La. Admin. Code tit. 51 § XII-167

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

Section XII-167 - Surface Water

A. A source water protection plan enacted for continued protection of the watershed from potential sources of contamination shall be provided as determined by the state health officer. Surface water includes sources of water supply such as, but not limited to:

1. all streams;

2. tributary streams;

3. drainage basins,

4. natural and man-made ponds and lakes; and

5. artificial reservoirs or impoundments.

B. Surface Water Quantity. The quantity of water at the source shall be adequate to meet the maximum projected water demand of the service area as shown by calculations based on a 1 in 50 year drought or the extreme drought of record, and should include consideration of multiple year droughts. Requirements for minimum flows downstream of the intake shall:

1. comply with requirements of the appropriate reviewing authority/authorities;

2. provide a reasonable surplus for anticipated growth;

3. be adequate to compensate for all losses such as silting, evaporation, seepage, etc; and

4. be adequate to provide ample water for other legal users of the source.

C. Surface Water Quality. A study shall be made of the factors, both natural and man-made, which may affect water quality in the water supply stream, river, lake or reservoir and shall include, but not be limited to:

1. determining possible future uses of impoundments or reservoirs;

2. determining degree of control of watershed by owner;

3. assessing degree of hazard to the supply posed by agricultural, domestic, industrial, or recreational activities in the watershed, which may generate toxic or harmful substances detrimental to treatment processes;

4. assessing all waste discharges (point source and non-point sources) and activities that could impact the water supply. The location of each waste discharge shall be shown on a scale map;

5. obtaining samples over a sufficient period of time to assess the microbiological, physical, chemical and radiological characteristics of the water;

6. assessing the capability of the proposed treatment process to reduce contaminants to applicable standards; and

7. consideration of currents, wind and ice conditions, salt water wedges/intrusion and the effect of confluencing streams.

D. Structures. Structures shall be designed in accordance with the following requirements.

1. The design of intake structures shall provide for:

a. withdrawal of water from more than one level if quality varies with depth, as determined by the state health officer;

b. separate facilities for release of less desirable water held in storage;

c. inspection of manholes every 1000 feet for pipe sizes large enough to permit visual inspection;

d. occasional cleaning of the inlet line;

e. adequate protection against rupture by dragging anchors, ice, etc.;

f. ports located above the bottom of the stream, lake or impoundment, but at sufficient depth to be kept submerged at low water levels;

g. where shore wells are not provided, a diversion device capable of keeping large quantities of fish or debris from entering an intake structure; and

h. when buried surface water collectors are used, sufficient intake opening area must be provided to minimize inlet headloss. Particular attention should be given to the selection of backfill material in relation to the collector pipe slot size and gradation of the native material over the collector system.

2. Raw water pumping wells shall:

a. have motors and electrical controls located above grade, and protected from flooding as required by the state health officer;

b. be accessible;

c. be designed against flotation;

d. be equipped with removable or traveling screens before the pump suction well;

e. provide for introduction of chlorine or other chemicals in the raw water transmission main if necessary for quality control;

f. have intake valves and provisions for backflushing or cleaning by a mechanical device and testing for leaks, where practical;

g. have provisions for withstanding surges where necessary; and

h. be constructed in a manner to prevent intrusion of contaminants.

3. Off Stream Raw Water Storage Reservoirs. An off-stream raw water storage reservoir is a facility into which water is pumped during periods of good quality and high stream flow for future release to treatment facilities. The off-stream raw water storage reservoirs shall be constructed to assure that:

a. water quality is protected by controlling runoff into the reservoir;

b. dikes are structurally sound and protected against wave action and erosion;

c. intake structures and devices meet requirements of §167. D 1;

d. point of influent flow is separated from the point of withdrawal;

e. separate pipes are provided for influent to and effluent from the reservoir; and

f. a bypass line is provided around the reservoir to allow direct pumping to the treatment facilities.

E. Nuisance Plant or Animal. If it is determined that chemical treatment is warranted for the control of nuisance plants or animals treatment shall be in accordance with Subchapter D of Chapter 1 of this Part and shall be acceptable to the state commissioner of agriculture and the state health officer. In addition, the following requirements shall be met.

1. Chemical treatment shall be in accordance with the manufacturers label and application instructions, the Louisiana Pesticide Law (R.S. 3:3201, et seq.) and its implementing rules and regulations [see LAC Title 7 (Agriculture and Animals), Part XXIII (Pesticides) including, but not limited to, Chapter 31 (Water Protection)], LAC Title 51 (Public Health-Sanitary Code) Part XII (Water Supplies).

2. Chemical treatment shall be performed in such a manner as to prevent a USEPA (or state-equivalent) maximum contaminant level of a primary drinking water contaminant to be exceeded in finished drinking water.

3. Any analyses of finished drinking water to confirm whether or not a USEPA (or state-equivalent) maximum contaminant level of a primary drinking water contaminant has been exceeded shall only be acceptable if the water sample is collected, transported and stored in accordance with USEPA-approved methods [see 40 CFR Part 136.3, Table II] and then analyzed by a LDH - Certified Chemical Laboratory/Drinking Water.

4. In all cases involving a pesticide application for nuisance plant or animal control, when the water being treated is a source of water supply, the final determination of the safety of finished drinking water shall be made exclusively by the state health officer

a. Facility safety items, including but not limited to ventilation, operator protective equipment, eyewashes/showers, cross connection control, etc. shall be provided;

b. Solution piping and diffusers shall be installed within the intake pipe or in a suitable carrier pipe.

c. Provisions shall be made to prevent dispersal of chemical into the water environment outside the intake. Diffusers shall be located and designed to protect all intake structure components;

d. A spare solution line should be installed to provide redundancy and to facilitate the use of alternate chemicals;

e. The chemical feeder shall be interlocked with plant system controls to shut down automatically when the raw water flow stops;

f. when alternative control methods are proposed for nuisance plant and animal control, appropriate piloting or demonstration studies, satisfactory to the state health officer, may be required.

F. Impoundments and Reservoirs. Site preparation of impoundments and reservoirs shall provide where applicable:

1. removal of brush and trees to high water elevation;

2. protection from floods during construction;

3. abandonment of all wells which will be inundated, in accordance with requirements of the Department of Natural Resources, Office of Conservation, and the state health officer.

La. Admin. Code tit. 51, § XII-167

Promulgated by the Department of Health, Office of Public Health, LR 44304 (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).