310 CMR 22.11B
Table 1. Treatment Unit Rating Values.
22.11B: continued
310 CMR 22.11B: TABLE 1
TREATMENT UNIT RATING VALUES
Item
Points
Possible
Size (20 points maximum allowed)
Design flow average day, or peak month's average day, whichever is larger (1 point per 0.5 MGD. Round up.)
Design flow: Consider this to be the design capacity of the plant.
Examples:
9.2 MGD = 19 points 4.7 MGD = 10 points
1 - 20
Water Supply Sources (Rating based on public health significance)
Seawater/saltwater
Groundwater
Groundwater Under Direct Influence of Surface Water (GWUDI)
Surface Water
Average Raw Water Quality Variation - Applies to all sources (surface and groundwater)
Key is the effect on treatment process changes that would be necessary to achieve
optimized performance.
• Little or no variation - no treatment provided except Disinfection (0 points)
• Minor variation - e.g. "high quality" surface source appropriate for Slow Sand Filtration (1 point)
• Moderate variation in chemical feed, dosage changes made: monthly (2 points), weekly (3 points), or
daily (4 points)
• Variation significant enough to require pronounced and/or very frequent changes (5 points)
• Severe variation - source subject to non- point discharges, agricultural/ urban storm runoff, flooding
(7 points)
• Raw Water quality subject to agricultural or municipal waste point source discharges (8 points)
• Raw Water quality subject to industrial waste pollution (10 points)
0 - 10
Raw Water quality is subject to:
• Taste and/or odor for which treatment process adjustments are routinely made - see exceptions in
Note 1 at end of table
• Color > 15 CU (not due to precipitated metals) - see exceptions in Note 1 at end of table
• Iron or/and manganese > SMCL: Fe (2 points), Mn (3 points) (3 points maximum allowed) - see
exceptions in Note 1 at end of table
2 - 3
• Algal growths for which treatment process adjustments are routinely made - see exceptions in Note 1
at end of table
22.11B: continued
Item
Points
Possible
Chemical Treatment/Addition Processes
Fluoridation
Disinfection/Oxidation (Note: Points are additive to a maximum of 15 points allowed for this category.)
• Chlorination:
" Hypochlorites (5 points)
• If generated on site (add 1 point)
" Chlorine gas (8 points)
" Chloramination (10 points)
" Chlorine dioxide (10 points)
• Ozonation (10 points)
• UV Irradiation (2 points)
• Iodine, Peroxide, or similar (5 points)
• Potassium permanganate (4 points)
" (If used with green sand filtration do not give 4 points)
0 - 15
pH adjustment for process control (e.g., pH adjustment aids Coagulation)
Stability or Corrosion Control (If the same chemical is used for both Corrosion Control and pH adjustment,
count points only once)
Coagulation/Flocculation & Filter Aid
Primary coagulant addition
Coagulant aid / Flocculant chemical addition (in addition to primary coagulant use)
Flocculation
Filter aid addition (Non-ionic/anionic polymers)
Clarification/Sedimentation
Sedimentation (plain, tube, plate)
Contact Adsorption
Other clarification processes (air flotation, ballasted clarification, etc.)
Upflow clarification ("sludge blanket clarifier") - see Note 2 at end of table
Filtration
Granular media filtration (Surface Water/GWUDI) less than or equal to 3 gpm/sq ft
Granular media filtration (Surface Water/GWUDI) greater than 3 gpm/sq ft
Groundwater Filtration
Membrane Filtration
• For compliance with a primary MCL, Treatment Technique, MRDL, Action Level or any standards
specific to an individual Public Water System established pursuant to a health assessment as provided
in 310 CMR 22.03(8) (10 points)
• For compliance with a Secondary MCL regulation (6 points)
6-10
Diatomaceous Earth (pre-coat filtration)
Cartridge/bag
Pre-filtration (staged cartridges, pressure sand w/o Coagulation, etc.): add one point per stage to maximum of 3
points
1-3
Slow sand
22.11B: continued
Item
Points
Possible
Other Treatment Processes
Aeration
Air stripping (including diffused air, packed tower Aeration)
Ion-exchange/softening
Green sand Filtration
Lime-soda ash softening (includes: chemical addition, mixing/flocculation/clarification/Filtration - do not add
points for these processes separately)
Granular activated carbon filter (do not assign points when included as a bed layer in another filter)
Powdered activated carbon
Blending sources with significantly different water quality
• To achieve MCL, MRDL, Action Level or any standards specific to an individual Public Water System
established pursuant to a health assessment as provided in 310 CMR 22.03(8) (4 points)
* For aesthetic reasons (2 points)
2 - 4
Reservoir management employing chemical addition
Electrodialysis
Other: The Department may assign 2 to 15 additional points for processes not listed elsewhere in this table.
2 - 15
Residuals Disposal
• Discharge to surface, sewer, or equivalent (0 points)
• On-site disposal, land application (1 point)
• Discharge to lagoon/drying bed, with no recovery/recycling - e.g. downstream outfall (1 point)
• Backwash recovery/recycling: discharge to basin or lagoon and then to source (2 points)
• Backwash recovery/recycling: discharge to basin or lagoon and then to Plant Intake (3 points)
0 - 3
Facility Characteristics
Instrumentation - Use of SCADA or similar instrumentation systems to provide data, with:
• Monitoring/alarm only, no process operation - plant has no automated shutdown capability (0 points)
• Limited process operation - e.g. remote shutdown capability (1 point)
• Moderate process operation - alarms and shutdown, plus partial remote operation of plant (2 points)
• Extensive or total process operation - alarms and shutdown, full remote operation of plant possible
(4 points)
0 - 4
Notes:
1 - Raw Water quality is subject to:
•
Taste and/or odor for which treatment process adjustments are routinely made (2 points): 1) taste and/or odor issue has been
identified in a pre-design report, etc., 2) a process has been installed to address, and 3) operational control adjustments are
made at least seasonally. Do not give points for taste and/or odor when there is no specific additional impact on operation.
E.g. if a system is already pre-chlorinating for Disinfection, give no points for taste and/or odor.
• Color > 15 CU (not due to precipitated metals) (3 points) with following exceptions. Color will be considered elevated and
points assigned when levels exceed 75 Color Units (CU) for conventional filtration, 40 CU for Direct Filtration, or 15 CU
for all other technologies, except Reverse Osmosis (no points given for color for Reverse Osmosis).
• Iron and/or manganese > SMCL: Fe (2 points), Mn (3 points) (3 points maximum allowed) with following exceptions. Iron
and manganese levels will be considered elevated and points assigned if they are greater than the SMCL, except for
applications of manganese greensand filters. For applications of manganese greensand filters, iron and manganese levels will
be considered elevated when their combined level exceeds 1.0 mg/L or if manganese exceeds 0.3 mg/L (3 points allowed).
•
Algal growths for which treatment process adjustments are routinely made (3 points): Raw Water will be considered subject
to algae growths when treatment processes are specifically adjusted due to the presence of high levels of algae on at least a
weekly basis for at least two months each year.
22.11B: continued
2 - Upflow clarification ("sludge blanket clarifier") - 8 points - Also known as sludge blanket clarification. Includes such proprietary
units as Super-Pulsator. These units include processes for flocculation and Sedimentation. Important note: these are not the same
as Adsorption clarifiers.
1. Each unit process should have points assigned only once.
2. Point System: Treatment Facilities shall be classified according to the following points system:
Class I-T 30 Points and less
Class II-T 31 to 55 points
Class III-T 56 to 75 points
Class IV-T 76 points and greater
(b) Water Vending Machines with Treatment. Free standing vending machines consisting
of filters with the addition of chemicals and/or Reverse Osmosis system shall be classified
as follows:
2000 gal per day and less
Class I-VNDT
2001 gal per day to 5000
Class II-VNDT
5001 gal per day to 50000
Class III-VNDT
50001 gal per day and grater
Class IV-VNDT
(c) Rating Distribution Systems. Distribution Systems shall be rated according to the
population served as follows except for Non-community Water Systems:
500 and less
VSS (Very Small System)
501 to 1,500
Class I-D
1,501 to 15,000
Class II-D
15,001 to 50,000
Class III-D
50,001 and greater
Class IV-D
All Non-community Water Systems shall be classified as Very Small Systems (VSS)
regardless of population served.
(d) Water Vending Machines without Treatment. Free standing vending machines
consisting of filters, and/or ultra-violet Disinfection systems with no chemical addition shall
be classified as follows:
500 gal per day and less
VND-ID (Water Vending Machine)
501 gal per day and more
VND-IID
(e) Bulk or Bottled Water. Water that is treated to be distributed in bulk or as bottled water
shall be classified as stated in 310 CMR 22.11B(4)(b) and unless otherwise authorized in
writing by the Department.
(f) Specific Rating Values. The Department may establish a rating value for any system or
unit not shown on the table. The Department may change the classification of a particular
facility when there are site-specific factors affecting the operation of the Public Water
System or complexity of the treatment process.
(5) Exemptions. The Department may exempt any Supplier of Water from the requirements
of 310 CMR 22.11B(1) and (2).
(a) The Department shall not grant any exemption unless the Supplier of Water
demonstrates to the Department's satisfaction that:
1. due to compelling factors the Supplier of Water is unable to comply with the
requirements of 310 CMR 22.11B(1) or (2);
2. the granting of the requested exemption will not result in an unreasonable risk to
health or impair the quality of water which is being delivered to the Public Water
System's consumers;
3. the Supplier of Water can ensure the proper operation of the Public Water System and
can detect any malfunctions in the operation of the Treatment Facility or Distribution
System in the absence of the Primary Operator;
4. the Primary Operator is able to respond to Emergencies within a reasonable period
of time. In no event shall an Emergency response time greater than one hour be deemed
reasonable;
5. the Primary Operator is responsible for the operation of the Public Water System at
all times whether or not present in person; and
6. any individual utilized by the Supplier of Water to operate the Public Water System
and to detect any malfunctions in the operation of the Public Water System in the
absence of the Primary Operator, is properly trained by, and is acting under the direction
of, the Primary Operator.
22.11B: continued
(b) Staffing and Comprehensive Operations Plan. A Supplier of Water requesting an
exemption under 310 CMR 22.11B(5) shall submit to the Department for review and
approval a "Staffing and Comprehensive Operations Plan" for the Public Water System.
(c) Part-time Operation. With the prior written approval of the Department, a Supplier of
Water whose Public Water System includes a Distribution System classified as a I-D or less
may reduce the staffing requirements of 310 CMR 22.11B(1) and (2) by operating the
Distribution System on a part-time basis. With the prior written approval of the Department,
a Supplier of Water whose Public Water System includes a Treatment Facility classified as
I-T or less may reduce the staffing requirements of 310 CMR 22.11B(1) and (2) by operating
the Treatment Facility on a part-time basis. A Supplier of Water seeking a reduction in the
staffing requirements shall be subject to the conditions listed at 310 CMR 22.11B(5)(a)1.
through 6. and (b). Subject to such approval(s), the Primary and Secondary Operators or both
may be allowed to operate the Treatment Facility or Distribution System on a part-time basis.
(d) Public Water System - Automated Operations. Increased instrumentation, automation
and SCADA Systems may be used to reduce the number of on-site staff required during
periods of routine operation. A Public Water System which has been designed for off-site
monitoring may apply to the Department for an exemption from the requirements of
310 CMR 22.11B(1) and (2).
1. The Department shall use, but not be limited to, the following factors in making its
determination to evaluate whether a Treatment Facility or Distribution System can reduce
the number of staff required to operate a Treatment Facility or Distribution System:
a. the complexity and type of the treatment process;
b. the size of storage tanks and clearwells;
c. the estimated length of time for water quality to deteriorate from a treatment
process failure such that unsafe or impure levels of drinking water are present in the
Distribution System;
d. the variability of source water quality;
e. the degree of sophistication, reliability and control of the instrumentation
monitoring and control system;
f. the location of the off-site monitoring site with respect to operator response
and/or travel time to the Treatment Facility;
g. the adequacy of the Emergency response plan when alarms or out-of-range
parameters are reported by Distribution System or Treatment Facility
instrumentation;
h. the capabilities of a Distribution System or Treatment Facility to be shut down
during a critical alarm condition;
i. the ability of the Public Water System to provide at least 12 hours of safe water
for the correction of a process malfunction;
j. the ability of improperly treated water to be flushed from the Distribution System
prior to the first customer without an interruption of water service;
k. demonstration that the Public Water System has adequate capacity to repair and
maintain the automated controls or show that it has an agreement with a third party
to do so; and
l. secured remote access.
2. The Treatment Facility or Distribution System shall include where applicable, but not
limited to, instrumentation to continuously monitor, control, record and maintain
historical data for critical processes at established regulatory compliance points such as:
a. water storage tank levels at the Treatment Facility and in the Distribution System;
b. chemical storage tank levels;
c. disinfection equipment.
d. critical chemicals or treatment processes including, but not limited to:
i. pH;
ii. Turbidity;
iii. Disinfectant residual;
iv. fluoride (if using hydrofluorosilicic acid); or
v. surrogate measures as approved by the Department.
3. The Treatment Facility or Distribution System shall include where applicable, but not
limited to, alarms to detect and notify operators in the event of a process failure or
condition that could present a concern such as:
22.11B: continued
a. high and low water storage tank levels at the Treatment Facility and in the
Distribution System;
b. critical chemicals including, but not limited to:
i. pH;
ii. Turbidity;
iii. Disinfectant residual;
iv. fluoride (if using hydrofluorosilicic acid); or
v. surrogate measures as approved by the Department.
c. gaseous chlorine leaks;
d. ozone leaks;
e. fire and intrusion;
f. power failures and generator operational status;
g. critical pumps and motors;
h. bulk chemical tank volumes (high and low levels); and
i. loss of communication.
(e) 4T Systems. A Public Water System that includes a Treatment Facility classified as 4T
and which meets the requirements of 310 CMR 22.11B(5)(d), with the exception of Satellite
Facilities and seasonal Treatment Facilities as described in 310 CMR 22.11B(7), shall be
staffed for a minimum of eight hours per day during the days when such Treatment Facility
and/or filtration units are in operation. The Treatment Facility shall be staffed in accordance
with its classification.
(f) 3T Systems. A Public Water System that includes a Treatment Facility classified as 3T
and which meets the requirements of 310 CMR 22.11B(5)(d), with the exception of Satellite
Facilities and seasonal Treatment Facilities as described in 310 CMR 22.11B(7), shall be
staffed for a minimum of eight hours per day during the days when such Treatment Facility
and/or filtration units are in operation, unless otherwise approved by the Department. The
Treatment Facility shall be staffed in accordance with its classification.
(g) 2T System or Less. A Public Water System that includes a Treatment Facility classified
as 2T or less and which meets the requirements of 310 CMR 22.11B(5)(d), with the
exception of Satellite Facilities or seasonal Treatment Facilities as described in 310 CMR
22.11B(7) shall be staffed for a minimum of four hours per day every Monday through Friday
when the Treatment Facility is in operation. The Treatment Facility shall be staffed in
accordance with its classification.
Weekend/Holiday Coverage. Each operating Treatment Facility must be visited by a
Certified Operator at least once per day on weekends and holidays.
(h) Slow Sand Filtration. A Slow Sand Filtration process meeting the requirements of
310 CMR 22.11B(5)(d) shall be staffed by the Primary Operator at a minimum of two hours
per day every Monday through Friday when the Filtration process is in operation.
Weekend/Holiday Coverage shall be in accordance with 310 CMR 22.11B(5)(g)1.
(i) Very Small Systems and Non-community Water Systems.
1. A Secondary Operator is not required for Public Water Systems classified as a very
small system (VSS), Transient Non-community or Non-transient Non-community Water
Systems. However, during the times when the Primary Operator is temporarily absent
(i.e. absences not exceeding 30 days), a Certified Operator who has a certification which
corresponds to the class of the facility or higher shall be retained during the absence of
the Primary Operator to respond in the event of an Emergency. I
n no event shall an Emergency response time greater than one hour be deemed reasonable.
2. A Public Water System classified as a very small system (VSS), Transient
Non-community or Non-transient Non-community Water System, utilizing one or more
of the following treatment processes may be operated by a Primary Operator with a VSS
Full license and an operator-in-training (OIT) treatment license equal to the classification
of the treatment system:
a. Disinfection (provided Disinfection is not required to meet the treatment
requirements of 310 CMR 22.20A, 22.20D, 22.20F, 22.20G or 22.26);
b. lime contactor;
c. ion-exchange; or
d. in-line bag or Cartridge Filter that is not providing pathogen removal.
22.11B: continued
(6) Contract Services.
(a) A Supplier of Water may contract for the services of a Certified Operator to meet the
requirements of 310 CMR 22.11B(1) and (2) provided that the Supplier of Water submits for
the Department's review a Contract Operator Compliance Notice and "Staffing and
Comprehensive Operations Plan" in accordance with 310 CMR 22.11B(5)(b), and in a format
specified by the Department, within 30 days of execution of the contract.
(b) A Supplier of Water who contracts for the services of a Certified Operator shall ensure
that the Certified Operator conducts, at a minimum, monthly on-site inspections. The
Department may require more frequent inspections if it determines an increased frequency
to be necessary based on the complexity of the Public Water System or compliance issues.
During each inspection, the Certified Operator shall record the details of the inspection in
writing. The Supplier of Water shall maintain all inspection forms and records on site for
a minimum of five years from the date of the inspection and shall make them available to the
Department upon request.
(7) Satellite Facilities and Seasonal Treatment Facilities. A Public Water System, all the
Treatment Facilities of which are staffed and which has centralized water treatment operations
meeting the requirements of 310 CMR 22.11B, may, subject to the Department's written
approval, operate its Satellite Facilities or seasonal Treatment Facilities, if any, from the location
of such centralized water treatment operations using remote control of key functions sufficient
to permit normally unstaffed operation, provided that such Public Water System complies with
the following:
(a) all requirements set forth in 310 CMR 22.11B(5) (a)1. through 5.;
(b) all requirements set forth in 310 CMR 22.11B(5)(b);
(c) all requirements set forth in 310 CMR 22.11B (5)(d);
(d) all maintenance, chemical deliveries and other actions at such Satellite Facilities and
seasonal Treatment Facilities requiring the physical presence of Certified Operators shall
only be performed in the presence of such Certified Operators provided from the staffed
Treatment Facilities; and
(e) all such Satellite Facilities and seasonal Treatment Facilities which are in operation shall
be visited by a Certified Operator at least once per day who shall visually check and verify
the instrumentation readings between such Satellite Facilities and seasonal Treatment
Facilities and such centralized operations.
(8) Treatment Facility and Distribution System Verification. Before and after unstaffed
operation periods, a Certified Operator must check and confirm the validity and accuracy of data
transmitted between the location of any centralized water treatment operations and any
Treatment Facility or Distribution System by verifying such data at the location of such
Treatment Facility or Distribution System and must make entry in the Treatment Facility or
Distribution System log of any malfunctions. Malfunctions shall be corrected prior to further
unstaffed operation of the Treatment Facility or Distribution System.