WAC 246-291-010
Definitions. Abbreviations:
CSE - comprehensive system evaluation;
GWI - groundwater under the direct influence of surface
water;
m - meter;
MCL - maximum contaminant level;
mg/L - milligrams per liter;
ml - milliliter;
mm - millimeter;
NTU - nephelometric turbidity unit;
psi - pounds per square inch;
umhos/cm - micromhos per centimeter;
VOC - volatile organic chemical;
WFI - water facilities inventory form; and
WHPA - wellhead protection area.
"Authorized agent" means any person who:
Makes decisions regarding the operation and management of
a public water system whether or not he or she is engaged in
the physical operation of the system;
Makes decisions whether to improve, expand, purchase, or
sell the system; or
Has discretion over the finances of the system.
"Coliform sample" means a sample of water collected from
the distribution system at or after the first service and
analyzed for coliform presence in compliance with this
chapter.
"Comprehensive system evaluation (CSE)" means a review,
inspection and assessment of a public water system, including,
but not limited to: Source; facilities; equipment; operation
and administration; maintenance; records; planning documents
and schedules; and monitoring, for the purpose of ensuring
that safe and adequate drinking water is provided.
"Confirmation" means to demonstrate the results of a
sample to be precise by analyzing a repeat sample. Confirmation occurs when analysis results fall within plus or
minus thirty percent of the original sample.
"Contaminant" means a substance present in drinking water
which may adversely affect the health of the consumer or the
aesthetic qualities of the water.
"Cross-connection" means a physical arrangement
connecting a public water system, directly or indirectly, with
anything other than another potable water system, and capable
of contaminating the public water system.
"Department" means the Washington state department of
health or health officer as identified in a joint plan of
operation in accordance with WAC 246-291-030(1).
"Disinfection" means the use of chlorine or other agent
or process the department approves for killing or inactivating
microbiological organisms, including pathogenic and indicator
organisms.
"Distribution system" means that portion of a public
water supply system which stores, transmits, pumps, and
distributes water to consumers.
"Expanding public water system" means a public water
system installing additions, extensions, changes, or
alterations to their existing source, transmission, storage,
or distribution facilities which will enable the system to
increase in size its existing service area and/or its number
of approved service connections.
"Fire flow" means the rate of water flow needed to fight
fires under WAC 246-293-640 or adopted city, town, or county
standards.
"Generator disconnect" means an electrical circuit
arranged to allow connection of a generator to the power
supply for the pumping equipment while prohibiting electrical
current from flowing back into the main service line.
"Groundwater under the direct influence of surface water
(GWI)" means any water beneath the surface of the ground,
which the department determines has the following
characteristics:
Significant occurrence of insects or other
macroorganisms, algae, or large-diameter pathogens such as
Giardia lamblia; or
Significant and relatively rapid shifts in water
characteristics such as turbidity, temperature, conductivity,
or pH closely correlating to climatological or surface water
conditions.
"Group B water system" means a public water system:
Constructed to serve less than fifteen residential
services regardless of the number of people; or
Constructed to serve an average nonresidential population
of less than twenty-five per day for sixty or more days within
a calendar year; or
Any number of people for less than sixty days within a
calendar year.
"Guideline" means a department document assisting the
owner in meeting a rule requirement.
"Health officer" means the health officer of the city,
county, city-county health department or district, or an
authorized representative.
"Hydraulic analysis" means the study of the water system
network evaluating water flows within the distribution system
under worst case conditions such as, peak hourly design flow
plus fire flow, when required. Hydraulic analysis includes
consideration of all factors affecting system energy losses.
"Maximum contaminant level (MCL)" means the maximum
permissible level of a contaminant in water delivered to any
public water system user.
"Maximum contaminant level violation" means a confirmed
measurement above the MCL and for a duration of time, where
applicable.
"Owner" means any agency, subdivision of the state,
municipal corporation, firm, company, mutual or cooperative
association, institution, partnership, or person or any other
entity that holds as property, a public water system.
"Peak hourly design flow" means the maximum rate of water
use, excluding fire flow, which can be expected to ever occur
within a defined service area over a sixty minute time period.
"Potable" means water suitable for drinking by the
public.
"Pressure zone" means a distribution system whereby an
established minimum and maximum pressure range can be
maintained without the use of ancillary control equipment
(e.g., booster pumps, pressure reducing valves, etc.).
"Primary standards" means standards based on chronic,
nonacute, or acute human health effects.
"Public water system" means any system, excluding a
system serving only one single-family residence and a system
with four or fewer connections all of which serve residences
on the same farm, providing piped water for human consumption,
including collection, treatment, storage, or distribution
facilities used primarily in connection with such system.
"Repeat sample" means a sample collected to confirm the
results of a previous analysis.
"Same farm" means a parcel of land or series of parcels
which are connected by covenants and devoted to the production
of livestock or agricultural commodities for commercial
purposes and does not qualify as a Group A water system.
"Secondary standards" means standards based on factors
other than health effects such as taste and odor.
"Sell" means to bill separately for drinking water or to
include drinking water as part of an itemized listing in a
bill delivered to customers, where the amount billed is an
increase over what the purveyor pays for water. The presence
of centralized source or individual service meters does not
affect whether the water is being sold.
"Service" means a connection to a public water system
designed to provide potable water.
"Special purpose sample" means a sample collected for
reasons other than the monitoring compliance specified in this
chapter.
"Standard methods" means the 18th edition of the book,
titled Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Waste
Water, jointly published by the American Public Health
Association, American Water Works Association (AWWA), and
Water Pollution Control Federation. This book is available
through public libraries or may be ordered from AWWA, 6666
West Quincy Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80235.
"State board of health" and "board" means the board
created by RCW 43.20.030.
"Surface water" means a body of water open to the
atmosphere and subject to surface runoff.
"Volatile organic chemical (VOC)" means a manufactured
carbon-based chemical that vaporizes quickly at standard
pressure and temperature.
"Water facilities inventory form (WFI)" means the
department form summarizing each public water system's
characteristics.
"Well field" means a group of wells one system owns or
controls which:
Draw from the same aquifer or aquifers as determined by
comparable inorganic chemical analysis; and
Discharge water through a common pipe and the common pipe
shall allow for collection of a single sample before the first
distribution system connection.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050. 95-20-078, §
246-291-010, filed 10/4/95, effective 11/4/95; 94-14-002, §
246-291-010, filed 6/22/94, effective 7/23/94.]