3745-82-04. Monitoring for compliance with the fluoride secondary maximum contaminant level


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  • (A) Public water systems that do not add supplemental fluoride.

    (1) Monitoring and compliance determinations for the secondary maximum contaminant level (SMCL) for fluoride specified in rule 3745-82-02 of the Administrative Code shall be as follows:

    (a) Public water systems may use the monitoring conducted for compliance with the maximum contaminant level (MCL) in paragraph (B) of rule 3745-81-11 of the Administrative Code to determine compliance with the SMCL for fluoride. The required monitoring to determine compliance with the MCL is specified in rule 3745-81-23 of the Administrative Code.

    (b) If a public water system collects more than one sample per year, it shall be in compliance when the average of quarterly averages of all samples collected at each entry point to the distribution system during a calendar year does not exceed the SMCL for fluoride.

    (c) Public water systems that collect one sample annually or less frequently shall be in compliance when the most recent sample does not exceed the SMCL for fluoride. When a public water system is required to take a confirmation sample under paragraph (F) of rule 3745-81-23 of the Administrative Code, the system shall be in compliance if the average of the initial and confirmation sample results does not exceed the SMCL for fluoride.

    (B) Public water systems that add supplemental fluoride.

    (1) Monitoring and compliance determinations for the SMCL for fluoride specified in rule 3745-82-02 of the Administrative Code shall be as follows:

    (a) Public water systems shall use the monitoring conducted for compliance with rule 3745-83-01 of the Administrative Code to determine compliance with the SMCL for fluoride.

    (b) A public water system shall be in compliance when the running annual average of monthly averages of all samples collected at each entry point to the distribution system as determined monthly does not exceed the fluoride SMCL.

    (2) Public water systems adding fluoride shall maintain a fluoride range of 0.8 milligrams per liter to 1.3 milligrams per liter in their finished water pursuant to section 6109.20 of the Revised Code. Compliance shall be determined monthly at each entry point, based on the average of all daily samples collected for compliance with rule 3745-83-01 of the Administrative Code.

    The monthly average fluoride content must be between 0.8 and 1.3 milligrams per liter at each entry point. A public water system shall notify Ohio EPA within forty-eight hours of any instance in which the daily average fluoride concentration is greater than 1.3 milligrams per liter. If a public water system has four or more days during a month in which the daily average fluoride concentration is outside a range of 0.7 milligrams per liter to 1.3 milligrams per liter, the public water system is in violation unless the system has approval from the director to perform a tracer study and the fluoride level in the distribution system does not exceed 2.0 milligrams per liter.

    (3) Public water systems that add supplemental fluoride shall keep a daily record of the amount of fluoride compound added, the quantity of water fluoridated, the calculated fluoride dosage, and the fluoride content of the water as delivered to their customers.

    (4) Public water systems that lose their capability to accurately determine the fluoride content of their finished water due to laboratory equipment failure or malfunction, shall cease feeding all fluoride compounds and notify the Ohio EPA within forty-eight hours with a tentative schedule for re-establishing laboratory capabilities.

    (5) Public water systems that lose their capability to feed fluoride shall notify Ohio EPA within forty-eight hours and provide a tentative schedule for resumption of acceptable fluoridation.

    (6) A public water system determined to exceed 10.0 milligrams per liter due to over-feed events may be required to issue a no-use advisory.

    (C) A public water system determined to exceed the SMCL for fluoride under paragraph (A) or (B) of this rule shall notify the persons served by the public water system in accordance with paragraph (D) of rule 3745-81-32 of the Administrative Code.

Replaces: Replaces part of 3745-82-03


Effective: 8/5/2016
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 08/05/2021
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 6109.04
Rule Amplifies: 6109.03, 6109.04 and 6109.20
Prior Effective Dates: 11/26/80, 03/29/88, 05/22/89, 10/01/06