[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 40, Volume 22]
[Revised as of July 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 40CFR141.81]

[Page 464-466]
 
                   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 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.

[[Page 465]]

    (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 
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, 1998.
    (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)).

[[Page 466]]

    (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]