Wisconsin Administrative Code
Department of Natural Resources
NR 800 - Environmental Protection - Water Supply
Chapter NR 811 - Requirements For The Operation And Design Of Community Water Systems
Subchapter VII - Treatment
Section NR 811.55 - Radionuclide removal

(a) General. Radium may be removed by using the water treatment processes of zeolite softening, lime-soda softening, reverse osmosis, hydrous manganese oxides, and adsorptive resins. Other processes may also be used to remove radium as approved by the department on a case-by-case basis. The process design shall address the fate of radium in the treatment process including waste disposal. Where applicable, disposal of treatment plant wastes containing radium shall normally be to a sanitary sewer or wastewater treatment plant.

Note: It is recommended that measures be taken to protect workers from gamma radiation exposure and radon gas inhalation where applicable.

(b) Finished water quality. Radium removal processes shall be designed to provide a finished water with a radium content as close to 0 picocuries per liter as practical while maintaining a finished water that is not corrosive. The department shall determine allowable plant outlet water quality, including radium concentrations, based on the raw water quality and the treatment process proposed. If corrosive water is produced during the radium removal process, a department approved method of corrosion control shall be provided.

(c) Finished water sampling and reporting. For the radium removal processes listed in par. (a), a minimum of 4 consecutive quarters of finished water sampling for radium shall be required after the plant becomes operational to demonstrate treatment effectiveness. For other proposed radium removal treatment methods, the required radium monitoring program shall be established by the department. The sampling shall be conducted under worst case conditions. Radium analyses shall be performed by a U.S. environmental protection agency approved laboratory. The laboratory shall forward a copy of the radiological analyses to the department in an electronic format. Water hardness monitoring equipment shall be provided to monitor for hardness breakthrough when softening is used for radium removal. Daily water hardness measurements shall be reported on the monthly operating report submitted to the department. Use of hardness monitoring to substitute for radium analyses shall only be allowed if demonstrated effective by simultaneous radium and hardness sampling conducted for one year.

(d) Water softening. Treatment for radium removal using standard water softening processes shall comply with the requirements of s. NR 811.57.

(e) Hydrous manganese oxides. Water treatment using hydrous manganese oxides for radium removal shall meet the following requirements:

(f) Adsorptive resins. Water treatment using adsorptive resins for radium removal that will continuously accumulate radium on the resin shall meet the following requirements.

(g) Other treatment. Other radium removal treatment processes may be approved by the department on a case-by-case basis using information obtained from department approved on-site pilot studies conducted on the water to be treated.

(h) Waste disposal. Disposal of radium removal treatment plant waste shall comply with subch. XII.

(a) Radon may be removed using aeration or pressurized granular activated carbon filters. The process design shall address the gamma radiation and disposal concerns associated with the use of granular activated carbon filters.

(b) The design of radon removal equipment shall be based on a department approved on-site pilot study conducted on the water to be treated. The department may approve manufactured radon removal equipment without pilot study on a case-by-case basis if adequate treatment effectiveness is demonstrated to the department.

(c) Aerators used for radon removal shall comply with s. NR 811.45.

(d) Radon gas shall be vented to the atmosphere at an elevation and location to prevent elevated radon gas air concentrations in inhabitable areas.

(e) Granular activated carbon filters for radon removal shall comply with s. NR 811.53. Disposal of carbon filters used for radon removal shall comply with s. NR 811.859.

(f) A minimum of 4 consecutive quarters of finished water sampling for radon gas shall be required after the plant becomes operational to demonstrate treatment effectiveness. The sampling shall be conducted under worst case conditions. Radon gas analyses shall be performed by a U.S. environmental protection agency approved laboratory. The laboratory shall forward a copy of the radiological analyses to the department in an electronic format.

(a) The designer of any proposed uranium removal equipment shall contact the department prior to the final design of the equipment to allow for department input on design requirements. The design shall be based on information obtained from department approved on-site pilot studies conducted on the water to be treated. The process design shall address the fate of uranium in the treatment process. Disposal of water treatment plant wastes containing uranium shall be in accordance with written department guidance. If applicable, disposal of treatment plant wastes containing uranium shall be to a sanitary sewer or wastewater treatment plant as approved by the department. The discharged water treatment plant wastes and spent media shall be analyzed for radionuclide content as required by the department. The disposal of spent media containing residual radionuclides shall be as approved by the department.

(b) A minimum of 4 consecutive quarters of finished water sampling for uranium shall be required after the plant becomes operational to demonstrate treatment effectiveness. The sampling shall be conducted under worst case conditions. Uranium analyses shall be performed by a U.S. environmental protection agency approved laboratory. The laboratory shall forward a copy of the radiological analyses to the department in an electronic format.

(c) Prior to constructing or operating the systems, the radiation protection section of the department of health services shall be contacted to obtain a radioactive material license to operate pilot and full scale installations when uranium will be concentrated on the resin or media to a level greater than 170 picocuries per gram at any time during use, including just prior to backwashing, regeneration, or disposal.

(d) Disposal of uranium removal treatment plant waste shall comply with subch. XII.