If a provider has a community well, their community well is not required to be tested for foster care licensing purposes. A community well is considered a municipal water source and receives ongoing monitoring.

 

Failed Water Testing:

If sampled water is returned as “fail” or “unsatisfactory”, a child in foster care is not allowed to consume the water. The water will have to be re-tested until the sample passes the water analysis requirements for the state of ND.

 

If the water testing results continue to present unsafe water that could be consumed by a child in foster care, further discussions and safety planning must occur between the laboratory specialists, foster family, authorized licensing agent, and CFS Licensing Unit.