Code of Colorado Regulations
1000 - Department of Public Health and Environment
1002 - Water Quality Control Commission (1002 Series)
5 CCR 1002-11 - REGULATION NO. 11 - COLORADO PRIMARY DRINKING WATER REGULATIONS
Section 5 CCR 1002-11.3 - DEFINITIONS, ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

(1) "4-LOG TREATMENT OF VIRUSES" means 99.99 percent inactivation and/or removal of viruses.

(2) "ACT" means the federal Public Health Service Act, as amended by the Safe Drinking Water Act, Public Law 93-523.

(3) "AVERAGE RESIDENCE TIME" means a point in the distribution system where treated water has been in the system for approximately half of its longest or maximum time in the system, as measured by water transport time. Sample locations between 25 and 75 percent of the maximum are considered to be representative of average residence time, provided that in total, the average of the selected locations approximate 50 percent of the maximum residence time and take into account population densities and their locations.

(4) "BACKFLOW CONTAMINATION EVENT" means backflow into a public water system from an uncontrolled cross connection such that the water quality no longer meets the Colorado Primary Drinking Water Regulations or presents an immediate health and/or safety risk to the public.

(5) "BAG FILTERS" means pressure-driven separation devices that remove particulate matter larger than 1 micrometer using an engineered porous filtration media. They are typically constructed of a non-rigid, fabric filtration media housed in a pressure vessel in which the direction of flow is from the inside of the bag to the outside.

(6) "BEST AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY" or "BAT" means the best technology, treatment techniques, or other means that the EPA Administrator finds available, considering cost and after examination for efficacy under field conditions and not solely under laboratory conditions.

(7) "CARTRIDGE FILTERS" means pressure-driven separation devices that remove particulate matter larger than 1 micrometer using an engineered porous filtration media. They are typically constructed as rigid or semi-rigid, self-supporting filter elements housed in pressure vessels in which flow is from the outside of the cartridge to the inside.

(8) "CERTIFIED LABORATORY" means a laboratory certified by the State of Colorado for analysis of drinking water.

(9) "COAGULATION" means a process using coagulant chemicals and mixing by which colloidal and suspended materials are destabilized and agglomerated into flocs.

(10) "COMBINED DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM" means an interconnected distribution system consisting of the distribution systems of wholesale systems and of the consecutive systems that receive finished water.

(11) "COMMUNITY WATER SYSTEM" means a public water system that supplies at least 15 service connections used by year-round residents or that regularly supplies at least 25 year-round residents.

(12) "COMPLIANCE CYCLE" means the nine-year calendar year cycle during which the supplier must monitor. Each compliance cycle consists of three three-year compliance periods.

(13) "COMPLIANCE PERIOD" means a three-year calendar year period within a compliance cycle.

(14) "CONSECUTIVE SYSTEM" means a public water system that receives some or all of its finished water from one or more wholesale systems. Delivery may be through a direct connection or through the distribution system of one or more consecutive systems.

(15) "CONSTRUCTION" means the erection, building, modification, reconstruction, improvement or expansion of waterworks.

(16) "CONTAMINANT" means any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter in water.

(17) "CONSUMER" means any person that has the opportunity to consume finished water from a public water system.

(18) "CONVENTIONAL FILTRATION TREATMENT" means a series of processes including coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation (or equivalent form of clarification), and granular media filtration resulting in substantial particulate removal.

(19) "CROSS CONNECTION" means any connection that could allow any water, fluid, or gas such that the water quality could present an unacceptable health and/or safety risk to the public, to flow from any pipe, plumbing fixture, or a customer's water system into a public water system's distribution system or any other part of the public water system through backflow.

(20) "CT" or "CTcalc" means the product of residual disinfectant concentration (C) in mg/L determined before or at the first customer, and the corresponding disinfectant contact time (T) in minutes (i.e., C x T).

(21) "CUSTOMER" means billing units or service connections that receive finished water.

(22) "DEPARTMENT" means the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment as created by section 25-1-102(1), Colorado Revised Statutes.

(23) "DIATOMACEOUS EARTH FILTRATION" means a process resulting in substantial particulate removal in which (1) a precoat cake of diatomaceous earth filter media is deposited on a support membrane (septum), and (2) while the water is filtered by passing through the cake on the septum, additional filter media known as body feed is continuously added to the feed water to maintain the permeability of the filter cake.

(24) "DIRECT FILTRATION" means a series of processes including coagulation and filtration but excluding sedimentation resulting in substantial particulate removal.

(25) "DISINFECTANT" means any oxidant, including but not limited to chlorine, chlorine dioxide, chloramines, ozone, and ultraviolet light, added to water in any part of the treatment or distribution process that is intended to kill or inactivate pathogenic microorganisms.

(26) "DISINFECTANT CONTACT TIME" means the time in minutes that it takes for water to move from the point of disinfectant application, or the previous point of disinfectant residual measurement, to a point before or at the point where residual disinfectant concentration (C) is measured.

(27) "DISINFECTION" means a process that inactivates pathogenic microorganisms in water by chemical oxidants, ultraviolet light, or equivalent agents.

(28) "EMERGENCY SOURCE/CONNECTION" means a water facility that is only used as the result of extreme circumstances, and is otherwise kept offline. These facilities may be either connected or disconnected from a treatment plant/distribution system.

(29) "ENFORCEMENT ORDER" means an order issued for the purpose of notifying the supplier of a public water system that it is in violation of the Colorado Primary Drinking Water Regulations or for the purpose of requiring the supplier of a public water system to cease such violations. Enforcement orders may prescribe corrective measures necessary to achieve compliance with the Colorado Primary Drinking Water Regulations.

(30) "ENTRY POINT" means a location before or at the first customer which is representative of finished water. The entry point may represent finished water from multiple treatment plants and/or multiple sources.

(31) "FILTRATION" means a process for removing particulate matter from water by passage through porous media.

(32) "FINISHED WATER" or "FINISHED DRINKING WATER" means water that is supplied to the distribution system of a public water system and intended for distribution and human consumption without further treatment, including disinfection contact time, except treatment as necessary to maintain water quality in the distribution system (e.g., booster disinfection, addition of corrosion control chemicals).

(33) "FIRST CUSTOMER" means the first potable water service connection that serves finished water. Typically, the first customer is the water treatment plant's domestic water system.

(34) "FLOCCULATION" means a process to enhance agglomeration or collection of smaller floc particles into larger, more easily settled particles through gentle stirring by hydraulic or mechanical means.

(35) "GROUNDWATER" means any water under the surface of the ground that is not surface water or groundwater under the direct influence of surface water.

(36) "GROUNDWATER SYSTEM" means a public water system that uses groundwater not under the direct influence of surface water as its sole source of water and does not include public water systems that combine all of their groundwater with surface water or groundwater under the direct influence of surface water before to treatment.

(37) "GROUNDWATER UNDER THE DIRECT INFLUENCE OF SURFACE WATER" or "GWUDI" means any water beneath the surface of the ground with:

(38) "INACTIVATION" means the use of a disinfectant (e.g., chorine, chloramines, ozone) to interrupt the ability of a pathogen to replicate therefore leaving it unable to infect.

(39) "LEAD FREE" means:

(40) "LEVEL 1 ASSESSMENT" means an evaluation conducted by the supplier to identify sanitary defects, inadequate or inappropriate distribution system coliform sampling practices, and (when possible) the cause(s) that triggered the assessment. Minimum elements must include review and identification of atypical events that could affect distributed water quality or indicate that distributed water quality was impaired, changes in distribution system maintenance and operation, including water storage, that could affect distributed water quality, source and treatment considerations that affect distributed water quality, existing water quality monitoring data, and inadequacies in sample sites, sampling protocol, and sample processing. The supplier must conduct the assessment consistent with any Department-specified directives based on the size and type of the system and the size, type, and characteristics of the distribution system.

(41) "LEVEL 2 ASSESSMENT" means an evaluation conducted by the Department or Department-approved party to identify sanitary defects, inadequate or inappropriate distribution system coliform sampling practices, and (when possible) the cause(s) that triggered the assessment. A Level 2 assessment is a more detailed examination of the system than a Level 1 assessment. A Level 2 assessment involves a comprehensive investigation and review of available information, additional internal and external resources, and other relevant practices. A Level 2 assessment must be completed by the Department or a Department-approved party. Minimum elements must include review and identification of atypical events that could affect distributed water quality or indicate that distributed water quality was impaired, changes in distribution system maintenance and operation, including water storage, that could affect distributed water quality, source and treatment considerations that affect distributed water quality, existing water quality monitoring data, and inadequacies in sample sites, sampling protocol, and sample processing. If required by the Department, the supplier must comply with any expedited schedules or additional actions in the case of an E.coli violation.

(42) "LOCATIONAL RUNNING ANNUAL AVERAGE" or "LRAA" means the average of sample results for samples collected at a particular monitoring location during the most recent four calendar quarters. If the supplier fails to complete four consecutive quarters of sampling, the LRAA is based on the available sample results from the most recent four calendar quarters.

(43) "MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVEL" or "MCL" means the maximum level of a contaminant allowed in drinking water, which is delivered to any consumer.

(44) "MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVEL GOAL" or "MCLG" means the maximum level of a contaminant in drinking water at which no known or anticipated adverse effects on human health would occur, and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Maximum contaminant level goals are non-enforceable health goals.

(45) "MAXIMUM RESIDENCE TIME" means a point in the distribution system where the treated water has been in the system for the longest or maximum time, as measured by water transport time. Sample locations between 90 and 100 percent of the maximum are considered to be representative of maximum residence time.

(46) "MAXIMUM RESIDUAL DISINFECTANT LEVEL" or "MRDL" means the level of a disinfectant added for water treatment that may not be exceeded at the consumer's tap without an unacceptable possibility of adverse effects on human health.

(47) "MAXIMUM RESIDUAL DISINFECTANT LEVEL GOAL" or "MRDLG" means the maximum level of a disinfectant added for water treatment at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the human health would occur, and which allows an adequate margin of safety. MRDLGs are non-enforceable health goals and do not reflect the benefit of the addition of the chemical for control of waterborne microbial contaminants.

(48) "MEMBRANE FILTRATION" means a pressure or vacuum driven separation process in which particulate matter larger than 1 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. This definition includes the common membrane technologies of microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis.

(49) "NEW SOURCE" means a source not previously used by the public water system or a source not previously approved by the Department.

(50) "NON-COMMUNITY WATER SYSTEM" means a public water system that is not a community water system. A non-community water system is either a "transient, non-community water system" or a "non-transient, non-community water system."

(51) "NON-TRANSIENT, NON-COMMUNITY WATER SYSTEM" means a public water system that regularly serves a population of at least 25 of the same people for at least six months per year and is not a community water system.

(52) "NON-TRANSIENT POPULATION" means the average number of people served per day during the year or normal operating period(s), who do not reside at the place supplied by the system, but have a regular opportunity to consume water produced by the system. Regular opportunity is defined as four or more hours per day, for four or more days per week, for six or more months per year.

(53) "NOTIFY" means to inform by written, verbal, or other means, unless otherwise stated.

(54) "PERSON" means an individual, corporation, company, association, partnership, municipality, or State, Federal, or tribal agency.

(55) "PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS" means the technical design drawings and specifications for waterworks. For new waterworks, this also includes technical, financial, and managerial plans.

(56) "PLANT INTAKE" or "INTAKE" means the works or structures at the head of a conduit through which water is diverted from a source (e.g., river or lake) into the treatment plant.

(57) "POINT-OF-ENTRY TREATMENT DEVICE" or "POE" means a treatment device applied to the drinking water entering a house or building for the purpose of reducing contaminants in the drinking water distributed throughout the house or building.

(58) "POPULATION SUPPLIED" means the average daily population that occurs during the busiest month of the year or normal operating period(s). Population supplied is further defined as the sum of resident, non-transient, and transient populations.

(59) "PRESEDIMENTATION" means a preliminary treatment process used to remove gravel, sand and other particulate material from the source water through settling before the water enters the primary clarification and filtration processes in a treatment plant.

(60) "PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM" or "PWS" means a system for the provision to the public of water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances, if such system has at least fifteen service connections or regularly serves an average of at least 25 individuals daily at least 60 days per year. A public water system is either a community water system or a non-community water system. Such term does not include any special irrigation district. Such term includes:

(61) "PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM THAT HAULS WATER" means a public water system that delivers, by vehicle, finished water through a non-piped conveyance such as a vehicle mounted tank or container.

(62) "RECYCLE" means the act of returning recycle flows to a plant's primary treatment process.

(63) "RECYCLE FLOWS" means any water, solid or semi-solid, generated by a plant's treatment processes, operational processes, and residual treatment processes, that is returned to the plant's primary treatment process.

(64) "RESIDENT POPULATION" means the average number of people whose primary residence is supplied by the system. The resident does not have to live at the residence for 365 days per year for it to be considered his/her primary residence.

(65) "RESIDUAL DISINFECTANT CONCENTRATION" means the concentration of disinfectant measured in mg/L in a representative sample of water.

(66) "RUNNING ANNUAL AVERAGE or "RAA" means the average of sample results for samples collected during the most recent four calendar quarters. If the supplier fails to complete four consecutive quarters of sampling, the RAA is based on the available sample results from the most recent four calendar quarters.

(67) "SANITARY DEFECT" means a defect:

(68) "SEASONAL SYSTEM" means a non-community water system that is not operated as a public water system on a year-round basis, regardless of whether the system is pressurized or de-pressurized during the off-season. All seasonal systems must complete Department-approved start-up procedures before supplying water to the public each season.

(69) "SECONDARY MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVELS or "SMCLs" means the maximum level of a contaminant allowed in water which is delivered to the consumer of a public water system. The SMCLs apply to public water systems and which, in the judgment of the EPA Administrator, are requisite to protect the public health. Contaminants added to the water under circumstances controlled by the consumer, except those resulting from corrosion of piping and plumbing caused by water quality, are excluded from this definition. The SMCLs are not enforceable, but are intended as guidelines. The SMCLs are defined in 40 CFR 143.3.

(70) "SEDIMENTATION" means a process for removal of solids before filtration by gravity or separation.

(71) "SERVICE CONNECTION" means a connection to a system that delivers water by constructed conveyance. The definition does not include connections that deliver water by a constructed conveyance other than a pipe if:

(72) "SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCY" means any situation, practice, or condition in a public water system with respect to design, operation, maintenance, or administration, that the state determines may result in or have the potential to result in production of finished drinking water that poses an unacceptable risk to health and welfare of the public served by the water system. Significant deficiencies include, but are not limited to, defects in design, operation, or maintenance, or a failure or malfunction of the sources, treatment, storage, or distribution system that the Department determines to be causing, or have potential for causing, the introduction of contamination into the water delivered to consumers.

(73) "SMALL SYSTEM COMPLIANCE TECHNOLOGY" or "SSCT" means a treatment technology that is affordable (according to the affordability criteria set forth by the EPA) by small systems and allows systems to achieve compliance with the MCL or treatment technique.

(74) "SLOW SAND FILTRATION" means a process involving passage of raw water through a bed of sand at low velocity (generally less than 0.4 meters per hour (m/h)) resulting in substantial particulate removal by physical and biological mechanisms.

(75) "SOURCE" means the point at which a public water system diverts water from its natural or man-made origin.

(76) "SOURCE WATER SAMPLE" means a sample collected before any treatment that represents influent raw source water quality.

(77) "SPECIAL IRRIGATION DISTRICT" means an irrigation district in existence before May 18, 1994 that provides primarily agricultural service through a piped water system with only incidental residential or similar use where the system or the residential or similar users of the system comply with the exclusion provisions outlined in the definition of service connections.

(78) "SPECIAL PURPOSE SAMPLE" means a total coliform sample that is not collected in accordance with 11.16. Special purpose samples include samples that are taken to determine whether disinfection practices are sufficient following pipe placement, replacement, or repair. Repeat samples collected pursuant to 11.16 are not considered special purpose samples and must be used to determine if the coliform treatment technique trigger has been exceeded. Special purpose samples will not be used to determine compliance with sampling requirements, the E. coli MCL, or in determining if a treatment technique is triggered.

(79) "SPENT FILTER BACKWASH WATER" means a stream containing particles that are dislodged from filter media when water is forced back through a filter (backwashed) to clean the filter. Spent filter backwash water contains particles including coagulants, metals, and microbes such as Cryptosporidium.

(80) "STATE" means the State of Colorado.

(81) "SUPPLIER OF WATER" or "SUPPLIER" means any person who owns or operates a public water system.

(82) "SURFACE WATER" means any water source that is open to the atmosphere and subject to surface runoff. Groundwater found to be under the direct influence of surface water is classified as surface water.

(83) "SURFACE WATER SYSTEM" means a public water system that uses, in whole or in part, surface water or groundwater under the direct influence of surface water as a source of water.

(84) "TOTAL ORGANIC CARBON" or "TOC" means a parameter measuring the total amount of carbon in water, present as organic molecules. It is used as a surrogate for disinfection byproduct precursors and as critical control point monitoring.

(85) "TRANSIENT, NON-COMMUNITY WATER SYSTEM" means a non-community water system that serves a population of at least 25 people per day for at least 60 days per year and is not a non-transient, non-community water system or a community water system.

(86) "TRANSIENT POPULATION" means the average number of individuals served per day during the year or annual operating period(s), who have an opportunity to consume water from the system, but who do not meet the definition of either resident population or non-transient population.

(87) "TREATMENT TECHNIQUE REQUIREMENT" means a requirement that specifies a treatment technique(s) for a contaminant which leads to a sufficient reduction in the level of the contaminant to comply with the requirements of the Colorado Primary Drinking Water Regulations. A treatment technique may also be a requirement that is intended to prevent situations that have the potential to have serious adverse effects on human health.

(88) "VIOLATION" means failure to comply with any requirement of the Colorado Primary Drinking Water Regulations.

(89) "VIRUS" means a virus of fecal origin, which is infectious to humans by waterborne transmission.

(90) "WATERBORNE DISEASE OUTBREAK" means the significant occurrence of acute infectious illness, epidemiologically associated with the ingestion of water from a public water system which is deficient in treatment, as determined by the appropriate local or State agency.

(91) "WATERWORKS" means the facilities that are directly involved in the production, treatment, or distribution of water for public water systems.

(92) "WATER QUALITY CONTROL COMMISSION" means the commission that has been created within the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment pursuant to section 25-8-201, Colorado Revised Statutes.

(93) "WATER VENDING AND DISPENSING MACHINES" means any device which, upon payment dispenses water into a container.

(94) "WHOLESALER" means any person who owns or operates and is legally responsible for a wholesale system.

(95) "WHOLESALE SYSTEM" means a public water system that treats source water as necessary to produce finished water and then delivers some or all of that finished water to another public water system. Delivery may be through a direct connection or through the distribution system of one or more consecutive systems.

TABLE 11.3-I ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS