Current through Register Vol. 55, No. 13, March 29, 2025
(a) Public
water system facilities approved by written permit from the Department shall be
operated in a manner consistent with the terms and conditions of the permit to
achieve the level of treatment for which the facilities were
designed.
(b) For surface water or
GUDI sources, a public water supplier using filtration shall comply with the
following requirements:
(1) Water suppliers
using conventional or direct filtration shall, prior to returning a filter to
service, filter-to-waste for one full filter volume and until the filter bed
effluent turbidity is less than 0.30 NTU at the normal production flow rate.
Water suppliers may implement filter-to-waste for a period of time less than
one full filter bed volume if an alternate operating technique is properly
utilized to minimize the postbackwash turbidity spike to less than 0.15 NTU.
Alternate techniques may include extended terminal subfluidization backwash,
permitted addition of coagulant during the backwash or a post-backwash offline
filter resting period. Water suppliers implementing alternate techniques shall
keep records to document consistent and proper utilization of the
technique.
(2) A water supplier
using slow sand filtration shall, following sanding, scraping or resanding of
slow sand filters, filter-to-waste until one of the following occurs:
(i) The filter bed effluent turbidity is less
than 1.0 NTU at the normal production flow rate.
(ii) A reduction in turbidity is achieved
when the source water turbidity is less than 1.0 NTU.
(3) A water supplier using diatomaceous earth
filtration shall, following backwashing and recoating of diatomaceous earth
filters, filter-to-waste until one of the following occurs:
(i) The filter bed effluent turbidity is less
than 1.0 NTU at the normal production flow rate.
(ii) A reduction in turbidity is achieved
when the source water turbidity is less than 1.0 NTU.
(4) For a conventional or direct filtration
facility permitted prior to March 25, 1989, without filter-to-waste capability,
the Department, upon the supplier's request, may allow the supplier to utilize
other operating techniques which minimize the initial increased turbidity peak
when a filter is initially placed back into service after backwashing. The
technique, which may include filter settling periods, ramping open the effluent
valve or use of a coagulant in the backwash water, shall be justified by a
filter performance study approved by the Department.
(5) A system with filtration facilities shall
implement a filter bed evaluation program, acceptable to the Department, which
includes an evaluation of filter media, filter bed expansion, valves, surface
sweep and sampling of filter turbidities over one entire filter run. The
results of the evaluation shall be maintained on file and submitted to the
Department upon request.
(c) A public water supplier required to
install alarm or shutdown capabilities, or both, under §
109.602 (relating to acceptable
design) shall comply with the following:
(1)
Test the alarm and shutdown capabilities at least quarterly and document the
results in the plant's operational log. To avoid unnecessary disruptions in
treatment, simulated testing of shutdown capabilities is acceptable.
(2) For any failures of alarm or shutdown
equipment:
(i) Ensure the plant is adequately
staffed until the equipment is operational.
(ii) Notify the Department as soon as
possible of any failure that cannot be corrected within 24 hours.
(iii) Restore the equipment to operation
within 5 working days of the failure unless a longer period of time is approved
by the Department.
(d) Reserve sources, treatment plants or
entry points identified in §
109.718(a)(1)(ii)
(relating to comprehensive monitoring plan) may not be used without prior
written approval from the Department. Approval to use a reserve source,
treatment plant or entry point will expire upon submission of the notification
specified in §
109.701(n)(2)
(relating to reporting and recordkeeping). Department approval will be
contingent on all of the following, at a minimum:
(1) Completion of source water monitoring in
accordance with §
109.503(a)(1)(iii)(D)(I)-(XI), (XIII) and
(XV) (relating to public water system
construction permits) prior to use. The Department will consider previous
source water monitoring results for samples that were collected within the most
recent 3 years. Compliance monitoring in accordance with §
109.301(15)
(relating to general monitoring requirements) for reserve entry points shall
continue so long as the reserve source, treatment plant or entry point is in
use.
(2) Documentation that source
water monitoring specified in §
109.503(a)(1)(iii)(D)(XII) and (XIV) has
been completed.
(3) A determination
and certification by the water supplier, after reviewing monitoring data
obtained in accordance with paragraph (1) that use of the reserve source,
treatment plant or entry point will not adversely impact treatment efficacy and
that an adequate treatment strategy is in place so that the finished water will
comply with all applicable drinking water standards.
The provisions of this § 109.703 amended under section 4(a)
of the Pennsylvania Safe Drinking Water Act (35 P.S. §
721.4(a)); and section
1920-A(b) of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P.S. §
510-20(b)).
This section cited in 25 Pa. Code §
109.718 (relating to comprehensive
monitoring plan).