Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
Department 391 - RULES OF GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Chapter 391-3 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Subject 391-3-5 - RULES FOR SAFE DRINKING WATER
Rule 391-3-5-.09 - Water Treatment Facilities

Universal Citation: GA Rules and Regs r 391-3-5-.09

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through September 23, 2024

(1) Water Treatment Facility Requirements. All means and methods of treating, purifying and storing water for public water systems must be approved by the Division. The Division shall consider, but not be limited to, the following requirements when evaluating water treatment facilities for a public water system:

(a) Surface water treatment plants and ground water treatment plants must be of such design and capacity to provide for the required treatment of the raw water so that the drinking water will comply with the rules of this Chapter. In addition, surface water treatment plants and plants treating ground water under the influence of surface water must provide facilities for filtration of the raw water, and must provide, when required by the Division, flocculation and sedimentation of the raw water and continuous coagulation or application of other filter aids for optimization of filter performance.
1. Water treatment plants processing surface water sources shall include, but not be limited to, means for rapid mixing, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection. The treatment plant shall be of such construction to allow units to be taken out of service without disrupting operation and required treatment processes.

2. Based upon the quality of raw water, the quality desired in the finished water and other factors, multiple-stage treatment facilities and/or presedimentation facilities, shall be provided when required by the Division.

(b) The Division may accept new and alternate treatment means, methods and technologies, provided the following are demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Division:
1. The treatment method has been thoroughly tested in full scale comparable installations by an acceptable third party, in accordance with protocol and standards acceptable to the Division.

2. The treatment method has been thoroughly tested in a pilot plant approved by the Division, by an acceptable third party, in accordance with protocol and standards acceptable to the Division, and operated for a period that will demonstrate the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed treatment system during changes in seasonal, and climatic conditions.

3. Compliance with the treatment technique requirements of paragraph (1)(p).

(c) Water from a spring shall be disinfected and retained in a detention tank for a minimum of thirty (30) minutes unless otherwise approved by the Division; and such additional water treatment as the Division may require for the drinking water to comply with the rules of this Chapter.

(d) Chemical feed equipment shall be of such design and capacity to accurately supply, at all times, the treatment chemicals required.

(e) Chlorination equipment may be solution-feed-gas-type but must have sufficient feed capacity for the treatment of the raw water and drinking water to maintain a chlorine residual in the drinking water as required by paragraph (2) of Rule 391-3-5-.14.

(f) Gas chlorination equipment and cylinders must be housed in a separate room or facility provided for that purpose, separated from the other treatment facilities and chemicals. The following shall be required:
1. Chlorine cylinders stored or used outdoors must be protected from the direct rays of the sun by shading and additionally protected to prevent unauthorized tampering.

2. Chlorine cylinders must be secured from accidental tipping or movement.

3. A chlorine gas mask or self-contained gas mask (air pack) must be provided outside the gas chlorine room or facility or otherwise made available and be readily accessible to the operator for repairs or emergencies.

4. Forced air ventilation, placed near floor level and near the cylinders, must be provided to exhaust any leaking chlorine gas from a confined room or facility. Exhaust fumes must be directed away from the entrance to the room or facility. The fan must be activated by an outside switch or start automatically when the door is opened.

5. A small bottle of fresh ammonia solution shall be provided for testing for chlorine gas leaks.

(g) Hypochlorite feeders are not required to be placed in a separate room or facility.

(h) Other means of disinfection such as iodine, ultra-violet light, or ozone treatment may be approved by the Division.

(i) There must be sufficient space for chemical storage.

(j) Fluoridation equipment and chemicals, where used, must be placed in a separate room or facility provided for that purpose, unless otherwise approved by the Division.

(k) Each water treatment facility must have, as may be required by the Division, a laboratory and laboratory equipment to perform daily tests pertinent to the proper control of the required water treatment operations.

(l) Water sampling taps shall be placed in the water treatment facility, as may be required by the Division, for obtaining water samples to perform laboratory tests to ensure the proper functioning of the water treatment facility.

(m) A metering device to measure the flow of raw water and/or treated water is required for all surface water treatment plants and all new wells serving public water systems.

(n) Water from a well used as a source of water supply shall be disinfected unless otherwise approved by the Division and such additional water treatment as the Division may require for the drinking water to comply with the rules of this Chapter.

(o) Chemical water treatment equipment must be installed in such a manner to prevent back-siphonage or overdosing of the chemicals to the water supply.

(p) Each public water system with a surface water source or a ground water source under the direct influence of surface water must provide treatment of that source water that complies with these treatment technique requirements. The treatment technique requirements consist of installing and properly operating water treatment processes which reliably achieve:
1. At least 99.9 percent (3-log) removal and/or inactivation of Giardia lamblia cysts between a point where the raw water is not subject to recontamination by surface water runoff and a point downstream before or at the first customer; and

2. At least 99.99 percent (4-log) removal and/or inactivation of viruses between a point where the raw water is not subject to recontamination by surface water runoff and a point downstream before or at the first customer.

3. At least 99 percent (2-log) removal of Cryptosporidium between a point where the raw water is not subject to recontamination by surface water runoff and a point downstream before or at the first customer for filtered systems. This treatment technique requirement is applicable to Subpart H systems serving at least 10,000 people, beginning January 1, 2002, and to systems serving fewer than 10,000 people, beginning January 14, 2005.

(q) Effective June 29, 1993, each public water system with a surface water source or a ground water source under the direct influence of surface water source shall conduct continuous monitoring of the residual disinfectant concentration of the water entering the distribution system. The continuous online chlorine analyzer shall be calibrated in accordance with EPA Method 334.0. Systems must record the results of the residual disinfectant monitoring every fifteen (15) minutes, and record and report the lowest value each day, except if there is a failure in the continuous monitoring equipment, grab sampling every 4 hours may be conducted in lieu of continuous monitoring, but for no more than 5 working days following the failure of the equipment, and systems serving 3,300 or fewer persons may take grab samples in lieu of providing continuous monitoring on an ongoing basis at the frequencies each day prescribed below:

Population Served

Samples per day1

500 or fewer

1

501 to 1,000

2

1,001 to 2,500

3

2,501 to 3,300

4

Note: 1 The day's samples cannot be taken at the same time. The sampling intervals are subject to Division review and approval. The residual disinfectant concentration in the water entering the distribution system cannot be less than 0.2 mg/L for more than four hours. If at any time the residual disinfectant concentration falls below 0.2 mg/L in a system using grab sampling in lieu of continuous monitoring, the system must take a grab sample every 4 hours until the residual disinfectant concentration is equal to or greater than 0.2 mg/L.

1. Maintenance of the disinfectant residual in the distribution system must conform to paragraph (2) of Rule 391-3-5-.14.

2. Until March 31, 2016, the residual disinfectant concentration must be measured at least at the same points in the distribution system and at the same time as total coliforms are sampled, as specified in 40 CFR § 141.21

3. Beginning April 1, 2016, the residual disinfectant concentration must be measured at least at the same points in the distribution system and at the same time as total coliforms are sampled, as specified in Rule 391-3-5-.55(4) through (8). The Division may allow a public water system which uses both a surface water source or a ground water source under the direct influence of surface water, and a ground water source, to take disinfectant residual samples at points other than the total coliform sampling points if the Division determines that such points are more representative of treated (disinfected) water quality within the distribution system. Heterotrophic bacteria, measured as heterotrophic plate count (HPC) as specified in 40 CFR § 141.74(a)(1), may be measured in lieu of residual disinfectant concentration.

(r) Filter backwash recycling requirement: 40 CFR § 141.76 is hereby incorporated by reference. All subpart H systems that employ conventional filtration or direct filtration treatment and that recycle spent filter backwash water, thickener supernatant, or liquids from dewatering processes must meet the requirements in paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of 40 CFR § 141.76.
1. Treatment technique requirement. Any system that recycles spent filter backwash water, thickener supernatant, or liquids from dewatering processes must return these flows through the processes of a system's existing conventional or direct filtration system as defined in 40 CFR § 141.2 or at an alternate location approved by the Division by June 8, 2004. If capital improvements are required to modify the recycle location to meet this requirement, all capital improvements must be completed no later than June 8, 2006.

2. Record keeping. The system must collect and retain on file recycle flow information specified in paragraphs (d)(1) through (6) or 40 CFR § 141.76 for review and evaluation by the Division beginning June 8, 2004.

O.C.G.A. Sec. 12-5-170 et seq.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Georgia may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.