Section 246-290-300. Monitoring requirements.

(1) General.

(a) The monitoring requirements specified in this section are minimums. The department may require additional monitoring when:

(i) Contamination is present or suspected in the water system;

(ii) A groundwater source is determined to be a potential GWI;

(iii) The degree of source protection is not satisfactory;

(iv) Additional monitoring is needed to verify source vulnerability for a requested monitoring waiver;

(v) Under other circumstances as identified in a department order; or

(vi) Additional monitoring is needed to evaluate continuing effectiveness of a treatment process where problems with the treatment process may exist.

(b) Special purpose samples collected by the purveyor shall not count toward fulfillment of the monitoring requirements of this chapter unless the quality of data and method of sampling and analysis are acceptable to the department.

(c) The purveyor shall ensure samples required by this chapter are collected, transported, and submitted for analysis according to EPA-approved methods. The analyses shall be performed by a laboratory accredited by the state. Qualified water utility, accredited laboratory, health department personnel, and other parties approved by the department may conduct measurements for pH, temperature, residual disinfectant concentration, alkalinity, bromide, chlorite, TOC, SUVA, turbidity, calcium, conductivity, orthophosphate, and silica as required by this chapter, provided, these measurements are made according to EPA approved methods.

(d) Compliance samples required by this chapter shall be taken at locations listed in Table 3 of this section.

(e) Purveyors failing to comply with a monitoring requirement shall notify:

(i) The department under WAC 246-290-480; and

(ii) The owner or operator of any consecutive system served and the appropriate water system users under 40 CFR 141.201 and Part 7, Subpart A of this chapter.

(2) Selling and receiving water.

(a) Source monitoring. Purveyors, with the exception of those that "wheel" water to their consumers (i.e., sell water that has passed through another purchasing purveyor's distribution system), shall conduct source monitoring under this chapter for the sources under their control. The level of monitoring shall satisfy the monitoring requirements associated with the total population served by the source.

(b) Distribution system monitoring. The purveyor of a system that receives and distributes water shall perform distribution-related monitoring requirements. Monitoring shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(i) Collect coliform samples under subsection (3) of this section;

(ii) Collect disinfection byproduct samples as required by subsection (6) of this section;

(iii) Perform the distribution system residual disinfectant concentration monitoring under subsection (6) of this section, and as required under WAC 246-290-451 or 246-290-694. Systems with fewer than one hundred connections shall measure residual disinfectant concentration at the same time and location that a routine or repeat coliform sample is collected, unless the department determines that more frequent monitoring is necessary to protect public health;

(iv) Perform lead and copper monitoring required under 40 C.F.R. 141.86, 141.87, and 141.88;

(v) Perform the distribution system monitoring under 40 C.F.R. 141.23(b) for asbestos if applicable;

(vi) Other monitoring as required by the department.

(c) Reduced monitoring for regional programs. The receiving purveyor may receive reductions in the coliform, lead and copper, disinfection byproduct (including THMs and HAA5) and distribution system disinfectant residual concentration monitoring requirements, provided the receiving system:

(i) Purchases water from a purveyor that has a department-approved regional monitoring program;

(ii) Has a written agreement with the supplying system or regional water supplier that is acceptable to the department, and which identifies the responsibilities of both the supplying and receiving system(s) with regards to monitoring, reporting and maintenance of the distribution system; and

(iii) Has at least one compliance monitoring location for disinfection byproducts, if applicable.

(d) Periodic review of regional programs. The department may periodically review the sampling records of public water systems participating in a department-approved monitoring program to determine if continued reduced monitoring is appropriate. If the department determines a change in the monitoring requirements of the receiving system is appropriate:

(i) The department shall notify the purveyor of the change in monitoring requirements; and

(ii) The purveyor shall conduct monitoring as directed by the department.

(3) Bacteriological.

(a) The purveyor shall be responsible for collection and submittal of coliform samples from representative points throughout the distribution system. Samples shall be collected after the first service and at regular time intervals each month the system provides water to consumers. Samples shall be collected that represent normal system operating conditions.

(i) Systems providing disinfection treatment shall measure the residual disinfectant concentration within the distribution system at the same time and location of routine and repeat samples.

(ii) Systems providing disinfection treatment shall assure that disinfectant residual concentrations are measured and recorded on all coliform sample report forms submitted for compliance purposes.

(b) Coliform monitoring plan.

(i) The purveyor shall prepare a written coliform monitoring plan and base routine monitoring upon the plan. The plan shall include coliform sample collection sites and a sampling schedule.

(ii) The purveyor shall:

(A) Keep the coliform monitoring plan on file with the system and make it available to the department for inspection upon request;

(B) Revise or expand the plan at any time the plan no longer ensures representative monitoring of the system, or as directed by the department; and

(C) Submit the plan to the department for review and approval when requested and as part of the water system plan required under WAC 246-290-100.

(c) Monitoring frequency. The number of required routine coliform samples is based on total population served.

(i) Purveyors of community systems shall collect and submit for analysis no less than the number of routine samples listed in Table 1 during each calendar month of operation;

(ii) Unless directed otherwise by the department, purveyors of noncommunity systems shall collect and submit for analysis no less than the number of samples required in Table 1, and no less than required under 40 C.F.R. 141.21. Each month's population shall be based on the average daily population and shall include all residents and nonresidents served during that month. During months when the average daily population served is less than twenty-five, routine sample collection is not required when:

(A) Using only protected groundwater sources;

(B) No coliform were detected in samples during the previous month; and

(C) One routine sample has been collected and submitted for analysis during one of the previous two months.

(iii) Purveyors of systems serving both a resident and a nonresident population shall base their minimum sampling requirement on the total of monthly populations served, both resident and nonresident as determined by the department, but no less than the minimum required in Table 1; and

(iv) Purveyors of systems with a nonresident population lasting two weeks or less during a month shall sample as directed by the department. Sampling shall be initiated at least two weeks prior to the time service is provided to consumers.

(v) Purveyors of TNC systems shall not be required to collect routine samples in months where the population served is zero or the system has notified the department of an unscheduled closure.

(d) Invalid samples. When a routine or repeat coliform sample is determined invalid under WAC 246-290-320 (2)(d), the purveyor shall:

(i) Not include the sample in the determination of monitoring compliance; and

(ii) Take follow-up action as defined in WAC 246-290-320 (2)(d).

(e) Assessment source water monitoring. If directed by the department, a groundwater system must conduct assessment source water monitoring which may include, but is not limited to, collection of at least one representative groundwater source sample each month the source provides groundwater to the public, for a minimum of twelve months.

(i) Sampling must be conducted as follows:

(A) Source samples must be collected at a location prior to any treatment. If the water system's configuration does not allow sampling at the source itself, the department may approve an alternative source sampling location representative of the source water quality.

(B) Source samples must be at least 100 mL in size and must be analyzed for E. coli using one of the analytical methods under 40 C.F.R. 141.402(c).

(ii) A groundwater system may use a triggered source water sample collected under WAC 246-290-320 (2)(g) to meet the requirements for assessment source water monitoring.

(iii) Groundwater systems with an E. coli positive assessment source water sample that is not invalidated under WAC 246-290-320 (2)(g)(vii), and consecutive systems receiving water from this source must:

(A) Provide Tier 1 public notice under Part 7, Subpart A of this chapter and special notification under WAC 246-290-71005 (4) and (5); and

(B) Take corrective action as required under WAC 246-290-453(1).

(iv) The purveyor of a groundwater system that fails to conduct assessment source water monitoring as directed by the department shall provide Tier 2 public notice under Part 7, Subpart A of this chapter.

(f) The purveyor using a surface water or GWI source shall collect representative source water samples for bacteriological density analysis under WAC 246-290-664 and 246-290-694 as applicable.

TABLE 1

MINIMUM MONTHLY ROUTINE COLIFORM

SAMPLING REQUIREMENTS

(4) Inorganic chemical and physical.

(a) A complete inorganic chemical and physical analysis shall consist of the primary and secondary chemical and physical substances.

(i) Primary chemical and physical substances are antimony, arsenic, asbestos, barium, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, cyanide, fluoride, mercury, nickel, nitrate (as N), nitrite (as N), selenium, sodium, thallium, and for unfiltered surface water, turbidity. (Except that the MCL for arsenic under WAC 246-290-310 does not apply to TNC systems.)

(ii) Secondary chemical and physical substances are chloride, color, hardness, iron, manganese, specific conductivity, silver, sulfate, total dissolved solids*, and zinc.

*	Required only when specific conductivity exceeds seven hundred micromhos/centimeter.

(b) Purveyors shall monitor for all primary and secondary chemical and physical substances identified in Table 4 and Table 5. Samples shall be collected in accordance with the monitoring requirements referenced in 40 C.F.R. 141.23 introductory text, 141.23(a) through 141.23(j), excluding (i)(2), and 40 C.F.R. 143.4, except for composite samples for systems serving less than three thousand three hundred one persons. For these systems, compositing among different systems may be allowed if the systems are owned or operated by a department-approved satellite management agency.

(c) Samples required by this subsection shall be taken at designated locations under 40 C.F.R. 141.23(a) through 141.23(j), excluding (i)(2), and 40 C.F.R. 143.4, and Table 3 herein.

(i) Wellfield samples shall be allowed from department designated wellfields; and

(ii) Under 40 C.F.R. 141.23 (a)(3), alternate sampling locations may be used if approved by the department. The process for determining these alternate sites is described in department guidance. Purveyors of community and NTNC systems may ask the department to approve an alternate sampling location for multiple sources within a single system that are blended prior to entry to the distribution system. Alternate sampling plans shall address the following:

(A) Source vulnerability;

(B) Individual source characteristics;

(C) Previous water quality information;

(D) Status of monitoring waiver applications; and

(E) Other information deemed necessary by the department.

(d) Composite samples:

(i) Under 40 C.F.R. 141.23 (a)(4), purveyors may ask the certified lab to composite samples representing as many as five individual samples from within one system. Sampling procedures and protocols are outlined in department guidance; and

(ii) For systems serving a population of less than three thousand three hundred one, the department may approve composite sampling between systems when those systems are part of an approved satellite management agency.

(e) When the purveyor provides treatment for one or more inorganic chemical or physical contaminants, the department may require the purveyor to sample before and after treatment. The department shall notify the purveyor if and when this additional source sampling is required.

(f) Inorganic monitoring plans.

(i) Purveyors of community and NTNC systems shall prepare an inorganic chemical monitoring plan and base routine monitoring on the plan.

(ii) The purveyor shall:

(A) Keep the monitoring plan on file with the system and make it available to the department for inspection upon request;

(B) Revise or expand the plan at any time the plan no longer reflects the monitoring requirements, procedures or sampling locations, or as directed by the department; and

(C) Submit the plan to the department for review and approval when requested and as part of the water system plan required under WAC 246-290-100.

(g) Monitoring waivers.

(i) Purveyors may request in writing, a monitoring waiver from the department for any nonnitrate/nitrite inorganic chemical and physical monitoring requirements identified in this chapter.

(ii) Purveyors requesting a monitoring waiver shall comply with applicable subsections of 40 CFR 141.23 (b)(3), and 141.23 (c)(3).

(iii) Purveyors shall update and resubmit requests for waiver renewals as applicable during each compliance cycle or period or more frequently as directed by the department.

(iv) Failure to provide complete and accurate information in the waiver application shall be grounds for denial of the monitoring waiver.

(h) The department may require the purveyor to repeat sample for confirmation of results.

(i) Purveyors with emergency and seasonal sources shall monitor those sources when they are in use.

(5) Lead and copper. Monitoring for lead and copper shall be conducted in accordance with 40 C.F.R. 141.86 (a) - (f), 141.87, and 141.88. All systems that have fewer than five drinking water taps used for human consumption shall collect at least one sample from each tap and then collect additional samples from those taps on different days during the monitoring period to meet the required number of samples as described in 40 C.F.R. 141.86(c).

(6) Disinfection byproducts (DBP), disinfectant residuals, and disinfection byproduct precursors (DBPP). Purveyors of community and NTNC systems providing water treated with chemical disinfectants and TNC systems using chlorine dioxide shall monitor as follows:

(a) General requirements.

(i) Systems shall collect samples during normal operating conditions.

(ii) All monitoring shall be conducted in accordance with the analytical requirements in 40 C.F.R. 141.131.

(iii) Systems may consider multiple wells drawing from a single aquifer as one treatment plant for determining the minimum number of TTHM and HAA5 samples required, with department approval in accordance with department guidance.

(iv) Systems required to monitor under this subsection shall prepare and implement a monitoring plan in accordance with 40 C.F.R. 141.132(f) or 40 C.F.R. 141.622, as applicable.

(A) Community and NTNC surface water and GWI systems that deliver water that has been treated with a disinfectant other than ultraviolet light and serve more than three thousand three hundred people shall submit a monitoring plan to the department.

(B) The department may require submittal of a monitoring plan from systems not specified in subsection (6)(a)(iv)(A) of this section, and may require revision of any monitoring plan.

(C) Failure to monitor for TTHM, HAA5, or bromate will be treated as a violation for the entire period covered by the annual average where compliance is based on a running annual average of monthly or quarterly samples or averages.

(D) Failure to monitor for chlorine and chloramine residuals will be treated as a violation for the entire period covered by the annual average where compliance is based on a running annual average of monthly or quarterly samples or averages and the systems' failure to monitor makes it impossible to determine compliance with the MRDLs.

(b) Disinfection byproducts - Community and NTNC systems only.

(i) TTHMs and HAA5.

(A) Systems shall monitor for TTHM and HAA5 in accordance with 40 C.F.R. 141.132 (b)(1)(i) until the dates set in Table 2. On and after the dates set in Table 2, the systems shall monitor in accordance with 40 C.F.R. 141.620, 141.621, and 141.622.

Table 2

(B) With department approval, systems may reduce monitoring in accordance with 40 C.F.R. 141.132 (b)(1)(ii) and (iii), or 40 C.F.R. 141.623, as applicable.

(C) Systems on department-approved reduced monitoring schedules may be required to return to routine monitoring, or initiate increased monitoring in accordance with 40 C.F.R. 141.132 (b)(1)(iv), 40 C.F.R. 141.625, or 40 C.F.R. 141.627, as applicable.

(D) The department may return systems on increased monitoring to routine monitoring if, after one year, annual average results for TTHMs and HAA5 are less than or equal to 0.060 mg/L and 0.045 mg/L, respectively, or monitoring results are consistently below the MCLs indicating that increased monitoring is no longer necessary. After the dates set in Table 2, systems must meet requirements of 40 C.F.R. 141.628 and 40 C.F.R. 141.625(c) to return to routine monitoring.

(E) After the dates set in Table 2, systems must calculate operational evaluation levels each calendar quarter and take action, as needed, in accordance with 40 C.F.R. 141.626.

(F) NTNC systems serving ten thousand or more people and community systems must comply with the provisions of 40 C.F.R. Subpart U - Initial Distribution System Evaluation at:

(ii) Chlorite - Only systems that use chlorine dioxide.

(A) Systems using chlorine dioxide shall conduct daily and monthly monitoring in accordance with 40 C.F.R. 141.132 (b)(2)(i) and additional chlorite monitoring in accordance with 40 C.F.R. 141.132 (b)(2)(ii).

(B) With department approval, monthly monitoring may be reduced in accordance with 40 C.F.R. 141.132 (b)(2)(iii)(B). Daily monitoring at entry to distribution required by 40 C.F.R. 141.132 (b)(2)(i)(A) may not be reduced.

(iii) Bromate - Only systems that use ozone.

(A) Systems using ozone for disinfection or oxidation must conduct bromate monitoring in accordance with 40 C.F.R. 141.132 (b)(3)(i).

(B) With department approval, monthly bromate monitoring may be reduced to once per quarter in accordance with 40 C.F.R. 141.132 (b)(3)(ii)(B).

(c) Disinfectant residuals.

(i) Chlorine and chloramines. Systems that deliver water continuously treated with chlorine or chloramines, including consecutive systems, shall monitor and record the residual disinfectant level in the distribution system under WAC 246-290-300 (2)(b), 246-290-451(7), 246-290-664(6), or 246-290-694(8), but in no case less than as required by 40 C.F.R. 141.74 (b)(6), 40 C.F.R. 141.74 (c)(3), 40 C.F.R. 141.132(c), or 40 C.F.R. 141.624.

(ii) Chlorine dioxide. Community, NTNC, or TNC systems that use chlorine dioxide shall monitor in accordance with 40 C.F.R. 141.132 (c)(2) and record results.

(d) Disinfection byproducts precursors.

Community and NTNC surface water or GWI systems that use conventional filtration with sedimentation as defined in WAC 246-290-660(3) shall monitor under 40 C.F.R. 141.132(d), and meet the requirements of 40 C.F.R. 141.135.

(7) Organic chemicals.

(a) Purveyors of community and NTNC water systems shall comply with monitoring requirements under 40 C.F.R. 141.24 (a) - (d), 141.24 (f)(1) - (f)(15), 141.24 (f)(18) - (19), 141.24 (f)(21), 141.24 (g)(1) - (9), 141.24 (g)(12) - (14), 141.24 (h)(1) - (11), and 141.24 (h)(14) - (17).

(b) Sampling locations shall be as defined in 40 C.F.R. 141.24(f), 141.24(g), and 141.24(h).

(i) Wellfield samples shall be allowed from department designated wellfields; and

(ii) Under 40 C.F.R. 141.24 (f)(3) and 141.24 (h)(3), alternate sampling locations may be allowed if approved by the department. These alternate locations are described in department guidance. Purveyors may ask the department to approve an alternate sampling location for multiple sources within a single system that are blended prior to entry to the distribution system. The alternate sampling location shall consider the following:

(A) Source vulnerability;

(B) An updated organic monitoring plan showing location of all sources with current and proposed sampling locations;

(C) Individual source characteristics;

(D) Previous water quality information;

(E) Status of monitoring waiver applications; and

(F) Other information deemed necessary by the department.

(c) Composite samples:

(i) Purveyors may ask the certified lab to composite samples representing as many as five individual samples from within one system. Sampling procedures and protocols are outlined in department guidance;

(ii) For systems serving a population of less than three thousand three hundred one, the department may approve composite sampling between systems when those systems are part of an approved satellite management agency.

(d) The department may require the purveyor to sample both before and after treatment for one or more organic contaminants. The department shall notify the purveyor if and when this additional source sampling is required.

(e) Organic chemical monitoring plans.

(i) Purveyors of community and NTNC systems shall prepare an organic chemical monitoring plan and base routine monitoring on the plan.

(ii) The purveyor shall:

(A) Keep the monitoring plan on file with the system and make it available to the department for inspection upon request;

(B) Revise or expand the plan at any time the plan no longer reflects the monitoring requirements, procedures or sampling locations, or as directed by the department; and

(C) Submit the plan to the department for review and approval when requested and as part of the water system plan required under WAC 246-290-100.

(f) Monitoring waivers.

(i) Purveyors may request in writing, a monitoring waiver from the department for any organic monitoring requirement except those relating to unregulated VOCs;

(ii) Purveyors requesting a monitoring waiver shall comply with 40 C.F.R. 141.24 (f)(7), 141.24 (f)(10), 141.24 (h)(6), and 141.24 (h)(7);

(iii) Purveyors shall update and resubmit requests for waiver renewals as directed by the department; and

(iv) Failure to provide complete and accurate information in the waiver application shall be grounds for denial of the monitoring waiver.

(g) Purveyors with emergency and seasonal sources shall monitor those sources under the applicable requirements of this section when they are actively providing water to consumers.

(8) Radionuclides. Monitoring for radionuclides shall be conducted under 40 C.F.R. 141.26.

(9) Cryptosporidium and E. coli source monitoring. Purveyors with surface water or GWI sources shall monitor the sources in accordance with 40 C.F.R. 141.701 and 702.

(10) Other substances.

On the basis of public health concerns, the department may require the purveyor to monitor for additional substances.

TABLE 3

MONITORING LOCATION

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050(2) and 70.119A.080. WSR 11-17-062, § 246-290-300, filed 8/15/11, effective 10/1/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050 and 70.119A.080. WSR 10-20-068, § 246-290-300, filed 9/29/10, effective 11/1/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050. WSR 09-21-045, § 246-290-300, filed 10/13/09, effective 1/4/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 70.119A.180 and 43.20.050. WSR 08-03-061, § 246-290-300, filed 1/14/08, effective 2/14/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050 and 70.119A.080. WSR 04-04-056, § 246-290-300, filed 1/30/04, effective 3/1/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050 (2) and (3) and 70.119A.080. WSR 03-08-037, § 246-290-300, filed 3/27/03, effective 4/27/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.02.050 [43.20.050]. WSR 99-07-021, § 246-290-300, filed 3/9/99, effective 4/9/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050. WSR 94-14-001, § 246-290-300, filed 6/22/94, effective 7/23/94; WSR 93-08-011 (Order 352B), § 246-290-300, filed 3/25/93, effective 4/25/93; WSR 92-04-070 (Order 241B), § 246-290-300, filed 2/4/92, effective 3/6/92. Statutory Authority: Chapter 43.20 RCW. WSR 91-07-031 (Order 150B), § 246-290-300, filed 3/15/91, effective 4/15/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050. WSR 91-02-051 (Order 124B), recodified as § 246-290-300, filed 12/27/90, effective 1/31/91. Statutory Authority: P.L. 99-339. WSR 89-21-020 (Order 336), § 248-54-165, filed 10/10/89, effective 11/10/89. Statutory Authority: RCW 34.04.045. WSR 88-05-057 (Order 307), § 248-54-165, filed 2/17/88. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050. WSR 83-19-002 (Order 266), § 248-54-165, filed 9/8/83.]

RCW 43.20.050(2) and 70.119A.080. WSR 11-17-062, § 246-290-300, filed 8/15/11, effective 10/1/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050 and 70.119A.080. WSR 10-20-068, § 246-290-300, filed 9/29/10, effective 11/1/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050. WSR 09-21-045, § 246-290-300, filed 10/13/09, effective 1/4/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 70.119A.180 and 43.20.050. WSR 08-03-061, § 246-290-300, filed 1/14/08, effective 2/14/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050 and 70.119A.080. WSR 04-04-056, § 246-290-300, filed 1/30/04, effective 3/1/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050 (2) and (3) and 70.119A.080. WSR 03-08-037, § 246-290-300, filed 3/27/03, effective 4/27/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.02.050 [43.20.050]. WSR 99-07-021, § 246-290-300, filed 3/9/99, effective 4/9/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050. WSR 94-14-001, § 246-290-300, filed 6/22/94, effective 7/23/94; WSR 93-08-011 (Order 352B), § 246-290-300, filed 3/25/93, effective 4/25/93; WSR 92-04-070 (Order 241B), § 246-290-300, filed 2/4/92, effective 3/6/92. Statutory Authority: Chapter 43.20 RCW. WSR 91-07-031 (Order 150B), § 246-290-300, filed 3/15/91, effective 4/15/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050. WSR 91-02-051 (Order 124B), recodified as § 246-290-300, filed 12/27/90, effective 1/31/91. Statutory Authority: P.L. 99-339. WSR 89-21-020 (Order 336), § 248-54-165, filed 10/10/89, effective 11/10/89. Statutory Authority: RCW 34.04.045. WSR 88-05-057 (Order 307), § 248-54-165, filed 2/17/88. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050. WSR 83-19-002 (Order 266), § 248-54-165, filed 9/8/83.

Rules

246-290-480,246-290-451,246-290-694,246-290-100,246-290-320,246-290-320,246-290-320,246-290-320,246-290-71005,246-290-453,246-290-664,246-290-694,246-290-310,246-290-100,246-290-451,246-290-664,246-290-694,246-290-660,246-290-100,