Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee
Title 0400 - Environment and Conservation
Subtitle 0400-45 - Division of Water Resources
Chapter 0400-45-01 - Public Water Systems
Section 0400-45-01-.17 - OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS

Universal Citation: TN Comp Rules and Regs 0400-45-01-.17

Current through September 24, 2024

(1)

(a) All community water systems which are designated as a surface supply or groundwater under the direct influence of surface water and classified as a filtration system and all iron removal plants which use gravity filters must have an operator in attendance and responsible for the treatment process when the plant is in operation. Gravity iron removal plants and groundwater under the direct influence of surface water filtration plants which have installed continuous monitoring equipment including equipment for turbidity and chlorine residual with alarms and/or shutdown ability may seek written approval from the Department to operate the treatment plant in an automated mode without an operator in attendance. All iron removal plants with pressure filters and using a groundwater source from an approved sand and gravel formation will not be required to have an operator in attendance during all periods of operation provided suitable protection, acceptable to the Department, is provided.

(b) Non-community water systems which are classified as a surface supply will be required to have a full time operator in attendance unless certain continuous monitoring equipment is installed.

(c) Pursuant to T.C.A. § 68-221-904, all operators in direct responsible charge of a water supply system, including the treatment plant and/or distribution system, must be certified by the Department as competent to operate the water supply system.

(d) Because the proper operation and maintenance of water systems is critical to a system's ability to provide safe water to the public and to comply with these rules, all water supply systems must comply with the provisions of Chapter 0400-49-01. A violation of those rules is a violation of this rule as well.

(2)

(a) All community water systems and those non-community water systems classified as a surface source shall compile and maintain accurate daily operating records of the water works system on forms prepared and furnished by the Department. The daily operating records shall be submitted in a timely manner so they are received by the Department no later than ten days after the end of the reporting month. Any special reports, deemed necessary by the Department to assure continuous satisfactory operation of the water system, shall be submitted to the Department.

(b) Water systems which desire to use their own forms to report the daily operating results to the Department must have prior written approval of the form from the Department.

(3) All water quality tests, other than those listed in Rule 0400-45-01-.06 shall be made in accordance with the latest edition of "Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater" or alternate methods acceptable to the Department. The schedule of laboratory tests followed in controlling the operation of a waterworks system will vary with the character of the water; therefore, all waterworks systems must have the equipment necessary to perform all laboratory tests pertinent to the control of the plant or system operation, and the equipment shall be maintained in good working order at all times. Laboratory tests pertinent to proper operation shall be prescribed by the Department for each community water system.

(4) Chlorine is the recommended disinfection agent. Other agents will be considered by the Department provided they are effective and testing procedures for their effectiveness are recognized in the latest edition of "Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater". All community water systems, using ground water as a raw water source and serving more than 50 connections or 150 persons shall continuously chlorinate (unless other disinfection methods are approved) and shall maintain a free chlorine residual in all parts of the distribution system in the amount of not less than 0.2 mg/l. Public Water Systems using surface water shall continuously chlorinate and maintain a free chlorine residual of 0.2 mg/l in all parts of the distribution system. The residual disinfectant concentration specified by this rule shall not be less than 0.2 mg/l in more than 5 percent of the samples each month, for any two consecutive months the system serves water to the public. All public water systems serving 50 or fewer connections that do not disinfect shall install continuous disinfection if the system fails to comply with the maximum contaminant level for coliform, experiences a disease outbreak or is directed to install disinfection by the department.

(5) All systems submitting samples for microbiological examination to the State laboratory must submit said sample in the bottle(s) provided by the State and return the samples to the proper State laboratory in the shipping carton provided by the State. The cost of postage for shipping the sample to the proper State laboratory shall be paid by the supplier of water. All samples submitted for microbiological examination must be collected and mailed to arrive at the proper State laboratory not later than Thursday noon of any week. Thirty hours is the limit allowed from the time of collection to the time of examination at the proper state laboratory.

(6)

(a) Pursuant to T.C.A. § 68-221-711(6), the installation, allowing the installation, or maintenance of any cross-connection, auxiliary intake, or bypass is prohibited unless the source and quality of water from the auxiliary supply, the method of connection, and the use and operation of such cross-connection, auxiliary intake, or bypass has been approved by the Department. The arrangement of sewer, soil, or other drain lines or conduits carrying sewage or other wastes in such a manner that the sewage or waste may find its way into any part of the public water system is prohibited.

(b)
1. All community water systems must adopt an ordinance or policy outlining the prohibitions in subparagraph (a) of this paragraph and submit a copy of the executed ordinance or policy to the Department for written approval. All community water systems shall develop a written plan for a cross-connection control program to detect and eliminate or protect the system from hazards associated with cross-connections. The written plan must be approved by the Department.

2. After adoption and approval of the cross-connection ordinance or policy and plan, each community water system must establish an ongoing program to detect and eliminate or protect the system from hazards associated with cross-connections. Records of the cross-connection control program must be maintained by the supplier of water and shall include such items as date of inspection, person contacted, recommendations, follow-up, and testing results.

3. Cross-connection plans and policies shall present information in conformance with the "Cross-Connection Control Manual and Design Criteria for Cross-Connection Control Plans, Ordinances and Policies" as published by the Department.

4. Community water systems shall ensure that cross-connections between the distribution system and a consumer's plumbing are surveyed and/or inspected and determined not to exist or contain a significant risk or are eliminated or controlled by the installation of an approved backflow preventer commensurate with the degree of hazard.

5. Non-community water systems shall ensure that unprotected cross-connections are not allowed to exist within the water system. The non-community water system shall conduct periodic inspections of the water system and maintain a statement of inspection completion to include acknowledgement of the hazards associated with cross-connections.

(7) All community water systems shall prepare and maintain an emergency operations plan in order to safeguard the water supply and to alert the public of unsafe drinking water in the event of natural or man-made disasters. Emergency operation plans shall be consistent with guidelines established by the Department and shall be reviewed and approved in writing by the Department. Systems shall include a drought management plan as a part of the emergency operations plan. The emergency operations plan, including the drought management portion, shall be reviewed, updated, and submitted to the Department at least once every three years. The drought management plan portions of the emergency operations shall be submitted for approval as follows:

(a) Systems serving 3,000 or more connections including consecutive systems: June 30, 2016.

(b) Systems serving more than 1,000 connections and less than 3,000 connections including consecutive systems: June 30, 2017.

(c) Systems serving 1,000 connections or less: June 30, 2018.

(8)

(a) General-Public water systems, construction contractors, and engineers shall follow and document sanitary practices used in inspecting, constructing or repairing water lines, finished water storage facilities, water treatment facilities, and wells. Public water systems, construction contractors, and engineers shall follow the latest edition of the AWWA standards C-651, C-652, C-653, C-654, or equivalent methods provided the method has been approved in writing by the Department and is available during the inspection, construction, maintenance, or repair activity. In lieu of following AWWA standards or approved equivalent methods, public water systems, construction contractors, and engineers may write their own disinfection standard operating procedures. Disinfection standard operating procedures shall be approved in writing by the Department and be available during the inspection, construction, maintenance, or repair activity.

The documentation shall include disinfection procedures used, bacteriological sample results, construction logs, and repair logs and may include photographs where appropriate. All wells, pipes, tanks, filters, filter media and other materials shall be properly disinfected prior to being placed in service. Any disinfectant used to disinfect shall be NSF approved or plain household bleach and used in a manner that assures sufficient contact time and concentration to inactivate any pathogens present. Bacteriological results including line repair records indicating adequacy of disinfection shall be maintained on file by the public water system for five years. Procedures to ensure that water containing excessive concentrations of disinfectant is not supplied to the customers or discharged in such manner as to harm the environment shall be implemented.

All materials used for new or repaired water lines, storage facilities, water treatment facilities, and wells will be inspected prior to use for any evidence of gross contamination. Any contamination observed shall be removed and the materials protected during installation.

(b) Bacteriological Sampling of New Facilities-Bacteriological samples will be collected and analyzed to verify the effectiveness of the disinfection practices prior to placing new facilities in service. Bacteriological samples for finished water storage facilities, water treatment facilities, and wells shall be collected as specified by AWWA standards C-652, C-653, and C-654.

Adequacy of disinfection of new lines shall be demonstrated by collecting two sets of microbiological samples 24 hours apart or collecting a single set of microbiological samples 48 hours or longer after flushing the highly chlorinated water from the lines. In either case microbiological samples in each set will be collected at approximately 2,500-foot intervals with samples near the beginning point, the end point, and at the end of each branch line, unless written approval of alternate sampling frequency and distance between sampling points has been obtained from the Department. If the newly constructed facility yields positive bacterial samples, the line shall be flushed, and re-sampled. If subsequent samples are positive, the line shall be re-disinfected, flushed and sampled again.

(c) Bacteriological Sampling of Existing Facilities
1. Finished water storage facilities, water treatment facilities, and wells that have been compromised and potential contamination is introduced during inspection or repair shall be disinfected, flushed, and sampled as specified by AWWA standards C-652, C-653, and C-654. Bacteriological samples shall be collected from a location representing the water contained in the compromised facility. The repaired facility may be returned to service prior to obtaining bacteriological results.

2. Drinking water mains where positive pressure has not been maintained during inspection or repair shall be disinfected and flushed prior to being placed back in service. Disinfection and flushing shall be in accordance with AWWA standard C-651 or other method approved in writing by the Department. Bacteriological samples shall be collected immediately after the repair is completed and from a location representing the water contained in the repaired main. The repaired main may be returned to service prior to obtaining bacteriological results. If the repaired main has been placed back into service and yields positive bacteriological samples, the main shall be flushed and re-sampled. One sample is to be collected at the original positive site, one sample is to be collected upstream of the repair and one sample is to be collected in the downstream area of the repair. Sampling shall continue until the water is coliform free.

3. If one-half or more of the bacteriological samples collected from the repaired facility are total coliform positive, the system shall notify the Department within 30 days that it has reviewed its disinfection and sampling practices in an attempt to identify why the positive samples occurred and revise its disinfection and sampling plans accordingly.

4. If any public water system collects a fecal coliform positive repeat sample or E-coli positive repeat sample or a total coliform positive repeat sample following an initial positive fecal coliform or E-coli sample collected from the repaired facility, the system shall notify the Department within 24 hours and issue a Tier 1 public notice using the language specified in Appendix B of Rule 0400-45-01-.19.

(d) Inspectors, contractors, operators, public water systems or engineers that fail to document and follow adequate disinfection procedures, and fail to collect bacteriological samples during repairs, inspections or maintenance activities that potentially would compromise the microbial quality of the water shall issue a boil water advisory to the customers served by that portion of the public water system prior to returning the facility to service. The boil water advisory shall remain in effect until satisfactory microbial tests results and written approval from the Department are obtained.

(9) All community water systems shall be operated and maintained to provide minimum positive pressure of twenty (20) psi throughout the distribution system. No person shall install or maintain a water service connection to any premises where a booster pump has been installed unless such booster pump is equipped with a low pressure cut-off mechanism designed to cut off the booster pump when the pressure on the suction side of the pump drops to twenty (20) psi gauge.

(10) All community water systems having more than 50 service connections shall establish and maintain an adequate flushing program. The flushing program established shall help ensure that dead end and low usage mains are flushed periodically, drinking water standards are met, sediment and air removal and the free chlorine residual specified under paragraph (4) of this rule is maintained. Records of each flushing are to be maintained by the water system. These records shall include date, time, location, persons responsible and length of flushing. In addition to the above information, the free chlorine residual will have to be measured and recorded on the end of dead end mains after being flushed.

(11) All community public water systems serving more than 50 connections and which have their own source of water shall be required to install, operate and maintain duplicate disinfection equipment. Duplicate disinfection equipment means at least two chlorine cylinders connected to at least two chlorinators. Each set of chlorine cylinders consists of one or more cylinders which may be connected together by an automatic switchover valve. The two sets of chlorine cylinders may tee in to a common feed line leading to the chlorinators, but may not be connected together by an automatic switchover valve. The two sets of chlorine cylinders must be weighed independently and operated simultaneously. At least two chlorinators must be operated at all times with each feeding a part of the required dosage. The chlorinators may discharge to a common manifold piping network to allow multiple injection points. Facilities may be exempt from simultaneously operating duplicate disinfection equipment if the facility has a reliable chlorine residual analyzer with an alarm notifying a manned control center capable of immediately shutting down the treatment facility. Facilities, which are staffed during the time water is treated, can use one set of chlorine cylinders with the automatic switchover device provided the free chlorine residual is checked at the facility every two hours. A reliable free chlorine residual analyzer with an alarm system to a manned control center may be used for unmanned facilities that desire to use one set of chlorine cylinders with the automatic switchover device.

Community public water systems serving more than 50 service connections which use a hypochlorinator shall be required to have two solution pumps, two tanks for bleach solution and operate both units at the same time. Noncommunity systems and community systems serving less than 50 connections which use a hypochlorinator and show deficiencies in the disinfection process shall also be required to have duplicate disinfection units.

(12) All public water systems which utilize a filtration system shall use the following bed specifications and not exceed the following rates of filtration.

(a) Rapid Sand Filtration - 2.0 gallons per minute per square foot for turbidity removal, 3.0 gallons per minute per square foot for iron removal.

There must be 30 inches of sand media with an effective size of 0.35 mm to 0.55 mm and a uniformity coefficient not greater than 1.70

(b) High Rate Filtration - 4.0 gallons per minute per square foot for turbidity removal, 4.0 gallons per minute per square foot for iron removal.

There must be 30 inches of dual media with 10 to 12 inches of sand and 18 to 20 inches of anthracite. The sand shall have an effective size of 0.35 mm to 0.55 mm and a uniformity coefficient not greater than 1.70. The anthracite shall have an effective size of 0.8 mm to 1.2 mm with a uniformity coefficient not greater than 1.85.

(c) Existing water systems with rapid sand filters and approved for higher rates of filtration by the Department will be allowed to continue at that rate provided the drinking water standards are met. The water supplier must be able to document that the Department approved the system for the higher rate.

(d) All mixed media filter beds will be at least 30 inches in depth and approved by the Department.

(e) Filtration rates above 4.0 gallons per minute per square foot will be considered on an individual basis. The Department will take into account the raw water characteristics, the treatment units, operational history, and operating personnel.

(13) All community water systems serving 50 connections or more shall install duplicate pumps for the raw water, finished water, and distribution pumping stations. A water system will not be required to have duplicate pumps in a distribution pumping station under the following conditions: limited number of service connections, availability of replacement pumps, maintaining adequate flows and pressures without the pumping station, and for emergency use only. All community public water systems using ground water supplies and having more than 50 service connections must have duplicate wells and/or duplicate pumps in a spring supply unless fed by gravity flow.

(14) All community water systems serving 50 connections or more are required to have 24 hours of distribution storage based on the average daily demand for the past twelve months. Distribution storage must be located so that the instantaneous demand can be met in all areas at any time.

(a) Systems which purchase water for resale may utilize the storage of the supplier provided the supplier has adequate distribution storage. Water systems that have large ground storage tanks will be given credit for distribution storage provided auxiliary power is available to pump water to the distribution system.

(b) Systems which have more than three (3) treatment facilities, have more than one source of water, and which have special power arrangements so that it is unlikely that all units would be down at the same time are not required to have distribution storage provided the peak demand can be met.

(c) Water systems which have an average daily demand of 10 million gallons or more are not required to have 24 hours of distribution storage provided the system has adopted a contingency plan for emergencies that has been approved by the Department. The contingency plan must demonstrate the water system is able to provide residential service to all customers for a 24 hour period during any emergency involving the shut down of the treatment facility.

(d) Public water systems which utilize wells and provide only disinfection, pH adjustment, corrosion inhibitor and/or fluoridation as treatment, may use the capacity of the wells and the plant as part of the distribution storage under the following conditions:
1. The existing distribution storage tank(s) are adequate to meet the peak demands on the system,

2. The well(s), disinfection equipment and other pumping facilities needed to supply water to the distribution storage tank are equipped with an auxiliary power source with automatic controls, and

3. The well field capacity is determined by removing the largest well from consideration.

(e) Public water systems may take into account private distribution storage facilities in the following manner:
1. Private distribution storage may be counted as water system storage provided the private storage tank floats on the water utility's system and the water used serves both the private and utility system demand.

2. The water utility may reduce the amount of needed distribution storage by subtracting the average daily volume of any water user that has its own storage tank. This can be done provided the private storage tank is used on a daily basis.

3. Private distribution storage tanks used strictly for fire protection by the private owner cannot be in the water systems distribution storage capacity.

(15) All community water systems serving 50 or more service connections must have and maintain up-to-date maps of the distribution system. These maps must show the locations of the water mains, sizes of mains, valves, blow-offs or flush hydrants, air-release valves, and fire hydrants. One up-to-date copy of the overall system distribution map(s) is to be submitted to the Division of Water Resources every five years.

(16) All vents on wells, springs, storage tanks, overflows and clearwells shall be properly screened. All overflows on springs and tanks shall be screened and protected.

(17) All buildings and equipment used in and for the production and distribution of water (to include chemical and other storage buildings) must be well maintained and be reliable and fit for the purpose for which they are used. This includes, but is not limited to:

(a) When a water treatment plant is not producing water and an operator is not in attendance, plant entrances must be locked.

(b) Equipment such as chemical feeders, pumps, turbidimeters, pumpage meters, alarm systems, and air tanks shall be maintained and in good working condition. Pumps, tanks, hoses, and other equipment used by system personnel shall be disinfected and dedicated to its use if it comes into contact with water that may be consumed by humans.

(c) Duplicate or backup equipment shall be available as necessary to maintain the production of water meeting drinking water standards. Backup equipment or alternate treatment means shall be available for feeding all chemicals critical for adequate water treatment.

(18) All community water systems planning to or having installed hydrants must protect the distribution system from contamination. All water mains designed for fire protection must be six inches or larger and be able to provide 500 gallons per minute with 20 pounds per square inch residual pressure. Fire hydrants shall not be installed on water mains less than six inches in diameter or on water mains that cannot produce 500 gpm at 20 psi residual pressure unless the tops are painted red. Out of service hydrants shall have tops painted black or covered with a black shroud or tape.

Existing Class C hydrants (hydrants unable to deliver a flow of 500 gallons per minute at a residual pressure of 20 pounds per square inch (psi) shall have their tops painted red by January 1, 2008.

The water system must provide notification by certified mail at least once every five years beginning January 1, 2008, to each fire department that may have reason to utilize the hydrants, that fire hydrants with tops painted red (Class C hydrants) cannot be connected directly to a pumper fire truck. Fire Departments may be allowed to fill the booster tanks on any fire apparatus from an available hydrant by using the water system's available pressure only (fire pumps shall not be engaged during refill operations from a Class C hydrant).

(19) Before any new or modified community water treatment facility can be placed in service, it must be inspected and approved in writing by the Department.

(20) Each public water system adjusting the fluoride content to the finished water must monitor for fluoride quarterly using a certified laboratory and the calculation of the fluoride level will be by running annual average. If the quarterly analysis of a water sample from a public water system by a certified laboratory confirms that the level of fluoride in the sample exceeds 1.5 mg/L, the public water system must provide notification to its customers of the exceedance in the same manner as prescribed in paragraph (8) of Rule 0400-45-01-.19. The water system must begin monthly fluoride monitoring using a certified laboratory for analysis. Once the monthly analyses confirm that the fluoride level is less than 1.5 mg/L for three (3) consecutive months, the public water system may resume quarterly monitoring for fluoride.

The recommended level of fluoridation in the finished water is 0.7 mg/l. Any public water system which determines to initiate or permanently cease fluoridation treatment of its water supply shall notify its customers, the local environmental field office within the Department of Environment and Conversation, and the Commissioner of the Department of Health in the manner and within the timeframe as specified by T.C.A. § 68-221-708(c).

(21) New or modified turbidity removal facilities may not be placed into operation until the facility and the operator have been approved by the Department for the turbidity analysis.

(22) All pipe, pipe or plumbing fitting or fixture, solder, or flux which is used in the installation or repair of any public water system shall be lead free. The term "lead free" shall have the meaning given it in T.C.A. § 68-221-703.

(23) All dead end water mains and all low points in water mains shall be equipped with a blow-off or other suitable flushing mechanism capable of producing velocities adequate to flush the main.

(24) All community water systems must establish and maintain a file for customer complaints. This file shall contain the name of the person with the complaint, date, nature of complaint, date of investigation and results or actions taken to correct any problems.

(25) The Department may, upon written notice, require confirmation of any sampling results and also may require sampling and analysis for any contaminant when deemed necessary by the Department to protect the public health or welfare.

(26) Those public water systems required to monitor for turbidity and chlorine residual must have the laboratory approved by the Department before the results of these analyses can be accepted for compliance purposes.

(27) By December 30, 1991, or 18 months after the determination that a ground water system is influenced by surface water, all public water systems classified as a ground water system impacted by surface water shall utilize treatment techniques which achieve:

(a) 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.

(b) 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.

(28) All public water systems using surface water shall provide disinfection to control the biological quality of the water. Due consideration shall be given to the contact time of the disinfectant in the water with relation to pH, ammonia, taste producing substances, temperature, presence and type of pathogens, and trihalomethane formation potential. All disinfection basins must be designed to prevent water short-circuiting the system. The disinfectant will be applied in the manner needed to provide adequate contact time.

(29) All community water systems using ground water as the raw water source serving water to more than 50 connections or 150 people will apply the disinfectant in the manner needed for adequate contact time. Contact time for ground water systems shall not be less than 15 minutes prior to the first customer.

(30) Any surface supplied public water system or ground water systems under the direct influence of surface water required to filter shall employ filtration in combination with disinfection that will achieve 99.9% (3 log) and 99.99% (4 log) inactivation of Giardia lamblia and viruses respectively 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 the purposes of determining removal or inactivation efficiencies for Giardia lamblia and viruses table 0400-45-01-.17(30) 1. and 0400-45-01-.17(30) 2. shall apply. The free residual disinfectant concentration in the water entering the distribution system cannot be less than 0.2 mg/l for more than four hours.

TABLE 0400-45-01-.17(30) 1.

Assumed Log Removals by Filtration Method and Required Levels of Disinfection

Treatment

Assumed Log Removal

Required Minimum Level of Disinfection

Giardia

Viruses

Giardia

Viruses

Conventional filtration

2.5

2.0

0.5

2.0

Direct filtration

2.0

1.0

1.0

3.0

Slow Sand filtration

2.0

2.0

1.0

2.0

Diatomaceous Earth filtration

2.0

1.0

1.0

3.0

TABLE 0400-45-01-.17(30) 2.

CT Values for Achieving 1-Log Inactivation of 1

Giardia Cysts

pH

Temperature

0.5oC

5oC

10oC

15oC

Free Chlorine 2,3

6

55

39

29

19

7

79

55

41

26

8

115

81

61

41

9

167

118

88

59

Ozone

0.97

0.63

0.48

0.32

Chlorine dioxide

1270

735

615

500

1 Values to achieve 0.5 log inactivation are one half those shown in the table.

2 CT values are for 2.0 mg/l free chlorine.

3 CT values for other concentrations of free chlorine may be taken from Appendix E of the guidance manual for Compliance with the "Filtration and Disinfection Requirements For Public Water Systems Using Surface Water Sources," October, 1989, Edition, Science and Technology Branch Criteria and Standards Division, Office of Drinking Water, USEPA, Washington, D.C.

(31) Each public water system must certify annually in writing to the Department that when acrylamide and epichlorohydrin are used in drinking water systems, the combination (or product) of dose and monomer level does not exceed the levels specified as follows:

Acrylamide=0.05% dosed at 1 ppm (or equivalent) Epichlorohydrin=0.01% dosed at 20 ppm (or equivalent)

Public water systems can rely on manufacturer's or third parties' certification for complying with this requirement.

(32) New service taps on existing mains that must be uncovered to make the tap, shall be flushed and the free chlorine residual measured and recorded prior to connecting the service lines. These records shall be retained until the next sanitary survey or for three years.

(33) All public water systems shall properly maintain their distribution system finished water storage tanks and clearwells. Each community water system shall establish and maintain a maintenance file on each of its distribution storage tanks and clearwells. These maintenance files must be available for inspection by Department personnel. These files must include records of all routine water storage tank and clearwell inspections by system personnel, any reports of detailed professional inspections of the water storage facilities by contractor personnel, dates and details of routine tank cleanings and surface flushings, and dates and details of all tank and clearwell maintenance activities. The tank and clearwell inspection records shall include dates of the inspections; the sanitary, coating and structural conditions of the water storage facility; and all recommendations for needed maintenance activities. Community water systems shall have a professional inspection performed and a written report produced on each of their distribution storage tanks and clearwells at least once every five years. Non-community water systems shall have a professional inspection performed and written report produced on each of their atmospheric pressure and distribution storage tanks and clearwells no less frequently than every five years. Records of these inspections shall be available to the Department personnel for inspection. Persons conducting underwater inspections of distribution system finished water storage tanks and clearwells shall comply with AWWA standard C-652-11 or later versions of the standard.

(34) Paints and coatings for the interior of potable water storage facilities must be acceptable to the Department. Paints and coatings accepted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and/or the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) for potable water contact are generally acceptable to the Department. Paint systems for steel tanks shall be consistent with AWWA Standard D102-78. Factory coated bolted steel tanks shall be in accordance with AWWA D103-87. Wire-wound circular prestressed concrete tanks shall be in accordance with AWWA D110-86.

(35) By January 1, 1996, public water systems using surface water and ground water systems under the direct influence of surface water that filter shall have rewash capability. Such systems shall perform a rewash cycle, or filter to waste each time a filter is backwashed. The rewash cycle shall be conducted in a way and manner necessary to prevent the introduction of contaminants such as pathogens and turbidity trapped in the filter into the clear well or distribution system.

Existing filter plants may be approved to operate without rewash (filter-to-waste provisions) if existing operational and backwash practices prevent water of unacceptable quality from entering the clearwell or distribution system. To operate without rewash the water system must demonstrate to the Department that filtered water turbidity after backwashing is reliably and consistently below 0.5 NTU immediately after backwashing each filter. Approval to operate without rewash must be approved in writing and approval must be renewed if any modifications are made to the operation or design of the plant. Each filter that operates without rewash must have a continuous recording turbidimeter and retain the records for a period of five years.

(36) By January 1, 1995, all chemicals, additives, coatings or other materials used in the treatment, conditioning and conveyance of drinking water must have been approved by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) or American National Standards Institute (ANSI) certified parties as meeting NSF product standard 60 and 61. Until 1995, products used for treatment, conditioning and conveyance of drinking water shall have been listed as approved by the US EPA or NSF.

(37) Any new Community Water System or Non-Transient Non-Community Water System commencing operation after September 30, 1999 shall have a "Capacity Development Plan" and be a "viable water system."

(38) Public Water Systems identified as not complying or potentially not complying with the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act and in accordance with the priorities established in the Department's Capacity Development Strategy shall prepare a "Capacity Development Plan" and demonstrate viability.

(39) Public water systems are not permitted to construct uncovered finished water reservoirs after the effective date of this subparagraph.

(40) Benchtop and continuous turbidimeters used to determine compliance with limits set forth in this rule chapter must be calibrated at least every three months with primary standards and documented. Documentation shall be maintained for a period not less than five years. Primary standards are Formazin, AMCO clear, Stablcal, or alternatives approved in writing by the Department. Dilute Formazin solutions are unstable and must be prepared on the day of calibration. Manufacturers' recommendations on calibration procedure must be followed.

(41) Verifications for benchtop turbidimeters are comparisons to approved reference materials. Verifications for continuous turbidimeters are comparisons to approved reference materials or comparisons to a properly calibrated benchtop turbidimeter. Secondary reference materials are assigned a value immediately after acceptable primary calibration has been completed. Acceptable verifications for turbidity measurements greater than 0.5 NTU must agree within ±10% from the reading assigned to the reference material after primary calibration. Acceptable verifications for measurements 0.5 NTU or less must be within ±0.05 NTU or less from the reading assigned to the reference material after primary calibration. When comparisons are made from a continuous turbidimeter to a benchtop turbidimeter, the continuous measurement must be within ±10% of the benchtop reading for measurements above 0.5 NTU and ±0.05 NTU for reading 0.5 NTU or less. When acceptable verifications are not achieved the instrument must be re-calibrated with primary standards according to paragraph (40) of this rule. Approved reference materials for benchtop and continuous turbidimeters are primary standards and materials suggested by the manufacturer such as sealed sample cells filled with metal oxide particles in a polymer gel and turbid glass tubes. All other reference materials for turbidimeter verifications must be approved in writing by the Department. Verifications for turbidimeters must be performed according to the following:

(a) Verification of benchtop turbidimeters must be performed daily and documented. Verifications must include a sample in the expected working range of the instrument or as close to the working range as possible. Documentation must include: assigned reference material value after calibration, recorded daily reading for all reference standards, instrument identification, and date.

(b) Combined filter effluent turbidimeters as required by part (5)(c)1. of Rule 0400-45-01-.31 must be verified daily and documented. When reference material is utilized documentation must include: instrument identification, date, assigned reference material value after calibration, and daily value for reference material. When comparisons to benchtop turbidimeters are utilized documentation must include: instrument identification, date, continuous turbidimeter value, and benchtop turbidimeter value.

(c) Individual filter turbidimeters as required by part (5)(c)4. of Rule 0400-45-01-.31 must be verified weekly.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-201, et seq. and 68-221-701, et seq.

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