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-.26 - Unregulated Contaminants Sampling and Analytical Requirements

Universal Citation: GA Rules and Regs r 391-3-5-.26

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through September 23, 2024

(1) Contaminant Monitoring.

Monitoring of the contaminants listed below in this section shall be conducted as follows:

(a) All community and non-transient, non-community water systems shall monitor for the contaminants listed in paragraphs (e) and (f) of this section by the date specified in Table 1. Systems serving 10,000 or fewer persons are not required to monitor for the contaminants in this section after December 31, 1998.

TABLE 1 - MONITORING SCHEDULE BY SYSTEM SIZE

Population Served

Monitoring to Begin No Later Than

Over 10,000

January 1, 1993

3,300 to 10,000

January 1, 1994

Less than 3,300

January 1, 1996

(b) Surface water systems shall sample at points in the distribution system representative of each water source or at entry points to the distribution system after application of treatment. The minimum number of samples is one year of quarterly samples per water source.

(c) Ground water systems shall sample at points of entry to the distribution system representative of each well after any application of treatment. The minimum number of samples is one sample per entry point to the distribution system.

(d) The Division may require confirmation samples for positive or negative results.

(e) Group III Unregulated Volatile Organic Contaminants.

Group III Unregulated Volatile Organic Contaminants

Chloroform

Bromodichloromethane

Chlorodibromomethane

Bromoform

Dibromomethane

m-Dichlorobenzene

1,1-Dichloropropene

1,1-Dichloroethane

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane

1,3-Dichloropropane

Chloromethane

Bromomethane

1,2,3-Trichloropropane

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane

Chloroethane

2,2-Dichloropropane

o-Chlorotoluene

p-Chlorotoluene

Bromobenzene

1,3-Dichloropropene

(f) Group IV Unregulated Volatile Organic Contaminants.

Group IV Unregulated Volatile Organic Contaminants

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene

1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene

n-Propylbenzene

n-Butylbenzene

Naphthalene

Hexachlorobutadiene

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene

p-Isopropyltoluene

Isopropylbenzene

Tert-butylbenzene

Sec-butylbenzene

Fluorotrichloromethane

Dichlorofluoromethane

Bromochloromethane

(g) Instead of performing the monitoring required by this section, a community water system or non-transient non-community water system serving fewer than 150 service connections may send a letter to the Division stating that the system is available for sampling. This letter must be sent to the Division by January 1, 1994. The system shall not send such samples to the Division, unless requested to do so by the Division.

(h) All community and non-transient, non-community water systems shall repeat the monitoring required in Section 391-3-5-.26(1) no less than every five (5) years from the dates specified in Section 391-3-5-.26(1)(a).

(i) The Division may allow the public water system to composite up to five samples when monitoring for substances listed in Section 391-3-5-.26(1)(e) and (f).

(j) Analysis under this section shall only be conducted by laboratories certified by the Division in accordance with Section 391-3-5-.29.

(2) Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring.

Monitoring of the contaminants listed in paragraphs (2)(k) and (2)(l) shall be conducted as follows:

(a) Each community and non-transient, non-community water system shall take four consecutive quarterly samples at each sampling point for each contaminant listed in paragraph (2)(k) of this section and report the results to the Division. Monitoring must be completed by December 31, 1995.

(b) Each community and non-transient non-community water system shall take one sample at each sampling point for each contaminant listed in paragraph (2)(l) of this section and report the results to the Division. Monitoring must be completed by December 31, 1995.

(c) Each community and non-transient non-community water system may apply to the Division for a waiver from the requirements of paragraph (2)(a) and (b) of this section.

(d) The Division may grant a waiver for the requirement of paragraph (2)(a) of this section based on the criteria specified in Section 391-3-5-.22(3)(f). The Division may grant a waiver from the requirement of paragraph (2)(b) of this section if previous analytical results indicate contamination would not occur, provided this data was collected after January 1, 1990.

(e) Groundwater systems shall take a minimum of one sample at every entry point to the distribution system which is representative of each well after treatment (hereafter called a sampling point). Each sample must be taken at the same sampling point unless conditions make another sampling point more representative of each source or treatment plant.

(f) Surface water systems shall take a minimum of one sample at points in the distribution system that are representative of each source or at each entry point to the distribution system after treatment (hereafter called a sampling point.) Each sample must be taken at the same sampling point unless conditions make another sampling point more representative of each source or treatment plant. [Note: For purposes of this paragraph, surface water systems include systems with a combination of surface and ground sources.]

(g) If the system draws water from more than one source and the sources are combined before distribution, the system must sample at an entry point to the distribution system during periods of normal operating conditions (i.e., when water representative of all sources is being used).

(h) The Division may require a confirmation sample for positive or negative results.

(i) The Division may reduce the total number of samples a system must analyze by allowing the use of compositing. Composite samples from a maximum of five sampling points are allowed. Compositing of samples must be done in the laboratory and the composite sample must be analyzed within 14 days of collection. If the population served by the system is greater than 3,300 persons, then compositing may only be permitted by the Division at sampling points within a single system. In systems serving fewer than or equal to 3,300 persons, the Division may permit compositing among different systems provided the 5-sample limit is maintained.

(j) Instead of performing the monitoring required by this section, a community water system or non-transient non-community water system serving fewer than 150 service connections may send a letter to the Division stating that the system is available for sampling. This letter must be sent to the Division by January 1, 1994. The system shall not send such samples to the Division, unless requested to do so by the Division.

(k) Listed below are the unregulated organic contaminants. The analytical method shall be in accordance with 40 CFR, Part 141.40 .

Unregulated Organic Contaminants

Aldrin

Butachlor

Carbaryl

Dicamba

Dieldrin

3-Hydroxycarbofuran

Methomyl

Metolachlor

Metribuzin

Propachlor

(l) Listed below are the unregulated inorganic contaminants. The analytical method shall be in accordance with 40 CFR, Part 141.40 :

(m)

Unregulated Inorganic Contaminants

Sulfate

(n) Analysis under this section shall only be conducted by laboratories certified by the Division.

(3) Special Monitoring for Sodium.

(a) Suppliers of water for community public water systems shall collect and analyze one sample per plant at the entry point of the distribution system for the determination of sodium concentration levels; samples must be collected and analyzed annually for systems utilizing surface water sources in whole or in part, and at least every three years for systems utilizing solely ground water sources. The minimum number of samples required to be taken by the system shall be based on the number of treatment plants used by the system, except that multiple wells drawing raw water from a single aquifer may, with the Division approval, be considered one treatment plant for determining the minimum number of samples. The supplier of water may be required by the Division to collect and analyze water samples for sodium more frequently in locations where the sodium content is variable.

(b) The supplier of water shall report to the Division the results of the analyses for sodium within the first 10 days of the month following the month in which the sample results were received or within the first 10 days following the end of the required monitoring period as stipulated by the Division, whichever of these is first, unless such analysis is performed by the Division. If more than annual sampling is required the supplier shall report the average sodium concentration within 10 days of the month following the month in which the analytical results of the last sample used for the annual average was received.

(c) The supplier of water shall notify appropriate local and state public health officials of the sodium levels by written notice by direct mail within three months. A copy of each notice required to be provided by this paragraph shall be sent to the Division within 10 days of its issuance. The supplier of water is not required to notify appropriate local and state public health officials of the sodium levels where the Division provides such notices in lieu of the supplier.

(d) Analyses for sodium shall be performed in accordance with the Federal Regulations 40 CFR, Part 141.41(d) procedures.

(e) Initial analyses for sodium for new community public water systems shall be completed within one year from the effective date of the permit to operate.

(4) Special Monitoring for Corrosivity Characteristics.

(a) Suppliers of water for community public water systems when required by the Division shall collect samples from a representative entry point to the water distribution system for the purpose of analysis to determine the corrosivity characteristics of the water.
1. The supplier shall collect two samples per plant for analysis for each plant using surface water sources wholly or in part or more if required by the Division one during mid-winter and one during midsummer. The supplier of the water shall collect one sample per plant for analysis for each plant using ground water sources or more if required by the Division. The minimum number of samples required to be taken by the system shall be based on the number of treatment plants used by the system, except that multiple wells drawing raw water from a single aquifer may, with the Division approval, be considered one treatment plant for determining the minimum number of samples.

2. Determination of the corrosivity characteristics of the water shall include measurement of pH, calcium, hardness, alkalinity, temperature, total dissolved solids (total filterable residue), and calculation of the Langelier Index in accordance with subparagraph (c) below. The determination of corrosivity characteristics shall only include one round of sampling (two samples per plant for surface water and one sample per plant for ground water sources). However, the Division has the discretion to require monitoring for additional parameters which may indicate corrosivity characteristics, such as sulfates and chlorides. In certain cases, the Aggressive Index, as described in subparagraph (c), can be used instead of the Langelier Index; the supplier shall request in writing to the Division and the Division will make this determination.

(b) The supplier of water shall report to the Division the results of the analyses for the corrosivity characteristics within the first 10 days of the month following the month in which the sample results were received, unless the analysis is conducted by the Division. If more frequent sampling is required by the Division, the supplier can accumulate the data and shall report each value within 10 days of the month following the month in which the analytical results of the last sample was received.

(c) Analyses conducted to determine the corrosivity of the water shall be made in accordance with 40 CFR Part 141.42(c).

(d) When required by the Division, the supplier of water for community and non-transient, non-community public water systems shall implement a corrosion control program satisfactory to the Division to insure that the drinking water is not unduly corrosive.

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.