Chapter 590. Waterworks Regulations

Waterworks operation comprises the constant oversight and management of the facilities and personnel. Consideration shall be given to such factors as the competency of personnel; water quality, including drinking water standards; water treatment plant maintenance and cleanliness;…

(Repealed.)

A. Classification of waterworks. All community and NTNC waterworks, including consecutive waterworks, fitting the classification protocol in this subsection shall be designated as classified waterworks. The department retains the discretion to assign the classification of the wat…

The waterworks shall be maintained in a clean and orderly condition.Statutory Authority§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-170 of the Code of Virginia.

A. Temporary inactivation. 1. A water well temporarily inactivated shall be sealed with a watertight cap or wellhead seal. 2. The well shall be maintained so that it will not be a source or channel for contamination during temporary inactivation. 3. The wellhead shall be visually…

A. The owner shall notify the department of the intent to reactivate a well. B. Before bringing the well into service, the well shall be pumped to waste (purged) for a minimum of five well volumes but for not less than 30 minutes. The purged well water shall be discharged in a ma…

A. Water analyses and tests performed at waterworks are conducted for four main purposes: (i) to ensure compliance; (ii) to control water treatment plant operation; (iii) to record water treatment plant performance; and (iv) to provide information for improving water treatment pl…

A. Adequate treatment is any one or any combination of the controlled processes of coagulation, sedimentation, absorption, filtration, disinfection, or other processes that produce water consistently meeting the requirements of this chapter. The concept of adequate treatment also…

A. The owner shall comply with Part II (12VAC5-590-340 et seq.) of this chapter unless a variance or exemption is issued by the commissioner. B. Compliance with design criteria set forth in Part III of this chapter is limited to modifications to existing waterworks and for all co…

A. A waterworks utilizing surface water sources or GUDI sources, in whole or in part, shall be disinfected in accordance with subsection C of this section and 12VAC5-590-1000. B. The owner of a groundwater system subject to the requirements of 12VAC5-590-421 A 1 d shall provide p…

A. The owner of a community waterworks (including consecutive waterworks) shall develop and maintain an emergency management plan for extended power outages. B. The plan shall be kept current and shall be retained at a location that is readily accessible to the owner in the event…

A. This section is not intended to be all inclusive but reflects the concern for the public health significance of certain practices related to waterworks operation. B. Filter operation. 1. Gravity flow granular media filters designed for pathogen and turbidity removal shall not …

A. All chemicals used in water treatment shall be compliant with NSF/ANSI/CAN Standard 60-2020. These chemicals shall include the following: 1. Corrosion and scale inhibitors; 2. Coagulants and flocculants; 3. Disinfectants and oxidants; 4. pH adjustment chemicals; 5. Regeneratin…

A. When the water production of a community waterworks reaches 80% of the permitted capacity for any consecutive three-month period, the owner shall prepare and submit a written plan within 30 days of notification by the department to address capacity needs. This plan shall be ev…

A. The results of all required monitoring activity shall be reported by the owner or the owner's authorized agent to the department no later than (i) the 10th day of the month following the month during which the test results were received, or (ii) the 10th day following the end …

A. The owner of a waterworks using a surface water source, a GUDI source, or both shall report monthly to the department the following specified information. 1. Turbidity measurements as required by 12VAC5-590-376 B shall be reported within 10 days after the end of each month the…

A. The owner shall report all of the information in this section to the department in accordance with this section. B. Reporting requirements for tap water monitoring for lead and copper and for water quality parameter monitoring. 1. Except as provided in subdivision B 1 g of thi…

A. The owner shall give public notice to (i) persons served by the waterworks and (ii) the owner of any consecutive waterworks to which it sells or otherwise provides water under the following circumstances. 1. Tier 1. a. When E. coli are present in the distribution system, or wh…

A. Purpose and applicability. 1. The owner of a community waterworks shall deliver to the owner's customers an annual report that contains information on the quality of the water delivered by the waterworks and characterizes the risks, if any, from exposure to contaminants detect…

A. Public notices and CCRs shall contain the appropriate mandatory language and information listed, as required by 12VAC5-590-540 and 12VAC5-590-545. B. Information on regulated contaminants is presented in Table 546.1.TABLE 546.1Content Requirements of Consumer Confidence Report…

A. This chapter governs waterworks facilities from any source water to all service connections. B. In accordance with § 36-98 of the Code of Virginia and the USBC, the USBC governs the construction of buildings and structures, including plumbing systems and backflow prevention. T…

A. The owner shall maintain all of the waterworks records in accordance with the Records Retention and Disposition Schedule of the Library of Virginia, General Schedule No. 7 for public utility records of county and municipal governments. B. The owner shall retain at the waterwor…

The owner of a waterworks shall institute a safety program to inform personnel of the known hazards, preventive measures, and emergency procedures pertaining to the operation of the waterworks in accordance with VOSH laws and regulations.Statutory Authority§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-170…

A. A waterworks owned by a county, city, or town may exercise the authority pursuant to § 15.2-2109 of the Code of Virginia to protect the waterworks from pollution or injury. B. The owner of a waterworks with a drinking water reservoir may establish a buffer around the intake to…

A. Monthly operational reports. 1. A classified waterworks is required to report monthly information to the department no later than the 10th of the month following the month during which the monitoring period occurred. 2. A classified waterworks using conventional filtration sha…

A. Every owner shall establish and enforce a cross-connection control program (CCCP) in accordance with 12VAC5-590-360. The goal of the CCCP is to prevent the intrusion of contamination into the distribution system via cross-connections and backflow. The owner shall document the …

(Repealed.)

(Repealed.)

A. The owner shall establish and implement a CCCP consistent with the extent of the distribution system and the consumers served by the waterworks. The owner shall review the CCCP and written cross-connection control plan not less than every five years and update it as necessary …

A. The owner shall ensure installation of backflow prevention assemblies or backflow elimination methods (i) at the service connection or (ii) downstream of the service connection but before any unprotected takeoffs. B. Where the consumer's water system is not intricate or comple…

(Repealed.)

A. Any backflow prevention assembly or backflow elimination method or backflow prevention device shall be of the approved type and shall comply with the USBC.B. General safeguards 1. The backflow prevention assembly or backflow elimination method or backflow elimination device us…

A. Waterworks shall conform to the Public Water Supply Law, Article 2 of Chapter 6 of Title 32.1 of the Code of Virginia. Community waterworks shall be designed to provide for the estimated water demand for 10 to 30 years hence under predicted growth conditions. All waterworks sh…

(Repealed.)

A. Wells and water treatment plants shall be located above the projected 100-year flood elevation. A lower elevation may be considered if it can be adequately shown that the wells or treatment plants can be protected from flooding. Site grading and adequate drainage shall be prov…

A. The area reserved around a well or spring site shall conform to 12VAC5-590-840 D and 12VAC5-590-840 E. B. The treatment plant site shall be of ample size to accommodate expansion, and ample space shall be provided at the treatment site for adequate handling of treatment plant …

A. The following shall be considered when selecting treatment processes: (i) the quality and variability of the source water and (ii) possible future changes in the quality and quantity of the source water. B. The design shall employ best available technologies (BAT) for achievin…

(Repealed.)

The board reserves the right to utilize any lawful procedure for the enforcement of this chapter.Statutory Authority§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-170 of the Code of Virginia.

A. The design of all community waterworks shall provide metering of total water production. B. The design of all NTNCs that provide treatment or have a design capacity of greater than 300,000 gallons per month shall provide metering of total water production. C. The design of all…

(Repealed.)

A. In accordance with the USBC, Chapter 6 (§ 36.97 et seq.) of Title 36 of the Code of Virginia, and the Statewide Fire Prevention Code (§ 27.94 et seq.) of Title 27 of the Code of Virginia, all waterworks building design and construction shall include necessary features that wil…

The design of computers, including supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems if used to monitor and control water treatment and distribution system facilities, shall meet the following general requirements: 1. Data security. a. Automated systems used to display and…

A. An emergency management plan for extended power outages shall be developed for each community waterworks as specified in 12VAC5-590-505. B. Alternative power sources at all waterworks shall be considered in the design to maintain a minimum level of service during an electrical…

(Repealed.)

(Repealed.)

A. The design of laboratory facilities shall be compatible with the equipment provided, the water supply, and the design and complexity of the water treatment. B. The design of community waterworks and NTNCs shall provide for adequate floor and bench space, adequate ventilation, …