LIS

Virginia Law

Administrative Code

Creating a Report: Check the sections you'd like to appear in the report, then use the "Create Report" button at the bottom of the page to generate your report. Once the report is generated you'll then have the option to download it as a pdf, print or email the report.

Virginia Administrative Code
Title 12. Health
Agency 5. Department of Health
Chapter 590. Waterworks Regulations
11/21/2024

12VAC5-590-960. Taste and odor control.

A. The continuous or periodic treatment of source waters with copper sulfate and other copper compounds to kill algae or other growths shall be controlled to prevent a copper concentration in excess of 1.0 mg/L, as copper, in the finished water leaving the treatment plant.

B. Surface water aerators or diffused aeration systems shall be acceptable for de-stratifying reservoirs, reducing or eliminating seasonal turnover, and releasing compounds in the anaerobic or anoxic zones.

C. Addition of chemical oxidants at the source water intake, in the source water pump station discharge line, at the head of the treatment plant, or within the treatment train shall be acceptable for treating tastes and odors. Effective oxidants include chlorine, chlorine dioxide, potassium permanganate, and ozone. If breakpoint chlorination is proposed, then the actual breakpoint of the water shall be determined accurately. "Breakpoint chlorination" means the addition of chlorine to water until the chlorine demand has been satisfied, chlorine and ammonia nitrogen reactions are near completion, and further additions of chlorine result in a free chlorine residual that is directly proportional to the amount of chlorine added.

D. Powdered activated carbon (PAC). When taste and odor problems are anticipated on an intermittent basis, the addition of PAC shall be considered, and a pilot study shall be conducted to determine the optimum dosage. Multiple PAC feed locations shall be evaluated to provide maximum contact time, including the rapid mixer, the flocculation basins, and at the midpoint of the sedimentation basins.

1. PAC shall not be applied near the point of chlorine or other oxidant application.

2. Continuous agitation or resuspension equipment shall be required to keep the PAC from depositing in the slurry or storage tank.

3. All mechanisms for handling dry PAC shall be tightly sealed. Dust collection is required at all installations.

4. The PAC feed lines to the application points shall be sized to handle the PAC suspension and should be equipped with flushing provisions.

E. GAC media shall be acceptable in conventional gravity filters or in separate contactors to reduce taste and odor.

F. Ozonation shall be acceptable for taste and odor control.

Statutory Authority

§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-170 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR355-18-009.12 § 3.33, eff. August 1, 1991; amended, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 20, eff. June 23, 2021.

Website addresses provided in the Virginia Administrative Code to documents incorporated by reference are for the reader's convenience only, may not necessarily be active or current, and should not be relied upon. To ensure the information incorporated by reference is accurate, the reader is encouraged to use the source document described in the regulation.

As a service to the public, the Virginia Administrative Code is provided online by the Virginia General Assembly. We are unable to answer legal questions or respond to requests for legal advice, including application of law to specific fact. To understand and protect your legal rights, you should consult an attorney.