[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: 40CFR141.81]



[Page 458-460]

 

                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT

 

         CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED)

 

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

 

                  Subpart I_Control of Lead and Copper

 

Sec. 141.81  Applicability of corrosion control treatment steps to 

small, medium-size and large water systems.



    (a) Systems shall complete the applicable corrosion control 

treatment requirements described in Sec. 141.82 by the deadlines 

established in this section.

    (1) A large system (serving 50,000 persons) shall 

complete the corrosion control treatment steps specified in paragraph 

(d) of this section, unless it is deemed to have optimized corrosion 

control under paragraph (b)(2) or (b)(3) of this section.

    (2) A small system (serving <=3300 persons) and a medium-size system 

(serving 3,300 and <=50,000 persons) shall complete the 

corrosion control treatment steps specified in paragraph (e) of this 

section, unless it is deemed to have optimized corrosion control under 

paragraph (b)(1), (b)(2), or (b)(3) of this section.

    (b) A system is deemed to have optimized corrosion control and is 

not required to complete the applicable corrosion control treatment 

steps identified in this section if the system satisfies one of the 

criteria specified in paragraphs (b)(1) through (b)(3) of this section. 

Any such system deemed to have optimized corrosion control under this 

paragraph, and which has treatment in place, shall continue to operate 

and maintain optimal corrosion control treatment and meet any 

requirements that the State determines appropriate to ensure optimal 

corrosion control treatment is maintained.

    (1) A small or medium-size water system is deemed to have optimized 

corrosion control if the system meets the lead and copper action levels 

during each of two consecutive six-month monitoring periods conducted in 

accordance with Sec. 141.86.

    (2) Any water system may be deemed by the State to have optimized 

corrosion control treatment if the system demonstrates to the 

satisfaction of the State that it has conducted activities equivalent to 

the corrosion control steps applicable to such system under this 

section. If the State makes this determination, it shall provide the 

system with written notice explaining the basis for its decision and 

shall specify the water quality control parameters representing optimal 

corrosion control in accordance with Sec. 141.82(f). Water systems 

deemed to have optimized corrosion control under this paragraph shall 

operate in compliance with the State-designated optimal water quality 

control parameters in accordance with Sec. 141.82(g) and continue to 

conduct lead and copper tap and water quality parameter sampling in 

accordance with Sec. 141.86(d)(3) and Sec. 141.87(d), respectively. A 

system shall provide the State with the following information in order 

to



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support a determination under this paragraph:

    (i) The results of all test samples collected for each of the water 

quality parameters in Sec. 141.82(c)(3).

    (ii) A report explaining the test methods used by the water system 

to evaluate the corrosion control treatments listed in Sec. 

141.82(c)(1), the results of all tests conducted, and the basis for the 

system's selection of optimal corrosion control treatment;

    (iii) A report explaining how corrosion control has been installed 

and how it is being maintained to insure minimal lead and copper 

concentrations at consumers' taps; and

    (iv) The results of tap water samples collected in accordance with 

Sec. 141.86 at least once every six months for one year after corrosion 

control has been installed.

    (3) Any water system is deemed to have optimized corrosion control 

if it submits results of tap water monitoring conducted in accordance 

with Sec. 141.86 and source water monitoring conducted in accordance 

with Sec. 141.88 that demonstrates for two consecutive 6-month 

monitoring periods that the difference between the 90th percentile tap 

water lead level computed under Sec. 141.80(c)(3), and the highest 

source water lead concentration is less than the Practical Quantitation 

Level for lead specified in Sec. 141.89(a)(1)(ii).

    (i) Those systems whose highest source water lead level is below the 

Method Detection Limit may also be deemed to have optimized corrosion 

control under this paragraph if the 90th percentile tap water lead level 

is less than or equal to the Practical Quantitation Level for lead for 

two consecutive 6-month monitoring periods.

    (ii) Any water system deemed to have optimized corrosion control in 

accordance with this paragraph shall continue monitoring for lead and 

copper at the tap no less frequently than once every three calendar 

years using the reduced number of sites specified in Sec. 141.86(c) and 

collecting the samples at times and locations specified in Sec. 

141.86(d)(4)(iv). Any such system that has not conducted a round of 

monitoring pursuant to Sec. 141.86(d) since September 30, 1997, shall 

complete a round of monitoring pursuant to this paragraph no later than 

September 30, 2000.

    (iii) Any water system deemed to have optimized corrosion control 

pursuant to this paragraph shall notify the State in writing pursuant to 

Sec. 141.90(a)(3) of any change in treatment or the addition of a new 

source. The State may require any such system to conduct additional 

monitoring or to take other action the State deems appropriate to ensure 

that such systems maintain minimal levels of corrosion in the 

distribution system.

    (iv) As of July 12, 2001, a system is not deemed to have optimized 

corrosion control under this paragraph, and shall implement corrosion 

control treatment pursuant to paragraph (b)(3)(v) of this section unless 

it meets the copper action level.

    (v) Any system triggered into corrosion control because it is no 

longer deemed to have optimized corrosion control under this paragraph 

shall implement corrosion control treatment in accordance with the 

deadlines in paragraph (e) of this section. Any such large system shall 

adhere to the schedule specified in that paragraph for medium-size 

systems, with the time periods for completing each step being triggered 

by the date the system is no longer deemed to have optimized corrosion 

control under this paragraph.

    (c) Any small or medium-size water system that is required to 

complete the corrosion control steps due to its exceedance of the lead 

or copper action level may cease completing the treatment steps whenever 

the system meets both action levels during each of two consecutive 

monitoring periods conducted pursuant to Sec. 141.86 and submits the 

results to the State. If any such water system thereafter exceeds the 

lead or copper action level during any monitoring period, the system (or 

the State, as the case may be) shall recommence completion of the 

applicable treatment steps, beginning with the first treatment step 

which was not previously completed in its entirety. The State may 

require a system to repeat treatment steps previously completed by the 

system where the State determines that this is necessary to implement 

properly the treatment requirements of this section. The State shall



[[Page 460]]



notify the system in writing of such a determination and explain the 

basis for its decision. The requirement for any small- or medium-size 

system to implement corrosion control treatment steps in accordance with 

paragraph (e) of this section (including systems deemed to have 

optimized corrosion control under paragraph (b)(1) of this section) is 

triggered whenever any small- or medium-size system exceeds the lead or 

copper action level.

    (d) Treatment steps and deadlines for large systems. Except as 

provided in paragraph (b) (2) and (3) of this section, large systems 

shall complete the following corrosion control treatment steps 

(described in the referenced portions of Sec. Sec. 141.82, 141.86, and 

141.87) by the indicated dates.

    (1) Step 1: The system shall conduct initial monitoring (Sec. 

141.86(d)(1) and Sec. 141.87(b)) during two consecutive six-month 

monitoring periods by January 1, 1993.

    (2) Step 2: The system shall complete corrosion control studies 

(Sec. 141.82(c)) by July 1, 1994.

    (3) Step 3: The State shall designate optimal corrosion control 

treatment (Sec. 141.82(d)) by January 1, 1995.

    (4) Step 4: The system shall install optimal corrosion control 

treatment (Sec. 141.82(e)) by January 1, 1997.

    (5) Step 5: The system shall complete follow-up sampling (Sec. 

141.86(d)(2) and Sec. 141.87(c)) by January 1, l998.

    (6) Step 6: The State shall review installation of treatment and 

designate optimal water quality control parameters (Sec. 141.82(f)) by 

July 1, 1998.

    (7) Step 7: The system shall operate in compliance with the State-

specified optimal water quality control parameters (Sec. 141.82(g)) and 

continue to conduct tap sampling (Sec. 141.86(d)(3) and Sec. 

141.87(d)).

    (e) Treatment Steps and deadlines for small and medium-size systems. 

Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, small and medium-

size systems shall complete the following corrosion control treatment 

steps (described in the referenced portions of Sec. Sec. 141.82, 141.86 

and 141.87) by the indicated time periods.

    (1) Step 1: The system shall conduct initial tap sampling (Sec. 

141.86(d)(1) and Sec. 141.87(b)) until the system either exceeds the 

lead or copper action level or becomes eligible for reduced monitoring 

under Sec. 141.86(d)(4). A system exceeding the lead or copper action 

level shall recommend optimal corrosion control treatment (Sec. 

141.82(a)) within six months after it exceeds one of the action levels.

    (2) Step 2: Within 12 months after a system exceeds the lead or 

copper action level, the State may require the system to perform 

corrosion control studies (Sec. 141.82(b)). If the State does not 

require the system to perform such studies, the State shall specify 

optimal corrosion control treatment (Sec. 141.82(d)) within the 

following timeframes:

    (i) For medium-size systems, within 18 months after such system 

exceeds the lead or copper action level,

    (ii) For small systems, within 24 months after such system exceeds 

the lead or copper action level.

    (3) Step 3: If the State requires a system to perform corrosion 

control studies under step 2, the system shall complete the studies 

(Sec. 141.82(c)) within 18 months after the State requires that such 

studies be conducted.

    (4) Step 4: If the system has performed corrosion control studies 

under step 2, the State shall designate optimal corrosion control 

treatment (Sec. 141.82(d)) within 6 months after completion of step 3.

    (5) Step 5: The system shall install optimal corrosion control 

treatment (Sec. 141.82(e)) within 24 months after the State designates 

such treatment.

    (6) Step 6: The system shall complete follow-up sampling (Sec. 

141.86(d)(2) and Sec. 141.87(c)) within 36 months after the State 

designates optimal corrosion control treatment.

    (7) Step 7: The State shall review the system's installation of 

treatment and designate optimal water quality control parameters (Sec. 

141.82(f)) within 6 months after completion of step 6.

    (8) Step 8: The system shall operate in compliance with the State-

designated optimal water quality control parameters (Sec. 141.82(g)) 

and continue to conduct tap sampling (Sec. 141.86(d)(3) and Sec. 

141.87(d)).



[56 FR 26548, June 7, 1991, as amended at 59 FR 33862, June 30, 1994; 65 

FR 2004, Jan. 12, 2000]



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