Section NR 812.37 - Water treatment(1) SCOPE. This section applies to treatment of water for potable use in a private or non-community water system except for the disinfection, batch chlorination, and acidification prescribed in ss. NR 812.12, 812.22, and 812.41.(2) GENERAL STANDARDS. (a) Water treatment devices installed in a water system shall have a plumbing product approval in accordance with chs. SPS 382 and 384.(b) A water supply requiring approval under sub. (3) shall produce water free from coliform bacteria prior to treatment, unless the department determines that a water supply free from coliform bacteria is not available.(c) Water treatment devices shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's printed instructions, chs. SPS 382 and 384, and, if specified, department written installation approval conditions. If there is a conflict between the manufacturer's instructions and the code requirements or approval conditions, the code requirements and approval conditions shall take precedence.(d) A water treatment device shall be installed by one of the following: 1. A plumber licensed under s. 145.06, Stats., if the device is installed downstream of the pressure tank or building control valve.2. A licensed pump installer if the device is installed upstream of the pressure tank.3. A property owner who is exempt from the requirement for a plumbing license under s. 145.06(4) (a), Stats. Note: Section 145.06(4) (a), Stats., provides an exemption from the requirement for a plumbing license for "plumbing work done by a property owner in a one-family building owned and occupied by him or her as his or her home or farm building, except where such license is required by local ordinance."
(e) Treatment for control of regulated contaminants in a non-community water system shall be considered only after the system owner demonstrates that none of the following alternatives are available or feasible: 1. Constructing a new well.2. Reconstructing an existing well.3. Connecting to an alternative water supply.(f) The installation of a water treatment device shall supplement and not replace proper well location, construction and water supply protection.(g) Unless otherwise stated in the department's installation approval, treatment devices requiring approval under sub. (3) shall be designed and installed to treat all water provided by the water system. The department's installation approval may exclude treatment of water being supplied for certain uses including outside hose bibs, fire protection systems, boilers used for space heating, turf sprinkler systems and non-food process water.(h) Discharge or disposal of contaminated wastewater, filter media, or gases shall comply with applicable State and Federal regulations.(i) All chemicals used for addition to a water system shall be approved for use under s. NR 812.091.(j) All products in contact with potable water shall be certified for compliance with NSF/ANSI Standard 61 or shall be approved for use under s. NR 812.091.(k) Water treatment devices may not be installed in a private or non-community water system if the department has required the well to be filled and sealed under s. NR 812.26(4) or has required use of the system to be discontinued.(3) INSTALLATION APPROVAL REQUIRED. Department installation approval shall be obtained prior to installation if any of the following conditions apply:(a) The water treatment device is installed for the purpose of controlling bacteria in a non-community water system.(b) The water treatment device will be installed on or within the well or pressure system, or when water treatment occurs within the well.(d) The water treatment device or treatment system will control corrosion or will control, remove or prevent contaminant levels in excess of primary drinking water standards as specified under ch. NR 809, health advisories or action levels in a non-community water system.(g) Fluoride is added to a water system.(h) The installation of a water treatment plant facility.(3m) INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS. Inspection of the existing well and pressure system for compliance with the construction and location requirements of this chapter is required prior to installation of a water treatment device for the purpose of controlling bacteria in a private water system. No person may install a water treatment device for the purpose of controlling bacteria in a private water system unless an inspection has been conducted that meets all of the following requirements: (a) The inspection shall be conducted by a licensed water well driller or licensed pump installer.(b) The inspection shall include a comprehensive visual inspection of the well and pressure system and a diligent search for the well construction report.(c) The inspector shall report the results of the compliance inspection on the form specified by the department. The form shall be completed in full according to department instructions and shall be accurate. The inspector shall identify any corrective measures that would reduce the potential for bacteria to enter the well and pressure system.(d) The inspector shall provide a completed inspection report and well construction report, if found, to the private water system owner. Use of the department form does not imply department approval of the well and pressure system.(4) APPLICATION AND APPROVAL CONDITIONS. (a) In addition to the information required under s. NR 812.09(2), the department may require the applicant to describe the proposed water treatment device; provide a sketch of the proposed installation; include results of an analysis of coliform bacteria of a water sample taken from the water supply within 6 weeks of application; include results of an analysis of contaminants to be controlled by the water treatment device of water samples taken from the water supply at specified locations; and describe the proposed water quality monitoring, operating, and maintenance programs. Additional sampling and information may be requested depending on the nature of the contamination and other site specific conditions. Analysis of water samples shall meet the requirements under s. NR 812.46 for private water systems and s. NR 809.76 for non-community water systems.(b) The department may require operational procedures including installation of a sample faucet and an entry point sample faucet at specific locations, periodic sampling and analysis, device maintenance, and inspection provisions in its installation approval of a water treatment device.(d) The department may require the water system owner or operator to shut off, bypass or disconnect a water treatment device installed upstream of the first sampling faucet after the well for a period of up to two weeks to obtain a sample of untreated water to analyze for coliform bacteria or other contaminants.(e) At a minimum, fluoride treatment installations or corrosion control treatment system installations shall comply with the following standards: 1. The fluoride or the corrosion control chemical is added with a positive displacement-type feed pump.2. A spring loaded check valve is installed between the positive displacement-type feed pump and the point of injection to prevent backflow of untreated water into the solution tank.3. A spring loaded check valve is installed to prevent the siphoning of fluoride or corrosion control chemical into the water.4. The feed pump and the well pump are electrically wired in interlock with a flow switch connected in series from the feed pump into the well pump and there are no water outlets upstream of the point of fluoride or corrosion control chemical injection.5. The feed pump has a metering device for measuring fluoride or corrosion control chemical flow rates.6. The chemical storage tank is covered and installed at an elevation lower than the feed pump.Wis. Admin. Code Department of Natural Resources § NR 812.37
Cr. Register, January, 1991, No. 421, eff. 2-1-91; am. (3) (d), (4) (e) (intro.), 1., 3. to 6., cr. (2) (i), (3) (h), Register, September, 1994, No. 465, eff. 10-1-94; corrections in (2) (a) and (c) made under s. 13.93(2m) (b) 7, Stats., Register, May, 2000, No. 533; correction in (2) (a), (c), (d) 1., 3. made under s. 13.92(4) (b) 6, 7., Stats., Register December 2011 No. 672; CR 13-099: am. (4) (a) Register September 2014 No. 705, eff. 10-1-14.Amended by, CR 18-095: am. (1), (2) (b), (d), r. and recr. (2) (e), am. (2) (g), (i), cr. (2) (j), (k), am. (3) (a), (b), r. (3) (c), am. (3) (d), r. (3) (e), (f), am. (3) (g), cr. (3m), am. (4) (a), (b), r. (4) (c), am. (4) (d), (e) 5. Register June 2020 No. 774, eff. 7-1-20.; correction in (2) (k), (3) (g), (4) (e) 1. to 4. made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register June 2020 No. 774, eff. 7/1/2020 All owners or operators of water systems containing contaminants should consider the merits and availability of a naturally safe water system prior to considering the alternative of long-term water treatment device installation and use. If water treatment has been selected, then point-of-entry water treatment devices should be considered for those contaminants that may have dermal or inhalation exposure routes.
Primary drinking water standards are contained in ch. NR 809.