Section 109.1202. Monitoring requirements

(a) Initial round of source water monitoring. A system shall conduct the following monitoring on the schedule in subsection (c) unless it meets the monitoring exemption criteria in subsection (d):

(1) Filtered systems serving at least 10,000 people shall sample their source water for Cryptosporidium, E. coli and turbidity at least monthly for 24 months.

(2) Unfiltered systems serving at least 10,000 people shall sample their source water for Cryptosporidium at least monthly for 24 months.

(3) Filtered systems serving less than 10,000 people shall sample their source water for E. coli at least once every 2 weeks for 12 months. A filtered system serving less than 10,000 people may avoid E. coli monitoring if the system notifies the Department that it will monitor for Cryptosporidium as described in paragraph (4). The system shall notify the Department no later than 3 months prior to the date the system is otherwise required to start E. coli monitoring under subsection (c).

(4) Filtered systems serving less than 10,000 people shall sample their source water for Cryptosporidium at least twice per month for 12 months or at least monthly for 24 months if they meet one of the following subparagraphs, based on monitoring conducted under paragraph (3):

(i) For systems using lake/reservoir sources, the annual mean E. coli concentration is greater than 10 E. coli/100 mL.

(ii) For systems using flowing stream sources, the annual mean E. coli concentration is greater than 50 E. coli/100 mL.

(iii) The system does not conduct E. coli monitoring as described in paragraph (3).

(iv) Systems using groundwater sources under the direct influence of surface water (GUDI) shall comply with this paragraph based on the E. coli level that applies to the nearest surface water body. If no surface water body is nearby, the system shall comply based on the requirements that apply to systems using lake/reservoir sources.

(5) For filtered systems serving less than 10,000 people, the Department may approve monitoring for an indicator other than E. coli under paragraph (3). The Department also may approve an alternative to the E. coli concentration in paragraph (4)(i), (ii) or (iv) to trigger Cryptosporidium monitoring. This approval by the Department would be based on EPA-supported research indicating the validity of an alternative to E. coli. The Department will provide this approval to the system in writing and will include the basis for the Department’s determination that the alternative indicator, trigger level, or both, will provide a more accurate identification of whether a system will exceed the Bin 1 Cryptosporidium level in § 109.1203(c) (relating to bin classification and treatment technique requirements).

(6) Unfiltered systems serving less than 10,000 people shall sample their source water for Cryptosporidium at least twice per month for 12 months or at least monthly for 24 months.

(7) Systems may sample more frequently than required under this section if the sampling frequency is evenly spaced throughout the monitoring period.

(b) Second round of source water monitoring. Systems shall conduct a second round of source water monitoring that meets the requirements for monitoring parameters, frequency, and duration described in subsection (a), unless they meet the monitoring exemption criteria in subsection (d). Systems shall conduct this monitoring on the schedule in subsection (c).

(c) Source water monitoring schedule. Systems shall begin the monitoring required in subsections (a) and (b) as follows:

(1) At least 100,000 people:

(i) Begin the first round of source water monitoring no later than the month beginning October 1, 2006.

(ii) Begin the second round of source water monitoring at least 6 years after submitting the initial bin classification but no later than the month beginning April 1, 2015.

(2) From 50,000 to 99,999 people:

(i) Begin the first round of source water monitoring no later than the month beginning April 1, 2007.

(ii) Begin the second round of source water monitoring at least 6 years after submitting the initial bin classification but no later than the month beginning October 1, 2015.

(3) From 10,000 to 49,999 people:

(i) Begin the first round of source water monitoring no later than the month beginning April 1, 2008.

(ii) Begin the second round of source water monitoring at least 6 years after submitting the initial bin classification but no later than the month beginning October 1, 2016.

(4) Less than 10,000 people and monitor for E coli:

(i) Begin the first round of source water monitoring no later than the month beginning October 1, 2008.

(ii) Begin the second round of source water monitoring at least 6 years after submitting the initial bin classification but no later than the month beginning October 1, 2017.

(5) Less than 10,000 and monitor for Cryptosporidium:

(i) Begin the first round of source water monitoring no later than the month beginning April 1, 2010.

(ii) Begin the second round of source water monitoring at least 6 years after submitting the initial bin classification but no later than the month beginning April 1, 2019.

(d) Source water monitoring avoidance.

(1) 5.5 log treatment. A filtered system is not required to conduct source water monitoring under this subchapter if the system will provide a total of at least 5.5-log of treatment for Cryptosporidium, equivalent to meeting the treatment requirements of Bin 4 in § 109.1203.

(2) Notification. If a system chooses to provide the level of treatment in paragraph (1), as applicable, rather than start source water monitoring, the system shall notify the Department in writing no later than the date the system is otherwise required to submit a sampling schedule for monitoring under subsections (h)—(j). Alternatively, a system may choose to stop sampling at any point after it has initiated monitoring if it notifies the Department in writing that it will provide this level of treatment. Systems shall install and operate technologies to provide this level of treatment by the applicable treatment compliance date in § 109.1203(k)—(o).

(e) Plants operating only part of the year. Public water systems supplied by a surface water source and public water systems supplied by a groundwater source under the direct influence of surface water that operate for only part of the year shall conduct source water monitoring in accordance with this subchapter, but with the following modifications:

(1) Systems shall sample their source water only during the months that the plant operates unless the Department specifies another monitoring period based on plant operating practices.

(2) Systems with plants that operate less than 6 months per year and that monitor for Cryptosporidium shall collect at least six Cryptosporidium samples per year during each of 2 years of monitoring. Samples must be evenly spaced throughout the period the plant operates or is anticipated to operate.

(f) New sources.

(1) A system that intends to use a new source of surface water or GUDI after the system is required to begin monitoring under subsection (c) shall monitor the new source on a schedule the Department approves. Any source that has not been monitored according to the requirements of this subchapter will be considered to be a new source. Source water monitoring for new sources must meet the requirements of this subchapter. The system shall also meet the bin classification and Cryptosporidium treatment requirements of § 109.1203(a)—(j), as applicable, for the new source on a schedule approved by the Department. Sources that have not been monitored according to the requirements of this subchapter will be considered to be Bin 4 until monitoring is adequately completed. No later than the applicable Cryptosporidium compliance dates specified in § 109.1203(k), systems wishing to use sources that have not been monitored shall meet the Bin 4 treatment requirements of § 109.1203(a)—(j) unless otherwise indicated by the Department.

(2) The requirements of this subsection apply to public water systems supplied by a surface water source or groundwater source under the direct influence of surface water that begin operation after the monitoring start date applicable to the system’s size under subsection (c).

(3) The system shall begin a second round of source water monitoring no later than 6 years following initial bin classification under § 109.1203 or determination of the Cryptosporidium level under § 109.1203(i) and (j), as applicable.

(g) Monitoring violations. Failure to collect any source water sample required under this section in accordance with the sampling schedule, sampling location, analytical method, approved laboratory and reporting requirements of this subsection, § § 109.304 and 109.1206(a)—(e) (relating to analytical requirements; and reporting and recordkeeping requirements) is a monitoring violation.

(h) Source water sampling schedules. Systems required to conduct source water monitoring under subsections (a)—(g) shall submit a sampling schedule that specifies the calendar dates when the system will collect each required sample.

(1) Systems shall submit sampling schedules no later than 3 months prior to the applicable date listed in subsection (c) for each round of required monitoring.

(2) A system must comply with the following:

(i) A system serving at least 10,000 people shall submit its sampling schedule for the initial round of source water monitoring under subsection (a) to the EPA electronically at https://intranet.epa.gov/lt2/.

(ii) If a system is unable to submit the sampling schedule electronically, the system may use an alternative approach for submitting the sampling schedule that the EPA approves.

(3) A system serving less than 10,000 people shall submit its sampling schedules for the initial round of source water monitoring under subsection (a) to the Department.

(4) Systems shall submit sampling schedules for the second round of source water monitoring under subsection (b) to the Department.

(5) If the EPA or the Department does not respond to a system regarding its sampling schedule, the system shall sample at the reported schedule.

(i) Source water sample collection period. Systems shall collect samples within 2 days before or 2 days after the dates indicated in their sampling schedule (that is, within a 5 day period around the schedule date) unless one of the conditions of subsection (b)(1) or (2) applies.

(1) Extreme sample collection conditions. If an extreme condition or situation exists that may pose danger to the sample collector, or that cannot be avoided and causes the system to be unable to sample in the scheduled 5-day period, the system shall sample as close to the scheduled date as is feasible unless the Department approves an alternative sampling date. The system shall submit an explanation for the delayed sampling date to the Department concurrent with the shipment of the sample to the laboratory.

(2) Replacement samples. The requirements for replacement samples are as follows:

(i) If a system is unable to report a valid analytical result for a scheduled sampling date due to equipment failure, loss of or damage to the sample, failure to comply with the analytical method requirements, including the quality control requirements in § 109.304, or the failure of an approved laboratory to analyze the sample, then the system shall collect a replacement sample.

(ii) The system shall collect the replacement sample not later than 21 days after receiving information that an analytical result cannot be reported for the scheduled date unless the system demonstrates that collecting a replacement sample within this time frame is not feasible or the Department approves an alternative resampling date. The system shall submit an explanation for the delayed sampling date to the Department concurrent with the shipment of the sample to the laboratory.

(j) Missed samples. Systems that fail to meet the criteria of subsection (i) for any source water sample required under subsections (a)—(g) shall revise their sampling schedules to add dates for collecting all missed samples. Systems shall submit the revised schedule to the Department for approval prior to when the system begins collecting the missed samples.

(k) Source water sampling locations. Systems required to conduct source water monitoring under subsections (a)—(g) shall collect samples for each plant that treats a surface water or GUDI source. When multiple plants draw water from the same influent, such as the same pipe or intake, the Department may approve one set of monitoring results to be used to satisfy the requirements of subsections (a)—(g) for all plants.

(l) Chemical treatment prior to sampling location. Systems shall collect source water samples prior to chemical treatment, such as coagulants, oxidants and disinfectants.

(m) Source water sample location for plants that recycle. Systems that recycle filter backwash water shall collect source water samples prior to the point of filter backwash water addition.

(n) Bank filtration.

(1) Systems that receive Cryptosporidium treatment credit for bank filtration to meet existing treatment technique requirements of § 109.202(c) (relating to State MCLs, MRDLs and treatment technique requirements), as applicable, shall collect source water samples in the surface water prior to bank filtration.

(2) Systems that use bank filtration as pretreatment to a filtration plant shall collect source water samples from the well (that is, after bank filtration). Use of bank filtration during monitoring must be consistent with routine operational practice. Systems collecting samples after a bank filtration process may not receive treatment credit for the bank filtration under § 109.1204(f) (relating to requirements for microbial toolbox components).

(o) Multiple sources. Systems with plants that use multiple water sources, including multiple surface water sources and blended surface water and groundwater sources, shall collect samples as specified in paragraph (1) or (2). The use of multiple sources during monitoring must be consistent with routine operational practice. Sources not adequately evaluated during the monitoring period will be considered new sources and the requirements under subsection (f) will apply. Systems may begin monitoring a new source as soon as a sampling schedule and plan have been approved by the Department.

(1) If a sampling tap is available where the sources are combined prior to treatment, systems shall collect samples from the tap.

(2) If a sampling tap where the sources are combined prior to treatment is not available, systems shall collect samples at each source near the intake on the same day and shall follow either subparagraph (i) or (ii) for sample analysis.

(i) Systems may composite samples from each source into one sample prior to analysis. The volume of sample from each source must be weighted according to the proportion of the source in the total plant flow at the time the sample is collected.

(ii) Systems may analyze samples from each source separately and calculate a weighted average of the analysis results for each sampling date. The weighted average must be calculated by multiplying the analysis result for each source by the fraction the source contributed to total plant flow at the time the sample was collected and then summing these values.

(p) Additional requirements. A system shall submit a description of its sampling locations to the Department at the same time as the sampling schedule required under subsections (h)—(j). This description must address the position of the sampling location in relation to the system’s water sources and treatment processes, including pretreatment, points of chemical treatment and filter backwash recycle. If the Department does not respond to a system regarding sampling locations, the system shall sample at the reported locations.

The provisions of this § 109.1202 adopted December 24, 2009, effective December 26, 2009, 39 Pa.B. 7279.

Notation

Cross References

This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 109.301 (relating to general monitoring requirements); 25 Pa. Code § 109.418 (relating to special notice for failure to conduct source water Cryptosporidium monitoring or failure to determine bin classification); 25 Pa. Code § 109.503 (relating to public water system construction permits); 25 Pa. Code § 109.1203 (relating to bin classification and treatment technique requirements); 25 Pa. Code § 109.1204 (relating to requirements for microbial toolbox components); 25 Pa. Code § 109.1205 (relating to grandfathering previously collected data); 25 Pa. Code § 109.1206 (relating to reporting and recordkeeping requirements); and 25 Pa. Code § 109.1203 (relating to bin classification and treatment technique requirements).