Ala. Admin. Code r. 335-7-2-.06

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 335-7-2-.06 - Turbidity Standards And Monitoring Requirements

(1) Public water systems must meet the following levels for turbidity:

(a) Water systems using surface sources or groundwater sources under the direct influence of a surface water source must provide a filtration process to produce a filtered water turbidity no greater than 0.3 turbidity units (NTU) in 95% of filtered water samples analyzed each month and at no time exceeds 1.0 NTU. Should a turbidity treatment technique violation occur, public notification is required and the Department must be notified within 24 hours. If the Department is not notified within 24 hours, an acute violation occurs and the system must provide public notification within 24 hours.

(b) All other groundwater sources must produce treated water which at no time exceeds 5.0 NTU.

(c) Any system failing to meet these standards violates treatment technique requirements and shall provide public notification using appropriate language from Appendix C within 30 days.

(2) Turbidity monitoring and recording requirements for surface sources and ground water under the influence of surface water:

(a) Samples of the raw water shall be collected at least every other hour the plant is in operation and analyzed for turbidity. Samples from each clarification unit shall be collected and analyzed for turbidity every four hours the plant is in operation. Filtered water shall be analyzed for turbidity every 15 minutes from each filter that is in operation and the result recorded and maintained for 5 years. Each filter in service must be equipped with a continuous turbidity monitoring and recording analyzer. All turbidimeters must be calibrated and standardized according to standard methods and the procedure specified by the manufacturer and in accordance with EPA's standard methods. Results from the continuous turbidity monitoring analyzer may be used to demonstrate compliance with these standards if records are maintained at the plant that confirm proper calibration of this instrument in accordance with manufactures recommendation and which show that the accuracy of continuous turbidity monitoring analyzers is verified weekly and bench turbidimeters is verified daily.

(b) If there is a failure in the continuous turbidity monitoring equipment, a grab sample must be collected every two hours in lieu of continuous monitoring, but for no more than five working days following the failure of the equipment. Systems must notify the Department within 48 hours of any failure in the continuous turbidity monitoring equipment that lasts for more than eight hours.

(c) Turbidity results must be logged on a daily operation report and the highest value determined during that operating day recorded on the monthly operation data report. Should any filtered water turbidity values exceed 0.3 NTU, the site shall be resampled within 15 minutes and if this repeat sample also exceeds 0.3 NTU, the Department shall be notified of the filter numbers, values, date and time within 24 hours of the occurrence. A filter self-assessment must be conducted within 14 days and a report submitted to the Department on any filter where the filtered water turbidity exceeds 0.5 NTU at any time unless it can be demonstrated to the Department the exceedance is due to other than ineffective treatment and filter performance. The minimum requirements for the filter self-assessment report are: an assessment of filter performance, a filter profile, identification and prioritization of factors limiting filter performance and an assessment of the applicability of corrections.

(d) If a turbidity measurement of filter effluent from any filter is greater than 0.5 NTU in two consecutive measurements taken 15 minutes apart at any time in each of two consecutive months, the system must report the filter number, the turbidity measurement, and the dates on which the exceedance occurred. In addition, the system must arrange for a comprehensive performance evaluation (CPE) to be conducted by a party approved by the Department with adequate CPE training no later than 30 days following the exceedance and have the evaluation completed and submitted to the Department no later than 90 days following the exceedance. Within 45 days following Department approval of the CPE report, the system shall submit a written report outlining corrective measures to address the performance limiting factors identified by the CPE. The submittal shall contain an implementation schedule acceptable to the Department.

(e) Operation data reports showing daily levels of turbidity shall be provided to the Department within ten days after the end of each month. The total number of monthly turbidity measurements of the filtered water, the total number of measurements of the filtered water exceeding 0.3 NTU and the percentage of the filtered water measurements exceeding 0.3 NTU shall be reported.

(3) Public water systems using only groundwater and which are required to monitor for turbidity by the Department shall analyze and record the results of at least one turbidity measurement each day the source is in operation. Continuous turbidity monitoring devices may be used and the highest value indicated each day must be listed on the operational data report.

(a) Should any turbidity result of the finished or filtered water exceed 5.0 NTU, that site shall be resampled within 60 minutes and if this result exceeds 5.0 NTU, the Department shall be notified within 24 hours. If the average of these samples exceeds 5.0 NTU, the standard is exceeded. Public notification must be made, unless the source is immediately taken out of service after the second sample.

(b) Turbidity measurements must be reported to the Department within ten days after the end of each month.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 335-7-2-.06

May 23, 1977, Repealed and Readopted: January 4, 1989; October 31, 1990; effective December 5, 1990. Amended: Filed November 28, 1995; effective January 2, 1996. Amended: Filed December 21, 1998; effective January 25, 1999. Amended: Filed May 2, 2000; effective June 6, 2000. Amended: Filed February 6, 2002; effective March 13, 2002. Amended: Filed April 25, 2003; effective May 30, 2003. Amended: Filed December 24, 2003; effective January 28, 2004. Amended: Filed November 7, 2005; effective December 12, 2005. Amended: Filed December 18, 2007; effective January 22, 2008.

Previous Rule .05 was renumber to .06 and a new .05 was adopted as per certification filed December 18, 2007; effective January 22, 2008.

Authors: Joe Alan Power, Thomas D. DeLoach, Edgar K. Hughes, Dennis D. Harrison

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 22-23-33, 22-23-49.