Region 10 Issues SDWA 1431 Emergency Order to BIA Cooks In-Lieu Public Water System (Cooks,
WA)
On December 18, 2019, Region 10 issued a SDWA 1431 Emergency Administrative Order to the
Bureau of Indian Affairs to take action to address persistent E.Coli detected at the Cooks In-Lieu public
water system (PWS# 105338113). The PWS is located on land owned and maintained by BIA to
ensure tribal members from the Warm Springs, Yakama, Umatilla and Nez Perce Tribes have access to
these historic fishing grounds, thereby upholding certain treaty rights. The Order requires BIA to
provide alternate water until the E.coli issues can be resolved, increase monitoring at the system, and
for BIA to provide a plan for EPA approval that provides for a permanent fix that must be completed
within 12 months. Per federal facility policy, BIA will have an opportunity to confer with Region 10
before the Order becomes effective.