Statutes, codes, and regulations
Tennessee Administrative Code
Title 1200 - Health, Environment and ConservationSubtitle 1200-05 - Bureau of Environmental Health Services Division of Food and General Sanitation Division of Water Supply
Chapter 1200-05-03 - Rules Governing Water and Wastewater Operator Certification
Section 1200-05-03-.06 - CLASSIFICATION OF WATER TREATMENT PLANTS AND WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1200-05-03-.06

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Current through September 10, 2024
Section 1200-05-03-.06 - CLASSIFICATION OF WATER TREATMENT PLANTS AND WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
(1) Water treatment plants shall be classified by the Board or its authorized representative into one of five groups, designated either as Small Water, Grade I, II, III, or IV. These classifications shall be made according to the number of population served, the type of treatment plant, and the complexity of treatment required for a particular water.
(2) The classification of a water treatment plant or a water distribution system may be changed by the Board or its authorized representative because of changes in the conditions or the circumstances upon which the original classification was based. Notice of such a classification change shall be given to the management officers of the plant or system.
(3) Types of Water Systems:
(a) Water Treatment. A water treatment plant using filtration, iron removal, and/or lime-soda softening processes or requiring chemical or bacteriological control of operation will be classified in accordance with the following point totals:

Grade IV61 or more points
Grade III35 to 60 points
Grade II16 to 34 points
Grade I15 or less points

Point totals for plant classification shall be computed in accordance with the following rating value criteria:

Rating Value Points
Design Flow - For every one million gallons per day design capacity, or fraction thereof, a plant will be awarded a rating value of: .......................1 pt.

Water Supply Source - Based upon the type and quality of the raw water source, a plant will be awarded rating values of:

Groundwater .......................................................................... 3 pts.
Ground water under the direct influence of surface water ............................................ 5 pts.
Surface water ............................................................................. 5 pts.
Average raw water quality .................................................................... 0-10 pts.*

Teatment Process - A plant employing any of the following treatment processes will be awarded rating values of:

Aeration .......................................................................... 4 pts.
Presettling ...................................................................... 2 pts.
Flash mix ........................................................................ 2 pts.
Coagulation .................................................................... 6 pts.
Flocculation .................................................................... 5 pts.
Settling ............................................................................ 5 pts.
Upflow Solids Contact ..................................................... 8 pts.
Lime softening ................................................................. 5 pts.
Gravity Filtration
slow sand ........................................................................ 2 pts.
rapid ................................................................................ 6 pts.
Pressure Filtration .......................................................... 3 pts.
Recarbonation ................................................................ 3 pts.
Membrane Filtration ........................................................ 20 pts.
Activated alumina ............................................................ 10 pts.
Ion Exchange .................................................................. 5 pts.

Chemical Treatment - A plant utilizing any of the following chemicals or chemical treatment processes will be awarded rating values of:

Fluoridation ..................................................................... 3 pts.
Disinfection Gaseous chlorine ............................................. 5 pts.
Liquid or powdered chlorine ..................................... 3 pts.
Chlorine dioxide ........................................................ 7 pts.
Ozonization (on-site generation) ............................ 10 pts.
On-site generation of Chlorine ............................... 5 pts.
Mixed Oxidants .......................................................7 pts.
UV Light ...................................................................3 pts.
Taste and Odor Control
Peroxide ................................................................ 3 pts.
Potassium Permanganate .....................................2 pts.
Powdered activated carbon ................................... 4 pts.
Activated carbon columns ....................................... 6 pts.
Activated carbon slurry ..........................................8 pts.
Chemical Stabilization
(polyphosphate, Soda Ash, etc.) ...........................4 pts.

Laboratory Control by Plant Personnel - Based upon the type and the difficulty of the laboratory work performed at a plant, a plant will be awarded rating values of:

Bacteriological .............................................. 0-10 pts.*
Chemical ......................................................0-10 pts.*
Total Points **

* See Table 1

** If a rating value points total would not accurately reflect special conditions at a plant and a material distortion in its rating would occur, the Board will establish the classification of the plant after a review of its special conditions.

Table 1

*Average Raw Water Quality - Points are assigned to a plant as follows:

Raw water quality varies enough to require treatment process changes less than thirty-six days each calendar year ............................................... 2 pts.
Raw water quality varies enough to require treatment process changes thirty-six days or more each calendar year....................................................... 5 pts.
Raw water quality varies enough to require treatment process changes due to existing industrial waste pollution sources................................. 10 pts.

*Laboratory Control by Plant Personnel (Bacteriological) - Points are assigned in accordance with the type of laboratory control performed at the plant:

Lab work done outside of plant............................. 0 pts.
Enzyme Substrate Method .................................... 4 pts.
Membrane filter procedure.................................... 5 pts.
Fermentation tubes or any dilution method.......... 7 pts.
Biological identification .......................................... 10 pts.

*Laboratory Control by Plant Personnel (Chemical) - Points are assigned in accordance with the type of laboratory control performed at the plant:

Lab work done outside the plant. . ................................... 0 pts.
Colorimetric methods for simple tests such as chlorine, pH.3 pts. Procedures such as titration, jar tests ............................. 5 pts.
More advanced determinations including inorganics...... 7 pts.
Highly sophisticated instrumentation such as atomic absorption and gas chromatography.. ....................................................... 10 pts.

(b) Grade I Distribution. This classification is for a water distribution system that serves at least fifty service connections but no more than five thousand service connections. This classification serves as a certificate to operate a small water system.
(c) Grade II Distribution. This classification is for a water distribution system that serves more than five thousand service connections. This classification serves as a certificate to operate a small water system.
(d) Small Water Systems. This classification includes all water systems which have a ground water source not under the direct influence of surface water and serve less than fifty (50) service connections, provided the system does not use any treatment other than disinfection, and those systems which purchase water for resale and serve less than fifty (50) service connections. This classification serves as a distribution system certification for those systems meeting the definition of a small water system.

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1200-05-03-.06

Original rule certified June 7, 1974. Repeal and new rule filed March 31, 1982; effective July 1, 1982. Repeal and new rule filed June 9, 1986; effective July 10, 1986. Amendment filed September 18, 1990; effective December 1, 1990. Amendment filed September 12, 1994; effective December 14, 1994. Amendment Filed April 21, 1998; effective July 5, 1998. Amendment filed July 31, 2000; effective October 14, 2000. Amendment filed March 8, 2007; effective May 22, 2007.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-101 et seq., 4-5-202, 68-221-906, and 68-221-907.