Section 109.1203. Bin classification and treatment technique requirements

(a) Bin classification. Following completion of the initial round of source water monitoring required under § 109.1202(a) (relating to monitoring requirements), filtered systems shall calculate an initial Cryptosporidium bin concentration for each plant for which monitoring was required. Calculation of the bin concentration must use the Cryptosporidium results reported under § 109.1202(a) and must follow the procedures in subsection (b)(1)—(5).

(b) Procedures for calculating bin classifications.

(1) For systems that collect a total of at least 48 samples, the bin concentration is equal to the arithmetic mean of all sample concentrations.

(2) For systems that collect a total of at least 24 samples, but not more than 47 samples, the bin concentration is equal to the highest arithmetic mean of all sample concentrations in any 12 consecutive months during which Cryptosporidium samples were collected.

(3) For systems that serve less than 10,000 people and monitor for Cryptosporidium for only 1 year (that is, collect 24 samples in 12 months), the bin concentration is equal to the arithmetic mean of all sample concentrations.

(4) For systems with plants operating only part of the year that monitor less than 12 months per year under § 109.1202(e), the bin concentration is equal to the highest arithmetic mean of all sample concentrations during any year of Cryptosporidium monitoring.

(5) If the monthly Cryptosporidium sampling frequency varies, systems shall first calculate a monthly average for each month of monitoring. Systems shall then use these monthly average concentrations, rather than individual sample concentrations, in the applicable calculation for bin classification in paragraphs (1)—(4).

(c) Cryptosporidium bin concentration thresholds. Systems required to monitor for Cryptosporidium under § 109.1202 shall use Cryptosporidium bin concentration calculated under subsections (a) and (b) to determine their initial bin classification as follows:

(1) With a Cryptosporidium bin concentration of less than 0.075 oocysts/L, the bin classification is Bin 1.

(2) With a Cryptosporidium bin concentration of 0.075 oocysts/L or higher, but less than 1.0 oocysts/L, the bin classification is Bin 2.

(3) With a Cryptosporidium bin concentration of 1.0 oocysts/L or higher but less than 3.0 oocysts/L, the bin classification is Bin 3.

(4) With a Cryptosporidium bin concentration of 3.0 oocysts/L or higher, the bin classification is Bin 4.

(5) If serving less than 10,000 people and not required to monitor for Cryptosporidium under § 109.1202(a)(4), the bin classification is Bin 1.

(d) Cryptosporidium bin concentration recalculation requirements. Following completion of the second round of source water monitoring required under § 109.1202(b), filtered systems shall recalculate their Cryptosporidium bin concentration using the Cryptosporidium results reported under § 109.1202(b) and following the procedures in subsection (b). Systems shall then redetermine their bin classification using the bin concentrations subsection (c).

(e) Filtered system additional Cryptosporidium treatment requirements. Filtered systems shall provide the level of additional treatment for Cryptosporidium specified in this subsection based on their bin classification as determined under subsections (a)—(c) and according to the schedule in subsections (k)—(o). The treatments required under paragraphs (1)—(4) are in addition to existing treatment technique requirements contained in § 109.202(c) (relating to State MCLs, MRDLs and treatment technique requirements), which still apply. Systems using multiple sources shall establish their bin classification based on the highest bin source in use by the facility.

(1) Bin 1. If the system bin classification is Bin 1, the system shall provide additional Cryptosporidium treatment as follows:

(i) Conventional filtration treatment (including softening), slow sand or diatomaceous earth filtration must provide no additional treatment.

(ii) Direct filtration treatment must provide no additional treatment.

(iii) Alternative filtration technologies must provide no additional treatment.

(2) Bin 2. If the system bin classification is Bin 2, the system shall provide additional Cryptosporidium treatment as follows:

(i) Conventional filtration treatment (including softening), slow sand or diatomaceous earth filtration must provide 1-log additional treatment.

(ii) Direct filtration treatment must provide 1.5 log additional treatment.

(iii) Alternative filtration technologies must provide additional treatment as determined by the Department such that the total Cryptosporidium removal and inactivation is at least 4.0 log.

(3) Bin 3. If the system bin classification is Bin 3, the system shall provide additional Cryptosporidium treatment as follows:

(i) Conventional filtration treatment (including softening), slow sand or diatomaceous earth filtration must provide 2-log additional treatment.

(ii) Direct filtration treatment must provide 2.5 log additional treatment.

(iii) Alternative filtration technologies must provide additional treatment as determined by the Department so that the total Cryptosporidium removal and inactivation is at least 5.0 log.

(4) Bin 4. If the system bin classification is Bin 4, the system shall provide additional Cryptosporidium treatment as follows:

(i) Conventional filtration treatment (including softening), slow sand or diatomaceous earth filtration must provide 2.5-log additional treatment.

(ii) Direct filtration treatment must provide 3 log additional treatment.

(iii) Alternative filtration technologies must provide additional treatment as determined by the Department so that the total Cryptosporidium removal and inactivation is at least 5.5 log.

(f) Treatment and management options for filtered systems, microbial toolbox.

(1) Filtered systems shall use one or more of the treatment and management options listed in § 109.1204 (relating to requirements for microbial toolbox components), termed the microbial toolbox, to comply with the additional Cryptosporidium treatment required in subsection (e).

(2) Systems using sources classified in Bin 3 and Bin 4 shall achieve at least 1-log of the additional Cryptosporidium treatment required under § 109.1204(a) using either one or a combination of the following: bag filters, bank filtration, cartridge filters, chlorine dioxide, membranes, ozone or UV, as described in § 109.1204(b), (c) and (n)—(q) (relating to requirements for microbial toolbox components).

(g) Failure to meet treatment credit. Failure by a system in any month to achieve treatment credit by meeting criteria in § 109.1204(b), (c) and (n)—(q) for microbial toolbox options that is at least equal to the level of treatment required in subsection (e) is a violation of the treatment technique requirement.

(h) Increased watershed contamination. If the Department determines during a sanitary survey or an equivalent source water assessment that after a system completed the monitoring conducted under § 109.1202(a) or (b), significant changes occurred in the system’s watershed that could lead to increased contamination of the source water by Cryptosporidium, the system shall take actions specified by the Department to address the contamination. These actions may include additional source water monitoring or implementing microbial toolbox options listed in § 109.1204, or both.

(i) Unfiltered systems determination of Cryptosporidium bin level, initial round. Following completion of the initial source water monitoring required under § 109.1202(a), unfiltered systems shall calculate their bin classification using the methods listed in subsections (b) and (c).

(j) Unfiltered systems determination of Cryptosporidium bin level, second round. Following completion of the second round of source water monitoring required under § 109.1202(b), unfiltered systems shall calculate their bin classification using the methods listed in subsections (b) and (c).

(k) Schedule for compliance with Cryptosporidium treatment requirements. Following initial bin classification under subsection (c), filtered systems shall provide the level of additional treatment for Cryptosporidium required under subsections (e)—(h) according to the schedule in subsection (m). The treatments required under subsections (e)—(h) are in addition to existing treatment technique requirements contained in § 109.202(c), which still apply.

(l) Treatment technique requirements for unfiltered systems. Following initial determination of the Cryptosporidium level under subsection (i), unfiltered systems shall meet all applicable treatment technique requirements of § 109.202(c) and provide the additional level of treatment for Cryptosporidium required under subsections (e)—(h) on a schedule approved by the Department but no later than the schedule in subsection (m).

(m) Cryptosporidium treatment compliance dates. Cryptosporidium treatment compliance dates are as follows:

(1) Systems that serve at least 100,000 people shall comply with Cryptosporidium treatment requirements by April 1, 2012.

(2) Systems that serve from 50,000 to 99,999 people shall comply with Cryptosporidium treatment requirements by October 1, 2012.

(3) Systems that serve from 10,000 to 49,999 people shall comply with Cryptosporidium treatment requirements by October 1, 2013.

(4) Systems that serve less than 10,000 people shall comply with Cryptosporidium treatment requirements by October 1, 2014.

(5) On a case by case basis within an agreed upon time frame, the Department may allow up to an additional 2 years for complying with the treatment requirement for systems making capital improvements.

(n) Change in Cryptosporidium level for filtered system. If the bin classification for a filtered system increases following the second round of source water monitoring, as determined under subsection (d), the system shall provide the level of treatment for Cryptosporidium required under subsections (e)—(h) on a schedule the Department approves.

(o) Change in Cryptosporidium level for unfiltered system. If the Cryptosporidium bin level for an unfiltered system increases following the second round of monitoring, as determined under subsection (j), the system shall provide the additional level of Cryptosporidium treatment under subsections (e)—(h) on a schedule the Department approves.

The provisions of this § 109.1203 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 § 109.408 (relating to tier 1 public notice—categories, timing and delivery notice); 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 § 109.605 (relating to minimum treatment design standards); 25 Pa. Code § 109.901 (relating to requirements for a variance); 25 Pa. Code § 109.903 (relating to requirements for an exemption); 25 Pa. Code § 109.1202 (relating to monitoring requirements); 25 Pa. Code § 109.1204 (relating to requirements for microbial toolbox components) 25 Pa. Code § 109.1206 (relating to recordkeeping requirements); and Appendix C to Subchapter L.