N.J. Admin. Code § 7:10-11.6

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 7:10-11.6 - General requirements for source, treatment, storage and distribution components

(a) The components of a public community water system, including source, treatment, storage and distribution facilities shall be designed and constructed to meet all the demand requirements imposed on the water system and shall have the firm capacity to meet the applicable peak daily demand as defined at 7:10-11.4(a).

(b) Regulations for instrumentation are as follows:

1. Each water supply source shall be equipped with a totalizing flow meter. For water systems for which the total average flow exceeds 0.1 MGD, flow recording equipment shall be installed for all wells and pump stations.

2. Each water supply source shall be equipped with instrumentation sufficient to ensure the proper operation of the treatment plant associated with the water supply source.

3. There shall be devices and/or equipment to determine the water level elevation in each distribution storage tank.

4. Each pump shall be equipped with a discharge pressure gauge.

(c) Every water treatment plant shall be equipped, at a minimum, with analytical equipment for the determination of chlorine residual concentrations, and, if treating surface water, with equipment for the measurement of turbidity. In addition, every water treatment plant shall be equipped with analytical equipment for water quality control tests appropriate to the type of water treatment used. A laboratory located at a water treatment plant that provides only day-to-day water quality control testing need not be a certified laboratory, but the analytical methods and procedures it uses must be in accordance with Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Waste Water, 17th Edition, as amended and supplemented, incorporated herein by reference. Standard Methods is available from the American Public Health Association, 1015 Fifteenth Street, Washington, DC 20005.

(d) Upon completion of the construction of any component of a public community water system, including source, treatment, storage, and distribution mains, and before such component is placed into service, all surfaces which may come in contact with adequately protected water shall be disinfected in accordance with American Water Works Association (AWWA) standards for disinfection of facilities ANSI/AWWA-C651 through C654, as amended and supplemented, incorporated herein by reference. AWWA standards may be obtained from the American Water Works Association, 6666 West Quincy Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80235.

(e) Cross connections are prohibited as follows:

1. Cross connections are prohibited in any water treatment plant between any pipe or conduit carrying finished water and another pipe or conduit carrying wastewater, raw water, or water in any prior stage of treatment.

2. No conduit or chamber containing finished water shall have a common partition with another conduit or chamber containing waste filter wash water or water in any prior stage of treatment, unless the common partition is made completely impermeable by use of an acceptable protective membrane.

3. Sludge draw-off lines, filter backwash discharge lines, well blow-off lines, and overflows from any water treatment or treated water storage reservoir or tank shall not be connected directly into any storm drain, sanitary sewer, or water source, but shall be protected by a suitable one way air-gap-delivery connection to ensure that no backflow can occur under any condition.

4. Priming systems for pumps shall prevent the contamination of adequately protected water.

5. Sump pumps for underground pump stations shall not discharge into sanitary sewers.

(f) Regulations for treatment and disposal of water treatment plant process wastes are as follows:

1. Water treatment plant process waste, such as sludge from coagulation and sedimentation tanks and filter backwash water, shall ordinarily be treated before being discharged into any waters of this State. The degree of treatment shall be contingent upon the character of the waste and its effect upon the receiving waters. The discharge of process waste is prohibited except in accordance with the requirements of a New Jersey Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NJPDES) permit issued pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:14A.

2. When the water treatment plant process waste is required to be treated on site, the minimum treatment of water treatment plant process waste shall be by plain sedimentation in a minimum of two lagoons, and shall be provided with a minimum total combined capacity equivalent to 24 hours of wastewater flow.

3. Water treatment plant process waste shall not be discharged to a sanitary sewer system except in accordance with the New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System rules, N.J.A.C. 7:14A, and with written approval from the appropriate sewerage authority.

(g) Regulations for building construction, safety, and security are as follows:

1. Each water treatment plant and pump station shall be housed in a building constructed of durable and fire-resistant materials.

2. Buildings shall be constructed so that surface water will not enter or lie against the building. Normally, the ground floor shall be at least six inches above the surrounding ground. Buildings shall be protected against flooding by locating them above the 100 year flood plain or providing waterproof doors or covers for all openings below that level.

3. All floors, dry wells, meter pits, interconnection chambers, piping galleries and similar structures not intended to contain water shall be self-draining without possibility of backflow. If necessary, sufficient sump pumping capacity shall be provided for the removal of water.

4. Adequate heating, lighting, ventilation and, if required, dehumidification shall be provided.

5. Buildings shall be protected against unauthorized entry and vandalism.

6. Treatment facilities in pits are prohibited.

7. Office space, a workshop, a laboratory, and storage shall be provided, as needed.

8. All surface water treatment plants shall contain drinking water and lavatory facilities for personnel.

9. A safety shower is required in locations where hazardous chemicals are handled pursuant to 7:10-11.12(e) and is recommended for all facilities where chemicals are stored or handled.

10. All facilities shall be equipped with necessary safety features, including access ladders, railings at the tanks and walkways, guards around belts and other moving parts, handrails at stairs or steps, adequate ventilation of enclosures, and such special provisions for handling of chemicals as are required pursuant to 7:10-11.12. Nonslip treads on stairs shall be provided, and the slope of the stairs shall meet New Jersey Department of Labor requirements. Warning signs shall be posted in hazardous locations. A first aid kit shall be provided.

(h) All water treatment plants, which have a capacity of 1 MGD or more and include filtration treatment, shall have readily available a complete outfit of necessary tools and accessories for the proper operation and maintenance of the facility.

(i) Auxiliary power requirements are as follows:

1. Auxiliary power shall be provided for a water supply source and/or treatment facility when such facility is a primary component of a water system and is indispensable to the effective operation of the water system.

2. Auxiliary power shall be provided for a distribution system pump station when a pump station has to pump continuously into a pressure zone without storage facilities. If needed, pump stations shall be provided with one electrical source, and one standby source either for emergency power generation or direct drive to the pumping equipment.

3. Auxiliary power equipment, when provided or required, shall be designed and have sufficient capacity so as to effectively operate all pumping and water treatment processes in the event of failure of the primary power source for the water system.

(j) Materials and equipment used to construct a public community water system shall meet the following requirements:

1. Material and/or equipment shall not contribute contaminants to the drinking water nor impart any taste and odor to the drinking water.

2. Coating materials that are in contact with adequately protected water shall comply with ANSI/NSF Standard 61, as amended and supplemented, incorporated herein by reference. ANSI/NSF standard 61 may be obtained as provided at 7:10-8.2(a).

3. The use of lead in any component of a water system shall meet the following standards:

i. The lead content of solder and flux shall not exceed 0.2 percent by weight;

ii. The lead content of pipes, fittings and any other metallic component shall not exceed eight percent by weight;

iii. Lead packers shall not be used for well construction; and

iv. Lead packers may be used in the repair of cast iron pipe joints.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:10-11.6