R309-200. Monitoring and Water Quality: Drinking Water Standards, R309. Environmental Quality, Drinking Water, Utah Administrative Code

This rule is promulgated by the Drinking Water Board as authorized by Title 19, Environmental Quality Code, Chapter 4, Safe Drinking Water Act, Subsection 104 of the Utah Code and in accordance with 63G-3 of the same, known as the Administrative Rulemaking Act.

R309-200-3. Definitions

Latest version.

Definitions for certain terms used in this rule are given in R309-110 but may be further clarified herein.

R309-200-4. General

Latest version.

(1) Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) and treatment techniques are herein established for those routinely measurable substances which may be found in water supplies. "Primary" standards and treatment techniques are established for the protection of human health. "Secondary" regulations are established to provide guidance in evaluating the aesthetic qualities of drinking water.

(2) The applicable "Primary" standards and treatment techniques shall be met by all public drinking water systems. The "Secondary" standards are recommended levels which should be met in order to avoid consumer complaint.

(3) The methods used to determine compliance with these maximum contaminant levels and treatment techniques are given in R309-205 through R309-215. Utah Division of Drinking Water adopts by reference the analytical methods incorporated in 40 CFR Parts 141, 142, and 143 as published on July 1, 2018.

(4) If the water fails to meet these minimum standards, then certain public notification procedures shall be carried out, as outlined in R309-220. Water suppliers shall also keep analytical records in their possession, for a required length of time, as outlined in R309-105-17.

R309-200-5. Primary Drinking Water Standards

Latest version.

(1) Inorganic Contaminants.

(a) The maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for antimony, arsenic, asbestos, barium, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, cyanide, fluoride, mercury, nickel, selenium, sodium, thallium and total dissolved solids are applicable to community and non-transient non-community water systems.

(b) The MCLs for nitrate, nitrite, and total nitrate, nitrite and sulfate are applicable to community, non-transient non-community, and transient non-community water systems.

TABLE 200-1

PRIMARY INORGANIC CONTAMINANTS

Contaminant Maximum Contaminant Level

1. Antimony 0.006 mg/L

2. Arsenic 0.010 mg/L

(see Note 5 below)

3. Asbestos 7 Million Fibers/liter

(longer than 10 um)

4. Barium 2 mg/L

5. Beryllium 0.004 mg/L

6. Cadmium 0.005 mg/L

7. Chromium 0.1 mg/L

8. Cyanide (as free Cyanide) 0.2 mg/L

9. Fluoride 4.0 mg/L

10. Mercury 0.002 mg/L

11. Nickel --- (see Note 1 below)

12. Nitrate 10 mg/l (as Nitrogen)

(see Note 4 below)

13. Nitrite 1 mg/L (as Nitrogen)

14. Total Nitrate and Nitrite 10 mg/L (as Nitrogen)

15. Selenium 0.05 mg/L

16. Sodium --- (see Note 1 below)

17. Sulfate 1000 mg/L (see Note 2 below)

18. Thallium 0.002 mg/L

19. Total Dissolved Solids 2000 mg/L (see Note 3 below)

NOTE:

(1) No maximum contaminant level has been established for

nickel and sodium. However, these contaminant shall be monitored

and reported in accordance with the requirements of R309-205-5(3).

(2) If the sulfate level of a public (community, NTNC and

non-community) water system is greater than 500 mg/L, the supplier

shall satisfactorily demonstrate that:

(a) No better quality water is available, and

(b) The water shall not be available for human consumption

from commercial establishments.

In no case shall the Director allow the use of water having a

sulfate level greater than 1000 mg/L.

(3) If TDS is greater than 1000 mg/L, the supplier shall

satisfactorily demonstrate to the Director that no better water

is available. The Director shall not allow the use of an inferior

source of water if a better source of water (i.e. lower in TDS)

is available.

(4) In the case of a non-community water systems which

exceed the MCL for nitrate, the Director may allow,

on a case-by-case basis, a nitrate level not to exceed 20 mg/L if

the supplier can adequately demonstrate that:

(a) such water will not be available to children under 6

months of age as may be the case in hospitals, schools and day

care centers; and

(b) there will be continuous posting of the fact that nitrate

levels exceed 10 mg/L and the potential health effect of exposure

in accordance with R309-220-12; and

R309-205-5(4); and

(d) that no adverse health effects will result.

(5) The maximum contaminant level for arsenic is 0.05 mg/L

until January 23, 2006. The MCL of 0.010 mg/L is effective for the

purposes of compliance on January 23, 2006.

(2) Lead and copper.

(a) The lead action level is exceeded if the concentration of lead in more than 10 percent of tap water samples collected during any monitoring period conducted in accordance with R309-210-6(3) is greater than 0.015 mg/L (i.e., if the "90th percentile" lead level is greater than 0.015 mg/L).

(b) The copper action level is exceeded if the concentration of copper in more than 10 percent of tap water samples collected during any monitoring period conducted in accordance with R309-210-6(3) is greater than 1.3 mg/L (i.e., if the "90th percentile" copper level is greater than 1.3 mg/L).

(i) The results of all lead or copper samples taken during a monitoring period shall be placed in ascending order from the sample with the lowest concentration to the sample with the highest concentration. Each sampling result shall be assigned a number, ascending by single integers beginning with the number 1 for the sample with the lowest contaminant level. The number assigned to the sample with the highest contaminant level shall be equal to the total number of samples taken.

(ii) The number of samples taken during the monitoring period shall be multiplied by 0.9.

(iii) The contaminant concentration in the numbered sample yielded by the calculation in paragraph (c)(ii) above is the 90th percentile contaminant level.

(iv) For water systems serving fewer than 100 people that collect 5 samples per monitoring period, the 90th percentile is computed by taking the average of the highest and second highest concentrations.

(v) For a public water system that has been allowed by the Director to collect fewer than five samples in accordance with R309-210-6(3)(c), the sample result with the highest concentration is considered the 90th percentile value.

(3) Organic Contaminants.

The following are the maximum contaminant levels for organic chemicals. For the purposes of R309-100 through R309-R309-605, organic chemicals are divided into three categories: Pesticides/PCBs/SOCs, volatile organic contaminants (VOCs) and total trihalomethanes.

(a) Pesticides/PCBs/SOCs - The MCLs for organic contaminants listed in Table 200-2 are applicable to community water systems and non-transient, non-community water systems.

TABLE 200-2

PESTICIDE/PCB/SOC CONTAMINANTS

Contaminant Maximum Contaminant Level

1. Alachlor 0.002 mg/L

2. Aldicarb (see Note 1 below)

3. Aldicarb sulfoxide (see Note 1 below)

4. Aldicarb sulfone (see Note 1 below)

5. Atrazine 0.003 mg/L

6. Carbofuran 0.04 mg/L

7. Chlordane 0.002 mg/L

8. Dibromochloropropane 0.0002 mg/L

9. 2,4-D 0.07 mg/L

10. Ethylene dibromide 0.00005 mg/L

11. Heptachlor 0.0004 mg/L

12. Heptachlor epoxide 0.0002 mg/L

13. Lindane 0.0002 mg/L

14. Methoxychlor 0.04 mg/L

15. Polychlorinated biphenyls 0.0005 mg/L

16. Pentachlorophenol 0.001 mg/L

17. Toxaphene 0.003 mg/L

18. 2,4,5-TP 0.05 mg/L

19. Benzo(a)pyrene 0.0002 mg/L

20. Dalapon 0.2 mg/L

21. Di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate 0.4 mg/L

22. Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate 0.006 mg/L

23. Dinoseb 0.007 mg/L

24. Diquat 0.02 mg/L

25. Endothall 0.1 mg/L

26. Endrin 0.002 mg/L

27. Glyphosate 0.7 mg/L

28. Hexachlorobenzene 0.001 mg/L

29. Hexachlorocyclopentadiene 0.05 mg/L

30. Oxamyl (Vydate) 0.2 mg/L

31. Picloram 0.5 mg/L

32. Simazine 0.004 mg/L

33. 2,3,7,8-TCDD (Dioxin) 0.00000003 mg/L

Note 1: The MCL for this contaminant is under further

review, however, this contaminant shall be monitored in

accordance with R309-205-6(1).

(b) Volatile organic contaminants - The maximum contaminant levels for organic contaminants listed in Table 200-3 apply to community and non-transient non-community water systems.

TABLE 200-3

VOLATILE ORGANIC CONTAMINANTS

Contaminant Maximum Contaminant Level

1. Vinyl chloride 0.002 mg/L

2. Benzene 0.005 mg/L

3. Carbon tetrachloride 0.005 mg/L

4. 1,2-Dichloroethane 0.005 mg/L

5. Trichloroethylene 0.005 mg/L

6. para-Dichlorobenzene 0.075 mg/L

7. 1,1-Dichloroethylene 0.007 mg/L

8. 1,1,1-Trichloroethane 0.2 mg/L

9. cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene 0.07 mg/L

10. 1,2-Dichloropropane 0.005 mg/L

11. Ethylbenzene 0.7 mg/L

12. Monochlorobenzene 0.1 mg/L

13. o-Dichlorobenzene 0.6 mg/L

14. Styrene 0.1 mg/L

15. Tetrachloroethylene 0.005 mg/L

16. Toluene 1 mg/L

17. trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene 0.1 mg/L

18. Xylenes (total) 10 mg/L

19. Dichloromethane 0.005 mg/L

20. 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene 0.07 mg/L

21. 1,1,2-Trichloroethane 0.005 mg/L

(i) Community and Non-transient non-community water systems. Surface Water systems serving 10,000 or more persons shall comply with this section beginning January 1, 2002. Surface water systems serving fewer than 10,000 persons and systems using only ground water not under the direct influence of surface water shall comply with this section beginning January 1, 2004.

(A) Compliance with the disinfection byproduct MCLs listed in Table 200-4 shall be determined by the procedures listed in R309-210-8(6) until the date specified by system size listed in R309-210-10(1)(c) at which time compliance shall be determined utilizing LRAA as specified in R309-210-10(1)(d).

(ii) Transient non-community water systems. Surface water systems serving 10,000 or more persons and using chlorine dioxide as a disinfectant or oxidant shall comply with the chlorine dioxide MRDL beginning January 1, 2002. Surface water systems serving fewer than 10,000 persons and using chlorine dioxide as a disinfectant or oxidant and systems using only ground water not under the direct influence of surface water and using chlorine dioxide as a disinfectant or oxidant shall comply with the chlorine dioxide MRDL beginning January 1, 2004.

(iii) The maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for disinfection byproducts are listed in Table 200-4.

TABLE 200-4

DISINFECTION BYPRODUCTS

DISINFECTION BYPRODUCT MCL (mg/L)

Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) 0.080

Haloacetic acids (five) (HAA5) 0.060

Bromate 0.010

Chlorite 1.0

(iv) The maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) are listed in Table 200-5.

TABLE 200-5

MAXIMUM RESIDUAL DISINFECTANT LEVELS

DISINFECTANT RESIDUAL MRDL (mg/L)

Chlorine 4.0 (as Cl₂)

Chloramines 4.0 (as Cl₂)

Chlorine dioxide 0.8 (as ClO₂)

(v) Control of Disinfectant Residuals. Notwithstanding the MRDLs listed in Table 200-5, systems may increase residual disinfectant levels in the distribution system of chlorine or chloramines (but not chlorine dioxide) to a level and for a time necessary to protect public health, to address specific microbiological contamination problems caused by circumstances such as, but not limited to, distribution line breaks, storm run-off events, source water contamination events, or cross-connection events.

(vi) A system that is installing GAC or membrane technology to comply with this section may apply to the Director for an extension of up to 24 months past the dates in paragraph (c)(i) of this section, but not beyond December 31, 2003. In granting the extension, the Director shall set a schedule for compliance and may specify any interim measures that the system shall take. Failure to meet the schedule or interim treatment requirements constitutes a violation of Utah Public Drinking Water Rules.

(4) Radiologic Chemicals.

(a) Compliance dates. Compliance dates for combined radium-226 and -228, gross alpha particle activity, gross beta particle and photon radioactivity, and uranium: Community water systems shall comply with the MCLs listed in paragraphs (b), (c), (d), and (e) of this section beginning December 8, 2003 and compliance shall be determined in accordance with the requirements of this sub-section (4) and R309-205-7. Compliance with reporting requirements for the radionuclides under R309-220 and R309-225 is required on December 8, 2003.

(b) Combined radium-226 and -228. The maximum contaminant level for combined radium-226 and radium-228 is 5 pCi/L. The combined radium-226 and radium-228 value is determined by the addition of the results of the analysis for radium-226 and the analysis for radium-228.

(c) Gross alpha particle activity (excluding radon and uranium). The maximum contaminant level for gross alpha particle activity (including radium-226 but excluding radon and uranium) is 15 pCi/L.

(d) The MCL for beta particle and photon radioactivity.

(i) The average annual concentration of beta particle and photon radioactivity from man-made radionuclides in drinking water shall not produce an annual dose equivalent to the total body or any internal organ greater than 4 millirem/year (mrem/year).

(ii) Except for the radionuclides listed in Table 200-6, the concentration of man-made radionuclides causing 4 mrem total body or organ dose equivalents shall be calculated on the basis of 2 liters per day drinking water intake using the 168 hour data list in "Maximum Permissible Body Burdens and Maximum Permissible Concentrations of Radionuclides in Air and in Water for Occupational Exposure," NBS (National Bureau of Standards) Handbook 69 as amended August 1963, U.S. Department of Commerce. Copies of this document are available from the National Technical Information Service, NTIS ADA 280 282, U.S. Department of Commerce, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Virginia 22161. The toll-free number is 800-553-6847. Copies may be inspected at the Division of Drinking Water offices. If two or more radionuclides are present, the sum of their annual dose equivalent to the total body or to any organ shall not exceed 4 mrem/year.

TABLE 200-6

MAN-MADE RADIONUCLIDE CONTAMINANTS

Average Annual Concentrations Assumed to Produce:

A Total Body or Organ Dose of 4 mrem/yr

Radionuclide Critical organ pCi per liter

Tritium Total body 20,000

Strontium-90 Bone Marrow 8

(e) The MCL for uranium. The maximum contaminant level for uranium is 30 ug/L.

(5) TURBIDITY

(a) All public water systems using surface water or ground water under the direct influence of surface water shall provide treatment consisting of both disinfection, as specified in R309-200-5(7)(a), and filtration treatment which complies with the requirements of paragraph (i), (ii) or (iii) of this section.

(i) Conventional filtration treatment or direct filtration.

(A) For systems using conventional filtration or direct filtration, the turbidity level of representative samples of a system's combined filtered effluent water shall be less than or equal to 0.3 NTU in at least 95 percent of the measurements taken each month, measured as specified in R309-200-4(3) and R309-215-9.

(B) The turbidity level of representative samples of a system's combined filtered effluent water shall at no time exceed 1 NTU, measured as specified in R309-200-4(3) and R309-215-9.

(C) A system that uses lime softening may acidify representative samples prior to analysis using a protocol approved by the Director.

(ii) Filtration technologies other than conventional filtration treatment, direct filtration, slow sand filtration, or diatomaceous earth filtration. A public water system may use a filtration technology not listed in paragraph (i) or (iii) of this section if it demonstrates to the Director, using pilot plant studies or other means, that the alternative filtration technology, in combination with disinfection treatment that meets the requirements of R309-200-7, consistently achieves 99.9 percent removal and/or inactivation of Giardia lamblia cysts and 99.99 percent removal and/or inactivation of viruses, and 99 percent removal of Cryptosporidium oocysts, and the Director approves the use of the filtration technology. For each approval, the Director will set turbidity performance requirements that the system shall meet at least 95 percent of the time and that the system may not exceed at any time at a level that consistently achieves 99.9 percent removal and/or inactivation of Giardia lamblia cysts, 99.99 percent removal and/or inactivation of viruses, and 99 percent removal of Cryptosporidium oocysts. The turbidity level of representative samples shall at no time exceed 5.0 NTU for any treatment technique, measured as specified in R309-215-9(1)(c) and (d)

(iii) The turbidity limit for slow sand filtration and diatomaceous earth filtration shall be less than or equal to 1.0 NTU in at least 95 percent of the measurements taken each month, measured as specified in R309-215-9(1)(c) and (d). For slow sand filtration only, if the Director determines that the system is capable of achieving 99.9 percent removal and inactivation of Giardia lamblia cysts at some turbidity level higher than 1.0 NTU in at least 95 percent of the measurements, the Director may substitute this higher turbidity limit for that system. The turbidity level of representative samples shall at no time exceed 5.0 NTU for any treatment technique, measured as specified in R309-215-9(1)(c) and (d).

(i) The following turbidity limit applies to community water systems only.

(ii) The limit for turbidity in drinking water from ground water sources not under the direct influence of surface sources is 5.0 NTU based on an average for two consecutive days pursuant to R309-205-8(3).

(6) MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY

(a) The maximum contaminant level (MCL) for microbiological contaminants for all public water systems is:

(i) For a system that collects at least 40 samples per month, if no more than 5.0 percent of the samples collected during a month are total coliform-positive, the system is in compliance with the MCL for total coliforms.

(ii) For a system that collects fewer than 40 samples per month, if no more than one sample collected during a month is total coliform-positive, the system is in compliance with the MCL for total coliforms.

(b) A system is in compliance with the MCL for E. coli for samples taken under the provisions of R309-211 unless any of the conditions identified in paragraphs (b)(i) through (b)(iv) of this section occur. For purposes of the public notification requirements in R309-220, violation of the MCL may pose an acute risk to health.

(i) The system has an E. coli-positive repeat sample following a total coliform-positive routine sample.

(ii) The system has a total coliform-positive repeat sample following an E. coli-positive routine sample.

(iii) The system fails to take all required repeat samples following an E. coli-positive routine sample.

(iv) The system fails to test for E. coli when any repeat sample tests positive for total coliform.

(c) A public water system must determine compliance with the MCL for E. coli in paragraph (b) of this section for each month in which it is required to monitor for total coliforms.

(7) DISINFECTION

Continuous disinfection is recommended for all water sources. It shall be required of all ground water sources which do not consistently meet standards of bacteriologic quality. Surface water sources or ground water sources under direct influence of surface water shall be disinfected and continuously monitored for disinfection residual during the course of required conventional complete treatment for systems serving greater than 3,300 people. Disinfection shall not be considered a substitute for inadequate collection or filtration facilities.

Successful disinfection assures 99.9 percent inactivation of Giardia lamblia cysts and 99.99 percent inactivation of enteric viruses. Both filtration and disinfection are considered treatment techniques to protect against the potential adverse health effects of exposure to Giardia lamblia, viruses, Legionella, and heterotrophic bacteria in water. Minimum disinfection levels are set by "CT" values as defined in R309-110.

(a) Each public water system that provides filtration treatment shall provide disinfection treatment as follows:

(i) The disinfection treatment shall be sufficient to ensure that the total treatment processes of the system achieve at least 99.9 percent (3-log) inactivation and/or removal of Giardia lamblia cysts and at least 99.99 percent (4-log) inactivation and/or removal of viruses, as determined by the Director.

(ii) The residual disinfectant concentration in the water entering the distribution system cannot be less than 0.2 mg/L for more than 4 hours.

(iii) The residual disinfectant concentration in the distribution system, measured as combined chlorine or chlorine dioxide, cannot be undetectable in more than 5 percent of the samples each month, for any two consecutive months that the system serves water to the public. Water in the distribution system with a heterotrophic bacteria concentration less than or equal to 500/ml, measured as heterotrophic plate count (HPC) is deemed to have a detectable disinfectant residual for purposes of determining compliance with this requirement. Thus, the value "V" in the following formula cannot exceed 5 percent in one month, for any two consecutive months.

V = ((c + d + e) / (a + b)) x 100 where:

a = number of instances where the residual disinfectant concentration is measured;

b = number of instances where the residual disinfectant concentration is not measured but heterotrophic bacteria plate count (HPC) is measured;

c = number of instances where the residual disinfectant concentration is measured but not detected and no HPC is measured;

d = number of instances where no residual disinfectant concentration is detected and where HPC is greater than 500/ml;

e = number of instances where the residual disinfectant concentration is not measured and HPC is greater than 500/ml.

(b) If the Director determines, based on site-specific considerations, that a system has no means for having a sample transported and analyzed for HPC by a certified laboratory under the requisite time and temperature conditions specified in R309-200-4(3) and that the system is providing adequate disinfection in the distribution system, the requirements of R309-200-5(7)(a)(iii) do not apply.

(c) If a system utilizes a combination of sources, some surface water influenced (requiring filtration and disinfection treatment) and others deemed ground water (not requiring any treatment, even disinfection), the Director may, based on site-specific considerations, allow sampling for residual disinfectant or HPC at locations other than those specified by total coliform monitoring required by R309-211.

R309-200-6. Secondary Drinking Water Standards for Community, Non-Transient Non-Community and Transient Non-Community Water

Latest version.

The Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels for public water systems deals with substances which affect the aesthetic quality of drinking water. They are presented here as recommended limits or ranges and are not grounds for rejection. The taste of water may be unpleasant and the usefulness of the water may be impaired if these standards are significantly exceeded.

TABLE 200-7

SECONDARY INORGANIC CONTAMINANTS

Contaminant Level

Aluminum 0.05 to 0.2 mg/L

Chloride 250 mg/L

Color 15 Color Units

Copper 1 mg/L

Corrosivity Non-corrosive

Fluoride 2.0 mg/L (see Note below)

Foaming Agents 0.5 mg/L

Iron 0.3 mg/L

Manganese 0.05 mg/L

Odor 3 Threshold Odor Number

pH 6.5-8.5

Silver 0.1 mg/L

Sulfate 250 mg/L (see Note below)

TDS 500 mg/L (see Note below)

Zinc 5 mg/L

Note: Maximum allowable Fluoride, TDS and Sulfate levels are given in the Primary Drinking Water Standards, R309-200-5(1). They are listed as secondary standards because levels in excess of these recommended levels will likely cause consumer complaint.

R309-200-7. Treatment Techniques and Unregulated Contaminants

Latest version.

(1) The Board has determined that the minimum level of treatment as described in R309-525 and R309-530 herein or its equivalent is required for surface water sources and ground water contaminated by surface sources.

(2) For all public water systems which use surface water or ground water under the direct influence of surface water, R309-200, 215, 505, 510, 520, 525 and 530 establish or extend treatment technique requirements in lieu of maximum contaminant levels for the following contaminants: Giardia lamblia, viruses, heterotrophic plate count bacteria, Legionella, Cryptosporidium, and turbidity. The treatment technique requirements consist of installing and properly operating water treatment processes which reliably 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 re-contamination 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 re-contamination by surface water runoff and a point downstream before or at the first customer.

(c) At least 99 percent (2-log) removal of Cryptosporidium 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.

(d) Compliance with the profiling and benchmark requirements under the provisions of R309-215-14.

(3) No MCLs are established herein for unregulated contaminants; viruses, protozoans and other chemical and biological substances. Some unregulated contaminants shall be monitored for in accordance with 40 CFR 141.40.

R309-200-8. Approved Laboratories

Latest version.

(1) For the purpose of determining compliance, samples may be considered only if they have been analyzed by the State of Utah primacy laboratory or a laboratory certified by the Utah State Health Laboratory. However, measurements for pH, temperature, turbidity and disinfectant residual, daily chlorite, TOC, UV254, DOC and SUVA may, under the direction of the direct responsible charge operator, be performed by any water supplier or their representative.

(2) All samples shall be marked either: routine, repeat, check or investigative before submission of such samples to a certified lab. Routine, repeat, and check samples shall be considered compliance purposes samples.

(3) All public water systems shall either: contract with a certified laboratory to have the laboratory send all compliance purposes sample results, with the exception of Lead/Copper data, to the Division of Drinking Water, or shall inform the Division of Drinking Water that they intend to forward all compliance purposes samples to the Division. Each public water system shall furnish the Division of Drinking Water a copy of the contract with their certified laboratory or inform the Division in writing of the public water system's intent to forward the data to the Division.

(4) All sample results can be sent either electronically or in hard copy form.