South Carolina Code of Regulations
Chapter 61 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
Subchapter 61-58.16 - Ground Water Rule
Section 61-58.16.E - Ground Water Source Microbial Monitoring and Analytical Methods

Universal Citation: SC Code Regs 61-58.16.E

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 9, September 27, 2024

(1) Triggered source water monitoring.

(a) General Requirement. A ground water system must conduct triggered source water monitoring if the conditions identified in paragraphs (1)(a)(i) and either (1)(a)(ii) or 1(a)(iii) of this section exist.
(i) The system does not provide at least 4-log treatment of viruses (using inactivation, removal, or a Department-approved combination of 4-log virus inactivation and removal) before or at the first customer for each ground water source; and either

(ii) The system is notified that a sample collected under R.61-58.5.G(1) is total coliform-positive and the sample is not invalidated under R.61-58.5.G(3) until March 31, 2016, or

(iii) The system is notified that a sample collected under R.61-58.17.E through R.61-58.17.H is total coliform-positive and the sample is not invalidated under R.61-58.17.D(3) beginning April 1, 2016.

(b) Sampling Requirements. A ground water system must collect, within 24 hours of notification of the total coliform-positive sample, at least one ground water source sample from each ground water source in use at the time the total coliform-positive sample was collected under R.61-58.5.G(1) until March 31, 2016, or collected under R.61-58.17.E through R.61-58.17.H beginning April 1, 2016, except as provided in R.61-58.16.E(1)(b)(ii).
(i) The Department may extend the 24-hour time limit on a case-by-case basis if the system cannot collect the ground water source sample within 24 hours due to circumstances beyond its control. In the case of an extension, the Department must specify how much time the system has to collect the sample.

(ii) If approved by the Department, systems with more than one ground water source may meet the requirements of R.61-58.16.E(1)(b) by sampling a representative ground water source or sources. If directed by the Department, systems must submit a triggered source water monitoring plan for Department approval that identifies one or more ground water sources that are representative of each monitoring site in the system's sample siting plan under R.61-58.5.G(1) until March 31, 2016, or under R.61-58.17.D beginning April 1, 2016, and that the system intends to use for representative sampling under this paragraph.

(iii) Until, March 31, 2016, a ground water system serving 1,000 or fewer people may use a repeat sample collected from a ground water source to meet both the requirements of R.61-58.5.G(2) and to satisfy the monitoring requirements of R.61-58.16.E(1)(b) for that ground water source only if the Department approves the use of E.coli as a fecal indicator for source water monitoring under R.61-58.16.E(1). If the repeat sample collected from the ground water source is E.coli-positive, the system must comply with R.61-58.16.E(1)(c).

(iv) Beginning April 1, 2016, a ground water system serving 1,000 or fewer people may use a repeat sample collected from a ground water source to meet both the requirements of R.61-58.17 and to satisfy the monitoring requirements of R.61-58.16.E(1)(b) for that ground water source only if the Department approves the use of E. coli as a fecal indicator for source water monitoring under R.61-58.16.E(1) and approves the use of a single sample for meeting both the triggered source water monitoring requirements in R.61-58.16.E(1) and the repeat monitoring requirements in R.61-58.17.I. If the repeat sample collected from the ground water source is E. coli-positive, the system must comply with R.61-58.16.E(1)(c).

(c) Additional Requirements. If the Department does not require corrective action under R.61-58.16.F(1)(b) for a fecal indicator positive source water sample collected under R.61-58.16.E(1)(b) that is not invalidated under R.61-58.16.E(4), the system must collect five additional source water samples from the same source within 24 hours of being notified of the fecal indicator positive sample.

(d) Consecutive and wholesale systems.
(i) In addition to the other requirements of R.61-58.16.E(1), a consecutive ground water system that has a total coliform-positive sample collected under R.61-58.5.G(1) until March 31, 2016, or under R.61-58.17.E through R.61-58.17.H beginning April 1, 2016 must notify the wholesale system(s) within 24 hours of being notified of the total coliform-positive sample.

(ii) In addition to the other requirements of R.61-58.16.E(1), a wholesale ground water system must comply with R.61-58.16.E(1)(d)(ii)(A) and R.61-58.16.E(1)(d)(ii)(B).
(A) A wholesale ground water system that receives notice from a consecutive system it serves that a sample collected under R.61-58.5.G(1) until March 31, 2016, or collected under R.61-58.17.E through R.61-58.17.H beginning April 1, 2016, is total coliform-positive must, within 24 hours of being notified, collect a sample from its ground water source(s) under R.61-58.16.E(1)(b) and analyze it for a fecal indicator under R.61-58.16.E(3).

(B) If the sample collected under R.61-58.16.E(1)(d)(ii)(A) is fecal indicator positive, the wholesale ground water system must notify all consecutive systems served by that ground water source of the fecal indicator positive sample within 24 hours of being notified of the ground water source sample monitoring result and must meet the requirements of R.61-58.16.E(1)(c).

(e) Exceptions to the triggered source water monitoring requirements. A ground water system is not required to comply with the source water monitoring requirements of R.61-58.16.E(1) if either one of the following conditions exists:
(i) The Department determines, and documents in writing, that the total coliform-positive sample collected under R.61-58.5(G)(1) until March 31, 2016, or under R.61-58.17.E through R.61-58.17.H beginning April 1, 2016, is caused by a distribution system deficiency; or

(ii) The total coliform-positive sample collected under R.61-58.5(G)(1) until March 31, 2016, or under R.61-58.17.E through R.61-58.17.H beginning April 1, 2016, is collected at a location that meets Department criteria for distribution system conditions that will cause total coliform-positive samples.

(2) Assessment source water monitoring. If directed by the Department, ground water systems must conduct assessment source water monitoring that meets Department-determined requirements for such monitoring. A ground water system conducting assessment source water monitoring may use a triggered source water sample collected under R.61-58.16.E(1)(b) to meet the requirements of R.61-58.16.E(2). Department-determined assessment source water monitoring may include, but not be limited to the following:

(a) Collection of a total of 12 ground water source samples that represent each month the system provides ground water to the public.

(b) Collection of samples from each well unless the system obtains written Department approval to conduct monitoring at one or more wells within the ground water system that are representative of multiple wells used by that system and that draw water from the same hydrogeologic setting.

(c) Collection of a standard sample volume of at least 100 mL for fecal indicator analysis regardless of the fecal indicator or analytical method used.

(d) Analysis of all ground water source samples using one of the analytical methods listed in R.61-58.16.E(3) for the presence of E. coli, enterococci, or coliphage.

(e) Collection of ground water source samples at a location prior to any treatment of the ground water source unless the Department approves a sampling location after treatment.

(f) Collection of ground water source samples at the well itself unless the system's configuration does not allow for sampling at the well itself and the Department approves an alternate sampling location that is representative of the water quality of that well.

(3) Analytical methods.

(a) A ground water system subject to the source water monitoring requirements of R.61-58.16.E(1) must collect a standard sample volume of at least 100 ml for fecal indicator analysis regardless of the fecal indicator or analytical method used.

(b) A ground water system must analyze all ground water source samples collected under R.61-58.16.E(1) for E.coli, enterococci, or coliphage using EPA-approved methods listed in 40 CFR 141.402(c)(2) (Federal Register 11-8-2006 edition).

(4) Invalidation of a fecal indicator positive ground water source sample.

(a) A ground water system may obtain Department invalidation of a fecal indicator positive ground water source sample collected under R.61-58.16.E(1) only under the conditions specified as follows:
(i) The system provides the Department with written notice from the laboratory that improper sample analysis occurred.

(ii) The Department determines and documents in writing that there is substantial evidence that a fecal indicator positive ground water source sample is not related to source water quality.

(b) If the Department invalidates a fecal indicator positive ground water source sample, the ground water system must collect another source water sample under R.61-58.16.E(1) within 24 hours of being notified by the Department of its invalidation decision and have it analyzed for the same fecal indicator using the analytical methods listed in 40 CFR 141.402(c)(2) (Federal Register 11-8-2006 edition). The Department may extend the 24-hour time limit on a case-by-case basis if the system cannot collect the source water sample within 24 hours due to circumstances beyond its control. In the case of an extension, the Department will specify how much time the system has to collect the sample.

(5) Sampling location.

(a) Any ground water source sample required under R.61-58.16.E(1) must be collected at a location prior to any treatment of the groundwater source unless the Department approves a sampling location after treatment.

(b) If the system's configuration does not allow for sampling at the well itself, the system may collect a sample at a Department-approved location to meet the requirements under R.61-58.16.E(1) if the sample is representative of the water quality of that well.

(6) New sources. If directed by the Department, a ground water system that places a new ground water source into service after November 30, 2009, must conduct assessment source water monitoring under R.61-58.16.E(2). If directed by the Department, the system must begin monitoring before the ground water source is used to provide water to the public.

(7) Public notification. A ground water system with a ground water source sample collected under R.61-58.16.E(1) or (2) that is fecal indicator positive and that is not invalidated under R.61-58.16.E(4), including consecutive systems served by the ground water source, must conduct public notification under R.61-58.6.E(2).

(8) Monitoring violations. Failure to meet the requirements of R.61-58.16.E(1) through (6) is a monitoring violation and requires the ground water system to provide public notification under R.61-58.6.E(4).

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