Pennsylvania Code › Title 25 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION › Part I - Department of Environmental Protection › Subpart C - Protection of Natural Resources › Article II - Water Resources › Chapter 109 - SAFE DRINKING WATER › Subchapter J - BOTTLED WATER AND VENDED WATER SYSTEMS, RETAIL WATER FACILITIES AND BULK WATER HAULING SYSTEMS › Section 109.1003 - Monitoring requirements

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
(a)
General monitoring requirements
. Bottled water and vended
						water systems, retail water facilities and bulk water hauling systems shall
						monitor for compliance with the MCLs, MRDLs and treatment techniques as
						follows, except that systems which have installed treatment to comply with a
						primary MCL shall conduct quarterly operational monitoring for the contaminant
						which the treatment is designed to remove:
(1)
						Bottled water systems, retail water facilities and bulk water hauling systems,
						for each entry point shall:
(i) Monitor
						weekly for the presence or absence of total coliform. For any total coliform
						positive routine or check sample, determine the presence or absence of
E. coli
. All analyses must be conducted in accordance with
						analytical techniques approved by the Department under §
														109.304 (relating to analytical
						requirements). A system may forego
E. coli
testing on a total
						coliform-positive sample if the system assumes that any total coliform-positive
						sample is also
E. coli
-positive. A system which chooses to
						forego
E. coli
testing shall, under §
														109.701(a)(3)
						(relating to reporting and recordkeeping), notify the Department within 1 hour
						after the water system learns of the violation or the situation, and shall
						provide public notice in accordance with §
														109.1004 (relating to public
						notification).
(ii) Monitor for
						turbidity every 4 hours or continuously each day a surface water or GUDI source
						is in use.
(iii) Monitor for
						compliance with the MCLs for VOCs in accordance with
						109.301(5)
						beginning during the quarter that begins January 1, 1995, except that:
(A) Systems that obtain finished water from
						another permitted public water system are exempt from conducting monitoring for
						the VOCs if the public water system supplying the finished water performs the
						required monitoring at least annually and a copy of the analytical reports are
						received by the Department.
(B) For
						systems in existence prior to January 1, 1995, that obtain raw water from only
						protected groundwater sources, initial monitoring for compliance with the MCLs
						for VOCs established by the EPA under
						40 CFR
						141.61(a) (relating to MCLs
						for organic contaminants) on January 30, 1991, and July 17, 1992, will be
						reduced to one sample for entry points or systems which meet the following
						conditions:
(I) The VOC monitoring required
						by the Department between January 1, 1988, and December 31, 1994, has been
						conducted and no VOCs were detected.
(II) The first quarter of VOC monitoring
						required by this subparagraph has been conducted during the first quarter of
						1995 with no detection of a VOC.
(C) Initial monitoring of new entry points
						associated with new sources which are permitted in accordance with
						109.1005
						(relating to permit requirements) to begin operation after December 31, 1994,
						shall be conducted as follows:
(I) Entry
						points at which a VOC is detected during new source monitoring shall be
						monitored quarterly beginning the first quarter the entry points begin serving
						the public. Quarterly monitoring shall continue until reduced monitoring is
						granted in accordance with clause (D)(I).
(II) Entry points at which no VOC is detected
						during new source monitoring shall begin initial quarterly monitoring during
						the first calendar quarter of the year after the entry point begins serving the
						public.
(D) Repeat
						monitoring for entry points shall be conducted as follows:
(I) For an entry point at which a VOC is
						detected during initial monitoring or where a VOC is detected anytime at a
						level in excess of its MCL, compliance monitoring shall be repeated quarterly
						for the VOCs for which the EPA has established MCLs under
						40 CFR
						141.61(a), except for vinyl
						chloride as provided in
						109.301(5)(i).
						After analyses of four consecutive quarterly samples at an entry point,
						including initial quarterly monitoring samples, demonstrate that the VOC levels
						in each quarterly sample are less than the MCLs, the required compliance
						monitoring is reduced to one sample per year at that entry point for all 21
						VOCs, except for vinyl chloride as provided in § 109.301(5)(i).
(II) For a groundwater or surface water entry
						point at which VOCs are not detected during the initial and subsequent repeat
						monitoring, repeat monitoring shall be one sample per year from that entry
						point.
(iv)
						Conduct initial and repeat monitoring for compliance with the MCLs for
						SOCs-pesticides and PCBs-in accordance with
						109.301(6)
						for four consecutive quarters beginning during the quarter that begins January
						1, 1995, except that:
(A) Systems that obtain
						finished water from another permitted public water system are exempt from
						conducting compliance monitoring for the SOCs if one of the following applies:
(I) The public water system supplying the
						finished water performs the required monitoring annually and a copy of the
						analytical results are received by the Department.
(II) The public water system supplying the
						water has been granted a waiver from conducting the initial or repeat
						compliance monitoring, or both, for one or more SOCs under
						109.301(6)(v).
						This exemption from conducting compliance monitoring applies only to SOCs
						indicated in the waiver.
(B) Systems which are granted an initial
						monitoring waiver in accordance with
						109.301(6)(v)
						are exempt from conducting compliance monitoring for the SOCs indicated in the
						waiver.
(C) Initial monitoring of
						new entry points associated with new sources which are permitted in accordance
						with
						109.1005 to
						begin operation after December 31, 1994, shall be conducted as follows:
(I) Entry points at which an SOC is detected
						during new source monitoring shall be monitored quarterly beginning the first
						quarter the entry points begin serving the public. Quarterly monitoring shall
						continue until reduced monitoring is granted in accordance with clause
						(D)(I).
(II) Entry points at which
						no SOC is detected during new source monitoring and which begin operation
						before April 1, 1995, shall conduct initial quarterly monitoring beginning
						during the quarter beginning January 1, 1995.
(III) Entry points at which no SOC is
						detected during new source monitoring and which begin operation after March 31,
						1995, shall conduct initial quarterly monitoring beginning during the first
						calendar quarter of the year after the entry point begins serving the
						public.
(D) Repeat
						monitoring for entry points shall be conducted as follows:
(I) For entry points at which an SOC is
						detected during initial monitoring or where an SOC is detected anytime in
						excess of its MCL, compliance monitoring shall be repeated quarterly for the
						detected SOC for which the EPA has an established MCL under
						40 CFR
						141.61(c). After analyses of
						four consecutive quarterly samples at an entry point, including initial
						quarterly monitoring samples, demonstrate that the SOC level in each quarterly
						sample is less than the MCL, the required compliance monitoring is reduced for
						each SOC below the MCL to one sample per year at that entry point.
(II) For a groundwater or surface water entry
						point at which SOCs are not detected during the initial and any subsequent
						repeat monitoring, repeat monitoring shall be one sample per year from that
						entry point.
(v) Beginning in 1995, monitor for the
						primary IOCs, including lead and copper annually, except that:
(A) Systems are granted a waiver from
						asbestos monitoring unless the Department determines that the system's finished
						water is vulnerable to asbestos contamination by means of an asbestos cement
						pipe or the system's source water is vulnerable to asbestos
						contamination.
(B) Systems that
						obtain finished water from another permitted public water system are exempt
						from conducting compliance monitoring for the IOCs, except lead, copper and
						asbestos if the supplying system has not optimized corrosion control, if the
						public water system supplying the finished water performs the required
						monitoring annually and a copy of the analytical results is received by the
						Department.
(C) Monitoring for
						compliance with the MCLs for nitrate and nitrite shall be conducted quarterly
						following a monitoring result which is equal to or greater than 50% of the MCL.
						After four consecutive quarterly samples, indicate nitrate and nitrite in each
						sample are less than 50% of the MCLs, required monitoring is reduced to one
						sample per year.
(vi)
						Conduct operational monitoring for fluoride at least once each day, if the
						system fluoridates its water.
(vii)
						Monitor for compliance with radiological MCLs once every 4 years.
(viii)
TTHM and HAA5 Stage 1 DBP
						Rule.
Beginning January 1, 2004, monitor annually for TTHM and HAA5 if
						the system uses a chemical disinfectant or oxidant, or obtains finished water
						from another public water system that uses a chemical disinfectant or oxidant
						to treat the water. Bottled water systems are not required to monitor for TTHM
						and HAA5 if the system does not use a chlorine-based disinfectant or oxidant
						and does not obtain finished water from another public water system that uses a
						chlorine-based disinfectant or oxidant to treat the water.
(A)
Routine monitoring.
Systems shall take at least one sample per year per entry point during the
						month of warmest water temperature. If the sample, or average of all samples,
						exceeds either a TTHM or HAA5 MCL, the system shall take at least one sample
						per quarter per entry point. The system shall return to the sampling frequency
						of one sample per year per entry point if, after at least 1 year of monitoring,
						the TTHM running annual average is no greater than 0.060 mg/L and the HAA5
						running annual average is no greater than 0.045 mg/L.
(B)
Reduced monitoring.
Systems that use groundwater sources shall monitor for TTHM and HAA5 for at
						least 1 year prior to qualifying for reduced monitoring. The Department retains
						the right to require a system that meets the requirements of this clause to
						resume routine monitoring.
(I) Systems that
						use groundwater sources shall reduce monitoring to one sample per 3-year cycle
						per entry point if the annual TTHM average is no greater than 0.040 mg/L and
						the annual HAA5 average is no greater than 0.030 mg/L for 2 consecutive years
						or the annual TTHM average is no greater than 0.020 mg/L and the annual HAA5
						average is no greater than 0.015 mg/L for 1 year. The sample shall be taken
						during the month of warmest water temperature. The 3-year cycle shall begin on
						January 1 following the quarter in which the system qualifies for reduced
						monitoring.
(II) Systems that use
						groundwater sources that qualify for reduced monitoring shall remain on reduced
						monitoring if the TTHM annual average is no greater than 0.060 mg/L and the
						HAA5 annual average is no greater than 0.045 mg/L. Systems that exceed these
						levels shall resume routine monitoring as prescribed in clause (A), except that
						systems that exceed either a TTHM or HAA5 MCL shall increase monitoring to at
						least one sample per quarter per entry point beginning in the quarter
						immediately following the quarter in which the system exceeds the TTHM or HAA5
						MCL.
(ix)
TTHM and HAA5 Stage 2 DBP Rule.
Beginning October 1, 2013,
						monitor annually for TTHM and HAA5 if the system uses a chemical disinfectant
						or oxidant to treat the water, or obtains finished water from another public
						water system that uses a chemical disinfectant or oxidant to treat the water as
						follows:
(A)
Routine
						monitoring.
Systems shall take at least one dual sample set per year
						per entry point during the peak historical month except that systems meeting
						the conditions in subsection (d) or (e) shall monitor in accordance with
						109.301(12)(ii)
						(relating to general monitoring requirements).
(B)
Increased monitoring.
If
						any sample results exceed either a TTHM or HAA5 MCL, the system shall take at
						least one dual sample set per quarter (every 90 days) per entry point. The
						system shall return to the sampling frequency of one dual sample set per year
						per entry point if, after at least 1 year of monitoring, each TTHM sample
						result is no greater than 0.060 mg/L and each HAA5 sample result is no greater
						than 0.045 mg/L.
(C)
Compliance determinations.
Compliance with the TTHM and HAA5
						MCLs is based on the LRAA.
(I) A system
						required to monitor quarterly shall calculate LRAAs for TTHM and HAA5 using
						monitoring results collected under this subparagraph and determine that each
						LRAA does not exceed the MCL. A system that fails to complete 4 consecutive
						quarters of monitoring shall calculate compliance with the MCL based on the
						average of the available data from the most recent 4 quarters. A system that
						takes more than one sample per quarter at a monitoring location shall average
						all samples taken in the quarter at that location to determine a quarterly
						average to be used in the LRAA calculation.
(II) A system required to monitor yearly or
						less frequently shall determine that each sample result is less than the MCL.
						If any single sample result exceeds the MCL, the system shall comply with the
						requirements of clause (B). If no sample result exceeds the MCL, the sample
						result for each monitoring location is considered the LRAA for that monitoring
						location.
(III) A system required
						to conduct quarterly monitoring shall make compliance calculations at the end
						of the 4th calendar quarter that follows the compliance date (or earlier if the
						LRAA calculated based on fewer than 4 quarters of data would cause the MCL to
						be exceeded regardless of the monitoring results of subsequent quarters) and at
						the end of each subsequent calendar quarter. A system required to conduct
						monitoring at a frequency that is less than quarterly shall make compliance
						calculations beginning with the first compliance sample taken after the
						compliance date.
(IV) A system is
						in violation of the MCL when the LRAA at any location exceeds the MCL for TTHM
						or HAA5, calculated as specified in subclause (I), or the LRAA calculated based
						on fewer than 4 quarters of data if the MCL would be exceeded regardless of the
						monitoring results of subsequent quarters. If a system fails to monitor, the
						system is in violation of the monitoring requirements for each quarter that a
						monitoring result would be used in calculating an LRAA.
(x) Beginning January 1, 2004,
						monitor daily for chlorite if the system uses chlorine dioxide for disinfection
						or oxidation. Systems shall take at least one daily sample at the entry point.
						If a daily sample exceeds the chlorite MCL, the system shall take three
						additional samples within 24 hours from the same lot, batch, machine, carrier
						vehicle or point of delivery. The chlorite MCL is based on the average of the
						required daily sample plus any additional samples.
(xi) Beginning April 28, 2018, a system using
						chlorine dioxide shall take one sample per day at each entry point. A violation
						of the chlorine dioxide MRDL occurs when any entry point sample result exceeds
						the chlorine dioxide MRDL.
(xii)
						Beginning January 1, 2004, monitor monthly for bromate if the system uses ozone
						for disinfection or oxidation.
(A)
Routine monitoring.
Systems shall take one sample per month
						for each entry point that uses ozone while the ozonation system is operating
						under normal conditions.
(B)
Reduced monitoring.
(I)
						Until March 31, 2009, systems shall reduce monitoring for bromate from monthly
						to quarterly if the average source water bromide concentration is less than
						0.05 mg/L based upon representative monthly bromide measurements for 1 year.
						Systems on reduced monitoring shall continue monthly source water bromide
						monitoring. If the running annual average source water bromide concentration,
						computed quarterly, is equal to or exceeds 0.05 mg/L, the system shall revert
						to routine monitoring as prescribed by clause (A).
(II) Beginning April 1, 2009, a system
						required to analyze for bromate may reduce monitoring from monthly to
						quarterly, if each sample result analyzed using methods specified in
						40 CFR
						141.132(b)(3)(ii)(B)
						(relating to monitoring requirements) is less than or equal to 0.0025 mg/L
						based on monthly measurements as prescribed in clause (A) for the most recent
						12 months. Systems qualifying for reduced bromate monitoring under subclause
						(I) may remain on reduced monitoring as long as each sample result analyzed
						using methods specified in
						40 CFR
						141.132(b)(3)(ii)(B) from
						the previous 12 months is less than or equal to 0.0025 mg/L. If any sample
						result exceeds 0.0025 mg/L, the system shall resume routine monitoring as
						prescribed under clause (A).
(xiii) Beginning April 28, 2018, a system
						that provides filtration of surface water or GUDI sources shall comply with the
						following:
(A) Maintain a residual at the
						entry point as specified in
						109.202(c)(1)(ii)
						(relating to State MCLs, MRDLs and treatment technique requirements).
(B) Monitor residual disinfectant
						concentration at the entry point in accordance with §
						109.301(1)(i)(C).
(C) Report the
						results in accordance with § 109.701(a)(2).
(xiv) Beginning April 28, 2018, a system that
						uses or obtains finished water from another permitted public water system using
						surface water or GUDI sources shall comply with the following requirements:
(A) As a minimum, a detectable residual
						disinfectant concentration of 0.20 mg/L measured as total chlorine, combined
						chlorine, chlorine dioxide or another level approved by the Department for
						systems using an alternate oxidizing disinfection treatment shall be maintained
						at the entry point as demonstrated by monitoring conducted under §
						109.301(1) and (2) or (8)(v).
(B)
						Sampling points with nondetectable residual disinfectant concentrations which
						have heterotrophic plate count measurements of less than 500/ml are deemed to
						be in compliance with clause (A).
(C) When the requirements of clause (A) or
						(B) cannot be achieved, the supplier shall initiate an investigation under the
						Department's direction to determine the cause, potential health risks and
						appropriate remedial measures.
(xv) Beginning January 1, 2024, monitor for
						compliance with the MCLs for PFAS established under § 109.202(a).
(A)
Monitoring exemption
.
						Systems that obtain finished water from another permitted public water system
						are exempt from conducting monitoring for PFAS if the public water system
						supplying the finished water performs the required monitoring at least annually
						and a copy of the analytical reports are received by the Department.
(B)
Initial monitoring
.
						Initial monitoring shall consist of 4 consecutive quarterly samples at each
						entry point. Systems that add new sources to new or existing entry points on or
						after January 1, 2024, shall conduct initial monitoring according to this
						clause. An entry point with one or more new sources shall be monitored for 4
						consecutive quarters, beginning the first full quarter the entry point begins
						serving the public.
(C)
Repeat monitoring
. Repeat monitoring for entry points shall be
						conducted as follows:
(I) For an entry point
						at which a PFAS is detected during initial monitoring or where a PFAS is
						detected anytime at a level in excess of its MCL, compliance monitoring for the
						detected PFAS shall be conducted quarterly. After analyses of four consecutive
						quarterly samples at an entry point, including initial quarterly monitoring
						samples, demonstrate that the PFAS level in each quarterly sample is reliably
						and consistently below the MCL, the required compliance monitoring is reduced
						to one sample per year at that entry point for the detected PFAS.
(II) For an entry point at which a PFAS is
						not detected during the initial and subsequent repeat monitoring, repeat
						monitoring shall be one sample per year from that entry point.
(D)
Confirmation
						samples
. A confirmation sample shall be collected and analyzed for
						each of the PFAS detected in exceedance of its MCL during annual monitoring.
						The confirmation sample shall be collected within 2 weeks of notification from
						the accredited laboratory performing the analysis of the MCL
						exceedance.
(E)
Repeat and
						performance monitoring for entry points with PFAS removal treatment
.
						Compliance monitoring shall be conducted annually at entry points with PFAS
						treatment. Performance monitoring shall be conducted at least quarterly for the
						specific PFAS for which treatment is provided.
(F)
Invalidation of PFAS
						samples
.
(I) The Department may
						invalidate results of obvious sampling errors.
(II) A sample invalidated under this clause
						does not count towards meeting the minimum monitoring requirements of this
						subparagraph.
(G)
Compliance determinations
. Compliance with the PFAS MCLs shall
						be determined based on the analytical results obtained at each entry point. If
						one entry point is in violation of an MCL, the system is in violation of the
						MCL.
(I) For systems monitoring more than
						once per year, compliance with the MCL is determined by a running annual
						average of all samples taken at each entry point.
(II) If monitoring is conducted annually, the
						system is out of compliance if the level of a contaminant at any entry point is
						greater than the MCL. If a confirmation sample is collected as specified in
						clause (D), compliance is determined using the average of the two sample
						results.
(III) If any sample result
						will cause the running annual average to exceed the MCL at any entry point, the
						system is out of compliance with the MCL immediately.
(IV) If a system fails to collect the
						required number of samples, compliance with the MCL will be based on the total
						number of samples collected.
(V) If
						a sample result is less than the MRL, zero will be used to calculate
						compliance.