15A NCAC 01L .0701. PUBLIC NECESSITY: HEALTH: SAFETY AND WELFARE

Maximum Value‑‑ 130 points:

(1)           System and Service Area Needs (Select one) - (Maximum Points--20):

(a)           The project is intended to increase the source of water to meet existing

service area needs or to alleviate water shortage problems.                                        12 points

(b)           The project is intended to improve an existing system with no increase

in the area to be served.                                                                                                     12 points

(c)           The project is intended to increase the existing area to be served without

 improvement of the existing system.                                                                              12 points

(d)           The project is intended to increase the existing area to be served and includes

 improvements to the existing system.                                                                            16 points

(e)           The project is intended to increase the existing area to be served and

includes improvements to the existing system and either is a component

of or will create a regional water supply system.                                                           20 points

(f)            The project is intended to provide for construction of a basic system for

an area which is not presently served by an approved public water supply

system and service by an existing system is not feasible.                                            20 points

(2)           Public health and compliance points may be awarded to a project based on the following criteria.  A proposed project shall be necessary to facilitate compliance with the N.C. Drinking Water Act or the federal Safe Drinking Water Act and to alleviate the type of public health concern for which points are awarded.  A project shall receive only points in the highest sub-category for which it may qualify:

(a)           Acute/Imminent Health Hazards.  90 points shall be awarded to projects that propose to eliminate any one or more of the following acute, ongoing health hazards to the consumer:

(i)            Projects that address documented nitrate, nitrite or fecal coliform MCL violations, or contaminant levels in drinking water which constitute acute health risks as defined in 40 C.F.R 141.32(a)(1)(iii) which is incorporated by reference at 15A NCAC 18C .1523; or

(ii)           Projects that eliminate any contaminant in the public water system that poses an acute risk or imminent hazard to public health as determined by the State Health Director or a health risk assessment from the Division of Epidemiology, Department of Health and Human Services in accordance with G.S. 130A-2(3).

(b)           Immediate Health Hazards.  60 points shall be awarded to projects that propose to eliminate any one or more of the following immediate health hazards to the consumer:

(i)            Projects that address surface water treatment technique violations occurring for two or more consecutive months;

(ii)           Projects that resolve any microbiological MCL problems for a water system with three or more microbiological MCL violations during the previous 12 months;

(iii)          Projects that propose filtration for a surface water source or for a well that is determined to be under the direct influence of surface water by the Department that does not currently have filtration;

(iv)          Projects that address the inability of a public water system to inactivate giardia and viruses in accordance with 15A NCAC 18C .2001; or

(v)           Projects that address documented recurrent water outages or low pressure below the requirements of 15A NCAC 18C .0901.  Only problems that affect human consumption of drinking water shall be considered for award of points under this criteria.

(c)           Chronic Health Hazards.  36 points shall be awarded to projects that propose to eliminate any one or more of the following chronic health hazards to the consumer:

(i)            Projects that address exceedances of the lead and copper action levels under 15A NCAC 18C .1507;

(ii)           Projects that address violations of inorganic or organic chemical or contaminant MCLs under 15A NCAC 18C .1510, .1517, and .1518;

(iii)          Projects that address violations of radiological contamination MCLs under 15A NCAC 18C .1520 and .1521; or

(iv)          Projects that address a chronic health hazard as determined by the State Health Director or a health risk assessment from the Division of Epidemiology, Department of Health and Human Services.

(d)           Potential Health Hazards.  24 points shall be awarded to projects that propose to eliminate any one or more of following potential health hazards to the consumer:

(i)            Projects that address low chlorine residuals in the distribution system;

(ii)           Projects that address periodic violations of an MCL;

(iii)          Projects for line installation or extensions to areas with poor water quality or limited quantity;

(iv)          Projects to develop new sources of water, to augment existing sources, or to expand treatment capacity to meet current demand when the average daily demand for the previous 12 months equals or exceeds the available water supply as calculated in local water supply plans prepared in accordance with G.S. 143-355(l) or the maximum day demand for the previous 12 months equals or exceeds the approved water treatment plant design capacity; or

(v)           Projects to provide disinfection for a system that currently does not have disinfection.

(e)           System Improvements.  12 points shall be awarded for projects that shall provide any one or more of the following general system improvements when needed for public health purposes:

(i)            Projects that replace water supply production or treatment equipment that is undersized, malfunctioning or has exceeded its useful life;

(ii)           Projects that replace undersized or leaking water lines;

(iii)          Projects that address other water quality concerns such as iron, manganese, taste, and odor;

(iv)          Projects to bring existing facilities to current design standards which affect water quality such as treatment, chemical storage and application, pumping facilities, finished storage, distribution systems;

(v)           Projects that eliminate dead ends and provide looping in a distribution system.

(vi)          Projects that increase water storage capacity;

(vii)         Projects to develop new sources of water, to augment existing sources, or to expand treatment capacity to meet current demand when the average daily demand for the previous 12 months exceeds 80 percent of the available water supply as calculated in local water supply plans prepared in accordance with G.S. 143-355(l) or the maximum day demand for the previous 12 months exceeds 80 percent of the approved water treatment plant design capacity; or

(viii)        Projects for installation or upgrade of water treatment plant waste disposal facilities.

(3)           Capacity for Future Growth (Select One) - (Maximum Points --20):

(a)           The project is intended to provide for the immediate needs.                                        6 points

(b)           The project is intended to provide for the reasonable growth needs of the

area during the next 5 to 20 year planning period.                                                       10 points

(c)           The project is a proposed regional system or a major component of a

regional system which is intended to provide for the reasonable growth

needs of the area to be served during the next 20 or more years.                              20 points

 

History Note:        Filed as a Temporary Rule Eff. March 8, 1994 for a period of 180 days or until the permanent rule becomes effective, whichever is sooner;

Authority S.L. 1998, c. 132, s. 10;

Eff. July 1, 1994;

Temporary Amendment Eff. March 31, 1999;

Amended Eff. August 1, 2000.