Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 62-555.320 - Design and Construction of Public Water Systems

Public water systems shall be designed and constructed to provide sufficient drinking water of a quality that will meet all applicable standards in Chapters 62-550, F.A.C., and requirements in this chapter. This section addresses the design and construction of all public water system components other than wells (but including well pumping equipment and appurtenances). Public water system wells are addressed in Chapters 62-524 and 62-532, and Rule 62-555.315, F.A.C.

(1) Sound Engineering Practice. New or altered public water system components shall be designed in accordance with sound engineering practice. Engineering references are listed in Rule 62-555.330, F.A.C.

(2) Innovative or Alternative Processes and Equipment. The Department encourages the development of new treatment processes and equipment. However, construction permits for innovative or alternative treatment processes or equipment (i.e., treatment processes or equipment not covered in the engineering references listed in Rule 62-555.330, F.A.C.) shall not be issued unless construction permit applicants include in the preliminary design report or design data accompanying their permit application supporting information demonstrating to the Department that the process or equipment is capable of consistently and reliably producing drinking water meeting applicable standards in Chapter 62-550, F.A.C., and requirements in this chapter. Supporting information shall include the following:

(a) The manufacturer's technical information;

(b) Data and reports from full-scale or pilot-plant installations that are operated under conditions comparable to those for which the process or equipment is being proposed and that are operated for a sufficient time to verify satisfactory performance of the process or equipment; and,

(c) Operation and maintenance requirements and availability of technical support.

(3) Direct or Indirect Drinking Water Additives.

(a) Drinking water additives and treatment chemicals, including chemicals used to regenerate ion-exchange resins or generate disinfectants on site at treatment plants, shall conform to one of the following:

1. NSF International Standard 60 as adopted in Rule 62-555.335, F.A.C.,

2. The standards in Water Chemicals Codex as adopted in Rule 62-555.335, F.A.C., or

3. The standards in Food Chemicals Codex as adopted in Rule 62-555.335, F.A.C.

(b) Newly installed or constructed public water system (PWS) components that come into contact with advanced treated water, drinking water or drinking water treatment chemicals shall conform to the applicable standards, regulations, or requirements referenced in subparagraphs 1. through 3., below. Fire hydrants are not covered by this paragraph; and mechanical devices that were previously installed in a PWS and then are removed, repaired or refurbished, and reinstalled in the same PWS are not covered by this paragraph. In addition, this paragraph does not apply to PWS components that either come into contact with drinking water prior to its treatment by reverse osmosis or come into contact with drinking water treatment chemicals and that are installed or constructed under a construction permit for which the Department received a complete application before August 28, 2003.

1. Except for ion-exchange resins, precast or cast-in-place concrete structures, and cement mortar, which are addressed in subparagraphs 2. and 3., below, newly installed or constructed PWS components that come into contact with advanced treated water, drinking water or drinking water treatment chemicals shall conform to one of the following:

a. NSF International Standard 61 as adopted in Rule 62-555.335, F.A.C.,

b. NSF International Standard 42, 44, 53, 55, 58, or 62 as adopted in Rule 62-555.335, F.A.C.,

c. Section 6 of NSF International Standard 14 as adopted in Rule 62-555.335, F.A.C., or

d. The Food and Drug Administration's regulations for indirect food additives as contained in the April 1, 2002, revision of 21 C.F.R. Parts 174 through 189, which are incorporated herein by reference.

2. Newly installed ion-exchange resins that come into contact with advanced treated water or drinking water shall be part of an ion-exchange water softener that conforms to NSF International Standard 44 as adopted in Rule 62-555.335, F.A.C., or shall conform to one of the following:

a. NSF International Standard 61 as adopted in Rule 62-555.335, F.A.C., or

b. The Food and Drug Administration's regulations for secondary direct food additives from ion-exchange resins as contained in the April 1, 2002, revision of 21 CFR 173.25, which is incorporated herein by reference.

3. Any newly installed or constructed precast or cast-in-place concrete structure or newly installed cement mortar that is not coated by a barrier material meeting the requirements of subparagraph 1., above, and that comes into contact with advanced treated water, drinking water or drinking water treatment chemicals shall meet the following requirements:

a. All cement, admixtures, form release agents, curing compounds, and sealers used in or on the concrete or mortar shall conform to NSF International Standard 61 as adopted in Rule 62-555.335, F.A.C.

b. Aggregate used in the concrete or mortar shall be clean (i.e., free of excess clay, silt, mica, organic matter, chemical salts, and coated grains) and shall be essentially free of those metals and radionuclides regulated under applicable primary drinking water standards.

c. Water used in the concrete or mortar shall meet applicable primary drinking water standards for inorganics, organics, and radionuclides.

(c) To determine or document whether drinking water additives or treatment chemicals or public water system components conform to the standards, regulations, or requirements listed in paragraph (a) or (b), above, suppliers of water or construction permit applicants may conduct their own evaluations or may rely upon third-party or manufacturer certifications.

(d) The Department shall allow exceptions to the requirements in paragraph (b), above, if suppliers of water or construction permit applicants provide the following:

1. Documentation that components conforming to the applicable standards, regulations, or requirements in paragraph (b), are not readily available; and,

2. Assurance that the components being provided will not impart into advanced treated water, drinking water or drinking water treatment chemicals any contaminant in an amount that could cause adverse human health effects.

(4) Flood Protection. Community water systems (CWSs) shall be designed and constructed so that structures, and electrical or mechanical equipment, used to treat, pump, or store advanced treated water or drinking water, apply drinking water treatment chemicals, or handle drinking water treatment residuals are protected from physical damage by the 100-year flood and, in coastal areas subject to flooding by wave action, from physical damage by the 100-year wave action. Additionally, CWSs shall be designed and constructed so that the aforementioned structures and equipment remain fully operational and accessible during the 25-year flood and, in coastal areas subject to flooding by wave action, the 25-year wave action; a lesser flood or wave action may be used if suppliers of water or construction permit applicants provide justification for using a lesser flood or wave action, but in no case shall less than the ten-year flood or wave action be used.

(5) Security. Drinking water treatment or pumping facilities shall be enclosed by fences with lockable access gates, housed in lockable buildings or enclosures, or otherwise protected to prevent tampering, vandalism, and sabotage. Advanced treated water and finished-drinking-water storage facilities shall be enclosed by fences with lockable access gates, shall have lockable access openings and lockable cages or enclosures obstructing access to ladders, or shall be otherwise protected to prevent tampering, vandalism, and sabotage.

(6) Capacity of Drinking Water Source and Treatment Facilities. The total capacity of all water source and treatment facilities connected to a water system shall at least equal the water system's design maximum-day water demand (including design fire-flow demand if fire protection is being provided). Applicants for a permit to construct or alter a drinking water treatment plant's source water or treatment facilities shall establish in the preliminary design report or drawings, specifications, and design data accompanying their permit application the design maximum-day capacity of the plant's source water facilities and the plant's treatment facilities and, if the plant is being designed to meet peak water demand or to supplement finished-drinking-water storage facilities in meeting peak water demand, the design peak capacity of the plant's source water facilities and the plant's treatment facilities. In turn, the Department shall specify in its construction permit for the plant's new or altered source water or treatment facilities the permitted maximum-day operating capacity of the plant and, if the plant is being designed to meet peak water demand or to supplement finished-water storage facilities in meeting peak water demand, the permitted peak operating capacity of the plant. The Department shall not specify a permitted plant operating capacity greater than the design capacity of the plant's treatment facilities as established by the applicant. However, the Department shall specify a permitted plant operating capacity less than the design capacity of the plant's treatment facilities if the actual design capacity of the plant's source water facilities, regardless of any water use permit limitations set by the water management district, is less than the design capacity of the plant's treatment facilities; in such a case:

(a) The construction permit for the plant's new or altered source water or treatment facilities shall indicate the design capacity of the plant's treatment facilities, shall state that permitted plant operating capacity is being limited because of the actual design capacity of the plant's source water facilities, and shall specify a permitted plant operating capacity equal to the actual design capacity of the plant's source water facilities.

(b) Each subsequent construction permit for new or altered source water facilities for the plant shall update the permitted plant operating capacity as appropriate.

(7) Raw Surface Water Pumping Stations. At each raw surface water pumping station that is constructed or altered under a construction permit for which the Department receives a complete application on or after August 28, 2003, and that is connected to a community water system (CWS) serving, or designed to serve, 350 or more persons or 150 or more service connections, the supplier of water shall provide an installed or uninstalled standby pump of sufficient capacity to replace the largest pump. However, for CWSs that have multiple pumping stations subject to this requirement, the supplier of water may provide one uninstalled standby pump for each size of raw surface water pump installed in the water system instead of providing a standby pump on site at each raw surface water pumping station; and for CWSs that have only one pumping station subject to this requirement and that are designed to serve 10,000 or fewer persons, as many as three water systems located in the same county, or within 50 miles of one another, may enter into a mutual aid agreement to share one appropriately sized, uninstalled standby pump instead of providing a standby pump on site at each water system's raw surface water pumping station.

(8) Well Pump Housing, Well Pump Discharge Piping, and Well Pump Appurtenances.

(a) Housing of Well Pumps.

1. Well pumps shall be housed in a weatherproof building, room, or pit unless the pumps are submersible or completely weatherproof, in which case the pumps need only be protected against tampering, vandalism, and sabotage in accordance with subsection (5), above.

2. Well pumphouses (i.e., buildings or rooms) for which the Department receives a complete construction permit application on or after August 28, 2003, shall have a concrete floor that is elevated above the adjacent finished ground surface and that is sloped to drain away from wells and well pumps. In addition, such well pumphouses shall have an access opening or removable roof or walls as necessary to provide full access for servicing wells and well pumps.

3. Well pump pits are allowed only where the finished ground surface is above the 100-year flood elevation and, in coastal areas subject to flooding by wave action, the 100-year wave-action elevation. All pump pit access openings shall have watertight covers or shall be flanged upward and provided with overlapping covers, and all pump pits shall be drained by gravity or by dual sump pumps with an alarm system that is activated in the event either sump pump fails. Sump pump alarm systems shall include an audio-visual alarm near the pump pit, and if the pump pit is not at a site staffed 24 hours per day and seven days per week, the alarm also shall be telemetered to a place staffed 24 hours per day and seven days per week, or shall trigger an automatic telephone dialing or paging device, to enable notification of an authorized representative of the supplier of water. Pump pits for which the Department receives a complete construction permit application on or after August 28, 2003, shall have an opening as necessary to provide full access for servicing wells and well pumps and shall have a concrete floor sloped to drain away from wells and well pumps.

(b) Well Pump Discharge Piping.

1. New or altered discharge piping shall be designed and constructed in accordance with Section 3.2.7.3 in Recommended Standards for Water Works as incorporated into rule 62-555.330, F.A.C., except that a check valve is not required in the discharge piping from a jet pump and except that the required smooth-nosed sampling tap shall be located as specified in subparagraph 2., below.

2. The discharge piping from each well pump shall include a smooth-nosed tap for sampling raw well water. All such sampling taps shall be located upstream of the check valve in the discharge piping if possible and upstream of all treatment facilities and chemical application points; shall be located at least 12 inches above the finished floor, pad, or ground surface below the tap; and shall be conveniently accessible and downward-opening. Raw well water sampling taps installed on or after August 28, 2003, except those installed under a construction permit for which the Department received a complete application before August 28, 2003, shall have no interior or exterior threads.

(c) Well Vents. Well pumps installed on or after August 28, 2003, except those installed under a construction permit for which the Department received a complete application before August 28, 2003, shall pump from a well that is vented to the atmosphere unless the well pump is a packer-type jet pump, the well casing also serves as well pump suction piping, the well is a flowing artesian well, there is no appreciable drawdown in the well, or the supplier of water provides justification for not venting the well to the atmosphere. All well vents shall terminate at least 12 inches above the 100-year flood elevation and, in coastal areas subject to flooding by wave action, at least 12 inches above the 100-year wave-action elevation. New or altered well vents shall be designed and constructed in accordance with Section 3.2.7.5 in Recommended Standards for Water Works as incorporated into Rule 62-555.330, F.A.C.

(9) Odor Control at Drinking Water Treatment Plants. Drinking water treatment plants shall comply with the objectionable odor prohibition under subsection 62-296.320(2), F.A.C. ("Objectionable odor" is defined in Rule 62-210.200, F.A.C.) Applicants for a permit to construct or alter drinking water treatment facilities, except those applicants who have submitted a complete application to the Department before August 28, 2003, shall provide in the preliminary design report or drawings, specifications, and design data accompanying their permit application assurance of compliance with subsection 62-296.320(2), F.A.C. Assurance of compliance may be based upon water quality data; use of appropriate water treatment processes and chemicals; proper treatment of vented gases; use of mitigative measures such as buffer zones owned or under the control of the supplier of water; etc.

(10) Color Coding of Piping.

(a) Drinking Water Treatment Plants. All new or altered, aboveground piping at drinking water treatment plants shall be color coded and labeled as recommended in Section 2.14 of Recommended Standards for Water Works as incorporated into Rule 62-555.330, F.A.C. In addition, all underground water main pipe that is installed at drinking water treatment plants on or after August 28, 2003, and that is conveying finished drinking water shall be color coded as required under subparagraph 62-555.320(21)(b) 3., F.A.C. This subsection does not apply to drinking water treatment plant piping installed or altered under a construction permit for which the Department received a complete application before August 28, 2003.

(b) Advanced Treated Water Received by a PWS. All valves and outlets shall be appropriately tagged or labeled (bearing the words in English and Spanish: "Do not drink" together with the equivalent standard international symbol) to warn the public and employees that the water is not intended for drinking. All piping, pipelines, valves, and outlets shall be color coded, or otherwise marked, to differentiate advanced treated water from potable water, domestic wastewater, or other water. Underground piping, which is not manufactured of metal or concrete, shall be color coded for advanced treated water using blue as a dominant color, with purple banding around the pipe. The pipe and band colors shall be easily differentiated to ensure proper identification of the pipe. For pipes greater than 6 inches in diameter, bands shall be four inches wide, and spaced no more than 24 inches apart, measured center-to-center. For pipes 6 inches in diameter or smaller, bands shall be two inches wide, and spaced no more than 18 inches apart, measured center-to-center. Underground metal and concrete pipe shall be color coded or marked using blue and purple banding predominantly. If tape is used to mark the pipe, the tape shall be permanently affixed to the pipe. Visible, above-ground portions of the advanced treated water system shall be clearly color coded or marked. New systems and expansions of existing systems shall comply with this color-coding standard. It is recommended, but shall not be required, that distribution and application facilities located on private properties, including residential properties, be color coded using blue and purple banding.

(11) Alarms for Nitrate/Nitrite Removal Equipment. An alarm system shall be provided for any drinking water treatment plant equipment that is installed or altered under a construction permit for which the Department receives a complete application on or after August 28, 2003, and that is necessary to achieve compliance with the primary drinking water standard for nitrate or nitrite. The alarm system shall be activated in the event of equipment failure and shall include an audio-visual alarm at the plant. If the plant is not staffed during all hours the plant is in operation, the alarm also shall be telemetered to a place staffed during all hours the plant is in operation, or shall trigger an automatic telephone dialing or paging device, to enable notification of an appropriately licensed water treatment plant operator.

(12) Disinfection of Drinking Water. All suppliers of water shall provide continuous disinfection of the drinking water they distribute. The necessary equipment and tanks shall be designed to comply with the applicable requirements in paragraphs (a) through (d), below, and subsections 62-555.350(5) and (6), F.A.C. Applicants for a permit to construct or alter disinfection facilities at a drinking water treatment plant where the requirements in paragraph (a) or (b), below, apply shall establish in the preliminary design report or drawings, specifications, and design data accompanying their permit application the following: the design level of Cryptosporidium, Giardia lamblia, or virus inactivation to be achieved by disinfection; if chemical disinfection is being used to achieve Giardia lamblia or virus inactivation, the design minimum residual disinfectant concentration (C) before, or at the first customer and the corresponding design minimum disinfectant contact time (T); and if ultraviolet disinfection is being used to achieve Cryptosporidium, Giardia lamblia, or virus inactivation, the design minimum ultraviolet dose.

(a) Suppliers of water using surface water or ground water under the direct influence of surface water, or advanced treated water shall comply with applicable requirements under Rules 62-550.817 and 62-550.305, F.A.C.

(b) Suppliers of water using ground water that is not under the direct influence of surface water but that is from a well considered microbially contaminated or susceptible to microbial contamination per paragraph 62-555.315 (6)(b) or (f), F.A.C., shall provide treatment that reliably achieves at least four-log (99.99 percent) inactivation or removal of viruses before or at the first customer at all flow rates. Additionally, by no later than December 31, 2005, suppliers of water using ground water that is not under the direct influence of surface water but that is exposed during treatment to the open atmosphere and possible microbial contamination shall provide treatment that reliably achieves at least four-log inactivation or removal of viruses before or at the first customer at all flow rates. For the purpose of this paragraph, aerators and other facilities that are protected against contamination from birds, insects, wind-borne debris, rainfall, and drainage are not considered to be exposing water to the open atmosphere and possible microbial contamination. Direct filtration and diatomaceous-earth filtration are considered to be achieving one-log (90 percent) removal of viruses when properly operated, and conventional filtration treatment and slow sand filtration are considered to be achieving two-log (99 percent) removal of viruses when properly operated. Chemical disinfection using free chlorine, chlorine dioxide, or ozone and chemical disinfection using chloramines with chlorine added prior to ammonia are considered to be achieving two-log, three-log (99.9 percent), or four-log inactivation of viruses when meeting the applicable CT value listed in Appendix E of the Guidance Manual for Compliance with the Filtration and Disinfection Requirements for Public Water Systems Using Surface Water Sources as adopted in Rule 62-555.335, F.A.C.

(c) Disinfectant contact time shall be calculated or determined as described in the definition of "disinfectant contact time" under Rule 62-550.200, F.A.C.

(d) All suppliers of water shall maintain a minimum free chlorine residual of 0.2 milligram per liter, or a minimum combined chlorine residual of 0.6 milligram per liter or an equivalent chlorine dioxide residual, throughout their drinking water distribution system at all times.

(13) Chlorination Facilities for Disinfection of Drinking Water.

(a) Gas Chlorination Facilities.

1. New chlorinators shall be the vacuum-operated, solution-feed type.

2. Chlorinator capacity shall be such that any applicable minimum CT value and the minimum residual disinfectant level specified in paragraph 62-555.320(12)(d), and subsection 62-555.350(6), F.A.C., can be maintained when maximum chlorine demand coincides with maximum flow rate at the point of chlorine application.

3. At each drinking water treatment plant that is using gas chlorination facilities to achieve Giardia lamblia or virus inactivation in accordance with paragraph 62-555.320(12)(a) or (b), F.A.C.; at each treatment plant that is using gas chlorination facilities for disinfection and that is connected to a community water system (CWS) having an actual or design average daily chlorine consumption equaling or exceeding ten pounds per day; and at each treatment plant that has gas chlorine disinfection facilities constructed or altered under a construction permit for which the Department receives a complete application on or after August 28, 2003, and that is connected to a CWS serving, or designed to serve, 350 or more persons or 150 or more service connections, the supplier of water shall provide installed or uninstalled standby gas chlorination equipment (i.e., a standby chlorinator, including a standby vacuum regulator and a standby eductor, which is also referred to as an injector or ejector; a standby booster pump where booster pumps are used; and a standby evaporator where evaporators are used) of sufficient capacity to replace the largest equipment. However, for water systems that have multiple interconnected plants subject to this requirement, the supplier of water may provide one uninstalled standby for each type and size of gas chlorination equipment installed in the water system instead of providing standby gas chlorination equipment on site at each plant; and for water systems that have only one plant subject to this requirement and that are designed to serve 10,000 or fewer persons, as many as three water systems located in the same county, or within 50 miles of one another, may enter into a mutual aid agreement to share appropriately sized, uninstalled standby gas chlorination equipment instead of providing standby gas chlorination equipment onsite at each water system's plant.

4. At each drinking water treatment plant that is using gas chlorination facilities to achieve Giardia lamblia or virus inactivation in accordance with paragraph 62-555.320(12)(a) or (b), F.A.C.; at each treatment plant that is using gas chlorination facilities for disinfection and that is connected to a community water system (CWS) having an actual or design average daily chlorine consumption equaling or exceeding ten pounds per day; and at each treatment plant that has gas chlorine disinfection facilities constructed or altered under a construction permit for which the Department receives a complete application on or after August 28, 2003, and that is connected to a CWS serving, or designed to serve, 350 or more persons or 150 or more service connections, the supplier of water shall provide devices for automatic switch-over of chlorine cylinders or containers.

5. Chlorine shall be fed into drinking water proportional to flow. Where the flow rate is reasonably constant, this may be accomplished by electrically interconnecting gas chlorination equipment with well or service pumps or by otherwise designing gas chlorination equipment to operate only when well or service pumps operate. Automatic flow proportioning control of chlorinators shall be provided where the flow rate fluctuates significantly. Furthermore, automatic residual control of chlorinators shall be provided where the chlorine demand fluctuates significantly, and automatic compound-loop control of chlorinators shall be provided where both the flow rate and the chlorine demand fluctuate significantly.

6. Scales shall be provided to accurately weigh chlorine cylinders or containers in use.

7. Chlorine shall be rapidly and thoroughly mixed with all drinking water being treated.

8. Chlorine storage and feed facilities shall be located in a room or area separate from other operating areas. If chlorine storage or feed facilities are enclosed in a room, the room shall be located at ground level and shall be provided with floor-level ventilation. New or altered chlorine rooms shall be designed and constructed in accordance with Section 5.4.1 in Recommended Standards for Water Works as incorporated into Rule 62-555.330, F.A.C. If chlorine storage or feed facilities are not enclosed in a room, they shall be shielded from direct sunlight and rain and shall be located at ground level in an area that either has adequate natural ventilation or is equipped with a mechanical ventilation system. For the purpose of this subparagraph, an area is considered to have adequate natural ventilation if walls are not completely obstructing more than one side of the perimeter of the area. New or altered mechanical ventilation systems for chlorine storage or feed areas shall meet applicable requirements in Section 5.4.1.c of Recommended Standards for Water Works as incorporated into Rule 62-555.330, F.A.C.

9. At each drinking water treatment plant that is using gas chlorination facilities to achieve Giardia lamblia or virus inactivation in accordance with paragraph 62-555.320(12)(a) or (b), F.A.C., and at each treatment plant that is using gas chlorination facilities for disinfection and that is connected to a community water system serving, or designed to serve, 350 or more persons or 150 or more service connections, the supplier of water shall provide an audio-visual alarm system that is activated by high- and low-vacuum switches, a continuous chlorine residual analyzer, or a continuous oxidation-reduction potential meter to indicate loss of chlorination capability or chlorine residual. If the plant is not staffed during all hours the plant is in operation, the alarm also shall be telemetered to a place staffed during all hours the plant is in operation, or shall trigger an automatic telephone dialing or paging device, to enable notification of an appropriately licensed water treatment plant operator.

10. Suppliers of water shall provide the following safety or protective equipment at drinking water treatment plants with gas chlorination facilities.

a. At each treatment plant with gas chlorination facilities, the supplier of water shall provide in a convenient location, but not inside any room where chlorine is stored or handled, a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) meeting the requirements of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. However, for water systems that have multiple interconnected plants withdrawing chlorine from only 150-pound or smaller cylinders, the supplier of water may provide an SCBA in each vehicle used by plant operators instead of providing an SCBA at each plant withdrawing chlorine from only 150-pound or smaller cylinders.

b. At each treatment plant with gas chlorination facilities, the supplier of water shall provide appropriate protective equipment in accordance with Table 15.5 in Water Treatment Plant Design as incorporated into Rule 62-555.330, F.A.C., except that the supplier of water shall provide a self-contained breathing apparatus in accordance with sub-subparagraph a., above, instead of providing a gas mask in accordance with this sub-subparagraph and Table 15.5.

c. At each treatment plant withdrawing chlorine from ton containers or tank cars or trucks, the supplier of water shall provide continuous chlorine leak detection equipment that is connected to an alarm system. The alarm system shall include an audio-visual alarm at the plant, and if the plant is not staffed 24 hours per day and seven days per week, the alarm also shall be telemetered to a place staffed 24 hours per day and seven days per week, or shall trigger an automatic telephone dialing or paging device, to enable notification of an authorized representative of the supplier of water.

d. At each treatment plant withdrawing chlorine from ton containers or tank cars or trucks, the supplier of water shall provide an emergency chlorine leak repair kit meeting the requirements of the Chlorine Institute.

(b) Hypochlorination Facilities.

1. New hypochlorinators shall be positive displacement metering pumps or accurate vacuum-operated dosers.

2. Hypochlorinator capacity shall be such that any applicable minimum CT value and the minimum residual disinfectant level specified in paragraph 62-555.320(12)(d), and subsection 62-555.350(6), F.A.C., can be maintained when maximum chlorine demand coincides with maximum flow rate at the point of hypochlorite application.

3. At each drinking water treatment plant that is using hypochlorination facilities to achieve Giardia lamblia or virus inactivation in accordance with paragraph 62-555.320(12)(a) or (b), F.A.C.; at each treatment plant that is using hypochlorination facilities for disinfection and that is connected to a community water system (CWS) having an actual or design average daily chlorine consumption equaling or exceeding ten pounds per day; and at each treatment plant that has hypochlorite disinfection facilities constructed or altered under a construction permit for which the Department receives a complete application on or after August 28, 2003, and that is connected to a CWS serving, or designed to serve, 350 or more persons or 150 or more service connections, the supplier of water shall provide installed or uninstalled standby hypochlorination equipment (i.e., a standby electrolytic generator and brine pump where sodium hypochlorite is generated on site; a standby metering pump where metering pumps are used; a standby doser, including a standby vacuum regulator and a standby eductor, which is also referred to as an injector or ejector, where vacuum-operated dosers are used; and a standby booster pump where booster pumps are used) of sufficient capacity to replace the largest equipment. However, for water systems that have multiple interconnected plants subject to this requirement, the supplier of water may provide one uninstalled standby for each type and size of hypochlorination equipment installed in the water system instead of providing standby hypochlorination equipment on site at each plant; and for water systems that have only one plant subject to this requirement and that are designed to serve 10,000 or fewer persons, as many as three water systems located in the same county, or within 50 miles of one another, may enter into a mutual aid agreement to share appropriately sized, uninstalled standby hypochlorination equipment instead of providing standby hypochlorination equipment on site at each water system's plant.

4. Hypochlorite shall be fed into drinking water proportional to flow. Where the flow rate is reasonably constant, this may be accomplished by electrically interconnecting hypochlorination equipment with well or service pumps or by otherwise designing hypochlorination equipment to operate only when well or service pumps operate. Automatic flow proportioning control of hypochlorinators shall be provided where the flow rate fluctuates significantly. Furthermore, automatic residual control of hypochlorinators shall be provided where the chlorine demand fluctuates significantly, and automatic compound-loop control of hypochlorinators shall be provided where both the flow and the chlorine demand fluctuate significantly.

5. Hypochlorite metering pumps shall have antisiphon protection. For new or altered hypochlorination facilities, the antisiphon protection for metering pumps shall be in accordance with Section 5.1.5 in Recommended Standards for Water Works as incorporated into Rule 62-555.330, F.A.C.

6. For sodium hypochlorite facilities that are constructed or altered under a construction permit for which the Department receives a complete application on or after August 28, 2003, and that include a metering pump:

a. The pump shall be located as close as possible to, and lower than, the hypochlorite source with the pump suction line sloping upward from the pump to the hypochlorite source, or

b. The hypochlorite facilities shall be otherwise designed to prevent gas binding of the pump.

7. For hypochlorination facilities constructed or altered under a construction permit for which the Department receives a complete application on or after August 28, 2003:

a. Hypochlorinator suction lines shall be located with the intake above the bottom of the hypochlorite container or shall be equipped with a strainer, or

b. The hypochlorination facilities shall be otherwise designed to avoid feeding sediment into the drinking water.

8. Sodium hypochlorite shall not be stored or handled together with any acid or any ammonia or organic compound, and calcium hypochlorite shall not be stored or handled together with any acid or any combustible, organic, or oxidizable material. The storage of sodium hypochlorite shall be carefully managed to limit degradation of the hypochlorite and to limit formation of chlorate; alternative approaches for managing sodium hypochlorite storage are discussed on page 243 in Water Treatment Plant Design as incorporated into Rule 62-555.330, F.A.C. Tanks for bulk storage of sodium hypochlorite shall have a liquid-level indicator, a vent, and an overflow discharging to a basin capable of containing accidental spills or overflows without uncontrolled discharge. Where bulk storage of sodium hypochlorite is provided, a day tank also shall be provided unless there is an alternative means for accurately measuring the daily amount of hypochlorite fed and there are alternative safeguards (e.g., continuous chlorine residual monitoring; audio-visual alarms activated by high chlorine residual levels; and staffing at the water treatment plant, or at a monitoring and control center for the plant, during all hours the plant is in operation) that maintain a similar level of protection against overfeeding of hypochlorite. Sodium hypochlorite bulk storage tanks that are installed on or after August 28, 2003, and that cannot be completely drained to a day tank shall be equipped with a valved drain to allow for complete drainage and periodic cleaning of the bulk storage tank; however, this requirement does not apply to bulk storage tanks installed under a construction permit for which the Department received a complete application before August 28, 2003.

9. Hypochlorite solution or day tanks shall have a lid or cover, shall have a valved drain, and shall be scale-mounted or have a means for measuring the liquid level in the tank. For new or altered hypochlorination facilities, solution or day tanks shall be designed and constructed in accordance with Sections 5.1.10 and 5.1.11 in Recommended Standards for Water Works as incorporated into Rule 62-555.330, F.A.C.

10. Hypochlorite shall be rapidly and thoroughly mixed with all drinking water being treated.

11. Housing for new or altered hypochlorite storage or feed facilities shall be designed and constructed in accordance with Section 5.1.14 in Recommended Standards for Water Works as incorporated into Rule 62-555.330, F.A.C. Waste hydrogen from onsite sodium hypochlorite generation systems constructed or altered under a construction permit for which the Department receives a complete application on or after August 28, 2003, shall be vented directly to the outside atmosphere using a dilution air blower as necessary to ensure the concentration of hydrogen always will be below the explosion level.

12. At each drinking water treatment plant that is using hypochlorination facilities to achieve Giardia lamblia or virus inactivation in accordance with paragraph 62-555.320(12)(a) or (b), F.A.C., and at each treatment plant that has hypochlorite disinfection facilities constructed or altered under a construction permit for which the Department receives a complete application on or after August 28, 2003, and that is connected to a CWS serving, or designed to serve, 350 or more persons or 150 or more service connections, the supplier of water shall provide an audio-visual alarm system that is activated by high- and low-pressure switches, a low-flow switch or flow meter, high- and low-vacuum switches, a continuous chlorine residual analyzer, or a continuous oxidation-reduction potential meter to indicate loss of hypochlorination capability or chlorine residual. If the plant is not staffed during all hours the plant is in operation, the alarm also shall be telemetered to a place staffed during all hours the plant is in operation, or shall trigger an automatic telephone dialing or paging device, to enable notification of an appropriately licensed water treatment plant operator.

13. At each drinking water treatment plant with hypochlorination facilities, the supplier of water shall provide appropriate safety or protective equipment in accordance with Table 15.5 in Water Treatment Plant Design as incorporated into Rule 62-555.330, F.A.C.

(14) Standby Power.

(a) By no later than December 31, 2005, each community water system (CWS) serving, or designed to serve, 350 or more persons or 150 or more service connections shall provide standby power for operation of that portion of the system's water source, treatment, and pumping facilities necessary to deliver drinking water meeting all applicable primary or secondary standards at a rate at least equal to the average daily water demand for the system. If a CWS interconnects with another CWS to meet this requirement, the portion of the combined systems' components provided with standby power shall be sufficient to deliver water at a rate at least equal to the average daily water demand for the combined systems.

(b) Where standby power is required under paragraph (a), above, it shall be provided through:

1. Connection to at least two independent power feeds from separate substations, or

2. One or more auxiliary power sources (i.e., generators or engines).

(c) Where standby power is required under paragraph (a), above, and is provided through connection to independent power feeds from separate substations, the power feeds shall not be located in the same conduit or supported from the same utility pole and, if overhead power feeds are used, shall not cross or be located in an area where a single plausible occurrence (e.g., a fallen tree) could disrupt both power feeds.

(d) Where standby power is required under paragraph (a), above, and is provided through an auxiliary power source, an in-place auxiliary power source is preferred. A portable auxiliary power source may be provided only if all of the following conditions are met:

1. A system to automatically start up the auxiliary power source and transfer electrical loads is not required under paragraph (e), below.

2. The supplier of water demonstrates that the water system has first priority for use of the portable auxiliary power source.

3. The supplier of water demonstrates that the portable auxiliary power source will at all times be in reasonably close proximity to (i.e., within 25 miles of) the water system components for which standby power is required.

(e) Where standby power is required under paragraph (a), above, and the time delay required to manually transfer electrical loads from one power source to another could result in failure to maintain the minimum water distribution system pressure required under subsection 62-555.350(7), F.A.C., the supplier of water shall provide a system to automatically start up the auxiliary power source if an auxiliary power source is provided and to automatically transfer electrical loads.

(f) At each site where standby power is required under paragraph (a), above, the supplier of water shall provide by December 31, 2005, an audio-visual alarm system that is activated in the event any power source fails. If the site is not staffed during all hours the standby-powered water system components are in operation, the alarm also shall be telemetered to a place staffed during all hours the standby-powered water system components are in operation, or shall trigger an automatic telephone dialing or paging device, to enable notification of an authorized representative of the supplier of water.

(15) High-Service or Booster Pumps. For purposes of this subsection, well pump installations shall be considered high-service pumping stations if the well pumps serve as high-service pumps.

(a) Unless elevated finished-drinking-water storage is provided, the total capacity of all high-service pumping stations connected to a water system, or the capacity of a booster pumping station, shall be sufficient to:

1. Meet at least the water system's, or the booster station service area's, peak-hour water demand (and if fire protection is being provided, meet at least the water system's, or the booster station service area's, design fire-flow rate plus a background water demand equivalent to the maximum-day demand other than fire-flow demand); and,

2. Maintain a minimum gauge pressure of 20 pounds per square inch throughout the water system's, or the booster station service area's, distribution system up to each customer's point of connection to the distribution system.

(b) Where elevated finished-drinking-water storage is provided, the total capacity of all high-service pumping stations connected to a water system, or the capacity of a booster pumping station, shall be sufficient to at least meet the water system's, or the booster station service area's, maximum-day water demand (including design fire-flow demand if fire protection is being provided) and to maintain distribution system pressure as specified in subparagraph 62-555.320(15)(a) 2., F.A.C. In addition, the total capacity of the high-service pumping stations, or the capacity of the booster pumping station, combined with the useful elevated finished-water storage capacity shall be sufficient to meet the water system's, or the booster station service area's, peak-hour water demand for at least four consecutive hours (and if fire protection is being provided, shall be sufficient to meet the water system's, or the booster station service area's, design fire-flow rate plus a background water demand equivalent to the maximum-day demand other than fire-flow demand for the design fire-flow duration).

(c) At each high-service or booster pumping station that is constructed or altered under a construction permit for which the Department receives a complete application on or after August 28, 2003, and that is connected to a community water system (CWS) serving, or designed to serve, 350 or more persons or 150 or more service connections, the supplier of water shall provide an installed or uninstalled standby pump of sufficient capacity to replace the largest pump. However, for CWSs that have multiple interconnected pumping stations subject to this requirement, the supplier of water may provide one uninstalled standby pump for each size of high-service or booster pump installed in the water system instead of providing a standby pump on site at each high-service or booster pumping station; and for water systems that have only one pumping station subject to this requirement and that are designed to serve 10,000 or fewer persons, as many as three water systems located in the same county, or within 50 miles of one another, may enter into a mutual aid agreement to share one appropriately sized, uninstalled standby pump instead of providing a standby pump on site at each water system's high-service or booster pumping station.

(16) Finished-Drinking-Water Meters. All water treatment plants that are connected to a community water system and water treatment plants that are connected to a non-community water system and that are constructed or altered under a construction permit for which the Department receives a complete application on or after August 28, 2003, shall be equipped with a totalizing flow meter to measure the net quantity of finished drinking water, excluding any filter backwash water, produced at the plant each day. All other drinking water treatment plants shall be equipped with at least elapsed time meters that can be used in conjunction with calibrated pumps to measure the net quantity of finished drinking water produced at the plant each day.

(17) Finished-Drinking-Water Sampling Taps. A conveniently accessible sampling tap shall be provided at each entry point to a drinking water distribution system (i.e., at each point where drinking water source and treatment facilities discharge to a drinking water distribution system), so that samples of finished drinking water may be taken in accordance with subsection 62-550.500(5), F.A.C. Each such sampling tap shall be located downstream from all water treatment processes at a point where all treatment chemicals have been thoroughly mixed with the water and shall be located upstream from all water customers. If a water system draws water from more than one source and combines the sources before distribution, a single finished-water sampling tap may be provided downstream from where all of the sources are combined at a point where all of the sources have been thoroughly mixed together.

(18) Pump Suction Piping. All pump suction piping that is conveying raw, partially treated, advanced treated water or finished drinking water shall be protected against infiltration. Pump suction piping that is conveying raw, partially treated, advanced treated water, or finished drinking water and that is constructed or altered under a construction permit for which the Department receives a complete application on or after August 28, 2003, must be located aboveground or, if located underground, must be constantly under positive gauge pressure.

(19) Finished-Drinking-Water Storage Capacity. This subsection addresses finished-water storage capacity necessary for operational equalization to meet peak water demand. (If fire protection is being provided, additional finished-water storage capacity shall be provided as necessary to meet the design fire-flow rate for the design fire-flow duration.) The finished-water storage capacity necessary to meet the peak water demand for a consecutive system may be provided by the consecutive system or by a wholesale system delivering water to the consecutive system.

(a) Except as noted in paragraph (b), below, the total useful finished-water storage capacity (excluding any storage capacity for fire protection) connected to a water system shall at least equal 25 percent of the system's maximum-day water demand, excluding any design fire-flow demand.

(b) A total useful finished-water storage capacity less than that specified in paragraph (a), above, is acceptable if the supplier of water or construction permit applicant makes one of the following demonstrations:

1. A demonstration consistent with Section 10.6.3 in Water Distribution Systems Handbook as incorporated into Rule 62-555.330, F.A.C., showing that the water system's total useful finished-water storage capacity (excluding any storage capacity for fire protection) is sufficient for operational equalization.

2. A demonstration showing that, in conjunction with the capacity of the water system's source, treatment, and finished-water pumping facilities, the water system's total useful finished-water storage capacity (excluding any storage capacity for fire protection) is sufficient to meet the water system's peak-hour water demand for at least four consecutive hours. For small water systems with hydropneumatic tanks that are installed under a construction permit for which the Department receives a complete application on or after August 28, 2003, the supplier of water or construction permit applicant also shall demonstrate that, in conjunction with the capacity of the water system's source, treatment, and finished-water pumping facilities, the water system's total useful finished-water storage capacity (i.e., the water system's total effective hydropneumatic tank volume) is sufficient to meet the water system's peak instantaneous water demand for at least 20 consecutive minutes.

(20) Hydropneumatic Tanks. New hydropneumatic tanks, including bladder- or diaphragm-type tanks, shall be designed and constructed in accordance with Section 7.2 in Recommended Standards for Water Works as incorporated into Rule 62-555.330, F.A.C., except that:

(a) The tanks need not be housed.

(b) Tanks installed on or after August 28, 2003, except those installed under a construction permit for which the Department received a complete application before August 28, 2003, shall have an automatic air or pressure relief valve.

(c) Bladder- or diaphragm-type tanks need not have an access manhole, water sight glass, or means for adding air other than a recharging valve.

(21) Drinking Water Piping and Appurtenances.

(a) All new or altered mains, including treatment plant process piping, and appurtenances conveying raw, or partially treated drinking water, or advanced treated water, shall be designed and constructed in accordance with Sections 8.0, 8.4, 8.5, and 8.7 in Recommended Standards for Water Works as incorporated into Rule 62-555.330, F.A.C., except that:

1. Asbestos-cement water mains shall be pressure and leakage tested in accordance with American Water Works Association (AWWA) Standard C603 as incorporated into Rule 62-555.330, F.A.C., and polyvinyl chloride water mains shall be pressure and leakage tested in accordance with AWWA Standard C605 as incorporated into Rule 62-555.330, F.A.C., while all other types of water mains shall be pressure and leakage tested in accordance with AWWA Standard C600 as incorporated into Rule 62-555.330, F.A.C.

2. Water mains and appurtenances that normally convey surface water, or ground water under the direct influence of surface water, and that are located upstream of all filtration and disinfection treatment facilities need not be disinfected.

3. All water mains and appurtenances other than those described in subparagraph 2., above, shall be disinfected and bacteriologically evaluated in accordance with Rule 62-555.340, F.A.C.

(b) All new or altered piping, including treatment plant process piping, and appurtenances conveying finished drinking water shall be designed and constructed in accordance with Sections 8.0 through 8.5 and 8.7 through 8.11 in Recommended Standards for Water Works as incorporated into Rule 62-555.330, F.A.C., except that:

1. Asbestos-cement water mains shall be pressure and leakage tested in accordance with American Water Works Association (AWWA) Standard C603 as incorporated into Rule 62-555.330, F.A.C., and polyvinyl chloride water mains shall be pressure and leakage tested in accordance with AWWA Standard C605 as incorporated into Rule 62-555.330, F.A.C., while all other types of water mains shall be pressure and leakage tested in accordance with AWWA Standard C600 as incorporated into Rule 62-555.330, F.A.C.

2. All water mains and appurtenances shall be disinfected and bacteriologically evaluated in accordance with Rule 62-555.340, F.A.C.

3. All water main pipe, including fittings, installed on or after August 28, 2003, except pipe installed under a construction permit for which the Department received a complete application before August 28, 2003, shall be color coded or marked using blue as a predominant color to differentiate drinking water from reclaimed or other water. Underground plastic pipe shall be solid-wall blue pipe, shall have a co-extruded blue external skin, or shall be white or black pipe with blue stripes incorporated into, or applied to, the pipe wall; and underground metal or concrete pipe shall have blue stripes applied to the pipe wall. Pipe striped during manufacturing of the pipe shall have continuous stripes that run parallel to the axis of the pipe, that are located at no greater than 90-degree intervals around the pipe, and that will remain intact during and after installation of the pipe. If tape or paint is used to stripe pipe during installation of the pipe, the tape or paint shall be applied in a continuous line that runs parallel to the axis of the pipe and that is located along the top of the pipe; for pipes with an internal diameter of 24 inches or greater, tape or paint shall be applied in continuous lines along each side of the pipe as well as along the top of the pipe. Aboveground pipe at drinking water treatment plants shall be color coded and labeled in accordance with subsection 62-555.320(10), F.A.C., and all other aboveground pipe shall be painted blue or shall be color coded or marked like underground pipe.

(c) The Department shall allow the use of pipe and appurtenances that do not conform to applicable American Water Works Association (AWWA) standards as incorporated into Rule 62-555.330, F.A.C., only if suppliers of water or construction permit applicants provide documentation showing that the alternate pipe and appurtenances provide strength, durability, reliability, and public health protection at least equal to that provided by pipe and appurtenances that conform to applicable AWWA standards.

Notes

Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 62-555.320

Rulemaking Authority 403.861(9) FS. Law Implemented 403.861(7) FS.

New 11-19-87, Formerly 17-22.620, Amended 1-18-89, 5-7-90, 1-1-93, 3-8-94, Formerly 17-555.320, Amended 8-28-03, Amended by Florida Register Volume 51, Number 028, February 11, 2025 effective 2/26/2025.

New 11-19-87, Formerly 17-22.620, Amended 1-18-89, 5-7-90, 1-1-93, 3-8-94, Formerly 17-555.320, Amended 8-28-03.