SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT REGULATORY UPDATE 2003

Transcription

1 SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT REGULATORY UPDATE 2003 Published March 2003 for Community Water Systems by the Compliance Services Branch, Public Water Supply Section, Division of Environmental Health, North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources T his Regulatory Update highlights numerous regulatory deadlines for the year 2003 and provides information to North Carolina s public water systems to help clarify some of the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act and North Carolina s Rules Governing Public Water Systems. The major new rule that becomes effective this year is the Radionuclides Rule (effective December 8, 2003). This rule and the state s requirements for grandfathering of radionuclide data are discussed herein. The Compliance Services Branch is available to answer any other questions you may have regarding compliance with the drinking water regulations. Thank you for your continued efforts to stay informed. FILTER BACKWASH RECYCLING RULE The Filter Backwash Recycling Rule became effective August 7, Systems regulated under this rule include all public water systems that use surface water or groundwater under the direct influence (GWUDI) of surface water, practice conventional or direct filtration, and recycle spent filter backwash, sludge thickener supernatant or liquids from dewatering processes. These systems must comply with this rule starting December 8, This rule is intended to improve performance at filtration plants by reducing the opportunity for recycle practices to adversely affect plant performance in a way that would allow microbes such as Cryptosporidium to pass through into finished drinking water. Symptoms of infection with Cryptosporidium include stomach cramps, nausea, watery diarrhea, loss of appetite and a mild fever. The reporting, treatment technique and recordkeeping requirements are as follows: ON THE INSIDE Consumer Confidence Reports...2 Church Brochure Information...3 Address Changes...3 Daily Residual Chlorine Testing...3 Submittal of Analytical Results...4 Disinfection Profiling and Bench- Marking...4 Final Plan Approval...4 New Arsenic MCL...4 Public Notification Reminders...5 New Section Website...5 Helpful Hints...6 New Radionuclides Rule...6 Disinfectants & Disinfection Byproducts Rule...8 ORC for Cross Connections...9 Bioterrorism Act of Regional Offices...10 Web Addresses...10 Rule Managers & Section Staff...10 Reporting Requirements: Regulated systems must notify the state, in writing, by December 8, 2003 of their recycling practices. A plant schematic showing the origin of all flows that are recycled, the hydraulic conveyance used to transport the flows and the location where they are re-introduced back into the treatment plant must be submitted to the state. The system must also report the typical recycle flow (in gallons per minute), the highest observed plant flow experienced in the previous year, design flow and the state-approved operating capacity. Treatment technique requirements: Recycled flows must be returned through the processes of a system s existing conventional or direct filtration system or at an alternate location approved by the state by June 8, If capital improvements are required to modify the recycle location to meet this treatment technique requirement, all capital improvements must be completed by June 8, Recordkeeping requirements: Recycle flow information must be collected and maintained for review and evaluation by the state beginning June 8, Recordkeeping requirements are listed in CFR (d) in Section.2003 of the Rules Governing Public Water Systems. Page 1

2 CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORTS (CCR) BASIC REQUIREMENTS OF THE CCR: All community systems, including submetered apartments must produce and distribute an annual CCR. For newly activated community and submetered water systems, preparation and submittal of your first CCR is based on your first calendar year of operation determined by the system begin date (MM/YYYY) in the Public Water Supply Section s Inventory Database. April 1 st deadline by which a community water system that sells water to another community water system must deliver the information required in the content of the reports (CFR ) to the buying system (unless another date mutually agreed upon by the seller and the purchaser, and specifically included in a contract between the parties, is established). July 1 st deadline by which the CCR must be received by both the customers of the water system and the Public Water Supply Section. October 1 st deadline by which the CCR Certification Form must be received by the Public Water Supply Section. To avoid a violation due to an oversight of the CCR Certification Form s October 1 st submittal deadline, we recommend that the Certification Form be submitted with the CCR by the July 1 st deadline. A copy of the CCR Certification Form can be found at our homepage. Appendix A of the CCR Rule has been updated to include all the new contaminants, maximum contaminant levels (MCLs), treatment techniques, major sources in drinking water, health effects language, etc. for the new rules regarding Total Organic Carbon (TOCs), bromate, haloacetic acids (HAA5), etc. Copies of Appendix A can be found at our homepage and at EPA s CCR homepage at or found in Section.1538 of the Rules Governing Public Water Systems. Any additional definitions such as maximum residual disinfectant level (MRDL) will need to be added to your CCR. CCRs can be used as a means to provide public notice for Tier 3 violations only. If the CCR is used as the sole means of notification, the CCR (and Certification Form) may need to be submitted prior to their designated deadlines to meet the within 12 months requirement of the Public Notification Rule. Not only will the submittal dates for the CCR and Certification Form be impacted, the mailing waiver option of the CCR Rule is voided as well. (Submetered apartment water systems will not have any Tier 3 violations; the parent water system may, however.) TIPS FOR PREPARATION AND DELIVERY OF YOUR CCR: 1. Delivery requirements are based on your water system s population-people served, not the number of connections/billing units. The delivery requirements for CCRs are specified in CFR , found in Section.1538 of the Rules Governing Public Water Systems. 2. For water systems that can notify their customers of the availability of the CCR, you may not put your CCR notice on the water bill itself as the only notice your customers will receive. Each customer/billing unit must be notified by a direct means such as a door hanger, a letter, a postcard, or a bill stuffer dedicated to the CCR notification. (You may not charge your customers for a copy of the CCR.) 3. Information on source of water - your CCR must inform your customers if they are drinking ground water, surface water, GWUDI (ground water under the direct influence of surface water), purchase ground water, purchase surface water, purchase GWUDI water or a combination of these waters. Also, your customers must be told where their source of water is located for your system-- address, description or map. 4. Violations and/or enforcement information - systems must inform their customers of all violations including MCL, monitoring, and reporting violations. Any enforcement actions such as Administrative Orders and Administrative Penalties must also be reported. Pertinent information such as the type of violation/enforcement, contaminant groups identified, required actions, duration, corrective action, etc. must be provided. 5. Make sure ALL the dates in your CCR are correct. 6. For those community systems that participated in the UCMR (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation) Rule with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2002 and reported all of their test results directly to EPA - the UCMR Rule requires that if any contaminant was detected, it must be included in the water system s CCR. Therefore, please be sure to include all detections of these contaminants in your 2002 CCR. 7. For those community water systems using the N.C. Rural Water Association CCR template: Remember to add required language found in Page 2

3 (h)(1)(iii) to Section 11 and to change the arsenic levels and add the required language found in CFR (b) and (f) and Appendix A to Section 9(A) 8. Arsenic s Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) limit was lowered in the state of North Carolina effective January 1, The new limit is mg/l (vs. the old limit of 0.05 mg/l). Because of the new limit, the reporting requirements for arsenic have been revised and additional health information is required. Be sure to use the appropriate health effects language based on your arsenic sample results. (See CFR (b) and (f) and Appendix A to Subpart O which can also be found in Section.1538 of the Rules Governing Public Water Systems). 9. If your water system has Gross Beta (radiological) detections to report, please make sure you correct your table information to indicate that the MCL is 50 pci/l instead of 4 mrem/year. EPA has corrected Appendix A in the CCR Rule to reflect this ADDRESS CHANGES Regulatory Update 2003 To Help You church brochure is now available through the PWSS Website or go to For system owners: Section.2102(f) of the Rules Governing Public Water Systems requires that The supplier of water who holds a current operating permit shall inform the Department of any change of address or transfer of ownership within 30 days of the change. Please be sure to notify the Public Water Supply Section (Data Entry), in writing, of any change in ownership information, as well as, any change regarding the designated responsible person for your system. Failure to inform the Public Water Supply Section of changes in ownership within the specified timeframe may result in a fine. For system operators: Section.0304 (e) of the Rules Governing Water Treatment Facility Operators requires that The operator shall keep the Board informed of his/her current mailing address. Operators should notify the Water Treatment Facility Operators Certification Board, in writing, within 30 days of any address changes. Note: Please also supply current phone numbers and addresses for system owners and/or operators. change. (Our laboratories report Gross Beta in pci/l, not mrem/year.) 10. Place all detected contaminants in an individual table separate from non-detected contaminants. Non-detected contaminants may be either listed or placed in a separate table. Keep in mind the average CCR is 2 to 4 pages in length, excluding the public notices. 11. For water systems having populations of 10,000 or greater that had to meet the January 1, 2002, deadline under the Disinfection and Disinfectant Byproducts Rule Stage 1 Please note that EPA guidance on how to display results for disinfection byproducts, disinfectant residuals and disinfection byproduct precursors in the CCR is currently unavailable. Therefore, for your 2002 CCR, simply display the low to high range of individual (treated water) test results and the running annual average of these results. DAILY RESIDUAL CHLORINE TESTING Community and non-transient, noncommunity public water supply systems that use chlorine as a disinfectant and purchase water systems that buy chlorinated water or provide chlorine disinfection must perform residual chlorine tests daily as required by Section.1300 of the Rules Governing Public Water Systems since The daily chlorine residual levels must be recorded on the appropriate report of operation form and sent monthly to the state by the 10 th day of the following month. To allow more flexibility in schedule for an operator-inresponsible charge (ORC), the Public Water Supply Section recently developed a policy that allows the ORC to designate a non-certified operator to perform these daily residual chlorine tests under his/her direction for six out of seven days (the ORC must visit the system at least weekly and perform the test in the company of the designee). Each recorded daily residual level should be initialed by the person performing the test. The monthly report must be signed at the bottom by the ORC, certifying that all of the tests and operations were performed correctly. Note: This policy for allowing a non-certified designee to perform testing applies to daily chlorine residual testing only. Page 3

4 NEW ARSENIC MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVEL (MCL) North Carolina s new arsenic MCL of mg/l became effective January 1, 2002 and applies to community water systems and non-transient noncommunity water systems. Public Notification must be provided by systems that exceed this MCL. SUBMITTAL OF ANALYTICAL RESULTS Your laboratory must submit the original hard copy or electronic copy of analytical results on the proper laboratory forms or in the proper electronic format to the state within the first 10 days following the month in which the analyses is completed, or the first 10 days following the end of the required monitoring period as stipulated by the state, whichever of these is shortest. Please note that analytical results must be received by the Public Water Supply Se ction by the 10 th of the month. For example, if a monthly bacteria sample is analyzed on February 22 nd, the results must be received by the Public Water Supply Section by March 10 th. If a 1 st quarter sample is collected near the end of the compliance period, for example, March 29 th and the analysis is completed on April 7 th, the analytical results still must be received by April 10 th. If fecal/e.coli bacteria is present in your water sample, your laboratory must notify and fax the analytical results to the Compliance Services Branch of the Public Water Supply Section on the same day the analysis is completed. If total coliform is present in your water sample or if any contaminant exceeds an MCL, your laboratory must notify the state and fax the results to us within 48 hours of completing the analysis. Laboratories should also mail hard copies to our office as soon as possible. Your laboratory must notify you of the analytical results within the same timeframes! FINAL PLAN APPROVAL No construction, alteration, or expansion of a community or non-transient, non-community public water system shall be placed into final service or made available for human consumption until the applicant has submitted the Applicant Certification and has received Final Approval from the Department. The Applicant Certification Form and the Engineer s Certification MUST both be submitted to the state upon completion of construction in order to get final approval. LONG-TERM 1 ENHANCED SURFACE WATER TREATMENT RULE (LT1ESWTR) DISINFECTION PROFILING AND BENCHMARKING All public water systems that use surface water or groundwater-under-the-direct-influence (GWUDI) of surface water as a source and that serve less than 10, 000 persons must develop a disinfection profile for an annual period. The compliance schedule is as follows: Disinfection Profiling Population 07/01/03 06/30/ to 9,999 01/01/ /31/2004 Less Than 500 Systems that are required to develop a disinfection profile and plan to make a significant change to their disinfection practices must calculate a disinfection benchmark. Page 4

5 PUBLIC NOTIFICATION REMINDERS 1. Public Notification Timeframe Requirements: For Tier 1 violations, your customers must be properly notified of the violation and potential health effects within 24 hours of the date that the laboratory analysis was completed. For Tier 2 violations, you have 30 days from the violation awareness date (which is within two days of completion of the laboratory analysis) to properly notify the public of the violation and potential health effects. For Tier 3 violations, you have 12 months from the violation awareness date (may use the date of the state s monitoring violation letter) to properly notify the public. 2. Forms to be Submitted to the State: Notice to the Public and Public Notification Certification Form A copy of the completed Notice to the Public AND the Public Notification Certification Form must be sent to the Compliance Services Branch of the Public Water Supply Section within 10 days after completing the initial public notification to your customers. We have been receiving notices without certification forms and/or certification forms without notices; in order to fully comply with the Public Notification Rule, you must submit both documents within the proper time period. *** For Tier 3 Public Notification - If you use your Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) in lieu of a separate Tier 3 public notice to fulfill this requirement, submit all of the following to the state: 3. Completion of the Notice to the Public: The Notice to the Public templates that are mailed with every violation letter from the state include most of the required information for the notice. You must complete the few other areas that have not been completed. For example, make sure all the following information is completed: Compliance period For Monitoring Violations: Either circle or underline the applicable statement ( did not monitor or did not complete all monitoring ); also complete the table in the middle of the page with the headings Contaminant, Required Sampling Frequency, Number of samples taken, etc. What happened? What is being done? When will the problem be corrected? (Describe corrective action.) Simply indicate the answers to all of these questions. One or two sentences will normally be sufficient. Complete the Table at the bottom of every notice that provides the responsible person s name, phone number, address, PWSID#, etc. if it has not already been completed for you. You must write or type in the date that the notice was distributed. 4. Required Language for Notice to the Public: In the Notice to the Public templates provided by the state, there are two different paragraphs that are in bold italics on each and every notice. These statements are required language and MUST be in the notice word-for-word; no modifications! Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) CCR Certification Form Public Notification Certification Form Be reminded that these documents must be submitted to the Compliance Services Branch first meeting the Public Notification Rule timeframe requirements, not the July 1 st CCR deadline. All of these must be sent to us in order for you to receive credit for meeting both rules requirements. Also, keep in mind that the entire Public Notice must be included in the CCR; a general statement concerning the monitoring violation is not acceptable if the CCR is the only means used for notification. The new and improved Public Water Supply website is now on-line at Look for copies of Public Notices and CCR & Public Notification Certification forms! Use Internet Explorer for best viewing. Page 5

6 HELPFUL HINTS Report address changes and/or changes in ownership or responsible person to the central office of Public Water Supply Section (Data Entry) as quickly as possible. If your system connects to another source of water, closes down, or other changes occur such as change in classification of your system, population, treatment or entry points, contact your regional office. The regional office must verify these changes and send the appropriate paperwork to the central office before any changes can be made to our database. Check the sample analysis form carefully before you send it and your water sample(s) to your lab. Make sure all the information above the double line is filled out completely and correctly. Incorrect analysis forms will be rejected by this office and sent back to the system. Remember: blank lines and misinformation can easily result in a monitoring and/or reporting vi olation. If you wait until you get a violation letter from the state to notify your customers about exceeding a maximum contaminant level (MCL), you may already be too late! Keep in mind that the violation clock starts ticking as soon as the laboratory analyses are completed! A written request is required if you feel that your system is eligible for a reduction in monitoring. Include sample results and collection dates in your request. Be sure to send it to the attention of the appropriate rule manager. A list of rule managers is on the last page of this publication. Don t wait until the end of the compliance period to collect your water samples. Your laboratory will have to run the analysis and get the results into our office by the 10 th of the next month. If results are not received by that day, your system will get a reporting vi o- lation which must be reported in your CCR. Be sure you use a laboratory certified by the state of North Carolina to perform your analyses to get credit for your analyses. See the web addresses for information on certified laboratories. The administrative staff for the Water Treatment Facility Operators Certification Board can assist you with questions regarding Operators in Responsible Charge (ORCs) and your certification applications. The staff can be reached at (919) NEW RADIONUCLIDES RULE WHO: (Regulated Systems) Community Water Systems, all size categories WHAT : (Purpose of New Rule) Reduces exposure to all radionuclides in drinking water, thus improves protection of public health Sets maximum contaminant level (MCL) for uranium (20.1 pci/l or 30 µg/l). Requires radium 228 analysis. Sets maximum contaminant level goals (MCLGs) to zero. Retains the existing MCLs for combined radium 226/228 (5 pci/l), gross alpha particle (15 pci/l), and beta particle and photon radioactivity (4 mrem/yr or 50 pci/l), however, revises the monitoring requirements for these contaminants. WHEN: (Water Systems Timelines) December 8, 2003 Effective date of rule. December 8, December 31, 2007 Initial Compliance Monitoring Period - Systems must perform initial compliance monitoring (unless system qualifies for grandfathering of data; see HOW ). Initial monitoring must be conducted for gross alpha, radium 226, radium 228 and uranium. (Note: If the gross alpha concentration is < 5 pci/l, it may be substituted for radium 226, otherwise, analysis for radium 226 must be performed. If the gross alpha concentration is < 15 pci/l, it may be substituted for uranium, otherwise, analysis for uranium must be performed.) Four consecutive quarterly samples must be collected from each entry point. These four samples may be composited if the analysis is done within a year of the first sample. Analysis of individual consecutive quarterly samples is also acceptable. January 1, December 31, 2016 First Compliance Cycle of Standardized Monitoring Framework - Based upon the annual average of the quarterly sampling results from the initial compliance monitoring period (or from grandfathered data), systems will be required to sample for radionuclides every 3, 6 or 9 years within this cycle. WHERE: (Sampling Location) Entry Point Radionuclide samples must now be collected at each entry point to the distribution system rather than from the distribution system itself, as was previously required. Page 6

7 WHY: (Public Health Benefits) Reduce risk of toxic kidney effects from uranium. Reduce risk of cancer. HOW: (How to Qualify for Grandfathering of Data) Your system must have historical radiological monitoring data collected between June 2000 and December 7, This data may be eligible for use as grandfathered data to satisfy the new Radionuclides Rule s initial compliance monitoring requirements. Eligible systems may include: Single entry point systems where the historical monitoring data was collected at the entry point or from a representative point in the distribution system. Multiple entry point systems with entry point data where the historical monitoring data was collected from each entry point to the distribution system. Multiple entry point systems with distribution data where the system has no more than two entry points to the distribution system and the historical monitoring data was collected from a representative point in the distribution system. If your system does have historical data collected between June 2000 and December 7, 2003, and falls within one of the three categories listed above, additional data may be necessary for your system to qualify for grandfathering of data. Consult the table below to determine if any additional data is necessary. If so, samples will need to be collected for the analyses indicated before December 8, A written request to grandfather your system s data must be submitted to this office by September 1, Thereafter, it is the system owner/operator s responsibility to provide the necessary information (i.e. analyses, system history, source and entry point location information and proposed future changes to the system) to this office no later than January 10, The state will evaluate each system for their eligibility to grandfather data on a case-by-case basis. Monitoring data collected between June 2000 and December 7, 2003, as well as the system s previous historical data will be reviewed. The system s compliance history such as their initial compliance upon system start-up, and any historical MCL and/or repeated monitoring violations will be reviewed. Other factors that will be considered include whether or not the system has treatment installed, and their physical location. NOTE: A system will not be eligible for grandfathering of data under the following circumstances: o Any radionuclide analytical result collected from June 2000 through December 7, 2003 is greater than ½ their maximum contaminant level (MCL). o Only distribution data is available and the system has more than two entry points. o The system has radiological treatment installed. o The system is located within a man-made radionuclide vulnerable or contaminated area. Additional Data Requirements for Determination of a System s Eligibility to Grandfather Data (Based Upon Data Collected Between June 1, 2000 and December 7, 2003) Exisiting Data Historical Monitoring Single Entry Point (EP) (Distribution or EP sa mpling) > 1 EP (EP sampling) 2 EPs (Distribution sampling) > 2 EPs (Distribution sampling) Non-Detect Gross Alpha = ND Gross Alpha < 7.5 pci/l Uranium < 10 pci/l Ra-226 < 3 pci/l Additional Required Analyses Listed Below: Gross Alpha > 7.5 pci/l Uranium > 10 pci/l Ra-226 > 3 pci/l EP EP No Grandfathering EPs EPs No Grandfathering EPs Alpha & EPs No Grandfathering No Grandfathering No Grandfathering No Grandfathering Page 7

8 STAGE 1 DISINFECTANTS AND DISINFECTION BYPRODUCTS (DBP) RULE As of January 1, 2002, Surface and GWUDI (groundwater sources found to be under direct influence of surface water) water systems serving populations of at least 10,000 that apply a disinfectant to drinking water (including any purchased surface water systems having a population of at least 10,000) are required to comply with the requirements of this rule (Stage 1 D/DBP). Surface and GWUDI systems serving populations less than 10,000, all groundwater systems that apply a disinfectant and any remaining purchased water systems must comply with this rule beginning January 1, New maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) have been established for the Total Trihalomethanes (THM), five Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Bromate and Chlorite. Maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) have been established for chlorine, chloramine and chlorine dioxide. Disinfection Byproducts MCL (mg/l) Total Trihalomethane (THM) Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Bromate Chlorite 1.0 Disinfectant Residuals MRDL (mg/l) Chlorine (free) 4.0 Chloramine (combined) 4.0 Chlorine Dioxide 0.8 All systems are required to prepare a DBP Monitoring Plan that describes their specific monitoring requirements under this rule and the monitoring schedule planned for each DBP contaminant as applicable. These plans must be available for review on site by the state no later then February 10 th, Surface and GWUDI systems having populations greater than 3,300 must also submit their plan to the state by February 10, The system s plan must include descriptions of the type and number of sources, the type and number of treatment plants available; lists showing each type of sample required and the corresponding sample sites to include its location code and address; the monitoring schedules stating specifically when within a compliance period the certain types of samples will be collected; and distribution maps that show the location of each applicable DBP Rule compliance sampling site location marked with the location code. (Due to the FYI Monitoring Requirements for Community Groundwater and Surface Water (& GWUDI) Systems: Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule charts are included with this publication. MRDL compliance requirement, these plans must also include all of the compliance bacteriological sampling sites and codes). Failure to monitor according to the system s plan will be considered a monitoring violation. Deviations from the system s plan must receive prior approval from the Public Water Supply Section and will only be allowed due to emergency events. Affected systems that were on reduced THM monitoring under the previous THM rules will be required to begin monitoring THMs and HAA5s according to new schedules based on their source type and population. THM and HAA5 samples must always be collected at the same time, at the same site with the number of sample sites required each compliance period based on the number of water treatment plants in the system. (This also applies to Groundwater systems). The type of sample site locations required is dependent on the monitoring frequency required and number of sites required per treatment plant. All THM/HAA samples required for a compliance period must be collected on the same day. Systems must determine in advance of January where the water s maximum residence time (MRT) location is within their distribution system. The requirements to qualify for THM/HAA monitoring reductions have changed and will be more stringent. For compliance with the MRDLs, systems must measure disinfectant residuals [chlorine (free) and chloramine (combined)] at the same sites in the distribution and at the same time as their compliance bacteriological samples are collected each month. Chlorine dioxide residuals must be measured daily at Page 8

9 the entry point. These residuals and monthly averages must be reported to the state using either the monthly Report of Operation, Water Usage Report, Distribution Bacteriological Summary Report (for systems performing their own compliance bacteria sample analyses) or the Chlorine Dioxide Report of Operation, as well as on each reported bacteriological sample analysis form (as applicable). Systems using ozone must also sample bromate monthly at the plant's entry point to the distribution system. Systems using chlorine dioxide must also sample chlorite daily at the entry point and monthly at three sites in the distribution system (at or near first customer, representative and maximum residence time in the distribution system). Surface and GWUDI systems having conventional treatment (i.e., sedimentation provided in the treatment process) must also comply with the Total Organic Carbon (TOC) treatment technique monitoring and removal requirements which, at a minimum, requires a monthly paired TOC sample (paired meaning one TOC and alkalinity sample collected at the same time from the raw water tap prior to any treatment and one TOC sample from the combined filter effluent tap, all collected on the same day). Based on the method used to comply with this treatment technique, a system may also be required to conduct additional sampling. Consult the regional office, Rule Manager or website for charts of the DBP Rule Monitoring Requirements and DBP rule Reports of Operation. REMINDER ORC Required for Cross-Connection-Control Facilities As required by 15A NCAC 18D.0206(d), all public water systems that are required to have five or more testable backflow prevention assemblies must have an operator in responsible charge (ORC) for the distribution system of the cross-connection-control facility by July 1, Monitoring Requirements Charts for Community Groundwater and Surface Water Systems Are Included With This Publication. (Remember that groundwater systems under direct influence (GWUDI) of surface water must meet the Surface Water Treatment Rule requirements and the Disinfectant & Disinfection Byproducts monitoring requirements for surface water systems.) BIOTERRORISM ACT OF 2002 The Bioterrorism Act of 2002 requires that all public water supply systems serving a population of 3,300 or more prepare Vulnerability Assessments and Emergency Response Plans. A Certification of Completion of the Emergency Response Plan is due to EPA within 6 months of submittal of the Vulnerability Assessment. This act is intended to enhance the security for public water systems. The compliance due dates for the Vulnerability Assessments are as follows: For systems with 100,000 or more population March 31, 2003 For systems with 50,000 to 99,000 population December 31, 2003 For systems with 3,300 to 49,999 population June 30, 2004 If you have any questions, please contact Jerry Perkins at (919) or Jim McRight at (919) Page 9

10 REGIONAL OFFICES Asheville Regional Office 59 Woodfin Place Asheville, NC (828) / Mooresville Regional Office 919 North Main Street Mooresville, NC (704) Winston-Salem Regional Office 585 Waughtown Street Winston-Salem, NC (336) Raleigh Regional Office 1628 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC (919) Fayetteville Regional Office 225 Green Street, Suite 714 Fayetteville, NC (910) Washington Regional Office 943 Washington Square Mall Washington, NC (252) Wilmington Regional Office 127 Cardinal Drive Extension Wilmington, NC (910) Michael F. Easley, Governor William G. Ross, Jr., Secretary Linda C. Sewall, Director Jessica G. Miles, Section Chief Linda F. Raynor, Branch Head WEB ADDRESSES EPA Office of Water: NC State Government: Public Water Supply Section: Monitoring Schedules: Rules Governing Public Water Systems: Certified Laboratories: Certification/CertifiedLaboratory.asp RULES & RULE MANAGERS Rule Rule Manager Arsenic Lorna Withrow Asbestos Lorna Withrow Bacteriological (Community & Non-Transient) Jim Wisely Bacteriological (Transient) Demetrius Barrett Consumer Confidence Reports Beth Goodwin Disinfection By-Products (DBP) includes Trihalomethanes (THMs) and Diane Williams Haloacidic Acids (HAA5) Filter Backwash Rule Hornlean Chen Groundwater Rule Jim Wisely Inorganic Chemicals Lorna Withrow Lead and Copper Hornlean Chen Nitrate/Nitrite Demetrius Barrett Pesticides/Synthetic Organic Chemicals (SOCs) Hornlean Chen Diane Williams /PCBs & Dioxin Public Notification Rule Beth Goodwin Radionuclides & Radon Lorna Withrow Surface Water Treatment Rule (SWTR, IESWTR, Hornlean Chen IESTR-LT1, IESTR-LT2) Turbidity Hornlean Chen Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOC) Lorna Withrow COMPLIANCE SERVICES BRANCH STAFF Demetrius Barrett...(919) Hornlean Chen...(919) Tommy Cross...(919) Martha Fillinger...(919) Beth Goodwin...(919) Linda Raynor...(919) Diane Williams...(919) Jim Wisely...(919) Lorna Withrow...(919) ,750 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $ or $0.335 per copy. Page 10

11 COMMUNITY GROUNDWATER SYSTEMS - MONITORING REQUIREMENTS Contaminant Group Initial & Routine Monitoring (1) May Reduce Monitoring from Routine Frequency if: (2) Increased Monitoring Required: (3) Asbestos (AS) Bacteriological Disinfectants & Disinfection Byproducts (applies to systems using disinfected water) Inorganic Chemicals Lead and Copper (lead action level = mg/l; copper action level = 1.3 mg/l) Nitrate Nitrite Pesticides/Synthetic Organic Chemicals (SOCs) Radionuclides (RA) (existing requirements) Radionuclides (RA) (new rule requirements - Effective 12/8/03) Trihalomethanes (TTHM) (MCL=0.10 mg/l) (applies to systems using disinfected water - Effective until 12/31/03) Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs) collect one initial sample, thereafter, every 9 years, unless > maximum contaminant level (MCL) monthly, from distribution (see 15A NCAC 18C Section.1534 for number of samples) (See chart entitled "Community Groundwater Systems Monitoring Requirements - Stage 1 - Disinfectants & Disinfection Byproducts Rule") collect one initial sample at each entry point, thereafter, once every 3 years, unless > MCL every 6 months for first year, thereafter, collect annual samples during June-September for 2 more consecutive years (see 15A NCAC 18C.1507 for number of samples) annually, at each entry point, unless result > 5.0 mg/l; Note: if result > MCL (10.0 mg/l), take confirmation sample within 24 hours one sample, one time at each entry point unless >0.5 mg/l. Note: If result > MCL (1.0 mg/l), take confirmation sample within 24 hours 4 consecutive quarterly samples at each entry point; Population < 3,300 has option to use 1st sample and apply for waiver (see our web site for waiver application package information) initially collect 4 consecutive quarterly samples from the same location in the distribution system, thereafter, one sample every 4 years, unless > MCL 4 consecutive quarterly samples at each entry point Population > 10,000, four distribution samples per treatment plant for 4 consecutive quarters (25% collected from maximum residence time (MRT) sites); Population < 10,000, one distribution sample from MRT site for 4 consecutive quarters. 4 consecutive quarterly samples at each entry point can apply for a waiver if not in source vulnerable county and do not have asbestos piping (See chart entitled "Community Groundwater Systems Monitoring Requirements - Stage 1 - Disinfectants & Disinfection Byproducts Rule") after 3 consecutive three year periods < MCL, submit request to state to reduce to once every 9 years after two 6-month samples and 2 annuals where the 90th percentile < action levels, then may be reduced to every 3 years (4) if no detection of regulated contaminants for all 4 consecutive quarters, may reduce as follows: population >3,300 may reduce to 2 consecutive quarterly samples every 3 years; population < 3,300, may reduce to 1 sample every 3 years with written state approval, may reduce to every 3, 6, or 9 years according to test results if no samples > MCL for 4 quarters, for population >10,000, may reduce to one distribution sample per treatment plant, collected quarterly from MRT sites; for population < 10,000, may reduce to one distribution sample, collected annually from MRT site during July-September if no detection of regulated contaminants for all 4 consecutive quarters, may reduce to one sample, collected annually; after 3 consecutive annual samples with no detections of regulated contaminants, may reduce to once every 3 years if result > MCL, begin quarterly monitoring if positive result, collect repeat samples within 24 hours; then collect 5 routine samples the following month (See chart entitled "Community Groundwater Systems Monitoring Requirements - Stage 1 - Disinfectants & Disinfection Byproducts Rule") if result >MCL, begin quarterly monitoring if 90th percentile > action level of either contaminant, increase to every 6 months if result is > 5.0 mg/l, begin quarterly monitoring; after 4 consecutive quarters < 5.0 mg/l, may apply to state for annual monitoring; if approved, subsequent annual samples must be collected during the quarter that previously had the highest concentration if result is > 0.5 mg/l, begin quarterly monitoring; after 4 consecutive quarters < 0.5 mg/l, may apply to state for annual monitoring; if approved, subsequent annual samples must be collected during the quarter that previously had the highest concentration if result > MCL, or if regulated contaminant is detected, begin quarterly monitoring (quarterly analyses must include all contaminants identified by the analysis method used for the detected contaminant) from initial or routine monitoring if: result > MCL, then begin quarterly monitoring from reduced monitoring if: result > MCL, then begin quarterly monitoring from reduced monitoring, if any sample result > MCL (0.10 mg/l): for population > 10,000, increase to 4 distribution samples per treatment plant per quarter; for population <10,000, increase to one distribution sample, collected quarterly from MRT sites if result > MCL, or if regulated contaminant is detected, begin quarterly monitoring (quarterly analyses must include all VOCs listed on the state's laboratory form) (1) Compliance monitoring for all contaminant groups should be performed the same quarter as system start-up except for bacteriological, which should be performed within 30 days of system start-up. (2) A request must be submitted to the state, in writing, in order to get approval for reduced monitoring. (3) If a system is required to increase to monthly or quarterly monitoring, the follow-up samples must be collected the next month or quarter. (4) For lead & copper, if the 90th percentile of lead result is < 0.05 mg/l and copper result is < mg/l, the system can apply for reduced monitoring to every three years after the first year. 3/2003

12 COMMUNITY GROUNDWATER SYSTEMS - MONITORING REQUIREMENTS Stage 1 - Disinfectants & Disinfection Byproducts Rule (Applies Only to Systems Using Disinfected Water) Effective Date: January 1, 2004 May Reduce Monitoring from Increased Monitoring Contaminant Group Initial & Routine Monitoring Routine Frequency if: (1) Required: (2) DISINFECTANTS - MAXIMUM RESIDUAL DISINFECTANT LEVELS (MRDLs): Chlorine Residual (free chlorine) OR Chloramine Residual - for systems using ammonia (combined chlorine) (MRDL for each = 4.0 mg/l) Chlorine Dioxide - for systems using chlorine dioxide (MRDL=0.8 mg/l) DISINFECTION BYPRODUCTS: Chlorite - for systems using chlorine dioxide (MCL=1.0 mg/l) monthly testing at distribution sites with collection of each compliance bacteriological sample daily, at each entry point daily, at each entry point; monthly, in distribution system (3-sample set) (refer to 15A NCAC 18C Section.2008 for designated sampling sites) Groundwater Systems - 10,000 or greater population: only the monthly 3-sample set may be reduced if all entry point and distribution sample results < 1.0 mg/l for one year if any daily result > MRDL, collect 3-sample set in distribution the next day (refer to 15A NCAC 18C Section.2008 for designated sampling sites) from routine monitoring if: any daily entry point sample > MCL, collect a 3-sample set in distribution system the next day; from reduced monitoring if: any daily entry point or monthly distribution sample > MCL, then increase the 3- sample set back to monthly TTHM RAA < mg/l and HAA5 RAA from reduced monitoring if: the TTHM RAA >0.060 collect one TTHM/HAA5 sample from the <0.030 mg/l, then may reduce to one mg/l or HAA5 RAA > mg/l, then increase to distribution system per treatment plant for a TTHM/HAA5 distribution sample per treatment one TTHM/HAA5 distribution sample site per minimum of 4 consecutive quarters [collect plant per year (collect from MRT site during July-treatment plant, per quarter (collect sample from sample from maximum residence time (MRT) site] September) MRT site) Groundwater Systems - Less than 10,000 population: Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) (MCL=0.080 mg/l) Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (MCL=0.060 mg/l) collect one TTHM/HAA5 sample from the distribution system per treatment plant per year (collect sample from MRT site during July- September) from initial monitoring if: TTHM RAA < mg/l and HAA5 RAA < mg/l for 2 consecutive years or TTHM RAA < mg/l and HAA5 RAA < mg/l for one year, then from initial or reduced monitoring if: the TTHM may reduce to one TTHM/HAA5 distribution RAA >MCL (0.080 mg/l) or HAA5 RAA >MCL sample per treatment plant every 3 years; (0.060 mg/l), then increase to one TTHM/HAA5 from increased monitoring if: TTHM RAA distribution sample per treatment plant, per quarter <0.060 mg/l and HAA5 RAA <0.045 mg/l, then (collect sample from MRT site) reduce to one TTHM/HAA5 distribution sample per treatment plant per year (collect samples from MRT site during July-September) "MCL" =Maximum Contaminant Level; "RAA"=Running Annual Average (1) A request must be submitted to the state, in writing, in order to get approval for reduced monitoring. (2) If a system is required to increase to monthly or quarterly monitoring, the follow-up samples must be collected the next month of quarter. 3/2003

13 COMMUNITY SURFACE WATER (& GWUDI) (1) SYSTEMS - MONITORING REQUIREMENTS Contaminant Group Initial & Routine Monitoring (2) May Reduce Monitoring from Routine Frequency if: (3) Increased Monitoring Required: (4) Asbestos (AS) Bacteriological (BA) Disinfectants & Disinfection Byproducts (applies to systems using disinfected water) Inorganic Chemicals (IOC) Lead and Copper (lead action level = mg/l; copper action level = 1.3 mg/l) Nitrate Nitrite Pesticides/Synthetic Organic Chemicals (SOCs) Radionuclides (RA) (existing requirements) Radionuclides (RA) (new rule requirements - Effective 12/8/03) Trihalomethanes (TTHM) (Applies to systems using disinfected water and for populations <10,000 - Effective until 12/31/03) Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs) collect one initial sample, thereafter, every 9 years, unless > maximum contaminant level (MCL) monthly, from distribution (see 15A NCAC 18C Section.1534 for number of samples) (see chart entitled "Community Surface Water (& GWUDI) Systems Monitoring Requirements - Stage 1- Disinfectant and Disinfection Byproducts Rule") collect one initial sample at each entry point, thereafter, annually, unless > MCL every 6 months for first year, thereafter, collect annual samples during June-September for 2 more consecutive years (see 15A NCAC 18C.1507 for number of samples) quarterly, at each entry point Note: if result >MCL (10 mg/l), take confirmation sample within 24 hours one sample, one time at each entry point unless > 0.5 mg/l. Note: If result > MCL (1.0 mg/l), take confirmation sample within 24 hours 4 consecutive quarterly samples at each entry point initially collect 4 consecutive quarterly samples from the same location in the distribution system, thereafter, one sample every 4 years, unless > MCL 4 consecutive quarterly samples at each entry point one distribution sample per treatment plant, collected from maximum residence time (MRT) site for 4 consecutive quarters 4 consecutive quarterly samples at each entry point can apply for a waiver if not in source vulnerable county and do not have asbestos piping (see chart entitled "Community Surface Water (& GWUDI) Systems Monitoring Requirements - Stage 1- Disinfectant and Disinfection Byproducts Rule") after two 6-month samples and 2 annuals where the 90th percentile < action levels, then may be reduced to every 3 years (5) if 4 consecutive quarters < 5 mg/l, then can reduce to annually if no detection of regulated contaminants for all 4 consecutive quarters, may reduce as follows: population >3,300 may reduce to 2 consecutive quarters every 3 years; population <3,300, may reduce to 1 sample every 3 years with written state approval, may reduce to every 3, 6, or 9 years according to test results if no samples > MCL (0.10 mg/l), may reduce to one annual sample per treatment plant, to be collected from MRT site during July-September if no detection of regulated contaminants for all 4 consecutive quarters, may reduce to one sample, collected annually if result > MCL, begin quarterly monitoring if positive result, collect repeat samples within 24 hours; then collect 5 routine samples the following month (see chart entitled "Community Surface Water (& GWUDI) Systems Monitoring Requirements - Stage 1- Disinfectant and Disinfection Byproducts Rule") if result > MCL, begin quarterly monitoring if 90th percentile > action level of either contaminant, increase to every 6 months from reduced monitoring if: annual result > 5 mg/l, return to quarterly monitoring if result is > 0.5 mg/l, begin quarterly monitoring if result > MCL, or if regulated contaminant is detected, begin quarterly monitoring (quarterly analyses must include all contaminants identified by the analysis method used for the detected contaminant) from initial or routine monitoring if: result > MCL, then begin quarterly monitoring from reduced monitoring if: result > MCL, then begin quarterly monitoring from reduced monitoring if: any sample > MCL, increase to 1 distribution sample per treatment plant, per quarter, collected from MRT site if result > MCL, or if regulated contaminant is detected, begin quarterly monitoring (quarterly analyses must include all VOCs listed on the state's laboratory form) (1) Surface Water Treatment Rule monitoring requirements (measurement of turbidity, residual disinfectant concentration, etc. & CT calculation) must also be met. (See 15A NCAC 18C Sections ). (Groundwater under the direct influence (GWUDI) of surface water systems must meet the monitoring requirements of surface water systems, including those for the Surface Water Treatment Rule.) (2) Compliance monitoring for all contaminant groups should be performed the same quarter as system start-up except for bacteriological, which should be performed within 30 days of system start-up. (3) A request must be submitted to the state, in writing, in order to get approval for reduced monitoring. (4) If a system is required to increase to monthly or quarterly monitoring, the follow-up samples must be collected the next month or quarter. (5) For lead & copper, if the 90th percentile of lead result is < 0.05 mg/l and copper result is < mg/l, the system can apply for reduced monitoring to every three years after the first year. 3/2003