WSR 19-07-063
PERMANENT RULES
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
[Filed March 19, 2019, 9:08 a.m., effective April 19, 2019]
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: WAC 246-290-638 Analytical requirements, the department of health (department) adopted an amendment to reference Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved methods for turbidimeter instruments instead of listing each EPA-approved turbidimeter in the rule section. Making this change will keep the department from having to update the rule each time EPA approves new turbidimeter instruments and it will allow public water systems to use the new instruments as soon as EPA approves them without any delay between EPA adoption and state rule adoption.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-290-638.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 19-04-022 on January 25, 2019.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: March 19, 2019.
Clark Halvorson
Assistant Secretary
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 17-01-062, filed 12/14/16, effective 1/14/17)
WAC 246-290-638Analytical requirements.
(1) The purveyor shall ensure that only qualified persons conduct measurements for pH, temperature, turbidity, and residual disinfectant concentrations. In this section, qualified means:
(a) A person certified under chapter 246-292 WAC;
(b) An analyst, with experience conducting these measurements, from the state public health laboratory or another laboratory certified by the department;
(c) A state or local health jurisdiction professional experienced in conducting these measurements; or
(d) For the purpose of monitoring distribution system residual disinfectant concentration only, a person designated by and under the direct supervision of a waterworks operator certified under chapter 246-292 WAC.
(2) The purveyor shall ensure that measurements for temperature, turbidity, pH, and residual disinfectant concentration are made in accordance with "standard methods," or other EPA approved methods.
(3) The purveyor shall ensure that samples for coliform and HPC analysis are:
(a) Collected and transported in accordance with department-approved methods; and
(b) Submitted to the state public health laboratory or another laboratory certified by the department to conduct the analyses.
(4) Turbidity monitoring.
(a) The purveyor shall equip the system's water treatment facility laboratory with a:
(i) Bench model turbidimeter; and
(ii) Continuous turbidimeter and recorder if required under WAC 246-290-664 or 246-290-694.
(b) The purveyor shall ensure that bench model and continuous turbidimeters are:
(i) Designed to meet the criteria in "standard methods," ((EPA Method 180.1, Hach FilterTrak Method 10133, Hach Method 10258, AMI Turbiwell Method, or Great Lakes Instruments Method 2))approved methods under 40 C.F.R. 141.74 (a)(1), or alternative testing methods under Appendix A to Subpart C of 40 C.F.R. Part 141; and
(ii) Properly operated, calibrated, and maintained at all times in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.
(c) The purveyor shall validate continuous turbidity measurements for accuracy as follows:
(i) Calibrate turbidity equipment based upon a primary standard in the expected range of measurements on at least a quarterly basis for instruments using an incandescent light source and on at least an annual basis for instruments using an LED or laser light source; and
(ii) Verify continuous turbidimeter performance on a weekly basis, not on consecutive days, with grab sample measurements made using a properly calibrated bench model turbidimeter.
(d) When continuous turbidity monitoring equipment fails, the purveyor shall measure turbidity on grab samples collected at least every four hours from the combined filter effluent and individual filters while the system serves water to the public and the equipment is being repaired or replaced. The purveyor shall have continuous monitoring equipment online within five working days of failure.
(5) Purveyors shall verify instruments used for continuous monitoring of free and total chlorine residual with a grab sample measurement at least every five days, or with a protocol approved by the department as required under 40 C.F.R. 141.74 (a)(2).
(6) Purveyors monitoring for Cryptosporidium or E. coli as required under 40 C.F.R. 141.701 shall collect samples and have them analyzed under 40 C.F.R. 141.704 and 141.705.