Ohio Administrative Code|Rule 3745-81-21 | Coliform monitoring requirements.

                                                
The provisions of paragraph (A) of this rule are
		applicable until March 31, 2016. The provisions of paragraphs (B), (C) and (D)
		of this rule are applicable until all repeat monitoring required in paragraph
		(B) of this rule and all fecal coliform or E. coli testing required in
		paragraph (C) of this rule that were initiated by a total coliform-positive
		sample taken before April 1, 2016 are completed, as well as analytical method,
		reporting, recordkeeping, public notification, and consumer confidence report
		requirements associated with that monitoring and testing.
Beginning April 1, 2016, the provisions of rules
		3745-81-50 to 3745-81-55 of the Administrative Code are applicable, with
		systems required to begin regular monitoring at the same frequency as the
		system-specific frequency required on March 31, 2016.
(A) Public water systems shall collect
		  total coliform routine samples at sites which are representative of water
		  throughout the distribution system according to a written sample siting plan.
		  Such plans are subject to review and revision by the director. Samples for
		  determination of compliance with this chapter shall be analyzed in a laboratory
		  holding valid certification to analyze drinking water for microbiological
		  contaminants under Chapter 3745-89 of the Administrative Code. The samples
		  shall be analyzed by one or more of the approved methods listed in rule
		  3745-81-27 of the Administrative Code.
(1)  Community water
			 systems.
(a) The minimum monitoring frequency for total coliforms for
				community water systems is based on the population served by the community
				water system, except as provided for in paragraphs (A)(1)(b) and (A)(4) of this
				rule, as follows:
Population served
Minimum number of samplesper month
Less than or equal to 1,000 
1
1,001 to 2,500
2
2,501 to 3,300
3
3,301 to 4,100
4
4,101 to 4,900
5
4,901 to 5,800
6
5,801 to 6,700
7
6,701 to 7,600
8
7,601 to 8,500
9
8,501 to 12,900
10
12,901 to 17,200
15
17,201 to 21,500
20
21,501 to 25,000
25
25,001 to 33,000
30
33,001 to 41,000
40
41,001 to 50,000
50
50,001 to 59,000
60
59,001 to 70,000
70
70,001 to 83,000
80
83,001 to 96,000
90
96,001 to 130,000
100
130,001 to 220,000
120
220,001 to 320,000
150
320,001 to 450,000
180
450,001 to 600,000
210
600,001 to 780,000
240
780,001 to 970,000
270
970,001 to 1,230,000
300
1,230,001 to1,520,000
330
1,520,001 to 1,850,000
360
1,850,001 to 2,270,000
390
2,270,001 to 3,020,000
420
3,020,001 to 3,960,000
450
3,960,001 or more
480
(b) A community water system using a surface water source, in
				whole or in part, serving fewer than three thousand three hundred one persons
				shall monitor at regular intervals for total coliforms no less than four times
				per month.
(2)  Noncommunity water
			 systems.
(a) A noncommunity water system using only ground water or
				purchased water and serving not more than one thousand persons shall monitor
				with at least one sample each calendar quarter that the noncommunity water
				system provides water to the public.
(b) A noncommunity water system using only ground water and
				serving more than one thousand persons during any month shall monitor at the
				same frequency as a community water system serving the same number of persons,
				as specified in paragraph (A)(1)(a) of this rule.
(c) A noncommunity water system using a surface water source, in
				whole or in part, and serving a population of greater than four thousand one
				hundred persons shall monitor at the same frequency as a community water system
				serving the same number of persons, as specified in paragraph (A)(1)(a) of this
				rule. A noncommunity water system using surface water, in whole or in part,
				serving a population of fewer than four thousand one hundred one persons shall
				monitor at least four times per month for any month the noncommunity water
				system serves water to the public.
(3) Public water systems
			 shall monitor with samples taken at regular time intervals throughout the month
			 in accordance with the system's sample siting plan.
(4) Special purpose
			 samples, such as those taken to determine whether disinfection practices are
			 sufficient following pipe placement, replacement, or repair, shall not be used
			 to determine compliance with the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for total
			 coliforms as set forth in rule 3745-81-14 of the Administrative Code. The
			 special purpose samples shall be marked as such before analysis. Repeat samples
			 taken pursuant to paragraph (B) of this rule are not considered special purpose
			 samples, and shall be used to determine compliance with the MCL for total
			 coliforms as set forth in rule 3745-81-14 of the Administrative
			 Code.
(5) Based on the results
			 of a sanitary survey, the director may increase the frequency of total coliform
			 monitoring. On the basis of subsequent sanitary surveys, the increased
			 monitoring frequency may be reduced. Under no circumstances shall the required
			 monitoring be less than that prescribed by this rule.
(B)  Follow-up to total coliform-positive
		  samples.
(1) When a routine sample
			 is determined to be total coliform-positive, the public water system shall
			 monitor with a set of four repeat samples within twenty-four hours of being
			 notified of the positive result. Upon a request from a public water system, the
			 director may extend the twenty-four-hour limit on a case-by-case basis when the
			 public water system has a logistical problem collecting the repeat samples
			 within twenty-four hours which is beyond the control of the public water
			 system. When an extension is granted by the director, the director shall
			 specify how much time the public water system has to monitor with repeat
			 samples.
(2) The public water
			 system shall monitor with at least one repeat sample from the sampling tap
			 where the original total coliform-positive sample was taken, and at least one
			 repeat sample at a tap within five service connections upstream and at least
			 one repeat sample at a tap within five service connections downstream of the
			 original sampling site. The fourth repeat sample shall be collected within five
			 service connections upstream or downstream of the original sampling site. When
			 a total coliform-positive sample was taken at an end of the distribution system
			 or one service connection away from an end of the distribution system, the
			 director may waive the requirement to monitor with at least one repeat sample
			 upstream or downstream of the original sampling site.
(3) Public water systems
			 shall collect all total coliform repeat samples on the same day.
(4) When one or more
			 repeat samples in the set is total coliform-positive, the public water system
			 shall continue to monitor with additional sets of repeat samples in the manner
			 specified in paragraphs (B)(1) to (B)(3) of this rule until total coliforms are
			 not detected in one complete set of repeat samples or the system determines
			 that the MCL for total coliforms in rule 3745-81-14 of the Administrative Code
			 has been exceeded and notifies the director no later than the end of the next
			 business day after the public water system learns of the
			 violation.
(5) Until March 31, 2016,
			 failure to monitor and report required repeat samples is a monitoring and
			 reporting violation, for which public notification shall be issued in
			 accordance with rule 3745-81-32 of the Administrative Code.
(6) Until March 31, 2016,
			 public notification issued as a result of a violation in paragraph (C) of rule
			 3745-81-14 of the Administrative Code or paragraph (B)(5) of this rule, and
			 which may cause an acute risk to human health, shall remain in effect until
			 total coliforms are not detected in one complete set of repeat
			 samples.
(7) When a public water system monitoring
			 with fewer than five routine samples per month has one or more total
			 coliform-positive samples, the public water system shall monitor with at least
			 five routine samples during the next month that the public water system
			 provides water to the public. The director shall not waive the requirement for
			 a public water system to collect repeat samples in paragraphs (B)(1) to (B)(4)
			 of this rule.
(8) After a public water system monitors
			 with a routine sample and before the public water system learns the results of
			 the analysis of that sample, when the public water system collects other
			 routine samples from within five adjacent service connections of the initial
			 sample, and the initial sample, after analysis, is found to contain total
			 coliforms, then the public water system may consider the subsequent samples as
			 repeat samples instead of as routine samples.
(9) When a routine or repeat total
			 coliform sample is analyzed by a membrane filter technique and produces a high
			 background count (HBC) or confluent growth, the HBC or confluent growth culture
			 shall be further analyzed for total coliforms in accordance with a method
			 included in the membrane filter techniques referred to in paragraph (D) of rule
			 3745-81-27 of the Administrative Code. Gas production of any amount in the
			 inner fermentation tube of brilliant green lactose bile broth indicates a
			 positive coliform test. When an HBC or confluent growth culture is analyzed for
			 total coliforms and none are found, the sample shall be considered invalid and
			 the public water system shall monitor with a replacement sample within
			 twenty-four hours of being notified of the invalid sample. Upon a request from
			 a public water system, the director may extend the twenty-four-hour limit on a
			 case-by-case basis when the public water system has a logistical problem
			 collecting the repeat samples within twenty-four hours which is beyond the
			 control of the public water system. When an extension is granted by the
			 director, the director shall specify how much time the public water system has
			 to monitor with repeat samples.
(C) If any routine or repeat sample is
		  total coliform-positive, that total coliform-positive culture shall be further
		  analyzed to determine if fecal coliforms are present, except that the culture
		  may be tested for E. coli in lieu of fecal coliforms. If fecal coliforms or E.
		  coli are present, the system shall notify the director by the end of the day
		  when the system is notified of the test result, unless the system is notified
		  of the result after the director's office is closed, in which case the
		  system shall notify the director before the end of the next business day. All
		  repeat sample results shall be submitted no later than the end of the next
		  business day following analysis.
(D) Failure to comply with a coliform
		  monitoring requirement, as set forth in this rule, is a monitoring violation. A
		  public water system which has failed to comply with a coliform monitoring
		  requirement, as set forth in this rule, shall report the monitoring violation
		  to the director within ten days after the public water system discovers the
		  violation, and notify the public in accordance with rule 3745-81-32 of the
		  Administrative Code.


Last updated January 5, 2022 at 2:09 PM