18 AAC 80.605. GWUDISW determination

(a) The owner or operator of a Class A or Class B public water system shall provide the information that the department considers necessary to make a determination whether to classify a water source as GWUDISW.

(b) For a new water source, the department will classify the water source based on the plans submitted under 18 AAC 80.205, the physical area proposed for the source, and other information that the department considers necessary to make the determination as to the classification of that source. The new water source may be subject to additional testing as described in (c)(5) of this section before the department makes the determination.

(c) The department will determine if a water source is GWUDISW after a review of information that the department considers necessary to make that determination. The review includes

(1) consideration of the source's history and current condition, including

(A) the current physical condition of the source and the source's distance from a surface water source;

(B) the results of laboratory analyses of untreated water from the source for biological quality, turbidity, or other water quality parameters useful for comparing the source to surface water; indicators of surface water influence include

(i) positive bacteriological results from those analyses;

(ii) surface water runoff draining down the well casing; or

(iii) influence from a nearby surface water body;

(C) the history of waterborne disease outbreaks, if any; if the system using a groundwater source has experienced a waterborne disease outbreak directly related to the water source the department will classify the water source as GWUDISW; and

(D) information from past sanitary surveys;

(2) A review of the records of the water source, including wells, springs, and infiltration galleries; the department will consider

(A) construction records of the well, including the depth of the well, the type and depth of the grouting, a profile of material along the depth of the well casing, and the location and length of the screened portion of the intake; if well construction does not comply with 18 AAC 80.015 to the extent that surface water or surface contamination can directly contaminate the well water, the department will require the owner or operator of the system to take steps to bring the well into compliance; if the owner or operator fails to take these steps, the department will classify the water source as GWUDISW;

(B) construction records of how the water source is protected from surface runoff; if the source is not protected from surface runoff or influence, the department will require the owner or operator of the water system to take steps to remedy the deficiency; if the owner or operator fails to take these steps, the department will classify the water source as GWUDISW; and

(3) a field assessment by the department, after payment by the owner or operator of the fee set out in 18 AAC 80.1910(b)(4), or a field assessment by an individual authorized to perform sanitary surveys under 18 AAC 80.435; a field assessment must include

(A) the topography of the area surrounding the wellhead, spring, or infiltration gallery, including a description of whether drainage of surface water is directed away from the water source being evaluated;

(B) a thorough inspection of the wellhead and whether it complies with 18 AAC 80.015(a) ; for a spring or infiltration gallery, protection from surface water runoff must be noted; if well construction does not comply with the 18 AAC 80.015 to the extent that surface water or surface contamination can directly contaminate the well water, the department will require the owner or operator to bring the well into compliance; if the owner or operator fails to do so, the department will classify the water source as GWUDISW; if the water source from a spring or infiltration gallery is not protected from surface water runoff, the department will require the owner or operator to remedy the deficiency; if the owner or operator fails to do so, the department will classify the water source as GWUDISW;

(C) an evaluation of possible sources of biological contamination that could affect water quality, including the location of nearby surface waterbodies and types of waste disposal and wastewater discharges, if any; and

(D) hydrogeological evidence submitted by the owner or operator of the water system and prepared by a registered engineer or a professional geologist specializing in hydrogeology;

(4) if the department requires one, a water quality assessment by the owner or operator; the assessment must compare physical, biological, and chemical characteristics of nearby surface water to those of the groundwater source; the owner or operator shall include all data collected in the assessment and shall present the data in a format approved by the department; after the owner or operator pays the fee required in 18 AAC 80.1910(b)(4), the department will review the assessment to determine whether a correlation between the two sets of characteristics exists; a correlation indicates that the source is GWUDISW; before sampling, the owner or operator shall submit for department approval a water quality assessment plan that includes

(A) the purpose of the assessment;

(B) the scope of water sources and bodies of surface water to be included in the study;

(C) the water quality parameters to be measured, including temperature, pH, conductivity, microscopic analysis, coliform analysis, and turbidity; and

(D) a list of equipment to be used and of sample locations and times;

(5) additional testing by the owner or operator, using more advanced water testing methods and analyses, if the department considers the information obtained under (1) - (4) of this subsection to be insufficient for the department to make a determination whether the source is GWUDISW; the owner or operator shall submit test methods to the department for approval before taking samples and before analysis; advanced water testing methods and analyses include, as necessary under this paragraph,

(A) microscopic analysis of the particulate matter in a water sample for surface water indicators, including algae, nematodes, insect or plant debris, and pollen;

(B) a particle count analysis that examines the number and size of particles in the surface water body and compares that data to the number and size of particles in water from the source being evaluated;

(D) specialized analyses, such as examining the source water and surface water for specific ionic ratios, or comparing the source water to other known groundwater sources; and

(E) tracers, dyes, or other tests that the department determines will provide data helpful to the department's determination.

(d) The department will keep a written record of each GWUDISW determination that the department makes, and will retain that record for 40 years after the date of the determination.

History: Eff. 10/1/99, Register 151

Authority: AS 46.03.020

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