La. Admin. Code tit. 51 § XII-405

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section XII-405 - Letter Grade Schedule

A. The letter grade and score for community water systems shall be based on the following standards and point deductions.

1. For federal water quality violations history:

a. five points shall be deducted for each maximum contaminant level (MCL) violation incurred during the graded year;

b. five points shall be deducted for each Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique (TT) violation inclusive of failure to install corrosion control treatment or failure to maintain optimal water quality parameters for optimized corrosion control treatment incurred for the last monitoring period; and

c. an additional 10 points shall be deducted for noncompliance with an administrative order issued for MCL or TT violations.

d. the total points deducted for federal water quality violations shall not exceed 30.

2. For state violations history:

a. one point shall be deducted for each chlorine residual violation incurred during the graded year;

b. five points shall be deducted for failure to have a duly-certified operator at a ground water system;

c. ten points shall be deducted for failure to have a duly-certified operator at a surface water system; and

d. five points shall be deducted for a water outage and/or a boil notice issued by the state health officer.

e. the total points deducted for state violations shall not exceed 10.

3. For water system financial sustainability:

a. five points shall be deducted for failure to have and submit a rate study (per §409 of this Part) or failure to have implemented an adequate rate (as indicated by the system's rate study);

b. five points shall be deducted for failure to have a current audit (if applicable);

c. ten points shall be deducted if a fiscal administrator is appointed for the municipality; and

d. five points shall be deducted for circumstances that affect the fiscal control of the community water system.

e. the total points deducted for financial sustainability shall not exceed 10.

4. For operation and maintenance performance history:

a. three points shall be deducted for each unresolved significant deficiency. Such deficiencies shall include lack of cross-connection control, record keeping, maintenance and other applicable deficiencies specified in §319.D of this Part;

b. the total points deducted for operation and maintenance performance history shall not exceed 15.

5. For infrastructure violations:

a. five points shall be deducted for each unresolved significant deficiency. Such deficiencies shall include frequent low water pressure events, no standby power, single source, failed components and other applicable significant deficiencies specified in §319.D of this Part.

b. the total points deducted for infrastructure violations shall not exceed 20.

6. For customer satisfaction:

a. one point shall be deducted for each validated water complaint (per event) concerning water quality or quantity received either by the water system or LDH-OPH for the graded year; or

b. ten points shall be deducted for failure to submit the complaint log by the deadline specified in §411 of this Part;

c. the total points deducted for customer satisfaction shall not exceed 10.

7. For level of secondary contaminants:

a. five points shall be deducted for either iron or manganese detected (LDH-OPH test results) in the finished drinking water above their respective secondary maximum contaminant level (0.3 mg/L for iron and 0.05 mg/L for manganese);

b. the total points deducted for secondary contaminants shall not exceed five.

B. Extra points may be granted and added to the final score of the community water system in accordance with this Subsection.

1. Five points can be granted for having and submitting supporting documentation for any of the following:

a. an asset management plan;

b. a storage assessment and maintenance program;

c. a well assessment and maintenance program;

d. participation in a capacity development program approved by LDH-OPH; or

e. participation in a management training program approved by LDH-OPH.

2. The total points added for extra points shall not exceed 10.

La. Admin. Code tit. 51, § XII-405

Promulgated by the Department of Health, Office of Public Health, LR 481102 (4/1/2022).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 40:4(A)(8), R.S. 40:5.A.(2)(3)(5)(6)(17)(20) and R.S. 40:5.9.1.D.(1).