N.J. Admin. Code § 7:10-5.8

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 11, June 3, 2024

Section 7:10-5.8 - State-specific requirements for total coliform

(a) Microbiological monitoring shall be undertaken as required under the National Regulations, except that the Department will not reduce the microbiological sampling frequency to less than:

1. One sample per month for a public community water system using only groundwater source(s) serving 1,000 or fewer persons;

2. One sample per quarter for a public noncommunity water system (transient or nontransient) using only groundwater source(s) and serving 1,000 or fewer persons; and

3. One sample per month for a seasonal water system during its operating season.

(b) Within 30 days after a supplier of water receives notice of a sample result that constitutes an exceedance of a treatment technique trigger, as set forth at 40 CFR 141.859, from either the Department or from a laboratory certified under N.J.A.C. 7:18, whichever notice is received first, a supplier of water shall conduct a Level 1 or Level 2 assessment in accordance with (c), (d), and (e) below to identify the presence of sanitary defects and the likely reason that the system triggered the assessment. The supplier of water shall submit the results of the assessment to the Department in accordance with (f) below.

(c) A supplier of water, or the designated representative of a supplier of water, shall conduct a Level 1 assessment as follows:

1. Conduct a visual inspection of the system components, devices, water source(s), and storage facilities;

2. Review records, including, where applicable, those required to be maintained pursuant to the Licensing of Water Supply and Wastewater System Operators rules at N.J.A.C. 7:10A-1.12, from within at least one year prior to the assessment date, such as operation and maintenance records and tank inspection reports;

3. Review sample collection and processing protocols as specified in the sample siting plan of the public water system;

4. Review water quality data from within at least one year prior to the assessment date;

5. Evaluate any operational activities, conditions, and unusual events from within one year prior to the collection of the total coliform-positive sample that may have caused the positive sample result;

6. Identify the sanitary defect(s) suspected to be the cause of the total coliform-positive sample;

7. Identify and implement corrective action;

8. Consult with the Department regarding any outstanding corrective actions to be taken and establish a timetable for completion; and

9. Notify the Department when each corrective action identified in the timetable at (c)8 above is completed.

(d) A supplier of water shall conduct a Level 2 assessment in accordance with (d)1 through 9 below. The Level 2 assessment shall be performed by a party approved by the Department in accordance with (e) below:

1. Conduct a physical inspection of the system components, devices, water source(s), and storage facilities;

2. Review records including, where applicable, those required to be maintained pursuant to the Licensing of Water Supply and Wastewater System Operators rules at N.J.A.C. 7:10A-1.12, from at least one year prior to the assessment date, such as operation and maintenance records, tank inspection reports, and information related to the physical condition of the distribution system;

3. Review sample collection and processing protocols as specified in the sample siting plan of the public water system;

4. Review water quality data from within at least one year prior to the assessment date;

5. Evaluate any operational activities, conditions, and unusual events from within one year prior to the collection of the total coliform-positive sample that may have caused the positive sample result;

6. Review past Level 1 and Level 2 assessments of the public water system;

7. Identify sanitary defect(s) suspected to be the cause of the total coliform-positive or Escherichia coli (E. coli)-positive sample;

8. Identify and implement corrective action;

9. Conduct additional sampling to ensure that any corrective action taken has addressed the sanitary defect;

10. Consult with the Department regarding any outstanding corrective action to be taken and establish a timetable for completion; and

11. Notify the Department when each corrective action identified in the timetable at (d)10 above is completed.

(e) A Level 2 assessment shall be performed only by a party approved by the Department, as set forth in the table below:

Water system type	Licensed operator	Professional engineer	Well driller3 or pump installer	CEHA-certified agency4	DEP
Public community	x1	x	x
Public nontransient noncommunity	x1	x	x	x	x
Public transient noncommunity	x2	x	x	x	x

1. For a public community or a public nontransient noncommunity water system, the licensed operator who performs the assessment shall hold a license of a class equal to or superior to the license required pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:10A-1.10 and 1.14 to operate the particular public community or public nontransient noncommunity water system.

2. For a public transient noncommunity water system, the licensed operator who performs the assessment shall hold a license of a class equal to or superior to the license required pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:10A-1.10 and 1.14 to operate a public community or public nontransient noncommunity water system with a treatment system and/or distribution system equivalent to that of the particular public transient noncommunity water system.

3. The licensed well driller who performs the assessment shall be a master well driller, journeyman well driller, or journeyman (Class B) well driller pursuant to the Well Construction and Maintenance rules, N.J.A.C. 7:9D.

4. The CEHA-certified agency that performs the assessment shall be certified pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:1H-3.6 to conduct a potable water supply control program.

(f) A supplier of water shall complete a Level 1 or Level 2 assessment form, available from the Department in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:10-2.6(a). In addition to the results of the Level 1 or Level 2 assessment conducted in accordance with (b) through (e) above, the form shall include the information specified at (f)1 through 4 below. The supplier of water shall submit the completed form to the Department in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:10-2.6(b).

1. Public water system information, including the type of public water system, the identification number of the public water system (PWSID), the type of water source for the public water system, and the number of people served by the public water system;

2. The type of assessment and the applicable treatment technique trigger;

3. For a Level 1 assessment, a certification by the supplier of water that the information contained in the form is true, accurate, and complete to the best of his or her knowledge and belief; and

4. For a Level 2 assessment, a certification by a Department-approved party pursuant to (e) above that the information contained in the form is true, accurate, and complete to the best of his or her knowledge and belief.

(g) The Department will extend the 24-hour limit for the collection of repeat samples in the following circumstances:

1. Upon request by a supplier of water, where the Department determines that, because of extreme weather conditions, there is a significant risk to the health and safety of the individual(s) responsible for the collection and transport of the repeat samples. The Department shall notify the supplier of water in writing of its determination and specify the amount of additional time the supplier of water has to collect the repeat samples.

2. For all suppliers of water, where the Department determines that, because of extreme weather conditions, there is a Statewide risk to the health and safety of the individual(s) responsible for the collection and transport of the repeat samples. The Department shall notify the suppliers of water by electronic mail and publication on the Department's website.

(h) A supplier of water from a seasonal water system shall comply with the following sampling and, if applicable, corrective action procedures:

1. No more than 30 days prior to the beginning of each operating season, a supplier of water from a seasonal water system shall collect and analyze a sample for total coliform from each area of the distribution system identified in the seasonal water system sample siting plan.

2. If the sample collected pursuant to (h)1 above tests positive for total coliform, the supplier of water shall analyze the sample for E. coli.

3. Upon completion of the requirements in (h)1 and 2 above, and prior to the beginning of each operating season, submit to the Department, at the address at N.J.A.C. 7:10-2.6(b), a certification of completion of total coliform testing form. The form includes the name of the seasonal water system, the identification number of the seasonal water system (PWSID), the identification number of any water samples submitted to the Department, and the results of the analysis of any water samples submitted to the Department.

4. If a sample tests positive for E. coli under (h)2 above, a supplier of water from a seasonal water system shall:

i. Undertake repeat monitoring, assessment, and corrective action as follows:

(1) Within 24 hours after being notified of the positive sample result, collect three repeat samples from each area of the distribution system identified in the seasonal water system sample siting plan and analyze those samples for total coliform and E. coli;

(2) Complete a Level 2 assessment if any of the repeat samples test positive for total coliform or E. coli; and

(3) Correct any sanitary defect(s) identified through the Level 2 assessment; and

ii. Undertake groundwater sampling and corrective action as follows:

(1) Within 24 hours after being notified of the positive sample result, collect a sample from each groundwater source used by the seasonal water system and analyze for E. coli;

(2) If the sample collected in accordance with (h)4ii(1) above tests positive for E. coli, collect five additional samples from the same groundwater source within 24 hours after being notified of the E. coli positive sample result and analyze the samples for E. coli, unless the system immediately identifies the cause of contamination and implements corrective action; and

(3) If any of the five additional samples collected in accordance with (h)4ii(2) above tests positive for E. coli, the seasonal water system shall:

(A) Within 30 days after being notified of the E. coli-positive sample result, consult with the Department regarding appropriate corrective action and;

(B) No later than 60 days after being notified of the E. coli-positive sample result, or by an alternative deadline established by the Department based on circumstances particular to the corrective action to be taken at the seasonal water system, implement the Department-approved corrective action.

5. If a sample tests positive for E. coli under (h)2 above, a supplier of water from a seasonal water system shall not serve water from the source from which the E. coli-positive sample was taken to any person, until the Department or other administrative authority, as applicable, determines that the supplier of water has completed all requirements under (h)4 above and notifies the supplier of water in writing that it may serve water to the public.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:10-5.8

Adopted by 49 N.J.R. 3505(b), effective 11/6/2017