LAW
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Ohio Laws and Rules
(A) The department may perform inspections as often as necessary to determine satisfactory compliance with this chapter. For purposes of this rule inspection means the observation and documentation of the location, construction, or physical condition of a private water system or any component of such a system and includes, without limitation, water sampling for the detection of any contaminants, the documentation of a violation of construction standards, technical procedures, or any other requirement established under this chapter.
(B) The department shall inspect each private water system constructed after the effective date of this rule to determine compliance with this chapter. The inspection shall include an examination of at least the following, as applicable:
(1) The well casing for proper ASTM, API, or ANSI/NSF designations, casing type, wall thickness, and height above final grade.
(2) The surface condition of the annular space around the casing to determine the presence of grout, and the absence or presence of subsidence, or other visual indication of the surface condition of the annular space.
(3) All isolation distance requirements as provided in rule 3701-28-10 of the Administrative Code and any other potential sources of contamination.
(4) The well cap for type and proper installation and venting.
(5) The complete disinfection system.
(6) Filters used for continuous filtration.
(7) For cisterns and hauled water storage tanks; tank size, tank standards and specifications, manhole covers for safety, and intakes.
(8) Pond intakes, watershed area, wet side slope, and pond size.
(C) Where the department determines that any of the following conditions exist at a well, the registered contractor performing the work or the well owner may be required to excavate the well head for verification of proper grouting.
(1) A visible open annular space surrounding the well casing.
(2) Grout is not detected at or below the water service line connection to the casing.
(3) The detection of dye in the well water after placement of tracer dye around the casing at or near the ground surface.
(4) A well log which indicates that the well has not been grouted or which lacks information or contains incomplete or erroneous information pertaining to the grouting of a well.
(D) The department shall inspect every registered contractor that constructs a private water system within a health district at least once per calendar year, except those registered contractors inspected in another health district within the calendar year. The inspection shall take place during the drilling and construction process to determine that the private water system is being constructed in compliance with this chapter. Inspections shall be recorded on inspection report forms prescribed or approved by the director, and a copy shall be provided to the director and the registered contractor. Inspections of registered contractors shall include an examination of at least the following:
(1) The well casing for proper ASTM, API, or ANSI/NSF designations, casing type, and wall thickness, and the installation of well screens.
(2) The grout materials, related tools and methods for placing grout into the annular space, and observation of the actual grouting process.
(3) The pitless adaptor or pitless unit connection to the well casing for water tightness.
(4) All isolation distance requirements, as provided in rule 3701-28-10 of the Administrative Code, and potential sources of contamination.
(5) The well cap for type and proper installation and venting.
(6) Materials used in the distribution system for the private water system.
(E) The department shall collect and process water samples after completion of the private water system or when the private water system is determined to be in compliance with this chapter. Water samples shall be collected and processed according to the following procedures:
(1) Information regarding the private water systems owner, address of the property, and date of sampling shall be recorded. A sanitary survey shall be performed of the site for a pre-existing private water system that is being sampled for purposes of an inspection or bond claim.
(2) Water samples from private water systems shall be collected a minimum of forty-eight hours after the private water system has been chlorinated and completely flushed to remove all residual chlorine from the system. Water to be tested shall be checked for the presence of chlorine prior to analysis.
(3) No water samples shall be collected from hoses or yard hydrants. An initial sample shall be collected at a convenient sample port, faucet or spigot that is closest to the point of human consumption of the water supply. If the water sample is positive for total coliform, then any subsequent sampling shall be taken at the source of the water supply prior to or at the water pressure tank, water heater, or any water treatment unit and the sampling method shall include detection for escherichia coli in addition to total coliform.
(4) The water system shall be purged a minimum of ten minutes, or in the case of a cistern or spring, purge enough water to remove all water standing in the distribution system prior to collecting the sample.
(5) The faucet, spigot, tap, or sampling port shall be sanitized with a chlorine solution containing a minimum of four hundred parts per million chlorine or an isopropyl alcohol solution of not less than seventy percent by spraying or flushing the faucet, spigot, tap, or sampling port or by using other methods approved by the director.
(6) Water samples shall be collected in a sterile sample container provided by the laboratory that will perform the analysis. The sample bottle shall not be rinsed prior to the collection of the sample. The lip or sides of the sample bottle or lid shall not come into contact with any sources of contamination.
(7) Water samples to be tested for nitrates, shall be stabilized at the site or transported to the laboratory within thirty hours.
(8) Water samples to be tested for bacteria, including total coliform and escherichia coli shall be kept cool and transported to the laboratory within thirty hours.
(9) All water samples, except samples to be tested for nitrates that have been prescreened and indicate the presence of nitrates to be five miligrams per liter or less, shall be tested at a laboratory approved for the testing of microbiological contaminants, and nitrates and nitrites under Chapter 3745-89 of the Administrative Code.
(F) The department may charge the private water system owner a fee for each water sample collected by the department for the purpose of determining the presence of any contaminants.
(G) The director of health shall provide for making the bacteriological examinations, including the testing for coliform and escherichia coli, and the determination of the presence of nitrates in its laboratories of water samples required by these rules at the cost set forth in the fee schedule established in Chapter 3701-49 of the Administrative Code for each bacteriological, examination and nitrate analysis performed, and shall establish a system to receive such water samples at its laboratories, and to make such charges therefor;, provided, however, these rules do not prohibit such examination from being made by other laboratories approved by the Ohio department of health.
(H) The following maximum contaminant levels (MCL) apply to all private water systems:
(1) The presence of total coliform or escherichia coli is the maximum contaminant level.
(2) The maximum contaminant level for nitrates is ten milligrams per liter
R.C. 119.032 review dates: 12/23/2004 and 11/15/2009
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 3701.344
Rule Amplifies: 3701.344
Prior Effective Dates: 1/1/81, 10/1/82, 1/1/84, 1/1/2000