Idaho Admin. Code r. 58.01.08.003

Current through September 2, 2024

Section 58.01.08.003 - DEFINITIONS

The definitions set forth in 40 CFR 141.2 are incorporated by reference, The terms "board," "director," "department," and "person" have the meaning provided in Section 39-103, Idaho Code. The term "watersheds" has the meaning provided in Section 39-3602, Idaho Code. The terms "distribution system," "license," "responsible charge," and "responsible charge operator" have the meaning provided in Section 54-2403, Idaho Code. The term "public utility" has the meaning provided in Section 61-129, Idaho Code. The term "pesticide" has the meaning provided in Section 22-3401, Idaho Code.

01.Aquifer. A geological formation of permeable saturated material, such as rock, sand, gravel, etc., capable of yielding an economic quantity of water to wells and springs.

02.Backflow. The reverse from normal flow direction in a plumbing system or water system caused by back pressure or back siphonage.

03.Capacity. The capabilities required of a public drinking water system (PWS) in order to achieve and maintain compliance with these rules and the requirements of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). It is divided into three (3) main elements:

a. Technical capacity means the PWS has the physical infrastructure to consistently meet drinking water quality standards and treatment requirements and is able to meet the requirements of routine and emergency operations. It further means the ability of PWS personnel to adequately operate and maintain the PWS and to otherwise implement technical knowledge. Training of operator(s) is required, as appropriate, for the system size and complexity.

b. Financial capacity means the financial resources of the PWS, including an appropriate budget; rate structure; cash reserves sufficient for current operation and maintenance, future needs and emergency situations; and adequate fiscal controls.

c. Managerial capacity means that the management structure of the PWS embodies the aspects of system operations, including, but not limited to;

i. Short and long range planning;

ii. Personnel management;

iii. Fiduciary responsibility;

iv. Emergency response;

v. Customer responsiveness;

vi. Source water protection;

vii. Administrative functions such as billing and consumer awareness; and

viii. Ability to meet the intent of the federal SDWA.

04.Components of Finished Water Storage. Storage is available to serve the system if the storage structure or facility is elevated sufficiently or is equipped with sufficient booster pumping capability to pressurize the system. Components of finished water storage are further defined as:

a. Dead Storage is storage that is either not available for use in the system or can provide only substandard flows and pressures.

b. Effective storage is all storage other than dead storage and is made up of the additive components described in Paragraphs c. through f. of this Subsection.

c. Operational storage supplies water when, under normal conditions, the sources are off. This component is the larger of;

i. The volume required to prevent excess pump cycling and ensure that the following volume components are full and ready for use when needed; or

ii. The volume needed to compensate for the sensitivity of the water level sensors.

d. Equalization Storage is storage of finished water in sufficient quantity to compensate for the difference between a water system's maximum pumping capacity and peak hour demand.

e. Fire Suppression Storage is the water needed to support fire flow in those systems that provide it.

f. Standby storage provides a measure of reliability or safety factor if sources fail or when unusual conditions impose higher than anticipated demands. Normally used for emergency operation, if standby power is not provided, to provide water for eight (8) hours of operation at average day demand.

05.Composite Correction Program (CCP). A systematic approach to identifying opportunities for improving the performance of water treatment and implementing changes that will capitalize on these opportunities. The CCP consists of two (2) elements:

a. Comprehensive Performance Evaluation (CPE). As defined in 40 CFR 141.2.

b. Comprehensive Technical Assistance (CTA) is the implementation phase that is carried out if the CPE results indicate improved performance potential. During the CTA phase, the PWS must identify and systematically address plant-specific factors. The CTA consists of follow-up to the CPE results, implementation of process control priority setting techniques, and maintaining long term involvement to systematically train staff and administrators.

06.Confining Layer. A nearly impermeable subsurface stratum which is located adjacent to one (1) or more aquifers and does not yield a significant quantity of water to a well.

07.Consumer. Any person served by a PWS.

08.Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). An annual report that community water systems must deliver to their customers. The reports must contain information on the quality of the water delivered by the PWS and characterize the risks (if any) from exposure to contaminants detected in the drinking water in an accurate and understandable manner.

09.Cross Connection. An actual or potential connection or piping arrangement between a drinking water system and another source that could introduce contamination into the potable water system through backflow, backsiphoning, or backpressure.

10.Dead End Main. A distribution main of any diameter and length that does not loop back into the distribution system.

11.Direct Integrity Test (DIT). A physical test applied to a microfiltration or ultrafiltration membrane unit in order to identify integrity breaches.

12.Drinking Water System. All mains, pipes, and structures through which water is obtained and distributed, including wells and well structures, intakes and cribs, pumping stations, treatment plants, reservoirs, storage tanks and appurtenances, collectively or severally, actually used or intended for use for the purpose of furnishing water for drinking or general domestic use.

13.Effective Contact Time. For the purpose of these rules, effective contact time means the time in minutes that it takes for water to move from the point of completely mixed chemical application to the point where residual concentration is measured. It is the "T" in contact time (CT) calculations and is either "demonstrated" or "calculated." It is the contact time sufficient to achieve the inactivation of target pathogens under the expected range of raw water pH and temperature variation and must be demonstrated through tracer studies or other evaluations or calculations acceptable to the Department. "Improving Clearwell Design for CT Compliance," referenced in Subsection 002.02, contains information that may be used as guidance for these calculations.

14.Equivalent Dwelling Unit (EDU). A unit of measure that standardizes all land use types (housing, retail, office, etc.) to the level of demand created by a single-family detached housing unit within a water system. The demand for one (1) equivalent dwelling unit is equivalent to the amount of water provided to the average single-family detached housing unit within a water system. For example, a business designed to use three (3) times as much water as an average single-family detached housing unit will have a demand of three (3) equivalent dwelling units.

15.Exemption. A temporary deferment of compliance with a maximum contaminant level or treatment technique requirement which may be granted only if the PWS demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Department that the PWS cannot comply due to compelling factors and the deferment does not cause an unreasonable risk to public health.

16.Facility Plan. The facility plan for a PWS describes the overall system, including sources of water, treatment processes and facilities, pumping stations and distribution piping, finished water storage, and waste disposal. It is a comprehensive planning document for infrastructure and includes a plan for the future of the system/ facility, including upgrades and additions. It is usually updated on a regular basis due to anticipated or unanticipated growth patterns, regulatory requirements, or other infrastructure needs. A facility plan is sometimes referred to as a master plan or facilities planning study. In general, a facility plan is an overall system-wide plan as opposed to a project specific plan.

17.Filtrate. As the term relates to microfiltration and ultrafiltration, the product water or the portion of the feed stream that has passed through the membrane.

18.Finished Water Storage Structures or Facilities. Finished water storage structures or facilities are defined as:

a. Above-ground storage structure or facility is a finished water storage structure or facility with a bottom elevation above normal ground surface.

b. Ground-level storage structure or facility is a finished water storage structure or facility with a bottom elevation at normal ground surface.

c. Partially buried storage structure or facility is a finished water storage structure or facility with a bottom elevation below normal ground surface and any portion of the structure or facility above normal ground surface.

d. Below-ground storage structure or facility is a finished water storage structure or facility with a bottom elevation and top elevation below normal ground surface.

19.Fire Flow Capacity. The water system capacity, in addition to maximum day demand, that is available for fire fighting purposes within the water system or distribution system pressure zone. Adequacy of the water system fire flow capacity is determined by the local fire authority or through a hydraulic analysis performed by a licensed professional engineer to establish required fire flows in accordance with the International Fire Code as adopted by the State F ire Marshal.

20.Fire Suppression Storage. The water needed to support fire flow in those systems that provide it. See also the definition of Components of Finished Water Storage in these rules.

21.Fixture Protection. The practice of installing backflow prevention assemblies or devices to isolate one (1) or more cross connections within a customer's facility.

22.Flux. The throughput of a pressure-driven membrane filtration process expressed as flow per unit of membrane area, usually in gallons per square foot per day or liters per hour per square meter.

23.Health Hazard. Any condition, operation, or practice in a PWS which creates, or has the potential to create, an acute or immediate danger to the consumer's health.

24.Indirect Integrity Monitoring. Monitoring some aspect of filtrate water quality that is indicative of the removal of particulate matter.

25.Inorganic. Generally refers to compounds that do not contain carbon and hydrogen.

26.Internal or In-Plant Isolation. The practice of installing backflow prevention assemblies to protect an area within a water customer's structure, facility, or premises from contaminating another part of the structure, facility, or premises.

27.Like-Kind Replacement. Repair or replacement of a system component that is identical in capacity, exhibits equivalent design, operational, and material parameters, and does not result in an increase in system capacity or alter existing methods or processes.

28.Log. Logarithm to the base ten (10). In the context of these rules, it is used in the determination of removal or inactivation efficiencies. It is expressed as the logarithm to the base ten (10) or "log" of the concentration of the feed or raw water minus the log of the concentration in the filtrate or product water. For example, if the incoming feed or raw water concentration is one hundred (100), and the outgoing filtrate or product water concentration is ten (10), a 10-fold reduction was attained; or 1-log removal. 1-log removal also equates to ninety percent (90%) removal, as ninety (90) of the original feed concentration counts had been removed, leaving ten (10) in the filtrate. Similarly, 2-log equates to ninety-nine percent (99%) removal.

29.Log Removal Value (LRV). LRV is a measure of filtration removal efficiency for a target organism, particulate, or surrogate expressed as Logarithm to the base ten (10).

30.Material Deviation. A change from the design plans that significantly alters the type or location of system components.

31.Material Modification. Modifications of an existing PWS that increase system capacity or alter the methods or processes employed. Increasing system capacity occurs by adding a new water source to a PWS, increasing the pumping and hydraulic capacity of the PWS, increasing potable water demand, or increasing the number of service connections. Altering methods or processes employed occurs by adding new, or altering existing, system components to satisfy increasing potable water demand, or changing engineering design intent of potable water delivery or treatment. Maintenance as outlined in the approved operation and maintenance manual, or maintenance that does not meet the criteria of a material modification described in this definition, is not a material modification. Like-kind replacement is not considered a material modification.

32.Maximum Pumping Capacity. The pumping capacity with the largest source or pump out of service.

33.Membrane Unit. A group of treatment systems or membrane modules that usually share common control and valving so that the group can be isolated for testing or cleaning.

34.Microfiltration (MF). A low-pressure membrane filtration process with pore diameter normally in the range of 0.1 to 0.5 pm.

35.Module. As the term relates to membrane filtration, it is the smallest component of a membrane unit in which a specific membrane surface area is housed. The component is typically equipped with a feedwater inlet, a filtrate outlet, and concentrate or backwash outlet structure.

36.Nanofiltration (NF). A membrane filtration process that removes dissolved constituents from water. Nanofiltration is similar to reverse osmosis but allows a higher percentage of certain ions to pass through the membrane. These systems typically operate under higher pressure than microfiltration and ultrafiltration.

37.New System. Any water system that meets, for the first time, the definition of a PWS, which includes systems that are entirely new construction or previously unregulated systems that increased either the population served or connections.

38.Non-Potable Fluids or Gases. Any fluids or gases that do not meet the definition of potable water

39.Non-Potable Mains. Pipelines that collect, deliver, or otherwise convey non-potable fluids.

40.Non-Potable Services or Lines. Pipelines that collect, deliver, or otherwise convey non-potable fluids to or from a non-potable main. These pipelines connect individual facilities to the non-potable main. This term also refers to pipelines that convey non-potable fluids from a pressurized irrigation system, reclaimed wastewater system, and other non-potable systems to individual consumers.

41.Operating Shift. Any period of time during which a licensed operator must be present, or available, for proper operation or oversight of the PWS.

42.Operational Storage. Operational storage supplies water when, under normal conditions, the sources are off. This component is the larger of the volume required to prevent excess pump cycling and ensure that the following volume components are full and ready for use when needed or the volume needed to compensate for the sensitivity of the water level sensors. See also the definition of Components of Finished Water Storage in these rules.

43.Operation and Maintenance Manual. A comprehensive document that provides procedures for the operations and maintenance of the PWS. The manual typically covers three main subjects: a water system specific operations plan (see definition of Operations Plan); maintenance information and checklists; and manufacturer's product information (including trouble shooting information, a parts list and parts order form, special tools, spare parts list, etc.). An operation and maintenance manual may cover every aspect of the water system or any part of the water system, including but not limited to the following: treatment, pump stations, storage reservoirs, distribution system, pressure reducing valve stations, etc.

44.Operations Plan. The operations plan is part of an operation and maintenance manual. Depending on which facilities of the PWS are being addressed, the operations plan may cover many types of information including but not limited to the following: daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly operating instructions; information specific to a particular type of treatment; location of valves and other key distribution system features; pertinent telephone and address contact information including the responsible charge PWS operator and PWS owner; operator safety procedures; alarm system; emergency procedures; trouble-shooting advice; water quality testing; depressurization events; customer service; and response to customer complaints.

45.Owner/Purveyor of Water/Supplier of Water. The person, company, corporation, association, or other organizational entity which holds legal title to the PWS, who provides, or intends to provide, drinking water to the customers, and who is ultimately responsible for the PWS operation.

46.Plant Design Capacity. The maximum design flow through treatment units. The minimum plant design capacity may be equal to peak hour demand but may also be equal to the maximum day demand if equalization storage is provided.

47.Plant. A physical facility where drinking water is treated or processed.

48.Point of Use (POU) Treatment System. A collection of POU treatment devices.

49.Potable Mains. Pipelines that deliver potable water to multiple service connections.

50.Potable Services. Pipelines that convey potable water from a service connection to the potable water main to individual consumers.

51.Potable Water. Water for human consumption. Also referred to as Water for Human Consumption or Drinking Water.

52.Preliminary Engineering Report (PER). A report that addresses specific portions of the PWS or facility for which material modifications are being designed. Material modifications may include, but are not limited to, significant changes to existing processes or facilities, PWS expansion, addition of treatment, or installation of other processes and facilities. This report addresses specific purpose and scope, design requirements, alternative solutions, costs, operation and maintenance requirements, and other requirements as described in Section 503. Preliminary engineering reports are generally project specific as opposed to an overall system-wide plan, such as a facility plan.

53.Premises Isolation or Containment. The practice of separating the customer's structure, facility, or premises from the purveyor's PWS by means of a backflow prevention assembly installed on the service line before any distribution takes place.

54.Protected Water Source. For the purposes of the Revised Total Coliform Rule (40 CFR Part 141, Subpart Y), a protected water source is a groundwater well that is not susceptible to contamination on the basis of well construction, hydrologic data, or contamination history.

55.Public Notice. The notification to PWS consumers of information pertaining to that PWS including information regarding water quality or compliance status of the PWS.

56.Public Drinking Water System (PWS). A system for the provision to the public of water for human consumption through pipes or, after August 5, 1998, other constructed conveyances, if such system has at least fifteen (15) service connections, regardless of the number of water sources or configuration of the distribution system, or regularly serves an average of at least twenty-five (25) individuals daily at least sixty (60) days out of the year. Such term includes: any collection, treatment, storage, and distribution facilities under the control of the operator of such system and used primarily in connection with such system; and any collection or pretreatment storage facilities not under such control which are used primarily in connection with such system. Such term does not include any "special irrigation district." A public water system is either a "community water system" or a "non-community water system" as further defined as:

a. Community water system. A PWS which serves at least fifteen (15) service connections used by year-round residents or regularly serves at least twenty-five (25) year-round residents.

b. Non-community water system. A PWS that is not a community water system. A non-community water system is either a transient non-community water system or a non-transient non-community water system.

c. Non-transient non-community water system. A PWS that is not a community water system and that regularly serves at least twenty-five (25) of the same persons over six (6) months per year.

d. Transient non-community water system. A non-community water system which does not regularly serve at least twenty-five (25) of the same persons over six (6) months per year.

57.Public Water System (PWS)/Water System/System. Means "public drinking water system."

58.Pump House. A structure containing important water system components, such as a well, hydro-pneumatic tank, booster pump, pump controls, flow meter, well discharge line, or a treatment unit. Pump houses are often called well houses in common usage, even though in modern construction these structures may not contain either a well or a pump. These terms are used interchangeably in national standards and trade publications.

59.Qualified Licensed Professional Engineer (QLPE). A professional engineer licensed by the state of Idaho; qualified by education or experience in the specific technical fields involved in these rules; and retained or employed by a city, county, quasi-municipal corporation, or regulated public utility for the purposes of plan and specification review.

60.Quasi-Municipal Corporation. A public entity, other than community government, created or authorized by the legislature to aid the state in, or to take charge of, some public or state work for the general welfare. For the purpose of these rules, this term refers to drinking water districts.

61.Raw Water. Raw water is any groundwater, spring water, or surface water utilized as source water prior to treatment for the purpose of producing potable water.

62.Redundancy. The installation of duplicate components or backup systems that are designed to maintain minimum pressure and capacity of the PWS if any component fails or is otherwise out of service for maintenance or repair.

63.Reverse Osmosis (RO). A membrane filtration process that removes dissolved constituents from water. Reverse osmosis is similar to nanofiltration but allows a lower percentage of certain ions to pass through the membrane. These systems typically operate under higher pressure than microfiltration and ultrafiltration.

64.Resolution. As the term relates to membrane treatment, it is the size of the smallest integrity breach that contributes to a response from a direct integrity test when testing low pressure membranes.

65.Reviewing Authority. For those projects requiring preconstruction approval by the Department, the Department is the reviewing authority. For those projects allowing for preconstruction approval by others, pursuant to Subsection 504.03.b., the qualified Idaho licensed professional engineer (QLPE) is also the reviewing authority.

66.Sampling Point. The location in a PWS from which a sample is drawn.

67.Sensitivity. As the term relates to membrane treatment, it is the maximum log removal value (LRV) for a specific resolution that can be reliably verified by the direct integrity test associated with a given low pressure membrane filtration system.

68.Service Connection. Each structure, facility, or premises which is connected to a PWS water source, and which is or may be used for domestic purposes.

69.Sewage. Water-carried human wastes from residences, buildings, and industrial establishments and other places, together with groundwater infiltration and surface water as may be present.

70.Significant Deficiency. Any defect in a PWS's design, operation, maintenance, or administration, as well as any failure or malfunction of any system component, that the Department or its agent determines to cause, or have potential to cause, the introduction of contamination into the water delivered to consumers.

71.Simple Water Main Extension. New or replacement water main(s) that require plan and specification review by a qualified licensed professional engineer (QLPE) or by the Department per these rules and that is connected to existing water main facilities and does not require the addition of system components designed to control quantity or pressure, including, but not limited to, booster stations, new sources, pressure reducing valve stations, or reservoirs; and continues to provide the pressure and quantity requirements of Subsection 552.01.

72.Spring. A source of water which flows from a laterally percolating water table's intersection with the surface or from a geological fault that allows the flow of water from an artesian aquifer.

73.Standby Storage. Standby storage provides a measure of reliability or safety factor if sources fail or when unusual conditions impose higher than anticipated demands. See also the definition of Components of Finished Water Storage in these rules.

74.Substantially Modified. The Department considers a PWS to be substantially modified when, as the result of one (1) or more material modifications to the PWS, there is a combined increase of twenty-five percent (25%) in any one or combination of the following: the population served or number of service connections, the total length of transmission and distribution water mains, the total source capacity, or the peak or average water demand for the PWS. Material modifications completed after May 8, 2009, are the only modifications counted towards the twenty-five (25%) increase. Like-kind replacement of components will not be counted toward a combined increase of twenty-five percent (25%) calculation. Removal of existing system components will not be used to reduce the combined increase of twenty-five percent (25%) calculation.

75.Substitute Responsible Charge Operator. An operator of a PWS who holds a valid license at a class equal to or greater than the drinking water system classification, designated by the PWS owner to replace and to perform the duties of the responsible charge operator when the responsible charge operator is not available or accessible.

76.Surface Water System. A PWS which is supplied by one (1) or more surface water sources or groundwater sources under the direct influence of surface water. Also called subpart H systems in applicable sections of 40 CFR Part 141.

77.Treatment Facility. Any place(s) where a PWS alters the physical or chemical characteristics of the drinking water. Chlorination may be considered as a function of a distribution system.

78.Turbidity. Measure of the interference of light passage through water, or visual depth restriction from the presence of suspended matter such as clay, silt, nonliving organic particulates, plankton, and other microscopic organisms. Operationally, turbidity measurements are expressions of certain light-scattering and absorbing properties of a water sample. Turbidity is measured by the nephelometric method.

79.Ultrafiltration (UF). A low pressure membrane filtration process with pore diameter normally in the range of five thousandths to one tenth micrometer (0.005 to 0.1 pm).

80.UV Transmittance (UVT). A measure of the fraction of incident light transmitted through a material (e.g., water sample or quartz). The UVT is usually reported for a wavelength of two hundred fifty-four (254) nm and a path length of one (1) cm. It is often represented as a percentage.

81.Unregulated Contaminant. Any substance that may affect the quality of water but for which a maximum contaminant level or treatment technique has not been established.

82.Use Assessment. For the purpose of obtaining a waiver from certain monitoring requirements, a use assessment is an evaluation as to whether synthetic organic contaminants are being or have been used, manufactured, transported, stored, or disposed of in the watershed for surface water or the zone of influence for groundwater.

83.Variance. A temporary deferment of compliance with a maximum contaminant level or treatment technique requirement which may be granted only when the PWS demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Department that the raw water characteristics prevent compliance with the MCL or requirement after installation of the best available technology or treatment technique and the determent does not cause an unreasonable risk to public health.

84.Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs). VOCs are lightweight organic compounds that vaporize or evaporate easily.

85.Vulnerability Assessment. Related to monitoring waiver decisions, a determination of the risk of future contamination of a public drinking water supply.

86.Waiver.

a. Except for Sections 500 through 552, "waiver" means the Department approval of a temporary reduction in sampling requirements for a particular contaminant.

b. For purposes of Sections 500 through 552, "waiver" means the dismissal or modification of any requirement of compliance.

c. For the purposes of Section 010, "waiver" means the deferral of a fee assessment for a PWS.

87.Wastewater. Combination of liquid or water and pollutants from activities and processes occurring in dwellings, commercial buildings, industrial plants, institutions and other establishments, together with any groundwater, surface water, and storm water that may be present; liquid or water that is chemically, biologically, physically or rationally identifiable as containing blackwater, gray water or commercial or industrial pollutants; and sewage.

88.Water Demand. The volume of water requested by PWS users to satisfy their needs. Water demand can be further categorized as:

a. Average day demand is the volume of water used by a PWS on an average day based on a one (1) year period.

b. Maximum day demand is the average rate of consumption for the twenty-four (24) hour period in which total consumption is the largest for the design year.

c. Peak hour demand is the highest hourly flow, excluding fire flow, that a PWS or distribution system pressure zone is likely to experience in the design year.

89.Water Main. A pipe within a PWS which is under the control of the PWS operator and conveys water to two (2) or more service connections or conveys water to a fire hydrant. The collection of water mains within a given water supply is called the distribution system.

Idaho Admin. Code r. 58.01.08.003

Effective July 1, 2024