SWEP Meeting Chapter 109 Update November 5, 2015
Chapter 109 Original PA Safe Drinking Water Act: 1984 Chapter 109 is the state regulation for Safe Drinking Water.
Chapter 109 Updates Earlier this year, a Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR) package made it through the regulation development process to the Environmental Quality Board (EQB)
Regulation Development Process EQB: 20 Members Request to Begin Reg Development Advisory Committee Review OGC, AG & Budget Office Review PROPOSED REGULATION Legislative, IRRC & LRB Review Prepare Draft Proposed Reg 11 Members from the Commonwealth e.g. Secretary of Health, Secretary of Ag 5 Members: Citizens Advisory Council Internal Review 4 Members: General Assembly Proposed Reg Published in PA Bulletin Discuss Draft Proposed Reg with Policy & Legal Counsel Draft Proposed Reg Presented to EQB e.g. Speaker of House of Representatives, House minority leader PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
EQB Meeting Split Revised Total Coliform Rule revisions split from all other revisions at April 21, 2015 EQB meeting RTCR 109 Package RTCR Other Ch. 109 Revisions Revised Total Coliform Rule components allowed to proceed through reg process
Chapter 109 RTCR Package Split With a regulation update, frequently other updates are included The package included a new proposed minimum chlorine residual Currently, systems must have a detectable residual Industry wanted more time to consider and give input on a new minimum residual (TAC)
Chapter 109 General Updates Disinfection revisions split from remaining Chapter 109 updates at the April 30, 2015 TAC Board meeting RTCR 109 Package RTCR Disinfection Other 109 Revisions Residual
Disinfection Residual Package RTCR Other 109 Revisions Disinfection Residual Disinfection Residual revisions taken back to Advisory Committee (TAC) in June Revisions were to be presented to EQB in October 2015 (Cancelled because of impasse) Will be brought to EQB within one month after budget passes Public comment period follows
Chapter 109 General Updates RTCR Other 109 Revisions Disinfection Residual General Update Part 3 tentative plan to bring to TAC at December 17, 2015 meeting Plans for bringing to EQB are unknown Updates for filter plants membranes; new source sampling
Revised Total Coliform Rule RTCR Other 109 Revisions Disinfection Residual Approved at EQB meeting April 21, 2015 (as part of split) Draft Reg. Published in the Pa Bulletin October 3, 2015 60 Day Public Comment Period 2 public hearings first week of November
Revised Total Coliform Rule Expected final publication date September 2016
Regulation Development Process FINAL REGULATION Prepare Draft Final Reg Advisory Committee Review Internal Review OGC, AG & Budget Offices Review Draft Final Reg Presented to EQB Legislative, IRRC, & LRB Review IRRC Public Meeting AG Review Final Reg Published in PA Bulletin
Monitor for coliforms Monitor distribution for coliforms Total Coliform Rule East town
Coliforms: Indicator Organisms Total Coliforms Indicator organism protozoa Coliforms are widespread in nature: Digestive tracts of warmblooded animals Plant and soil material Most coliform bacteria are not harmful. But, in a water system they indicate that there is a pathway of microbial contamination 14
RTCR Main elements Coliform sample siting plans all public water systems Submit to DEP by 4/1/16 (based on a Federal Requirement)
RTCR: Assessments Find and Fix Possible microbial contamination based on routine monitoring Triggers assessment Level 1 and Level 2 Assessments 16
RTCR: Seasonal Systems Characteristics make them prone to contamination Dewatered/Depressurized Or, stagnant water DEP-approved seasonal start-up plan Source: dantri.com.vn 17
RTCR Training Timeline Various Industry Conferences DCNR: June 2015 Staff Training: July-September Water Supplier: September 2015-Early 2016 Early Implementation Federal RTCR 4/1/2016 18
RTCR Training Timeline Federal RTCR 4/1/2016
Website Check Pa DEP RTCR Website for more information and training schedule www.depweb.state.pa.us A-Z Water Regulations RTCR
Upcoming Long Term-Lead and Copper Revisions
Bill McNamara, Supervisor, Training Section Bureau of Safe Drinking Water 717-705-6350 wmcnamara@pa.gov Dawn Hissner, Supervisor Operations Section (717) 772-2189 dhissner@pa.gov