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Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR)BETA TEST SITEe-CFR Data is current as of November 3, 2004
PART 141—NATIONAL PRIMARY DRINKING WATER REGULATIONSSection Contents § 141.1 Applicability. § 141.2 Definitions. § 141.3 Coverage. § 141.4 Variances and exemptions. § 141.5 Siting requirements. § 141.6 Effective dates. § 141.11 Maximum contaminant levels for inorganic chemicals. § 141.12 Maximum contaminant levels for total trihalomethanes. § 141.13 Maximum contaminant levels for turbidity. § 141.21 Coliform sampling. § 141.22 Turbidity sampling and analytical requirements. § 141.23 Inorganic chemical sampling and analytical requirements. § 141.24 Organic chemicals, sampling and analytical requirements. § 141.25 Analytical methods for radioactivity. § 141.26 Monitoring frequency and compliance requirements for radionuclides in community water systems. § 141.27 Alternate analytical techniques. § 141.28 Certified laboratories. § 141.29 Monitoring of consecutive public water systems. § 141.30 Total trihalomethanes sampling, analytical and other requirements. § 141.31 Reporting requirements. § 141.32 Public notification. § 141.33 Record maintenance. § 141.34 [Reserved] § 141.35 Reporting of unregulated contaminant monitoring results. § 141.40 Monitoring requirements for unregulated contaminants. Appendix A to §141.40—Quality Control Requirements for Testing All Samples Collected § 141.41 Special monitoring for sodium. § 141.42 Special monitoring for corrosivity characteristics. § 141.43 Prohibition on use of lead pipes, solder, and flux. § 141.50 Maximum contaminant level goals for organic contaminants. § 141.51 Maximum contaminant level goals for inorganic contaminants. § 141.52 Maximum contaminant level goals for microbiological contaminants. § 141.53 Maximum contaminant level goals for disinfection byproducts. § 141.54 Maximum residual disinfectant level goals for disinfectants. § 141.55 Maximum contaminant level goals for radionuclides. § 141.60 Effective dates. § 141.61 Maximum contaminant levels for organic contaminants. § 141.62 Maximum contaminant levels for inorganic contaminants. § 141.63 Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for microbiological contaminants. § 141.64 Maximum contaminant levels for disinfection byproducts. § 141.65 Maximum residual disinfectant levels. § 141.66 Maximum contaminant levels for radionuclides. § 141.70 General requirements. § 141.71 Criteria for avoiding filtration. § 141.72 Disinfection. § 141.73 Filtration. § 141.74 Analytical and monitoring requirements. § 141.75 Reporting and recordkeeping requirements. § 141.76 Recycle provisions. § 141.80 General requirements. § 141.81 Applicability of corrosion control treatment steps to small, medium-size and large water systems. § 141.82 Description of corrosion control treatment requirements. § 141.83 Source water treatment requirements. § 141.84 Lead service line replacement requirements. § 141.85 Public education and supplemental monitoring requirements. § 141.86 Monitoring requirements for lead and copper in tap water. § 141.87 Monitoring requirements for water quality parameters. § 141.88 Monitoring requirements for lead and copper in source water. § 141.89 Analytical methods. § 141.90 Reporting requirements. § 141.91 Recordkeeping requirements. § 141.100 Criteria and procedures for public water systems using point-of-entry devices. § 141.101 Use of bottled water. § 141.110 General requirements. § 141.111 Treatment techniques for acrylamide and epichlorohydrin. § 141.130 General requirements. § 141.131 Analytical requirements. § 141.132 Monitoring requirements. § 141.133 Compliance requirements. § 141.134 Reporting and recordkeeping requirements. § 141.135 Treatment technique for control of disinfection byproduct (DBP) precursors. § 141.151 Purpose and applicability of this subpart. § 141.152 Effective dates. § 141.153 Content of the reports. § 141.154 Required additional health information. § 141.155 Report delivery and recordkeeping. Appendix A to Subpart O of Part 141—Regulated Contaminants § 141.170 General requirements. § 141.171 Criteria for avoiding filtration. § 141.172 Disinfection profiling and benchmarking. § 141.173 Filtration. § 141.174 Filtration sampling requirements. § 141.175 Reporting and recordkeeping requirements. § 141.201 General public notification requirements. § 141.202 Tier 1 Public Notice—Form, manner, and frequency of notice. § 141.203 Tier 2 Public Notice—Form, manner, and frequency of notice. § 141.204 Tier 3 Public Notice—Form, manner, and frequency of notice. § 141.205 Content of the public notice. § 141.206 Notice to new billing units or new customers. § 141.207 Special notice of the availability of unregulated contaminant monitoring results. § 141.208 Special notice for exceedance of the SMCL for fluoride. § 141.209 Special notice for nitrate exceedances above MCL by non-community water systems (NCWS), where granted permission by the primacy agency under §141.11(d) § 141.210 Notice by primacy agency on behalf of the public water system. Appendix A to Subpart Q of Part 141—NPDWR Violations and Other Situations Requiring Public Notice 1 Appendix B to Subpart Q of Part 141—Standard Health Effects Language for Public Notification Appendix C to Subpart Q of Part 141—List of Acronyms Used in Public Notification Regulation General Requirements § 141.500 General requirements. § 141.501 Who is subject to the requirements of subpart T? § 141.502 When must my system comply with these requirements? § 141.503 What does subpart T require? Finished Water Reservoirs § 141.510 Is my system subject to the new finished water reservoir requirements? § 141.511 What is required of new finished water reservoirs? Additional Watershed Control Requirements for Unfiltered Systems § 141.520 Is my system subject to the updated watershed control requirements? § 141.521 What updated watershed control requirements must my unfiltered system implement to continue to avoid filtration? § 141.522 How does the State determine whether my system's watershed control requirements are adequate? Disinfection Profile § 141.530 What is a disinfection profile and who must develop one? § 141.531 What criteria must a State use to determine that a profile is unnecessary? § 141.532 How does my system develop a disinfection profile and when must it begin? § 141.533 What data must my system collect to calculate a disinfection profile? § 141.534 How does my system use this data to calculate an inactivation ratio? § 141.535 What if my system uses chloramines, ozone, or chlorine dioxide for primary disinfection? § 141.536 My system has developed an inactivation ratio; what must we do now? Disinfection Benchmark § 141.540 Who has to develop a disinfection benchmark? § 141.541 What are significant changes to disinfection practice? § 141.542 What must my system do if we are considering a significant change to disinfection practices? § 141.543 How is the disinfection benchmark calculated? § 141.544 What if my system uses chloramines, ozone, or chlorine dioxide for primary disinfection? Combined Filter Effluent Requirements § 141.550 Is my system required to meet subpart T combined filter effluent turbidity limits? § 141.551 What strengthened combined filter effluent turbidity limits must my system meet? § 141.552 My system consists of “alternative filtration” and is required to conduct a demonstration—what is required of my system and how does the State establish my turbidity limits? § 141.553 My system practices lime softening—is there any special provision regarding my combined filter effluent? Individual Filter Turbidity Requirements § 141.560 Is my system subject to individual filter turbidity requirements? § 141.561 What happens if my system's turbidity monitoring equipment fails? § 141.562 My system only has two or fewer filters—is there any special provision regarding individual filter turbidity monitoring? § 141.563 What follow-up action is my system required to take based on continuous turbidity monitoring? § 141.564 My system practices lime softening—is there any special provision regarding my individual filter turbidity monitoring? Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements § 141.570 What does subpart T require that my system report to the State? § 141.571 What records does subpart T require my system to keep? Authority: 42 U.S.C. 300f, 300g–1, 300g–2, 300g–3, 300g–4, 300g–5, 300g–6, 300j–4, 300j–9, and 300j–11. Source: 40 FR 59570, Dec. 24, 1975, unless otherwise noted. Editorial Note: Nomenclature
changes to part 141 appear at 69 FR 18803, Apr. 9, 2004.
For community water systems serving 75,000 or more persons, monitoring
must begin 1 year following promulation and the effective date of the MCL
is 2 years following promulgation. For community water systems serving
10,000 to 75,000 persons, monitoring must begin within 3 years from the
date of promulgation and the effective date of the MCL is 4 years from the
date of promulgation. Effective immediately, systems that plan to make
significant modifications to their treatment processes for the purpose of
complying with the TTHM MCL are required to seek and obtain State approval
of their treatment modification plans. This note affects §§141.2, 141.6,
141.12, 141.24 and 141.30. For additional information see 44 FR 68641,
Nov. 29, 1979. This part establishes primary drinking water regulations pursuant to section 1412 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended by the Safe Drinking Water Act (Pub. L. 93–523); and related regulations applicable to public water systems. § 141.2 Definitions. top
As used in this part, the term: Act means the Public Health Service Act, as amended by the Safe Drinking Water Act, Public Law 93–523. Action level, is the concentration of lead or copper in water specified in §141.80(c) which determines, in some cases, the treatment requirements contained in subpart I of this part that a water system is required to complete. Best available technology or BAT means the best technology, treatment techniques, or other means which the Administrator finds, after examination for efficacy under field conditions and not solely under laboratory conditions, are available (taking cost into consideration). For the purposes of setting MCLs for synthetic organic chemicals, any BAT must be at least as effective as granular activated carbon. Coagulation means a process using coagulant chemicals and mixing by which colloidal and suspended materials are destabilized and agglomerated into flocs. Community water system means a public water system which serves at least 15 service connections used by year-round residents or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Compliance cycle means the nine-year calendar year cycle during which public water systems must monitor. Each compliance cycle consists of three three-year compliance periods. The first calendar year cycle begins January 1, 1993 and ends December 31, 2001; the second begins January 1, 2002 and ends December 31, 2010; the third begins January 1, 2011 and ends December 31, 2019. Compliance period means a three-year calendar year period within a compliance cycle. Each compliance cycle has three three-year compliance periods. Within the first compliance cycle, the first compliance period runs from January 1, 1993 to December 31, 1995; the second from January 1, 1996 to December 31, 1998; the third from January 1, 1999 to December 31, 2001. Comprehensive performance evaluation (CPE) is a thorough review and analysis of a treatment plant's performance-based capabilities and associated administrative, operation and maintenance practices. It is conducted to identify factors that may be adversely impacting a plant's capability to achieve compliance and emphasizes approaches that can be implemented without significant capital improvements. For purpose of compliance with subparts P and T of this part, the comprehensive performance evaluation must consist of at least the following components: Assessment of plant performance; evaluation of major unit processes; identification and prioritization of performance limiting factors; assessment of the applicability of comprehensive technical assistance; and preparation of a CPE report. Confluent growth means a continuous bacterial growth covering the entire filtration area of a membrane filter, or a portion thereof, in which bacterial colonies are not discrete. Contaminant means any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter in water. Conventional filtration treatment means a series of processes including coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, and filtration resulting in substantial particulate removal. Corrosion inhibitor means a substance capable of reducing the corrosivity of water toward metal plumbing materials, especially lead and copper, by forming a protective film on the interior surface of those materials. CT or CTcalc is the product of “residual disinfectant concentration” (C) in mg/1 determined before or at the first customer, and the corresponding “disinfectant contact time” (T) in minutes, i.e., “C” x “T”. If a public water system applies disinfectants at more than one point prior to the first customer, it must determine the CT of each disinfectant sequence before or at the first customer to determine the total percent inactivation or “total inactivation ratio.” In determining the total inactivation ratio, the public water system must determine the residual disinfectant concentration of each disinfection sequence and corresponding contact time before any subsequent disinfection application point(s). “CT99.9” is the CT value required for 99.9 percent (3–log) inactivation of Giardia lamblia cysts. CT99.9 for a variety of disinfectants and conditions appear in tables 1.1–1.6, 2.1, and 3.1 of §141.74(b)(3). is the inactivation ratio. The sum of the inactivation ratios, or total inactivation ratio shown as is calculated by adding together the inactivation ratio for each disinfection sequence. A total inactivation ratio equal to or greater than 1.0 is assumed to provide a 3-log inactivation of Giardia lamblia cysts. Diatomaceous earth filtration means a process resulting in substantial particulate removal in which (1) a precoat cake of diatomaceous earth filter media is deposited on a support membrance (septum), and (2) while the water is filtered by passing through the cake on the septum, additional filter media known as body feed is continuously added to the feed water to maintain the permeability of the filter cake. Direct filtration means a series of processes including coagulation and filtration but excluding sedimentation resulting in substantial particulate removal. Disinfectant means any oxidant, including but not limited to chlorine, chlorine dioxide, chloramines, and ozone added to water in any part of the treatment or distribution process, that is intended to kill or inactivate pathogenic microorganisms. Disinfectant contact time (“T” in CT calculations) means the time in minutes that it takes for water to move from the point of disinfectant application or the previous point of disinfectant residual measurement to a point before or at the point where residual disinfectant concentration (“C”) is measured. Where only one “C” is measured, “T” is the time in minutes that it takes for water to move from the point of disinfectant application to a point before or at where residual disinfectant concentration (“C”) is measured. Where more than one “C” is measured, “T” is (a) for the first measurement of “C”, the time in minutes that it takes for water to move from the first or only point of disinfectant application to a point before or at the point where the first “C” is measured and (b) for subsequent measurements of “C”, the time in minutes that it takes for water to move from the previous “C” measurement point to the “C” measurement point for which the particular “T” is being calculated. Disinfectant contact time in pipelines must be calculated based on “plug flow” by dividing the internal volume of the pipe by the maximum hourly flow rate through that pipe. Disinfectant contact time within mixing basins and storage reservoirs must be determined by tracer studies or an equivalent demonstration. Disinfection means a process which inactivates pathogenic organisms in water by chemical oxidants or equivalent agents. Disinfection profile is a summary of Giardia lamblia inactivation through the treatment plant. The procedure for developing a disinfection profile is contained in §141.172 (Disinfection profiling and benchmarking) in subpart P and §§141.530–141.536 (Disinfection profile) in subpart T of this part. Domestic or other non-distribution system plumbing problem means a coliform contamination problem in a public water system with more than one service connection that is limited to the specific service connection from which the coliform-positive sample was taken. Dose equivalent means the product of the absorbed dose from ionizing radiation and such factors as account for differences in biological effectiveness due to the type of radiation and its distribution in the body as specified by the International Commission on Radiological Units and Measurements (ICRU). Effective corrosion inhibitor residual, for the purpose of subpart I of this part only, means a concentration sufficient to form a passivating film on the interior walls of a pipe. Enhanced coagulation means the addition of sufficient coagulant for improved removal of disinfection byproduct precursors by conventional filtration treatment. Enhanced softening means the improved removal of disinfection byproduct precursors by precipitative softening. Filter profile is a graphical representation of individual filter performance, based on continuous turbidity measurements or total particle counts versus time for an entire filter run, from startup to backwash inclusively, that includes an assessment of filter performance while another filter is being backwashed. Filtration means a process for removing particulate matter from water by passage through porous media. First draw sample means a one-liter sample of tap water, collected in accordance with §141.86(b)(2), that has been standing in plumbing pipes at least 6 hours and is collected without flushing the tap. Flocculation means a process to enhance agglomeration or collection of smaller floc particles into larger, more easily settleable particles through gentle stirring by hydraulic or mechanical means. GAC10 means granular activated carbon filter beds with an empty-bed contact time of 10 minutes based on average daily flow and a carbon reactivation frequency of every 180 days. Ground water under the direct influence of surface water (GWUDI) means any water beneath the surface of the ground with significant occurrence of insects or other macroorganisms, algae, or large-diameter pathogens such as Giardia lamblia or Cryptosporidium, or significant and relatively rapid shifts in water characteristics such as turbidity, temperature, conductivity, or pH which closely correlate to climatological or surface water conditions. Direct influence must be determined for individual sources in accordance with criteria established by the State. The State determination of direct influence may be based on site-specific measurements of water quality and/or documentation of well construction characteristics and geology with field evaluation. Gross alpha particle activity means the total radioactivity due to alpha particle emission as inferred from measurements on a dry sample. Gross beta particle activity means the total radioactivity due to beta particle emission as inferred from measurements on a dry sample. Haloacetic acids (five) (HAA5) mean the sum of the concentrations in milligrams per liter of the haloacetic acid compounds (monochloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, monobromoacetic acid, and dibromoacetic acid), rounded to two significant figures after addition. Halogen means one of the chemical elements chlorine, bromine or iodine. Initial compliance period means the first full three-year compliance period which begins at least 18 months after promulgation, except for contaminants listed at §141.61(a) (19)–(21), (c) (19)–(33), and §141.62(b) (11)–(15), initial compliance period means the first full three-year compliance period after promulgation for systems with 150 or more service connections (January 1993–December 1995), and first full three-year compliance period after the effective date of the regulation (January 1996–December 1998) for systems having fewer than 150 service connections. Large water system, for the purpose of subpart I of this part only, means a water system that serves more than 50,000 persons. Lead service line means a service line made of lead which connects the water main to the building inlet and any lead pigtail, gooseneck or other fitting which is connected to such lead line. Legionella means a genus of bacteria, some species of which have caused a type of pneumonia called Legionnaires Disease. Man-made beta particle and photon emitters means all radionuclides emitting beta particles and/or photons listed in Maximum Permissible Body Burdens and Maximum Permissible Concentration of Radionuclides in Air or Water for Occupational Exposure, NBS Handbook 69, except the daughter products of thorium–232, uranium–235 and uranium–238. Maximum contaminant level means the maximum permissable level of a contaminant in water which is delivered to any user of a public water system. Maximum contaminant level goal or MCLG means the maximum level of a contaminant in drinking water at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons would occur, and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Maximum contaminant level goals are nonenforceable health goals. Maximum residual disinfectant level (MRDL) means a level of a disinfectant added for water treatment that may not be exceeded at the consumer's tap without an unacceptable possibility of adverse health effects. For chlorine and chloramines, a PWS is in compliance with the MRDL when the running annual average of monthly averages of samples taken in the distribution system, computed quarterly, is less than or equal to the MRDL. For chlorine dioxide, a PWS is in compliance with the MRDL when daily samples are taken at the entrance to the distribution system and no two consecutive daily samples exceed the MRDL. MRDLs are enforceable in the same manner as maximum contaminant levels under Section 1412 of the Safe Drinking Water Act. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of waterborne microbial contaminants. Notwithstanding the MRDLs listed in §141.65, operators may increase residual disinfectant levels of chlorine or chloramines (but not chlorine dioxide) in the distribution system to a level and for a time necessary to protect public health to address specific microbiological contamination problems caused by circumstances such as distribution line breaks, storm runoff events, source water contamination, or cross-connections. Maximum residual disinfectant level goal (MRDLG) means the maximum level of a disinfectant added for water treatment at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons would occur, and which allows an adequate margin of safety. MRDLGs are nonenforceable health goals and do not reflect the benefit of the addition of the chemical for control of waterborne microbial contaminants. Maximum Total Trihalomethane Potential (MTP) means the maximum concentration of total trihalomethanes produced in a given water containing a disinfectant residual after 7 days at a temperature of 25 °C or above. Medium-size water system, for the purpose of subpart I of this part only, means a water system that serves greater than 3,300 and less than or equal to 50,000 persons. Near the first service connection means at one of the 20 percent of all service connections in the entire system that are nearest the water supply treatment facility, as measured by water transport time within the distribution system. Non-community water system means a public water system that is not a community water system. A non-community water system is either a “transient non-community water system (TWS)” or a “non-transient non-community water system (NTNCWS).” Non-transient non-community water system or NTNCWS means a public water system that is not a community water system and that regularly serves at least 25 of the same persons over 6 months per year. Optimal corrosion control treatment, for the purpose of subpart I of this part only, means the corrosion control treatment that minimizes the lead and copper concentrations at users' taps while insuring that the treatment does not cause the water system to violate any national primary drinking water regulations. Performance evaluation sample means a reference sample provided to a laboratory for the purpose of demonstrating that the laboratory can successfully analyze the sample within limits of performance specified by the Agency. The true value of the concentration of the reference material is unknown to the laboratory at the time of the analysis. Person means an individual; corporation; company; association; partnership; municipality; or State, Federal, or tribal agency. Picocurie (pCi) means the quantity of radioactive material producing 2.22 nuclear transformations per minute. Point of disinfectant application is the point where the disinfectant is applied and water downstream of that point is not subject to recontamination by surface water runoff. Point-of-entry treatment device (POE) is a treatment device applied to the drinking water entering a house or building for the purpose of reducing contaminants in the drinking water distributed throughout the house or building. Point-of-use treatment device (POU) is a treatment device applied to a single tap used for the purpose of reducing contaminants in drinking water at that one tap. Public water system means a system for the provision to the public of water for human consumption through pipes or, after August 5, 1998, other constructed conveyances, if such system has at least fifteen service connections or regularly serves an average of at least twenty-five individuals daily at least 60 days out of the year. Such term includes: any collection, treatment, storage, and distribution facilities under control of the operator of such system and used primarily in connection with such system; and any collection or pretreatment storage facilities not under such control which are used primarily in connection with such system. Such term does not include any “special irrigation district.” A public water system is either a “community water system” or a “noncommunity water system.” Rem means the unit of dose equivalent from ionizing radiation to the total body or any internal organ or organ system. A “millirem (mrem)” is 1/1000 of a rem. Repeat compliance period means any subsequent compliance period after the initial compliance period. Residual disinfectant concentration (“C” in CT calculations) means the concentration of disinfectant measured in mg/l in a representative sample of water. Sanitary survey means an onsite review of the water source, facilities, equipment, operation and maintenance of a public water system for the purpose of evaluating the adequacy of such source, facilities, equipment, operation and maintenance for producing and distributing safe drinking water. Sedimentation means a process for removal of solids before filtration by gravity or separation. Service connection, as used in the definition of public water system, does not include a connection to a system that delivers water by a constructed conveyance other than a pipe if: (1) The water is used exclusively for purposes other than residential uses (consisting of drinking, bathing, and cooking, or other similar uses); (2) The State determines that alternative water to achieve the equivalent level of public health protection provided by the applicable national primary drinking water regulation is provided for residential or similar uses for drinking and cooking; or (3) The State determines that the water provided for residential or similar uses for drinking, cooking, and bathing is centrally treated or treated at the point of entry by the provider, a pass-through entity, or the user to achieve the equivalent level of protection provided by the applicable national primary drinking water regulations. Service line sample means a one-liter sample of water collected in accordance with §141.86(b)(3), that has been standing for at least 6 hours in a service line. Single family structure, for the purpose of subpart I of this part only, means a building constructed as a single-family residence that is currently used as either a residence or a place of business. Slow sand filtration means a process involving passage of raw water through a bed of sand at low velocity (generally less than 0.4 m/h) resulting in substantial particulate removal by physical and biological mechanisms. Small water system, for the purpose of subpart I of this part only, means a water system that serves 3,300 persons or fewer. Special irrigation district means an irrigation district in existence prior to May 18, 1994 that provides primarily agricultural service through a piped water system with only incidental residential or similar use where the system or the residential or similar users of the system comply with the exclusion provisions in section 1401(4)(B)(i)(II) or (III). Standard sample means the aliquot of finished drinking water that is examined for the presence of coliform bacteria. State means the agency of the State or Tribal government which has jurisdiction over public water systems. During any period when a State or Tribal government does not have primary enforcement responsibility pursuant to section 1413 of the Act, the term “State” means the Regional Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Subpart H systems means public water systems using surface water or ground water under the direct influence of surface water as a source that are subject to the requirements of subpart H of this part. Supplier of water means any person who owns or operates a public water system. Surface water means all water which is open to the atmosphere and subject to surface runoff. SUVA means Specific Ultraviolet Absorption at 254 nanometers
(nm), an indicator of the humic content of water. It is a calculated
parameter obtained by dividing a sample's ultraviolet absorption at a
wavelength of 254 nm (UV254) (in m System with a single service connection means a system which supplies drinking water to consumers via a single service line. Too numerous to count means that the total number of bacterial colonies exceeds 200 on a 47-mm diameter membrane filter used for coliform detection. Total Organic Carbon (TOC) means total organic carbon in mg/L measured using heat, oxygen, ultraviolet irradiation, chemical oxidants, or combinations of these oxidants that convert organic carbon to carbon dioxide, rounded to two significant figures. Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) means the sum of the concentration in milligrams per liter of the trihalomethane compounds (trichloromethane [chloroform], dibromochloromethane, bromodichloromethane and tribromomethane [bromoform]), rounded to two significant figures. Transient non-community water system or TWS means a non-community water system that does not regularly serve at least 25 of the same persons over six months per year. Trihalomethane (THM) means one of the family of organic compounds, named as derivatives of methane, wherein three of the four hydrogen atoms in methane are each substituted by a halogen atom in the molecular structure. Uncovered finished water storage facility is a tank, reservoir, or other facility used to store water that will undergo no further treatment except residual disinfection and is open to the atmosphere. Virus means a virus of fecal origin which is infectious to humans by waterborne transmission. Waterborne disease outbreak means the significant occurrence of acute infectious illness, epidemiologically associated with the ingestion of water from a public water system which is deficient in treatment, as determined by the appropriate local or State agency. [40 FR 59570, Dec. 24, 1975, as amended at 41 FR 28403, July 9, 1976; 44 FR 68641, Nov. 29, 1979; 51 FR 11410, Apr. 2, 1986; 52 FR 20674, June 2, 1987; 52 FR 25712, July 8, 1987; 53 FR 37410, Sept. 26, 1988; 54 FR 27526, 27562, June 29, 1989; 56 FR 3578, Jan. 30, 1991; 56 FR 26547, June 7, 1991; 57 FR 31838, July 17, 1992; 59 FR 34322, July 1, 1994; 61 FR 24368, May 14, 1996; 63 FR 23366, Apr. 28, 1998; 63 FR 69463, 69515, Dec. 16, 1998; 66 FR 7061, Jan. 22, 2001; 67 FR 1835, Jan. 14, 2002] § 141.3 Coverage. top
This part shall apply to each public water system, unless the public water system meets all of the following conditions: (a) Consists only of distribution and storage facilities (and does not have any collection and treatment facilities); (b) Obtains all of its water from, but is not owned or operated by, a public water system to which such regulations apply: (c) Does not sell water to any person; and (d) Is not a carrier which conveys passengers in interstate commerce. § 141.4 Variances and exemptions. top
(a) Variances or exemptions from certain provisions of these regulations may be granted pursuant to sections 1415 and 1416 of the Act and subpart K of part 142 of this chapter (for small system variances) by the entity with primary enforcement responsibility, except that variances or exemptions from the MCL for total coliforms and variances from any of the treatment technique requirements of subpart H of this part may not be granted. (b) EPA has stayed the effective date of this section relating to the total coliform MCL of §141.63(a) for systems that demonstrate to the State that the violation of the total coliform MCL is due to a persistent growth of total coliforms in the distribution system rather than fecal or pathogenic contamination, a treatment lapse or deficiency, or a problem in the operation or maintenance of the distribution system. [54 FR 27562, June 29, 1989, as amended at 56 FR 1557, Jan. 15, 1991; 63 FR 43846, Aug. 14, 1998] § 141.5 Siting requirements. top
Before a person may enter into a financial commitment for or initiate construction of a new public water system or increase the capacity of an existing public water system, he shall notify the State and, to the extent practicable, avoid locating part or all of the new or expanded facility at a site which: (a) Is subject to a significant risk from earthquakes, floods, fires or other disasters which could cause a breakdown of the public water system or a portion thereof; or (b) Except for intake structures, is within the floodplain of a 100–year flood or is lower than any recorded high tide where appropriate records exist. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will not seek to override land use decisions affecting public water systems siting which are made at the State or local government levels. § 141.6 Effective dates. top
(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) through (k) of this section, and in §141.80(a)(2), the regulations set forth in this part shall take effect on June 24, 1977. (b) The regulations for total trihalomethanes set forth in §141.12(c) shall take effect 2 years after the date of promulgation of these regulations for community water systems serving 75,000 or more individuals, and 4 years after the date of promulgation for communities serving 10,000 to 74,999 individuals. (c) The regulations set forth in §§141.11(d); 141.21(a), (c) and (i); 141.22(a) and (e); 141.23(a)(3) and (a)(4); 141.23(f); 141.24(e) and (f); 141.25(e); 141.27(a); 141.28(a) and (b); 141.31(a), (d) and (e); 141.32(b)(3); and 141.32(d) shall take effect immediately upon promulgation. (d) The regulations set forth in §141.41 shall take effect 18 months from the date of promulgation. Suppliers must complete the first round of sampling and reporting within 12 months following the effective date. (e) The regulations set forth in §141.42 shall take effect 18 months from the date of promulgation. All requirements in §141.42 must be completed within 12 months following the effective date. (f) The regulations set forth in §141.11(c) and §141.23(g) are effective May 2, 1986. Section 141.23(g)(4) is effective October 2, 1987. (g) The regulations contained in §141.6, paragraph (c) of the table in 141.12, and 141.62(b)(1) are effective July 1, 1991. The regulations contained in §§141.11(b), 141.23, 141.24, 142.57(b), 143.4(b)(12) and (b)(13), are effective July 30, 1992. The regulations contained in the revisions to §§141.32(e) (16), (25) through (27) and (46); 141.61(c)(16); and 141.62(b)(3) are effective January 1, 1993. The effective date of regulations contained in §141.61(c) (2), (3), and (4) is postponed. (h) Regulations for the analytic methods listed at §141.23(k)(4) for measuring antimony, beryllium, cyanide, nickel, and thallium are effective August 17, 1992. Regulations for the analytic methods listed at §141.24(f)(16) for dichloromethane, 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, and 1,1,2-trichloroethane are effective August 17, 1992. Regulations for the analytic methods listed at §141.24(h)(12) for measuring dalapon, dinoseb, diquat, endothall, endrin, glyphosate, oxamyl, picloram, simazine, benzo(a)pyrene, di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate, di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, hexachlorobenzene, hexachlorocyclopentadiene, and 2,3,7,8-TCDD are effective August 17, 1992. The revision to §141.12(a) promulgated on July 17, 1992 is effective on August 17, 1992. (i) [Reserved] (j) The arsenic maximum contaminant levels (MCL) listed in §141.62 is effective for the purpose of compliance on January 23, 2006. Requirements relating to arsenic set forth in §§141.23(i)(4), 141.23(k)(3) introductory text, 141.23(k)(3)(ii), 141.51(b), 141.62(b), 141.62(b)(16), 141.62(c), 141.62(d), and 142.62(b) revisions in Appendix A of subpart O for the consumer confidence rule, and Appendices A and B of subpart Q for the public notification rule are effective for the purpose of compliance on January 23, 2006. However, the consumer confidence rule reporting requirements relating to arsenic listed in §141.154(b) and (f) are effective for the purpose of compliance on February 22, 2002. (k) Regulations set forth in §§141.23(i)(1), 141.23(i)(2), 141.24(f)(15), 141.24(f)(22), 141.24(h)(11), 141.24(h)(20), 142.16(e), 142.16(j), and 142.16(k) are effective for the purpose of compliance on January 22, 2004. [44 FR 68641, Nov. 29, 1979, as amended at 45 FR 57342, Aug. 27, 1980; 47 FR 10998, Mar. 12, 1982; 51 FR 11410, Apr. 2, 1986; 56 FR 30274, July 1, 1991; 57 FR 22178, May 27, 1992; 57 FR 31838, July 17, 1992; 59 FR 34322, July 1, 1994; 61 FR 24368, May 14, 1996; 66 FR 7061, Jan. 22, 2001; 66 FR 28350, May 22, 2001] Subpart B—Maximum Contaminant Levels top
§ 141.11 Maximum contaminant levels for inorganic chemicals. top
(a) The maximum contaminant level for arsenic applies only to community water systems. The analyses and determination of compliance with the 0.05 milligrams per liter maximum contaminant level for arsenic use the requirements of §141.23. (b) The maximum contaminant level for arsenic is 0.05 milligrams per liter for community water systems until January 23, 2006. (c) [Reserved] (d) At the discretion of the State, nitrate levels not to exceed 20 mg/l may be allowed in a non-community water system if the supplier of water demonstrates to the satisfaction of the State that: (1) Such water will not be available to children under 6 months of age; and (2) The non-community water system is meeting the public notification requirements under §141.209, including continuous posting of the fact that nitrate levels exceed 10 mg/l and the potential health effects of exposure; and (3) Local and State public health authorities will be notified annually of nitrate levels that exceed 10 mg/l; and (4) No adverse health effects shall result. [40 FR 59570, Dec. 24, 1975, as amended at 45 FR 57342, Aug. 27, 1980; 47 FR 10998, Mar. 12, 1982; 51 FR 11410, Apr. 2, 1986; 56 FR 3578, Jan. 30, 1991; 56 FR 26548, June 7, 1991; 56 FR 30274, July 1, 1991; 56 FR 32113, July 15, 1991; 60 FR 33932, June 29, 1995; 65 FR 26022, May 4, 2000; 66 FR 7061, Jan. 22, 2001] § 141.12 Maximum contaminant levels for total trihalomethanes. top
The maximum contaminant level of 0.10 mg/L for total trihalomethanes (the sum of the concentrations of bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, tribromomethane (bromoform), and trichloromethane (chloroform)) applies to subpart H community water systems which serve a population of 10,000 people or more until December 31, 2001. This level applies to community water systems that use only ground water not under the direct influence of surface water and serve a population of 10,000 people or more until December 31, 2003. Compliance with the maximum contaminant level for total trihalomethanes is calculated pursuant to §141.30. After December 31, 2003, this section is no longer applicable. [63 FR 69463, Dec. 16, 1998, as amended at 66 FR 3776, Jan. 16, 2001] § 141.13 Maximum contaminant levels for turbidity. top
The maximum contaminant levels for turbidity are applicable to both community water systems and non-community water systems using surface water sources in whole or in part. The maximum contaminant levels for turbidity in drinking water, measured at a representative entry point(s) to the distribution system, are: Editorial Note: At 54 FR 27527, June 29, 1989, §141.13 was amended by adding introductory text, effective December 31, 1990. However, introductory text already exists. The added text follows. The requirements in this section apply to unfiltered systems until December 30, 1991, unless the State has determined prior to that date, in writing pursuant to §1412(b)(7)(C)(iii), that filtration is required. The requirements in this section apply to filtered systems until June 29, 1993. The requirements in this section apply to unfiltered systems that the State has determined, in writing pursuant to §1412(b)(7)(C)(iii), must install filtration, until June 29, 1993, or until filtration is installed, whichever is later. (a) One turbidity unit (TU), as determined by a monthly average pursuant to §141.22, except that five or fewer turbidity units may be allowed if the supplier of water can demonstrate to the State that the higher turbidity does not do any of the following: (1) Interfere with disinfection; (2) Prevent maintenance of an effective disinfectant agent throughout the distribution system; or (3) Interfere with microbiological determinations. (b) Five turbidity units based on an average for two consecutive days pursuant to §141.22. [40 FR 59570, Dec. 24, 1975] Subpart C—Monitoring and Analytical Requirements top
§ 141.21 Coliform sampling. top
(a) Routine monitoring. (1) Public water systems must collect total coliform samples at sites which are representative of water throughout the distribution system according to a written sample siting plan. These plans are subject to State review and revision. (2) The monitoring frequency for total coliforms for community water systems is based on the population served by the system, as follows: |
Total Coliform Monitoring Frequency for Community Water Systems
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minimum
number of
Population served samples
per month
------------------------------------------------------------------------
25 to 1,000 \1\.............................................. 1
1,001 to 2,500............................................... 2
2,501 to 3,300............................................... 3
3,301 to 4,100............................................... 4
4,101 to 4,900............................................... 5
4,901 to 5,800............................................... 6
5,801 to 6,700............................................... 7
6,701 to 7,600............................................... 8
7,601 to 8,500............................................... 9
8,501 to 12,900.............................................. 10
12,901 to 17,200............................................. 15
17,201 to 21,500............................................. 20
21,501 to 25,000............................................. 25
25,001 to 33,000............................................. 30
33,001 to 41,000............................................. 40
41,001 to 50,000............................................. 50
50,001 to 59,000............................................. 60
59,001 to 70,000............................................. 70
70,001 to 83,000............................................. 80
83,001 to 96,000............................................. 90
96,001 to 130,000............................................ 100
130,001 to 220,000........................................... 120
220,001 to 320,000........................................... 150
320,001 to 450,000........................................... 180
450,001 to 600,000........................................... 210
600,001 to 780,000........................................... 240
780,001 to 970,000........................................... 270
970,001 to 1,230,000......................................... 300
1,230,001 to 1,520,000....................................... 330
1,520,001 to 1,850,000....................................... 360
1,850,001 to 2,270,000....................................... 390
2,270,001 to 3,020,000....................................... 420
3,020,001 to 3,960,000....................................... 450
3,960,001 or more............................................ 480
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Includes public water systems which have at least 15 service
connections, but serve fewer than 25 persons.
|
If a community water system serving 25 to 1,000 persons has no history of total coliform contamination in its current configuration and a sanitary survey conducted in the past five years shows that the system is supplied solely by a protected groundwater source and is free of sanitary defects, the State may reduce the monitoring frequency specified above, except that in no case may the State reduce the monitoring frequency to less than one sample per quarter. The State must approve the reduced monitoring frequency in writing. (3) The monitoring frequency for total coliforms for non-community water systems is as follows: (i) A non-community water system using only ground water (except ground water under the direct influence of surface water, as defined in §141.2) and serving 1,000 persons or fewer must monitor each calendar quarter that the system provides water to the public, except that the State may reduce this monitoring frequency, in writing, if a sanitary survey shows that the system is free of sanitary defects. Beginning June 29, 1994, the State cannot reduce the monitoring frequency for a non-community water system using only ground water (except ground water under the direct influence of surface water, as defined in §141.2) and serving 1,000 persons or fewer to less than once/year. (ii) A non-community water system using only ground water (except ground water under the direct influence of surface water, as defined in §141.2) and serving more than 1,000 persons during any month must monitor at the same frequency as a like-sized community water system, as specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, except the State may reduce this monitoring frequency, in writing, for any month the system serves 1,000 persons or fewer. The State cannot reduce the monitoring frequency to less than once/year. For systems using ground water under the direct influence of surface water, paragraph (a)(3)(iv) of this section applies. (iii) A non-community water system using surface water, in total or in part, must monitor at the same frequency as a like-sized community water system, as specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, regardless of the number of persons it serves. (iv) A non-community water system using ground water under the direct influence of surface water, as defined in §141.2, must monitor at the same frequency as a like-sized community water system, as specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section. The system must begin monitoring at this frequency beginning six months after the State determines that the ground water is under the direct influence of surface water. (4) The public water system must collect samples at regular time intervals throughout the month, except that a system which uses only ground water (except ground water under the direct influence of surface water, as defined in §141.2), and serves 4,900 persons or fewer, may collect all required samples on a single day if they are taken from different sites. (5) A public water system that uses surface water or ground water under the direct influence of surface water, as defined in §141.2, and does not practice filtration in compliance with Subpart H must collect at least one sample near the first service connection each day the turbidity level of the source water, measured as specified in §141.74(b)(2), exceeds 1 NTU. This sample must be analyzed for the presence of total coliforms. When one or more turbidity measurements in any day exceed 1 NTU, the system must collect this coliform sample within 24 hours of the first exceedance, unless the State determines that the system, for logistical reasons outside the system's control, cannot have the sample analyzed within 30 hours of collection. Sample results from this coliform monitoring must be included in determining compliance with the MCL for total coliforms in §141.63. (6) Special purpose samples, such as those taken to determine whether disinfection practices are sufficient following pipe placement, replacement, or repair, shall not be used to determine compliance with the MCL for total coliforms in §141.63. Repeat samples taken pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section are not considered special purpose samples, and must be used to determine compliance with the MCL for total coliforms in §141.63. (b) Repeat monitoring. (1) If a routine sample is total coliform-positive, the public water system must collect a set of repeat samples within 24 hours of being notified of the positive result. A system which collects more than one routine sample/month must collect no fewer than three repeat samples for each total coliform-positive sample found. A system which collects one routine sample/month or fewer must collect no fewer than four repeat samples for each total coliform-positive sample found. The State may extend the 24-hour limit on a case-by-case basis if the system has a logistical problem in collecting the repeat samples within 24 hours that is beyond its control. In the case of an extension, the State must specify how much time the system has to collect the repeat samples. (2) The system must collect at least one repeat sample from the sampling tap where the original total coliform-positive sample was taken, and at least one repeat sample at a tap within five service connections upstream and at least one repeat sample at a tap within five service connections downstream of the original sampling site. If a total coliform-positive sample is at the end of the distribution system, or one away from the end of the distribution system, the State may waive the requirement to collect at least one repeat sample upstream or downstream of the original sampling site. (3) The system must collect all repeat samples on the same day, except that the State may allow a system with a single service connection to collect the required set of repeat samples over a four-day period or to collect a larger volume repeat sample(s) in one or more sample containers of any size, as long as the total volume collected is at least 400 ml (300 ml for systems which collect more than one routine sample/month). (4) If one or more repeat samples in the set is total coliform-positive, the public water system must collect an additional set of repeat samples in the manner specified in paragraphs (b) (1)–(3) of this section. The additional samples must be collected within 24 hours of being notified of the positive result, unless the State extends the limit as provided in paragraph (b)(1) of this section. The system must repeat this process until either total coliforms are not detected in one complete set of repeat samples or the system determines that the MCL for total coliforms in §141.63 has been exceeded and notifies the State. (5) If a system collecting fewer than five routine samples/month has one or more total coliform-positive samples and the State does not invalidate the sample(s) under paragraph (c) of this section, it must collect at least five routine samples during the next month the system provides water to the public, except that the State may waive this requirement if the conditions of paragraph (b)(5) (i) or (ii) of this section are met. The State cannot waive the requirement for a system to collect repeat samples in paragraphs (b) (1)–(4) of this section. (i) The State may waive the requirement to collect five routine samples the next month the system provides water to the public if the State, or an agent approved by the State, performs a site visit before the end of the next month the system provides water to the public. Although a sanitary survey need not be performed, the site visit must be sufficiently detailed to allow the State to determine whether additional monitoring and/or any corrective action is needed. The State cannot approve an employee of the system to perform this site visit, even if the employee is an agent approved by the State to perform sanitary surveys. (ii) The State may waive the requirement to collect five routine samples the next month the system provides water to the public if the State has determined why the sample was total coliform-positive and establishes that the system has corrected the problem or will correct the problem before the end of the next month the system serves water to the public. In this case, the State must document this decision to waive the following month's additional monitoring requirement in writing, have it approved and signed by the supervisor of the State official who recommends such a decision, and make this document available to the EPA and public. The written documentation must describe the specific cause of the total coliform-positive sample and what action the system has taken and/or will take to correct this problem. The State cannot waive the requirement to collect five routine samples the next month the system provides water to the public solely on the grounds that all repeat samples are total coliform-negative. Under this paragraph, a system must still take at least one routine sample before the end of the next month it serves water to the public and use it to determine compliance with the MCL for total coliforms in §141.63, unless the State has determined that the system has corrected the contamination problem before the system took the set of repeat samples required in paragraphs (b) (1)–(4) of this section, and all repeat samples were total coliform-negative. (6) After a system collects a routine sample and before it learns the results of the analysis of that sample, if it collects another routine sample(s) from within five adjacent service connections of the initial sample, and the initial sample, after analysis, is found to contain total coliforms, then the system may count the subsequent sample(s) as a repeat sample instead of as a routine sample. (7) Results of all routine and repeat samples not invalidated by the State must be included in determining compliance with the MCL for total coliforms in §141.63. (c) Invalidation of total coliform samples. A total coliform-positive sample invalidated under this paragraph (c) does not count towards meeting the minimum monitoring requirements of this section. (1) The State may invalidate a total coliform-positive sample only if the conditions of paragraph (c)(1) (i), (ii), or (iii) of this section are met. (i) The laboratory establishes that improper sample analysis caused the total coliform-positive result. (ii) The State, on the basis of the results of repeat samples collected as required by paragraphs (b) (1) through (4) of this section, determines that the total coliform-positive sample resulted from a domestic or other non-distribution system plumbing problem. The State cannot invalidate a sample on the basis of repeat sample results unless all repeat sample(s) collected at the same tap as the original total coliform-positive sample are also total coliform-positive, and all repeat samples collected within five service connections of the original tap are total coliform-negative (e.g., a State cannot invalidate a total coliform-positive sample on the basis of repeat samples if all the repeat samples are total coliform-negative, or if the public water system has only one service connection). (iii) The State has substantial grounds to believe that a total coliform-positive result is due to a circumstance or condition which does not reflect water quality in the distribution system. In this case, the system must still collect all repeat samples required under paragraphs (b) (1)–(4) of this section, and use them to determine compliance with the MCL for total coliforms in §141.63. To invalidate a total coliform-positive sample under this paragraph, the decision with the rationale for the decision must be documented in writing, and approved and signed by the supervisor of the State official who recommended the decision. The State must make this document available to EPA and the public. The written documentation must state the specific cause of the total coliform-positive sample, and what action the system has taken, or will take, to correct this problem. The State may not invalidate a total coliform-positive sample solely on the grounds that all repeat samples are total coliform-negative. (2) A laboratory must invalidate a total coliform sample (unless total coliforms are detected) if the sample produces a turbid culture in the absence of gas production using an analytical method where gas formation is examined (e.g., the Multiple-Tube Fermentation Technique), produces a turbid culture in the absence of an acid reaction in the Presence-Absence (P–A) Coliform Test, or exhibits confluent growth or produces colonies too numerous to count with an analytical method using a membrane filter (e.g., Membrane Filter Technique). If a laboratory invalidates a sample because of such interference, the system must collect another sample from the same location as the original sample within 24 hours of being notified of the interference problem, and have it analyzed for the presence of total coliforms. The system must continue to re-sample within 24 hours and have the samples analyzed until it obtains a valid result. The State may waive the 24-hour time limit on a case-by-case basis. (d) Sanitary surveys. (1)(i) Public water systems which do not collect five or more routine samples/month must undergo an initial sanitary survey by June 29, 1994, for community public water systems and June 29, 1999, for non-community water systems. Thereafter, systems must undergo another sanitary survey every five years, except that non-community water systems using only protected and disinfected ground water, as defined by the State, must undergo subsequent sanitary surveys at least every ten years after the initial sanitary survey. The State must review the results of each sanitary survey to determine whether the existing monitoring frequency is adequate and what additional measures, if any, the system needs to undertake to improve drinking water quality. (ii) In conducting a sanitary survey of a system using ground water in a State having an EPA-approved wellhead protection program under section 1428 of the Safe Drinking Water Act, information on sources of contamination within the delineated wellhead protection area that was collected in the course of developing and implementing the program should be considered instead of collecting new information, if the information was collected since the last time the system was subject to a sanitary survey. (2) Sanitary surveys must be performed by the State or an agent approved by the State. The system is responsible for ensuring the survey takes place. (e) Fecal coliforms/Escherichia coli (E. coli) testing. (1) If any routine or repeat sample is total coliform-positive, the system must analyze that total coliform-positive culture medium to determine if fecal coliforms are present, except that the system may test for E. coli in lieu of fecal coliforms. If fecal coliforms or E. coli are present, the system must notify the State by the end of the day when the system is notified of the test result, unless the system is notified of the result after the State office is closed, in which case the system must notify the State before the end of the next business day. (2) The State has the discretion to allow a public water system, on a case-by-case basis, to forgo fecal coliform or E. coli testing on a total coliform-positive sample if that system assumes that the total coliform-positive sample is fecal coliform-positive or E. coli-positive. Accordingly, the system must notify the State as specified in paragraph (e)(1) of this section and the provisions of §141.63(b) apply. (f) Analytical methodology. (1) The standard sample volume required for total coliform analysis, regardless of analytical method used, is 100 ml. (2) Public water systems need only determine the presence or absence of total coliforms; a determination of total coliform density is not required. (3) Public water systems must conduct total coliform analyses in accordance with one of the analytical methods in the following table. |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Organism Methodology\12\ Citation\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Coliforms \2\................... Total Coliform Fermentation Technique 3, 9221A, B.
4, 5.
Total Coliform Membrane Filter Technique 9222A, B, C.
\6\.
Presence-Absence (P-A) Coliform Test 5, 9221D.
7.
ONPG-MUG Test \8\....................... 9223.
Colisure Test \9\. ..............................
E*Colite ® Test \10\. ..............................
m-ColiBlue24 ® Test \11\. ..............................
Readycult ® Coliforms 100 Presence/ ..............................
Absence Test \13\.
Membrane Filter Technique using ..............................
Chromocult ® Coliform Agar\14\.
Colitag ® Test \15\. ..............................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The procedures shall be done in accordance with the documents listed below. The incorporation by reference of
the following documents listed in footnotes 1, 6, 8, 9, 10 , 11, 13, 14 and 15 was approved by the Director of
the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR Part 51. Copies of the documents may be
obtained from the sources listed below. Information regarding obtaining these documents can be obtained from
the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791. Documents may be inspected at EPA's Drinking Water Docket,
EPA West, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW., EPA West, Room B102, Washington DC 20460 (Telephone: 202-566-2426);
or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this
material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/
code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
\1\ Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 18th edition (1992), 19th edition (1995), or
20th edition (1998). American Public Health Association, 1015 Fifteenth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005. The
cited methods published in any of these three editions may be used.
\2\ The time from sample collection to initiation of analysis may not exceed 30 hours. Systems are encouraged
but not required to hold samples below 10 deg. C during transit.
\3\ Lactose broth, as commercially available, may be used in lieu of lauryl tryptose broth, if the system
conducts at least 25 parallel tests between this medium and lauryl tryptose broth using the water normally
tested, and this comparison demonstrates that the false-positive rate and false-negative rate for total
coliform, using lactose broth, is less than 10 percent.
\4\ If inverted tubes are used to detect gas production, the media should cover these tubes at least one-half to
two-thirds after the sample is added.
\5\ No requirement exists to run the completed phase on 10 percent of all total coliform-positive confirmed
tubes.
\6\ MI agar also may be used. Preparation and use of MI agar is set forth in the article, ``New medium for the
simultaneous detection of total coliform and Escherichia coli in water'' by Brenner, K.P., et. al., 1993,
Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 59:3534-3544. Also available from the Office of Water Resource Center (RC-4100T),
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460, EPA/600/J-99/225. Verification of colonies is not
required.
\7\ Six-times formulation strength may be used if the medium is filter-sterilized rather than autoclaved.
\8\ The ONPG-MUG Test is also known as the Autoanalysis Collect System.
\9\ A description of the Colisure Test, Feb 28, 1994, may be obtained from IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., One IDEXX
Drive, Westbrook, Maine 04092. The Colisure Test may be read after an incubation time of 24 hours.
\10\ A description of the E*Colite ® Test, ``Presence/Absence for Coliforms and E. Coli in Water,'' Dec 21,
1997, is available from Charm Sciences, Inc., 36 Franklin Street, Malden, MA 02148-4120.
\11\ A description of the m-ColiBlue24 ® Test, Aug 17, 1999, is available from the Hach Company, 100 Dayton
Avenue, Ames, IA 50010.
\12\ EPA strongly recommends that laboratories evaluate the false-positive and negative rates for the method(s)
they use for monitoring total coliforms. EPA also encourages laboratories to establish false-positive and
false-negative rates within their own laboratory and sample matrix (drinking water or source water) with the
intent that if the method they choose has an unacceptable false-positive or negative rate, another method can
be used. The Agency suggests that laboratories perform these studies on a minimum of 5% of all total coliform-
positive samples, except for those methods where verification/confirmation is already required, e.g., the M-
Endo and LES Endo Membrane Filter Tests, Standard Total Coliform Fermentation Technique, and Presence-Absence
Coliform Test. Methods for establishing false-positive and negative-rates may be based on lactose
fermentation, the rapid test for β-galactosidase and cytochrome oxidase, multi-test identification
systems, or equivalent confirmation tests. False-positive and false-negative information is often available in
published studies and/or from the manufacturer(s).
\13\ The Readycult ® Coliforms 100 Presence/Absence Test is described in the document, ``Readycult ®
Coliforms 100 Presence/Absence Test for Detection and Identification of Coliform Bacteria and Escherichla coli
in Finished Waters'', November 2000, Version 1.0, available from EM Science (an affiliate of Merck KGgA,
Darmstadt Germany), 480 S. Democrat Road, Gibbstown, NJ 08027-1297. Telephone number is (800) 222-0342, e-mail
address is: adellenbusch@emscience.com.
\14\ Membrane Filter Technique using Chromocult ® Coliform Agar is described in the document, ``Chromocult
® Coliform Agar Presence/Absence Membrane Filter Test Method for Detection and Identification of Coliform
Bacteria and Escherichla coli in Finished Waters'', November 2000, Version 1.0, available from EM Science (an
affiliate of Merck KGgA, Darmstadt Germany), 480 S. Democrat Road, Gibbstown, NJ 08027-1297. Telephone number
is (800) 222-0342, e-mail address is: adellenbusch@emscience.com.
\15\ Colitag ® product for the determination of the presence/absence of total coliforms and E. coli is
described in ``Colitag ® Product as a Test for Detection and Identification of Coliforms and E. coli
Bacteria in Drinking Water and Source Water as Required in National Primary Drinking Water Regulations,''
August 2001, available from CPI International, Inc., 5580 Skylane Blvd., Santa Rosa, CA, 95403, telephone
(800) 878-7654, Fax (707) 545-7901, Internet address http://www.cpiinternational.com.
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(4) [Reserved] (5) Public water systems must conduct fecal coliform analysis in accordance with the following procedure. When the MTF Technique or Presence-Absence (PA) Coliform Test is used to test for total coliforms, shake the lactose-positive presumptive tube or P–A vigorously and transfer the growth with a sterile 3-mm loop or sterile applicator stick into brilliant green lactose bile broth and EC medium to determine the presence of total and fecal coliforms, respectively. For EPA-approved analytical methods which use a membrane filter, transfer the total coliform-positive culture by one of the following methods: remove the membrane containing the total coliform colonies from the substrate with a sterile forceps and carefully curl and insert the membrane into a tube of EC medium (the laboratory may first remove a small portion of selected colonies for verification), swab the entire membrane filter surface with a sterile cotton swab and transfer the inoculum to EC medium (do not leave the cotton swab in the EC medium), or inoculate individual total coliform-positive colonies into EC Medium. Gently shake the inoculated tubes of EC medium to insure adequate mixing and incubate in a waterbath at 44.5 ± 0.2 °C for 24 ± 2 hours. Gas production of any amount in the inner fermentation tube of the EC medium indicates a positive fecal coliform test. The preparation of EC medium is described in Method 9221E (paragraph 1a) in Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 18th edition (1992), 19th edition (1995), and 20th edition (1998); the cited method in any one of these three editions may be used. Public water systems need only determine the presence or absence of fecal coliforms; a determination of fecal coliform density is not required. (6) Public water systems must conduct analysis of Escherichia coli in accordance with one of the following analytical methods: (i) EC medium supplemented with 50 μg/mL of 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-glucuronide (MUG) (final concentration), as described in Method 9222G in Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 19th edition (1995) and 20th edition (1998). Either edition may be used. Alternatively, the 18th edition (1992) may be used if at least 10 mL of EC medium, as described in paragraph (f)(5) of this section, is supp |