Current through Bulletin 2024-24, December 15, 2024
Public water systems must take into consideration that
chlorine dioxide and its by products may have similar effects as chloramines on
sensitive populations. Chlorine dioxide should not be intentionally used as a
secondary disinfectant. The water system must monitor the chlorine dioxide
residuals and byproducts in the distribution system. If the chlorine dioxide
residual in the distribution system may affect sensitive populations, the
public water system shall notify the public of the change. Sensitive
populations include hospital and kidney dialysis patients. Sensitive industries
include fisheries.
(1) Pre-design
Proposal.
Proposals for the use of chlorine dioxide shall be discussed
with the Division prior to the preparation of final plans and specifications. A
water system must submit a detailed written proposal to the Director for
review, including:
(a) The make,
model, and specifications for proposed chlorine dioxide generator
(b) References of other U.S. potable water
installations of the proposed unit
(c) Information on the operational and
maintenance training program
(d)
The expected total applied dosage of chlorine dioxide and other disinfectants
as well as the points of application for all disinfectants and the type and
amount of residuals and by-products expected in the distribution
system
(2) Chlorine
dioxide generators
(a) Chlorine dioxide
generation should be designed to be efficient compared to industry standard,
and production of excess chlorine shall be minimized.
(b) The generator shall not produce a
solution with chlorine dioxide concentration more than 6,000 mg/L to minimize
the explosion hazard.
(c) The
design shall include capability to measure concentrations of chlorine dioxide,
chlorite, chlorate, and free chlorine of the solution leaving the
generator.
(d) The chlorine dioxide
generator shall be equipped with a chlorine dioxide analyzer to measure the
strength of the solution leaving the generator.
(e) Generators which use solid chlorite will
not be allowed.
(3)
Chlorine Dioxide Feed and Storage System
(a)
Chlorine Dioxide Feed system.
(i) Use
fiberglass reinforced vinyl ester plastic (FRP) or high density linear
polyethylene (HDLPE) tanks with no insulation.
(ii) If centrifugal pumps are used, provide
Teflon packing material. Pump motors must be totally enclosed, fan-cooled,
equipped with permanently sealed bearings, and equipped with double mechanical
seals or other means to prevent leakage.
(iii) Provide chlorinated PVC, vinyl ester or
Teflon piping material. Do not use carbon steel or stainless steel piping
systems.
(iv) Provide glass view
ports for the reactor if it is not made of transparent material.
(v) Provide flow monitoring on all chemical
feed lines, dilution water lines, and chlorine dioxide solution
lines.
(vi) Provide a means to
verify calibrated feed flow to each application feed point.
(vii) Control air contact with chlorine
dioxide solution to limit potential for explosive concentrations building up
within the feed facility.
(viii)
All chlorite solutions shall have concentrations less than 30%. Higher strength
solutions are susceptible to crystallization and stratification.
(b) Chlorine Dioxide Storage and
Operating Area. The following requirements apply to the chlorite storage and
chlorine dioxide day tank area.
(i) The
chlorine dioxide facility shall be physically located in a separate room from
other water treatment plant operating areas.
(ii) The chlorine dioxide area shall have a
ventilation system separate from other operating areas.
(iii) Provision shall be made to ventilate
the chlorine dioxide facility area and maintain the ambient air chlorine
dioxide concentrations below the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL).
(A) The ventilating fan(s) take suction near
the floor, as far as practical from the door and air inlet, with the point of
discharge so located as not to contaminate air inlets of any rooms or
structures.
(B) Air inlets are
provided near the ceiling.
(C) Air
inlets and outlets shall be louvered.
(D) Separate switches for the fans are
outside and near the entrance of the facility.
(iv) The area housing chlorine dioxide
facility shall be constructed of non-combustible materials such as
concrete.
(v) There shall be an
ambient air chlorine dioxide sensor in the vicinity of the chlorine dioxide
operating area. The ambient air chlorine dioxide readouts and alarm or warning
light shall be audible and visible in the operating area and on the outside of
the door to the operating area. The design shall include distinguishing audible
alarms that are triggered by the ambient air chlorine dioxide sensor
readings.
(vi) There shall be
observation windows through which the operating area can be observed from
outside the room to ensure operator safety.
(vii) Manual switches to the light in the
operating area shall be located outside the door to the room.
(viii) There shall be an emergency shower and
eyewash outside and close to the door to the operating area.
(ix) An emergency shutoff control to shut
flows to the generator shall be located outside the operating area.
(x) The design shall minimize the possibility
of chlorite leaks.
(xi) The
chlorite tank and chlorine dioxide solution tank shall be vented to the
outdoors away from any operating areas.
(xii) Gaseous chlorine feed to the chlorine
dioxide generator shall enter the chlorine dioxide facility area through lines
which can only feed to vacuum.
(xiii) The floor of the chlorine dioxide
facility area shall slope to a sump.
(xiv) There shall not be any open drains in
the chlorine dioxide operating area.
(xv) Provide secondary containments with
sumps for chlorine dioxide storage, and chlorine dioxide solutions which can
hold the entire volume of these vessels. This containment shall prevent these
solutions from entering the rest of the operating area.
(xvi) Provide wash-down water within the
operating area.
(xvii) The
operating area shall be designed to avoid direct exposure to sunlight, UV
light, or excessive heat.
(4) Other Design Criteria.
(a) Provide secondary containment, a sump,
wash-down water, and a shower and eyewash at the bulk delivery transfer
point.
(b) Finished water shall be
used for chlorine dioxide generation.
(c) The finished water line to the chlorine
dioxide generator shall be protected with a high hazard assembly.
(d) Provide a water supply near the storage
and handling area for cleanup.
(e)
The parts of the chlorine dioxide system in contact with the strong oxidizing
or acid solutions shall be of inert material.
(f) The design shall provide the capability
to shut off the chlorine dioxide operation remotely, i.e., from a location that
is outside of the chlorine dioxide operating area.
(5) Operation and Maintenance.
(a) Do not store or handle combustible or
reactive materials, such as acids, reduced metals, or organic material, in the
chlorine dioxide operating area.
(b) Store chemicals in clean, closed,
non-translucent containers.
(c)
Personal protective equipment and first aid kits shall be stored at a nearby
location that is outside the chlorine dioxide facility area.
(d) The temperature of the chlorine dioxide
operating area shall be maintained between 60 and 100 degrees F.
(e) After delivery allow chlorite solutions
to equalize with the ambient temperature of the operating area to avoid
stratification.
(f) The Operating
and Maintenance manual shall include operator safety and emergency response
procedures. Personnel shall have ongoing training for operator safety and
emergency response procedures.
(g)
All wastes should be disposed of in accordance to any existing solid and
hazardous waste regulations.
(h)
The operating area should be inspected daily for chlorite spills and solid
chlorite buildup. The daily inspections shall be logged.
(i) Chlorite leaks and solid chlorite buildup
should be cleaned up and disposed of immediately.
(j) Solid chlorite should be washed down
before removal.
(k) The
ventilation system in the chlorine dioxide facility area shall be operated to
maintain the ambient air chlorine dioxide concentrations below the Permissible
Exposure Limit (PEL).
(l) Audible
alarms shall be programmed to alert water treatment plant personnel when the
ambient air chlorine dioxide sensor in the vicinity of the chlorine dioxide
operating area detects the chlorine dioxide concentration above the Permissible
Exposure Limit (PEL) and the Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL).