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TITLE 30ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
PART 1TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
CHAPTER 290PUBLIC DRINKING WATER
SUBCHAPTER DRULES AND REGULATIONS FOR PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS
RULE §290.38Definitions

  (47) Membrane filtration--A pressure or vacuum driven separation process in which particulate matter larger than one micrometer is rejected by an engineered barrier, primarily through a size-exclusion mechanism, and which has a measurable removal efficiency of a target organism that can be verified through the application of a direct integrity test; includes the following common membrane classifications microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), and reverse osmosis (RO), as well as any "membrane cartridge filtration" (MCF) device that satisfies this definition.

  (48) Membrane LRVC-Test --The number that reflects the removal efficiency of the membrane filtration process demonstrated during challenge testing. The value is based on the entire set of log removal values (LRVs) obtained during challenge testing, with one representative LRV established per module tested.

  (49) Membrane module--The smallest component of a membrane unit in which a specific membrane surface area is housed in a device with a filtrate outlet structure.

  (50) Membrane sensitivity--The maximum log removal value that can be reliably verified by a direct integrity test.

  (51) Membrane unit--A group of membrane modules that share common valving, which allows the unit to be isolated from the rest of the system for the purpose of integrity testing or other maintenance.

  (52) Milligrams per liter (mg/L)--A measure of concentration, equivalent to and replacing parts per million in the case of dilute solutions.

  (53) Monthly reports of water works operations--The daily record of data relating to the operation of the system facilities compiled in a monthly report.

  (54) National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards--The standards of the NFPA.

  (55) NSF International--The organization and the standards, certifications, and listings developed by NSF International (formerly known as the National Sanitation Foundation) related to drinking water.

  (56) Noncommunity water system--Any public water system which is not a community system.

  (57) Nonhealth hazard--A cross-connection, potential contamination hazard, or other situation involving any substance that generally will not be a health hazard, but will constitute a nuisance, or be aesthetically objectionable, if introduced into the public water supply.

  (58) Nontransient, noncommunity water system--A public water system that is not a community water system and regularly serves at least 25 of the same persons at least six months out of the year.

  (59) Pass--In reference to a reverse osmosis or nanofiltration membrane system, stages of pressure vessels in series in which the permeate from one stage is further processed in a following stage.

  (60) Peak hourly demand--In the absence of verified historical data, peak hourly demand means 1.25 times the maximum daily demand (prorated to an hourly rate) if a public water supply meets the commission's minimum requirements for elevated storage capacity and 1.85 times the maximum daily demand (prorated to an hourly rate) if the system uses pressure tanks or fails to meet the commission's minimum elevated storage capacity requirement.

  (61) Plumbing inspector--Any person employed by a political subdivision for the purpose of inspecting plumbing work and installations in connection with health and safety laws and ordinances, who has no financial or advisory interest in any plumbing company, and who has successfully fulfilled the examinations and requirements of the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners.

  (62) Plumbing ordinance--A set of rules governing plumbing practices which is at least as stringent and comprehensive as one of the following nationally recognized codes:

    (A) the International Plumbing Code; or

    (B) the Uniform Plumbing Code.

  (63) Potable water customer service line--The sections of potable water pipe between the customer's meter and the customer's point of use.

  (64) Potable water main--A pipe or enclosed constructed conveyance operated by a public water system which is used for the transmission or distribution of drinking water to a potable water service line.

  (65) Potable water service line--The section of pipe between the potable water main and the customer's side of the water meter. In cases where no customer water meter exists, it is the section of pipe that is under the ownership and control of the public water system.

  (66) Potential contamination hazard--A condition which, by its location, piping or configuration, has a reasonable probability of being used incorrectly, through carelessness, ignorance, or negligence, to create or cause to be created a backflow condition by which contamination can be introduced into the water supply. Examples of potential contamination hazards are:

    (A) bypass arrangements;

    (B) jumper connections;

    (C) removable sections or spools; and

    (D) swivel or changeover assemblies.

  (67) Process control duties--Activities that directly affect the potability of public drinking water, including: making decisions regarding the day-to-day operations and maintenance of public water system production and distribution; maintaining system pressures; determining the adequacy of disinfection and disinfection procedures; taking routine microbiological samples; taking chlorine residuals and microbiological samples after repairs or installation of lines or appurtenances; and operating chemical feed systems, filtration, disinfection, or pressure maintenance equipment; or performing other duties approved by the executive director.

  (68) psi--Pounds per square inch.

  (69) Public drinking water program--Agency staff designated by the executive director to administer the Safe Drinking Water Act and state statutes related to the regulation of public drinking water. Any report required to be submitted in this chapter to the executive director must be submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Water Supply Division, MC 155, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087.

  (70) Public health engineering practices--Requirements in this chapter or guidelines promulgated by the executive director.

  (71) Public water system--A system for the provision to the public of water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances, which includes all uses described under the definition for drinking water. Such a system must have at least 15 service connections or serve at least 25 individuals at least 60 days out of the year. This 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. Two or more systems with each having a potential to serve less than 15 connections or less than 25 individuals but owned by the same person, firm, or corporation and located on adjacent land will be considered a public water system when the total potential service connections in the combined systems are 15 or greater or if the total number of individuals served by the combined systems total 25 or greater at least 60 days out of the year. Without excluding other meanings of the terms "individual" or "served," an individual shall be deemed to be served by a water system if he lives in, uses as his place of employment, or works in a place to which drinking water is supplied from the system.

  (72) Quality Control Release Value (QCRV)--A minimum quality standard of a non-destructive performance test established by the manufacturer for membrane module production that ensures that the module will attain the targeted log removal value demonstrated during challenge testing.

  (73) Reactor Validation Testing--A process by which a full-scale ultraviolet (UV) reactor's disinfection performance is determined relative to operating parameters that can be monitored. These parameters include flow rate, UV intensity as measured by a UV sensor and the UV lamp status.

  (74) Resolution--The size of the smallest integrity breach that contributes to a response from a direct integrity test in membranes used to treat surface water or groundwater under the direct influence of surface water.

  (75) Sanitary control easement--A legally binding document securing all land, within 150 feet of a public water supply well location, from pollution hazards. This document must fully describe the location of the well and surrounding lands and must be filed in the county records to be legally binding. For an example, see commission Form 20698.

Cont'd...

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