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TITLE 30ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
PART 1TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
CHAPTER 290PUBLIC DRINKING WATER
SUBCHAPTER FDRINKING WATER STANDARDS GOVERNING DRINKING WATER QUALITY AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS
RULE §290.111Surface Water Treatment

  (4) Analytical requirements. All monitoring required by this subsection must be conducted at a facility approved by the executive director and using methods that conform to the requirements of §290.119 of this title (relating to Analytical Procedures).

    (A) The pH analysis must be conducted using a pH meter with a minimum accuracy of plus or minus 0.1 pH units.

    (B) The temperature of the water must be measured using a thermometer or thermocouple with a minimum accuracy of plus or minus 0.5 degrees Celsius.

    (C) The free chlorine or chloramine residual (measured as total chlorine) must be measured to a minimum accuracy of plus or minus 0.1 milligrams per liter (mg/L). Color comparators may be used for distribution system samples only. When used, a color comparator must have current reagents, an unfaded and clear color comparator, a sample cell that is not discolored or stained, and must be properly stored in a cool, dark location where it is not subjected to conditions that would result in staining. The color comparator must be used in the correct range. If a sample reads at the top of the range, the sample must be diluted with chlorine-free water, then a reading taken and the resulting residual calculated.

    (D) The chlorine dioxide residual must be measured to a minimum accuracy of plus or minus 0.05 mg/L using a method that conforms to the requirements of §290.119 of this title. The DPD-glycine method using a colorimeter or spectrophotometer may be utilized only with the written permission of the executive director.

    (E) The ozone residual must be measured to a minimum accuracy of plus or minus 0.05 mg/L using the Indigo Method and using a colorimeter or spectrophotometer.

    (F) The UV dose must be measured by a calibrated sensor approved by the executive director.

(e) Filtration requirements for conventional filters. A system that uses granular media filters to treat surface water or groundwater under the direct influence of surface water must meet minimum filtration requirements before the water is supplied to any consumer.

  (1) Treatment technique requirements for combined filter effluent. Treatment plants using conventional media filtration must meet the following turbidity requirements.

    (A) The turbidity level of the combined filter effluent must never exceed 1.0 nephelometric turbidity unit (NTU).

    (B) The turbidity level of the combined filter effluent must be 0.3 NTU or less in at least 95% of the samples tested each month.

  (2) Performance criteria for individual filter effluent. The filtration techniques must ensure the public water system meets the following performance criteria.

    (A) The turbidity from each individual filter effluent should never exceed 1.0 NTU.

    (B) At a public water system that serves 10,000 people or more, the turbidity from each individual filter effluent should not exceed 0.5 NTU at four hours after the individual filter is returned to service after backwash or shutdown.

  (3) Routine turbidity monitoring requirements. A system must monitor the performance of its filtration facilities.

    (A) A system that serves fewer than 500 people and continuously monitors the turbidity level of each individual filter must measure and record the turbidity level of the combined filter effluent at least once each day that the plant is in operation.

    (B) A system that serves at least 500 people and continuously monitors the turbidity level of each individual filter must measure and record the turbidity level of the combined filter effluent at least every four hours that the system serves water to the public.

    (C) Except as provided in subparagraph (D) of this paragraph, a system must continuously monitor the filtered water turbidity at the effluent of each individual filter and record the turbidity value every 15 minutes.

    (D) A system that serves fewer than 10,000 people and monitors combined filter effluent turbidity in lieu of individual filter effluent turbidity under the provisions of §290.42(d)(11)(E)(ii) of this title (relating to Water Treatment) must:

      (i) continuously monitor the turbidity of the combined filter effluent and record the turbidity value every 15 minutes; and

      (ii) measure and record the turbidity level at the effluent of each filter at least once each day the plant is in operation.

  (4) Special investigation requirements. A system which fails to produce water with acceptable turbidity levels or if the level of removal/inactivation of pathogens is inadequate or cannot be determined, the system must investigate the cause of the problem and take appropriate corrective action. The executive director can waive these special monitoring requirements for systems that have a corrective action schedule approved by the executive director.

    (A) A public water system that fails to meet the turbidity criteria specified in paragraph (2) of this subsection must conduct additional monitoring.

      (i) Each time a filter exceeds an applicable filtered water turbidity level specified in paragraph (2) of this subsection for two consecutive 15-minute readings, the public water system must either identify the cause of the exceedance or produce a filter profile on the filter within seven days of the exceedance.

      (ii) Each time a filter exceeds the filtered turbidity level specified in paragraph (2)(A) of this subsection for two consecutive 15-minute readings on three separate occasions during any consecutive three-month period, the public water system must conduct a filter assessment on the filter within 14 days of the third exceedance.

      (iii) Each time the filtered water turbidity level for a specific filter or any combination of individual filters exceeds 2.0 NTU on two consecutive 15-minute readings during two consecutive months, the public water system must participate in a third-party comprehensive performance evaluation (CPE). If the system serves at least 10,000 people, the CPE must be conducted within 90 days of the first exceedance in the second month. If the system serves fewer than 10,000 people, the CPE must be conducted within 120 days of the first exceedance in the second month.

      (iv) A public water system that uses conventional filters may be required to participate in a special investigation conducted by the executive director if, during two consecutive months, the public water system fails to report individual filter effluent turbidity levels on a day when the combined filter effluent turbidity level exceeds 1.0 NTU.

    (B) A system that serves fewer than 10,000 people, monitors combined filter effluent turbidity in lieu of individual filter effluent turbidity, and fails to meet the turbidity criteria in paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection must conduct additional monitoring. The executive director may waive these special monitoring requirements for systems that have a corrective action schedule approved by the executive director.

      (i) Each time the combined filter effluent turbidity level exceeds 1.0 NTU for two consecutive 15-minute readings, the public water system must either identify the cause of the exceedance or complete a filter profile on the combined filter effluent within seven days of the exceedance.

      (ii) Each time the combined filter effluent turbidity level exceeds 1.0 NTU for two consecutive 15-minute readings on three separate occasions during any consecutive three-month period, the public water system must conduct a filter assessment on each filter within 14 days of the third exceedance.

      (iii) Each time the combined filter effluent turbidity level exceeds 2.0 NTU on two consecutive 15-minute readings during two consecutive months, the public water system must participate in a third-party CPE within 120 days of the first exceedance in the second month.

    (C) A public water system may be required to participate in a special investigation conducted by the executive director when documentation or lack of documentation from a public water system indicates that the pathogen removal/inactivation levels are inadequate or cannot be determined.

  (5) Analytical requirements for turbidity. All monitoring required by this subsection must be conducted by a facility approved by the executive director and using methods that conform to the requirements of §290.119 of this title. Equipment used for compliance measurements must be maintained and calibrated in accordance with §290.46(s) of this title (relating to Minimum Acceptable Operating Practices for Public Drinking Water Systems).

    (A) Turbidity must be measured with turbidimeters that use a method that conforms with the requirements as described in §290.119 of this title.

    (B) A system monitoring the performance of individual filters with on-line turbidimeters and recorders may monitor combined filter effluent turbidity levels by either continuously monitoring turbidity levels with an on-line turbidimeter or measuring the turbidity level in grab samples with a bench-top turbidimeter.

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