Current through August 26, 2024
(1) SCOPE. This section applies to treatment
of water for potable use in a private or non-community water system except for
the disinfection, batch chlorination, and acidification prescribed in ss.
NR 812.12, 812.22, and 812.41.
(2) GENERAL STANDARDS.
(a) Water treatment devices installed in a
water system shall have a plumbing product approval in accordance with chs.
SPS 382 and 384.
(b) A water supply requiring approval under
sub. (3) shall produce water free from coliform bacteria prior to treatment,
unless the department determines that a water supply free from coliform
bacteria is not available.
(c)
Water treatment devices shall be installed in accordance with the
manufacturer's printed instructions, chs.
SPS 382 and 384, and, if
specified, department written installation approval conditions. If there is a
conflict between the manufacturer's instructions and the code requirements or
approval conditions, the code requirements and approval conditions shall take
precedence.
(d) A water treatment
device shall be installed by one of the following:
1. A plumber licensed under s.
145.06,
Stats., if the device is installed downstream of the pressure tank or building
control valve.
2. A licensed pump
installer if the device is installed upstream of the pressure tank.
3. A property owner who is exempt from the
requirement for a plumbing license under s.
145.06(4) (a), Stats.
Note: Section
145.06(4) (a), Stats., provides an exemption from the
requirement for a plumbing license for "plumbing work done by a property owner
in a one-family building owned and occupied by him or her as his or her home or
farm building, except where such license is required by local
ordinance."
(e)
Treatment for control of regulated contaminants in a non-community water system
shall be considered only after the system owner demonstrates that none of the
following alternatives are available or feasible:
1. Constructing a new well.
2. Reconstructing an existing well.
3. Connecting to an alternative water
supply.
(f) The
installation of a water treatment device shall supplement and not replace
proper well location, construction and water supply protection.
(g) Unless otherwise stated in the
department's installation approval, treatment devices requiring approval under
sub. (3) shall be designed and installed to treat all water provided by the
water system. The department's installation approval may exclude treatment of
water being supplied for certain uses including outside hose bibs, fire
protection systems, boilers used for space heating, turf sprinkler systems and
non-food process water.
(h)
Discharge or disposal of contaminated wastewater, filter media, or gases shall
comply with applicable State and Federal regulations.
(i) All chemicals used for addition to a
water system shall be approved for use under s. NR 812.091.
(j) All products in contact with potable
water shall be certified for compliance with NSF/ANSI Standard 61 or shall be
approved for use under s. NR 812.091.
(k) Water treatment devices may not be
installed in a private or non-community water system if the department has
required the well to be filled and sealed under s.
NR 812.26(4) or has required use of the
system to be discontinued.
(3) INSTALLATION APPROVAL REQUIRED.
Department installation approval shall be obtained prior to installation if any
of the following conditions apply:
(a) The
water treatment device is installed for the purpose of controlling bacteria in
a non-community water system.
(b)
The water treatment device will be installed on or within the well or pressure
system, or when water treatment occurs within the well.
(d) The water treatment device or treatment
system will control corrosion or will control, remove or prevent contaminant
levels in excess of primary drinking water standards as specified under ch. NR
809, health advisories or action levels in a non-community water
system.
(g) Fluoride is added to a
water system.
(h) The installation
of a water treatment plant facility.
(3m) INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS. Inspection of
the existing well and pressure system for compliance with the construction and
location requirements of this chapter is required prior to installation of a
water treatment device for the purpose of controlling bacteria in a private
water system. No person may install a water treatment device for the purpose of
controlling bacteria in a private water system unless an inspection has been
conducted that meets all of the following requirements:
(a) The inspection shall be conducted by a
licensed water well driller or licensed pump installer.
(b) The inspection shall include a
comprehensive visual inspection of the well and pressure system and a diligent
search for the well construction report.
(c) The inspector shall report the results of
the compliance inspection on the form specified by the department. The form
shall be completed in full according to department instructions and shall be
accurate. The inspector shall identify any corrective measures that would
reduce the potential for bacteria to enter the well and pressure
system.
(d) The inspector shall
provide a completed inspection report and well construction report, if found,
to the private water system owner. Use of the department form does not imply
department approval of the well and pressure system.
(4) APPLICATION AND APPROVAL CONDITIONS.
(a) In addition to the information required
under s.
NR 812.09(2), the department may require
the applicant to describe the proposed water treatment device; provide a sketch
of the proposed installation; include results of an analysis of coliform
bacteria of a water sample taken from the water supply within 6 weeks of
application; include results of an analysis of contaminants to be controlled by
the water treatment device of water samples taken from the water supply at
specified locations; and describe the proposed water quality monitoring,
operating, and maintenance programs. Additional sampling and information may be
requested depending on the nature of the contamination and other site specific
conditions. Analysis of water samples shall meet the requirements under s. NR 812.46 for private water systems and s.
NR 809.76 for non-community water systems.
(b) The department may require operational
procedures including installation of a sample faucet and an entry point sample
faucet at specific locations, periodic sampling and analysis, device
maintenance, and inspection provisions in its installation approval of a water
treatment device.
(d) The
department may require the water system owner or operator to shut off, bypass
or disconnect a water treatment device installed upstream of the first sampling
faucet after the well for a period of up to two weeks to obtain a sample of
untreated water to analyze for coliform bacteria or other
contaminants.
(e) At a minimum,
fluoride treatment installations or corrosion control treatment system
installations shall comply with the following standards:
1. The fluoride or the corrosion control
chemical is added with a positive displacement-type feed pump.
2. A spring loaded check valve is installed
between the positive displacement-type feed pump and the point of injection to
prevent backflow of untreated water into the solution tank.
3. A spring loaded check valve is installed
to prevent the siphoning of fluoride or corrosion control chemical into the
water.
4. The feed pump and the
well pump are electrically wired in interlock with a flow switch connected in
series from the feed pump into the well pump and there are no water outlets
upstream of the point of fluoride or corrosion control chemical
injection.
5. The feed pump has a
metering device for measuring fluoride or corrosion control chemical flow
rates.
6. The chemical storage tank
is covered and installed at an elevation lower than the feed pump.
All owners or operators of water systems containing
contaminants should consider the merits and availability of a naturally safe
water system prior to considering the alternative of long-term water treatment
device installation and use. If water treatment has been selected, then
point-of-entry water treatment devices should be considered for those
contaminants that may have dermal or inhalation exposure routes.
Primary drinking water standards are contained in ch. NR
809.
