Nebraska Administrative Code
Topic - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SYSTEM
Title 179 - PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS
Chapter 7 - SITING, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS
Section 179-7-004 - PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS - REQUIRED/NOT REQUIRED

Universal Citation: 179 NE Admin Rules and Regs ch 7 ยง 004

Current through September 17, 2024

004.01 Plans and specifications must be submitted for the following types of projects:

1. All components of new public water systems and/or interconnection between public water systems;

2. New wells, new intake structures, relining of existing wells or replacement of one type of well pump with a different type of well pump;

3. Alterations that influence the capacity of existing wells or intake structures;

4. New treatment plants, modifications to existing treatment plants, and new or modifications to existing waste residual treatment at water treatment facilities;

5. Permanent installation of chemical feed equipment;

6. Storage facilities and repair to existing storage facilities, including interior lining, painting and/or coatings;

7. Pump stations;

8. Transmission mains; and

9. Construction of new distribution mains and replacement of existing distribution mains that are not exempted by 179 NAC 7-004.02 item 3.

004.02 Plans and specifications are not required for the following activities unless required by a state or federal funding source.

1. Installation of service mains,

2. Installation of service meters,

3. Replacement of existing distribution mains with pipes of a similar size (not to exceed one nominal size and not to exceed $86,000 in project costs) and in a similar location; or

4. Minor repairs and maintenance which includes:
a. Repair of distribution or transmission mains,

b. Replacement of valves and fire hydrants,

c. Maintenance such as exterior painting, reconditioning or servicing of existing equipment,

d. Replacement of equipment such as chemical feeders, pumps or controls within 10% of the original approved capacity, and

e. Similar items with the approval of the Department.

5. For non-community systems, small water treatment units which are certified by NSF (National Sanitation Foundation), NAMA (National Automatic Merchandising Association), or other national organizations recognized by the Department and have a total capacity not to exceed 10 gpm may be installed if the Department is notified and provided with the proper certification information. The Department may require chlorination/disinfection depending on the type of water treatment unit provided.

004.03 Three-Year Review Program

The Department will not require the submission of plans and specifications for the construction of new distribution mains and replacement of existing distribution water mains (those not already exempted by 179 NAC 7-004.02 item 3) if a public water system enters into a three-year renewable review program agreement with the Department. The Department will enter into an initial three-year agreement with a system that pays the fee indicated in 179 NAC 7-005.02 and meets the following requirements. At the end of the initial three-year period, the agreement may be renewed. If at any time the system fails to meet any of the requirements, the Department may withdraw its approval.

1. The system must submit two sets of standard specifications and standard drawings sealed, signed and dated by an engineer for approval by the Director. Changes of sanitary significance to the approved standard specifications and standard drawings must be submitted to the Director for review and written approval prior to implementation.

2. The sizing of the mains and appurtenances must not cause any part of the system pressure to go below 20 psi under normal operating conditions. All distribution main projects must be designed by an engineer and must be in substantial conformance to the "Recommended Standards for Water Works," 2007 Edition, which is hereby incorporated into these regulations by reference. It is available for viewing at the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, 301 Centennial Mall South, Lincoln, NE 68509. It is available from Health Research Inc., Health Education Services Division, P.O. Box 7126, Albany, NY 12224, (518) 439-7286, http://www.hes.org. Any distribution main project with estimated or actual costs that do not exceed $86,000 do not need to be designed by an engineer, but must follow the standard specifications and standard drawings approved by the Department.

3. The Department may at any time request a system to provide a set of plans and specifications for a recently constructed water distribution main project to allow Department staff to conduct a field inspection.

4. The system must provide the Department with an annual list of all water distribution main projects that were placed in service during the previous calendar year by March 31 of each year. Those projects that deviated from the contamination separation standards in 179 NAC 7-007 must be noted.

5. In addition, the system must maintain the following records for each project and make them available to the Department on request:
a. A set of plans and specifications for each project, until replaced by record drawings which must be kept as long as the project is in service,

b. A project description indicating the purpose of the project, the proposed piping material design, operating pressure and design flows where applicable,

c. Copies of certification of project completion for each water distribution main project (by the engineer or owner, as applicable),

d. Copies of satisfactory bacteriological testing results and pressure/leakage tests, and

e. Documentation and justification for any deviation, for each project where applicable, from the contamination separation standards for water mains and fire hydrants listed in 179 NAC 7-007.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Nebraska 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.
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