The Oregon Health Authority Public Health Division Drinking Water Services has recently made changes to three Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs) related to public water systems, including the Groundwater Rule, the Stage 2 Disinfection Byproducts Rule (DBPR), and the Long Term 2 Enhancement Surface Water Treatment Rule. The revisions, which apply to OARs in Chapter 333, Division 61, are intended to improve clarity as well as bring the OARs into consistency with current industry standards. These changes may affect operation of your water system, so we wanted to bring them to your attention.
Following is a brief summary of a few changes proposed in the rule revisions.
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Clarifies procedures related to evaluating the influence of surface water on groundwater sources and associated testing requirements.
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Turbidity monitoring is required for both surface water sources and groundwater sources under the influence of surface water.
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Requires that water treatment plants have an auto-dial callout alarm or auto shutoff when high turbidity levels are detected.
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When making system repairs or performing new system installations, after appropriate disinfection has occurred, two coliform samples, taken at least 24 hours apart, will be required prior to placing the system back in service.
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Clarifies DBPR monitoring requirements
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Requires water systems serving more than 3,300 people to have an auto-dial callout alarm or automatic shutoff related to low chlorine residual levels when chlorine is used as a disinfectant.
The public comment period for the proposed changes closed December 24, 2012. The rules took effect on January 25, 2013. More information is available on the DWP’s Rules & Implementation Guidance webpage at http://public.health.oregon.gov/HealthyEnvironments/DrinkingWater/Rules or feel free to contact Dave Wildman, P.E., in our office at 541-963-8309 if you would like to discuss how these rule changes may affect your water system operations.

