Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 391-3-5-.06 - Source of Water Supply

(1) Source of Water Supply. The source of water supply for all public water systems must have the approval of the Division and a valid ground water (Ground Water Use Act of 1972, as amended) or surface water (Georgia Water Quality Control Act of 1977, as amended) withdrawal permit where applicable. Beginning January 1, 1998, all owners and operators of new community public water systems with groundwater sources must provide an approved back-up water supply source, capable of providing adequate water service, if the primary source becomes nonfunctional. The Director may waive this requirement for systems with less than 25 service connections. Beginning December 1, 2009, any new ground water source must provide treatment that reliably achieves at least 4-log (99.99%) treatment of viruses before or at the first customer.

(a) All sources of water supply must be adequate as determined by the Division to meet anticipated growth. For human consumption in a community water system, one hundred (100) gallons per day for the projected population to be served at the end of the design period shall be considered adequate.

1. Beginning January 1, 1998, all new sources constructed for water supply systems, that are required to comply with the rules in this Chapter, shall be metered.

2. Beginning January 1, 1999, permitted water systems shall meter their existing water supply sources, when required by the Division or when the system's existing permit to operate a public water system is renewed or modified.

(b) The water must be of such quality that with reasonable treatment it will meet the Safe Drinking Water Rules of this Chapter.

(c) Before approval of a surface water source the following procedures and requirements must be met:

1. Raw water samples from the proposed source shall be collected by the supplier or designee and submitted to a certified laboratory for microbiological analysis for the period of time and frequency specified by the Division.

2. The supplier shall have the water from the proposed source analyzed for the physical, chemical and radiological parameters specified by the Division in a laboratory acceptable to the Division and shall furnish a copy of the results of the analysis to the Division.

3. For an impoundment source, allowance must be made for water losses including required releases, evaporation, seepage and siltation. Available stream flow and weather records must be used in estimating the yield of the source.

4. For water supply reservoirs, a reservoir management plan shall be developed in accordance with Rule 391-3-16-.01(8).

5. A Source Water Assessment Plan (SWAP) for the proposed surface water source intake must be developed in accordance with the Division's Source Water Assessment and Protection Implementation Plan for Public Drinking Water Sources, as outlined in Section 391-3-5-.42 of this Chapter.

(d) Before approval of a ground water source, whether from a well or a spring, the following procedures and requirements must be met:

1. Raw water samples of the proposed source shall be collected by the supplier and submitted to a laboratory certified by the Division for microbiological analysis for a period of time and frequency specified by the Division.

2. The supplier shall, when directed by the Division, have the water from the proposed source analyzed for the physical, chemical and radiological parameters specified by the Division in a laboratory acceptable to the Division and shall furnish a copy of the results of the analysis to the Division.

3. Any drilled well previously used as a source of public water supply but inactive for three or more years and proposed to be reactivated as a source of supply shall be test pumped and meet the requirements of subparagraphs 1. and 2. of this paragraph.

4. A Source Water Assessment Plan (SWAP) for the proposed ground water source must be developed, as applicable, in accordance with the Division's Source Water Assessment and Protection Implementation Plan for Public Drinking Water Sources, as outlined in Section 391-3-5-.42 of this Chapter.

(e) The Division may direct that a ground water source be evaluated for the influence of surface water. Within eighteen (18) months of Division notification that a ground water source is under the direct influence of surface water, the supplier shall install filtration treatment and may be required by the Division to install additional treatment in accordance with subparagraph (a) of Rule 391-3-5-.09.

Notes

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 391-3-5-.06

O.C.G.A. § 12-5-170 et seq.

Original Rule entitled "Engineering Report" adopted. F. Sept. 6, 1973; eff. Sept. 26, 1973. Repealed: New Rule entitled "Source of Water Supply" adopted. F. July 5, 1977; eff. July 26, 1977, as specified by R. 391-3-5-.47. Amended: F. July 15, 1983; eff. August 4, 1983. Amended: F. May 12, 1989; eff. June 1, 1989. Amended: F. Dec. 4, 1990; eff. Dec. 24, 1990. Amended: F. Mar. 10, 1994; eff. Mar. 30, 1994. Amended: F. Sept. 26, 1997; eff. Oct. 16, 1997. Amended: F. Dec. 10, 2002; eff. Dec. 30, 2002. Amended: F. May 27, 2009; eff.. June 16, 2009. Amended: New title "Source of Water Supply. Amended." F. Jan. 8, 2014; eff. Jan. 28, 2014. Amended: F. Jan. 28, 2019; eff. Feb. 17, 2019.