La. Admin. Code tit. 51 § XII-137

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section XII-137 - Laboratory Facilities

A. Each public water system shall have equipment and facilities or contracted services for the routine daily laboratory testing necessary to ensure the proper operation of the water supply system.

B. Laboratory equipment selection shall be based on:

1. the characteristics of the raw water source;

2. the complexity of the treatment process involved;

3. the contaminants or analytes for which monitoring is required or desired; and

4. the particular laboratory methodology and minimum accuracy to be performed for such contaminants or analytes.

C. Laboratory test kits which simplify procedures for making one or more tests may be acceptable.

D. An operator or chemist qualified to perform the necessary laboratory tests shall be required.

E. Other than those analytes allowed to be analyzed in a LDH-OPH Approved Chemical Laboratory/Drinking Water (see Chapter 15 of this Part), analyses conducted to determine compliance with drinking water regulations shall be performed in a LDH-OPH certified or a U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified laboratory in accordance with the requirements of this Part.

F. Persons designing and equipping laboratory facilities shall confer with the state health officer before beginning the preparation of plans or the purchase of equipment. Methods for verifying adequate quality assurances and for routine calibration of equipment shall be provided.

G. Testing Equipment. As a minimum, the following laboratory equipment shall be provided.

1. Surface water systems or groundwater under the direct influence of surface water (GWUDISW) systems shall have a nephelometric turbidimeter meeting the requirements of the approved turbidity methods in Chapter 11 of this Part.

2. Each surface water treatment plant or GWUDISW plant utilizing flocculation and sedimentation, including those which lime soften, shall have a pH meter, jar test equipment, and titration equipment for both hardness and alkalinity.

3. Each ion-exchange softening plant, and lime softening plant treating only groundwater shall have a pH meter and titration equipment for both hardness and alkalinity.

4. Each iron and/or manganese removal plant shall have test equipment capable of accurately measuring iron to a minimum of 0.1 milligrams per liter, and/or test equipment capable of accurately measuring manganese to a minimum of 0.05 milligrams per liter.

5. Public water systems which chlorinate shall have test equipment for determining both free and total chlorine residual by the applicable methods listed in Table 1 of §1105. C of this Part.

6. If a public water system adjusts its fluoride level, equipment shall be provided for measuring the quantity of fluoride in the water. Such equipment shall be subject to the approval of the state health officer.

7. Public water systems which feed poly and/or orthophosphates shall have test equipment capable of accurately measuring phosphates from 0.1 to 20 milligrams per liter or to 0.1 to 1.2 times the target dose whichever is less.

8. Public water systems that use chlorine dioxide shall have test equipment for determining both chlorine dioxide and chlorite residual by the applicable methods listed in Chapters 11 and 13 of this Part.

9. Surface water systems, GWUDISW systems, and any groundwater system required to or choosing to achieve a minimum CT value [residual disinfectant concentration ("C") times the contact time ("T") when the pipe, vessel, etc., is in operation] at or before the first customer shall have a method of measuring water temperature using a thermometer or thermocouple with a minimum accuracy of plus or minus 0.5 degrees Celsius (0.5°C).

H. Physical Facilities. Where laboratory facilities are provided each public water system shall provide:

1. sufficient bench space;

2. adequate ventilation;

3. adequate lighting;

4. storage room;

5. laboratory sink; and

6. auxiliary facilities (e.g., restroom facilities available on-site of the in-house lab for the operator, analyst, or chemist running the lab tests; special fire-proof cabinets for storing volatile reagents as may be required by the state fire marshal; special ventilation hoods as may be required by OSHA over the work area; refrigerator; Bunsen burner, stirrers; etc.);

7. air conditioning as deemed necessary.

La. Admin. Code tit. 51, § XII-137

Promulgated by the Department of Health, Office of Public Health, LR 44301 (2/1/2018), effective 8/1/2018.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 40:4.A.(8), 40:4.13.D.(1)(2) and 40:5.A.(2)(3)(5)(6)(7)(17).