(Effective August 1, 2024)

PDFWAC 246-366A-135

Water quality monitoring—Copper.

(1) School officials shall collect water samples and have them tested for copper following the requirements of WAC 246-366A-130 (1) and (2)(b). The same water samples used for lead testing may be used for copper testing.
(2) School officials shall test water samples for copper from no less than twenty-five percent of each type and age of plumbing fixture regularly used for drinking or cooking.
(a) For type of fixture, use at least the three types: Drinking fountains, water coolers and faucets.
(b) For age of fixture, use at least two groupings: Those manufactured prior to 1999 and those manufactured since January 1, 1999.
(3) School officials shall complete water sampling of plumbing fixtures for copper in:
(a) Elementary schools within two years after the effective date of this section;
(b) Middle and junior high schools within three years after the effective date of this section; and
(c) High schools within four years after the effective date of this section.
(4) If school officials, with local health officer approval, include lead samples collected after September 1, 2003, toward meeting the initial monitoring requirement for lead, as specified in WAC 246-366A-130, they may wait to monitor those plumbing fixtures for copper until they conduct the next ongoing lead monitoring per WAC 246-366A-130(4).
(5) School officials, with local health officer approval, may include samples collected after September 1, 2003, toward meeting monitoring requirements if all plumbing fixtures with copper results above 1.30 milligrams per liter or 1300 parts per billion have been or are being addressed according to subsection (6) of this section, and the samples were:
(a) From plumbing fixtures regularly used for drinking and cooking; and
(b) Collected using the sampling protocol specified in WAC 246-366A-130 (2)(b).
(6) Corrective actions. For all plumbing fixtures with first draw sample results of copper above 1.30 milligrams per liter or 1300 parts per billion, school officials shall:
(a) Within five business days of getting sample results, consult with the department to develop a corrective action plan; and
(b) Implement the corrective action plan.
(7) Notification requirements. School officials shall:
(a) Notify staff, students and parents, and the local health officer within five business days of the school officials receiving copper sampling results above 1.30 milligrams per liter or 1300 parts per billion; and
(b) Make all results available for review upon request.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050. WSR 10-01-174, 10-12-018, 11-10-080, 13-09-040, 15-09-070, 17-14-055, 19-14-107, 21-14-056, 22-14-021, and 23-16-005, § 246-366A-135, filed 12/22/09, 5/21/10, 5/3/11, 4/11/13, 4/15/15, 6/28/17, 7/2/19, 7/1/21, 6/24/22, and 7/19/23, effective 8/1/24.]