N.M. Code R. § 20.7.10.200

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 11, June 11, 2024

Section 20.7.10.200 - PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM PROJECTS

A. Any person undertaking a public water system project shall submit an application to the department and shall not use the new or modified facility to produce, treat, store or distribute water for human consumption until the department has approved the application in writing except that:

(1) a person conducting the activities under Subsection B of this section need not submit an application or obtain department approval; and

(2) a person undertaking a water projects under Subsection C of this section must submit an application but may undertake the project without written approval from the department; the department will respond to each application within the period specified in Subsection K of Section 201 of this part.

B. The following activities are considered on-going operation and routine maintenance procedures. These activities are not considered public water system projects. There is no requirement to notify or seek approval of the department for these activities:

(1) pipeline leak repair;

(2) replacement of existing deteriorated pipeline, or addition of distribution pipeline, if such replacements or additions, or both, total less than 1,000 feet in any 60 calendar day period;

(3) entry into a drinking water storage facility for the purposes of cleaning and maintenance;

(4) the replacement of chemical feed pumps and associated appurtenances;

(5) the replacement of electrical or mechanical equipment in an existing public water supply system; and

(6) the replacement of equipment or pipeline appurtenances with the same type, size and rated capacity (fire hydrants, valves, pressure regulators, meters, service laterals, chemical feeders and booster pumps including deep well pumps).

C. Any person proposing to undertake the following public water system projects must give the department written notice by submitting an application; department approval is not required:

(1) a modification that involves only the replacement or construction of more than 1,000 feet of distribution lines, or of appurtenances, pump stations, or pressure regulating facilities for which the public water system employs, either by contract or direct employment, a registered professional engineer who is responsible for the project; or

(2) installation of a hypochlorination system, including an on-site hypochlorination generation system, in a public water system under the following conditions:

(a) water is supplied by ground water that is not under the direct influence of surface water;

(b) the owner or operator of the system employs, by contract or direct employment, a water operator certified in New Mexico at the level required in the Utility Operator Certification Regulations, 20.7.4 NMAC; and

(c) the certified operator is responsible for the project and certifies the inactivation ratio achieved by the hypochlorination system; the water system operator shall calculate the inactivation ratio and document the calculation on a form provided by the department.

D. In order to expedite future public water system projects, a public water system with the legal authority to adopt construction plans, details, and specifications by ordinance or resolution may submit a master design plan to the department for approval. Such plan must at a minimum contain:

(1) identification of existing system components and service area;

(2) a complete set of plans, details, and specifications for any component or facility to be eligible for a consideration under this section; and

(3) written verification that the plans, details, and specifications have been adopted by ordinance or resolution in such a manner as to require their use in all associated projects.

E. The approval requirement in Subsection A of Section 201 of this part is satisfied when a transmission, storage, or distribution project is proposed for implementation that is certified to be in conformance with a master design plan previously approved by the department. For a project to be considered under this subsection, the owner or operator of the system must submit in lieu of the application materials in Section 201 of this part, a written summary of the project and certification that the project will be installed in accordance with the approved drawings and specifications, signed by a registered professional engineer who is responsible for the design, development, or maintenance of the public water system. A project request under this subsection shall include all of the documentation listed in this subsection.

N.M. Code R. § 20.7.10.200

20.7.10.200 NMAC - Rp 20 NMAC 7.1.V.501 and 502, 12/4/2002; A, 4/16/2007; A, 1/6/2013