[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 40, Volume 22]

[Revised as of July 1, 2005]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 40CFR141.73]



[Page 445-446]

 

                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT

 

         CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED)

 

PART 141_NATIONAL PRIMARY DRINKING WATER REGULATIONS--Table of Contents

 

                  Subpart H_Filtration and Disinfection

 

Sec. 141.73  Filtration.



    A public water system that uses a surface water source or a ground 

water source under the direct influence of surface water, and does not 

meet all of the criteria in Sec. 141.71 (a) and (b) for avoiding 

filtration, must provide treatment consisting of both disinfection, as 

specified in Sec. 141.72(b), and filtration treatment which complies 

with the requirements of paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e) of this 

section by June 29, 1993, or within 18 months of the failure to meet any 

one of the criteria for avoiding filtration in Sec. 141.71 (a) and (b), 

whichever is later. Failure to meet any requirement of this section 

after the date specified in this introductory paragraph is a treatment 

technique violation.

    (a) Conventional filtration treatment or direct filtration. (1) For 

systems using conventional filtration or direct filtration, the 

turbidity level of representative samples of a system's filtered water 

must be less than or equal to 0.5 NTU in at least 95 percent of the 

measurements taken each month, measured as specified in Sec. 141.74 

(a)(1) and (c)(1), except that if the State determines that the system 

is capable of achieving at least 99.9 percent removal and/or 

inactivation of Giardia lamblia cysts at some turbidity level higher 

than 0.5 NTU in at least 95 percent of the measurements taken each 

month, the State may substitute this higher turbidity limit for that 

system. However, in no case may the State approve a turbidity



[[Page 446]]



limit that allows more than 1 NTU in more than 5 percent of the samples 

taken each month, measured as specified in Sec. 141.74 (a)(1) and 

(c)(1).

    (2) The turbidity level of representative samples of a system's 

filtered water must at no time exceed 5 NTU, measured as specified in 

Sec. 141.74 (a)(1) and (c)(1).

    (3) Beginning January 1, 2002, systems serving at least 10,000 

people must meet the turbidity requirements in Sec. 141.173(a).

    (4) Beginning January 1, 2005, systems serving fewer than 10,000 

people must meet the turbidity requirements in Sec. Sec. 141.550 

through 141.553.

    (b) Slow sand filtration. (1) For systems using slow sand 

filtration, the turbidity level of representative samples of a system's 

filtered water must be less than or equal to 1 NTU in at least 95 

percent of the measurements taken each month, measured as specified in 

Sec. 141.74 (a)(1) and (c)(1), except that if the State determines 

there is no significant interference with disinfection at a higher 

turbidity level, the State may substitute this higher turbidity limit 

for that system.

    (2) The turbidity level of representative samples of a system's 

filtered water must at no time exceed 5 NTU, measured as specified in 

Sec. 141.74 (a)(1) and (c)(1).

    (c) Diatomaceous earth filtration. (1) For systems using 

diatomaceous earth filtration, the turbidity level of representative 

samples of a system's filtered water must be less than or equal to 1 NTU 

in at least 95 percent of the measurements taken each month, measured as 

specified in Sec. 141.74 (a)(1) and (c)(1).

    (2) The turbidity level of representative samples of a system's 

filtered water must at no time exceed 5 NTU, measured as specified in 

Sec. 141.74 (a)(1) and (c)(1).

    (d) Other filtration technologies. A public water system may use a 

filtration technology not listed in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this 

section if it demonstrates to the State, using pilot plant studies or 

other means, that the alternative filtration technology, in combination 

with disinfection treatment that meets the requirements of Sec. 

141.72(b), consistently achieves 99.9 percent removal and/or 

inactivation of Giardia lamblia cysts and 99.99 percent removal and/or 

inactivation of viruses. For a system that makes this demonstration, the 

requirements of paragraph (b) of this section apply. Beginning January 

1, 2002, systems serving at least 10,000 people must meet the 

requirements for other filtration technologies in Sec. 141.173(b). 

Beginning January 14, 2005, systems serving fewer than 10,000 people 

must meet the requirements for other filtration technologies in Sec. 

141.550 through 141.553.



[54 FR 27527, June 29, 1989, as amended at 63 FR 69516, Dec. 16, 1998; 

66 FR 3776, Jan. 16, 2001; 67 FR 1836, Jan. 14, 2002; 69 FR 38855, June 

29, 2004]