WQA Academy

OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of Section Five: Sampling Procedures for the Chemical Regulations, the learner should be able to:

1. Classify each chemical contaminant identified by the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR) as an inorganic, organic, or volatile organic compound and determine whether or not it is regulated.

2.  Develop a sampling plan for the collection of the initial and follow-up chemical samples required by Phase I, II, and V of the chemical regulations.

3.  Collect the chemical samples for laboratory analysis as required by Phase I, II, and V of the chemical regulations.

4.  Read and comprehend laboratory results of the various chemical analyses.

OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of Section Four: Sampling Procedures for the Surface Water Treatment Rule, the learner should be able to:

 

1.         Identify whether or not a system needs to perform filtration.

2.         Determine the frequency of samples required of non-filtering systems for source water coliform monitoring.

3.         Collect appropriate samples for source water coliform analysis.

4.         Determine frequency of turbidity samples required for the turbidity monitoring as required by the SWTR.

5.         Determine the frequency of disinfection residual monitoring sampling as required by the SWTR.

6.         Collect appropriate samples for turbidity and disinfectant residual analysis.

7.         Determine turbidity and disinfectant residual using a continuous monitoring device with recorder.

OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of Section Three: Sampling Procedures for the Lead   

and Copper Rule, the learner should be able to:

 1.   Determine the number of tap water samples required to be taken and locations that best fit the guidelines specified by the Lead and Copper Rule.

 2.   Teach proper sampling procedures to the resident or home owner.

 3.   Transport the samples, using defined transportation and storage procedures, to the laboratory for analysis.

 4.   Read and comprehend laboratory reports and follow up with required additional      sampling requirements.

 5.   Locate and collect the source water and water quality parameter monitoring samples      that are required by the Lead and Copper Rule.

Complying with the Safe Drinking Water Act is a series of concise training aids. One set in the series is designated for state regulatory personnel and local health officials responsible for Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) compliance and enforcement. The other set is designed with the public water system (PWS) operator in mind.

The operator series is designed to coincide with the actual duties of a water treatment plant operator as they relate to compliance with the provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Each Operator Training Guide is designed with information mapping, and section reviews to aid the operator in attaining competency in carrying out the provisions of the SDWA. These guides were designed to be used:

• For independent self-study
• As technical support for classroom training and
• As a read reference.

Sampling procedures are, by nature, very technical, comprehensive, and interrelated with every regulation. The reader should begin by grasping the broad intent of the procedures, then focusing on the details. Note that the sampling procedures apply to all water system, regardless of size or type. As you study, remember that accurate test results are dependent on the collection of an appropriate, uncontaminated sample.

The Regulation - GWR

 The Groundwater Rule (GWR) applies to more than 147,000 public water systems in the U.S. that use groundwater as of 2003.  The rule also applies to any system that mixes surface and groundwater if the groundwater is added directly to the distribution system, and provided to consumers without treatment equivalent to surface water treatment.  These types of systems provide water to an estimated 100 million consumers.

Public Health Benefits

 The Groundwater Rule is designed to reduce the public health risk from contaminated groundwater drinking water sources, especially in high-risk or high-priority systems. The GWR is estimated to reduce the average number of waterborne viral (rotavirus and echovirus) illnesses by nearly 42,000 each year from the current database estimate of approximately 185,000; i.e., a 23% reduction in total illnesses.  Additionally, non-quantified benefits from the rule resulting in illness reduction from other viruses and bacteria are expected to be significant.

 The Final Requirements

 1.         Periodic Sanitary Surveys of groundwater systems that require the evaluation of eight (8) critical elements, and the identification of significant  deficiencies; i.e., a well located near a leaking septic system.

 

            The eight (8) critical elements:

           ●          Source Water monitoring

            ●          Treatment

            ●          Distribution System

            ●          Finished water storage

            ●          Pumps, pump facilities and controls

            ●          Monitoring, reporting and data verification

            ●          System operations and maintenance

            ●          Operator Certification and compliance

2.  Source Water Monitoring to test for the presence of E. Coli

3.  Enterococci, or coliphage in the sample.