Chapter NR 811

NR 811.45(2)(k)4. 4. Contain an air inlet that is provided with a dust filter.

NR 811.45(2)(L) (L) Exhaust air is discharged directly to the outside atmosphere and in a location that will be protective of public health.

NR 811.45(3) (3) Pressure aeration. Pressure aeration installations shall meet the following requirements:

NR 811.45(3)(a) (a) Pressure aeration may be used for oxidation purposes. Pressure aeration will not be approved for removal of dissolved gases.

NR 811.45(3)(b) (b) Filters following pressure aeration shall be provided with adequate exhaust devices for release of air.

NR 811.45(3)(c) (c) Pressure aeration devices shall be designed to cause a thorough mixing of compressed air with the water being treated.

NR 811.45(3)(d) (d) Pressure aeration devices shall provide screened and filtered air that is free of obnoxious fumes, dust, dirt, and other contaminants.

NR 811.45(3)(e) (e) Air compressors supplying pressure aerators shall be oil-less.

NR 811.45(3m) (3m) Packed tower aeration. Packed tower aeration systems shall meet all of the following requirements:

NR 811.45(3m)(a) (a) Materials of construction shall meet all of the following requirements:

NR 811.45(3m)(a)1. 1. The packing material shall be certified by ANSI/NSF standard 61 dated March 15, 2022, which is incorporated by reference.

NR 811.45 Note Note: A copy of ANSI/NSF standard 61 dated March 15, 2022 is available for inspection at the Legislative Reference Bureau and may be obtained for personal use from NSF International, https://www.nsf.org.

NR 811.45(3m)(a)2. 2. The tower shall be constructed of stainless steel, concrete, or aluminum.

NR 811.45(3m)(b) (b) Process design shall meet all of the following requirements:

NR 811.45(3m)(b)1. 1. Water loading rates shall be in the range from 15 to 30 gallons per minute per square foot. Water loading rates outside of this range may be used if justified to the department by pilot testing under s. NR 811.44.

NR 811.45(3m)(b)2. 2. The ratio of the packing height to column diameter shall be at least 7:1 for the pilot unit and at least 10:1 for the full-scale tower. The type and size of the packing used in the full-scale unit shall be the same as that used in the pilot study.

NR 811.45(3m)(b)3. 3. The minimum volumetric air to water ratio at peak water flow shall be 25:1 and the maximum shall be 80:1. Air to water ratios outside of these ranges may be justified to the department by pilot testing under s. NR 811.44.

NR 811.45(3m)(c) (c) The water flow system shall meet all of the following requirements:

NR 811.45(3m)(c)1. 1. Water shall be distributed uniformly at the top of the tower using spray nozzles or orifice-type distributer trays that prevent short circuiting.

NR 811.45(3m)(c)2. 2. A mist eliminator shall be provided above the water distributor system.

NR 811.45(3m)(c)3. 3. A side wiper redistribution ring shall be provided at least every 10 feet in order to prevent water channeling along the tower wall and short circuiting.

NR 811.45(3m)(c)4. 4. Smooth-end sample faucets shall be provided on the influent and effluent piping.

NR 811.45(3m)(c)5. 5. The effluent sump shall have easy access for inspection and cleaning.

NR 811.45(3m)(c)6. 6. A pump to waste line shall be provided in the effluent piping to allow for discharge of water and chemicals used to clean the tower.

NR 811.45(3m)(c)7. 7. The design shall prevent freezing of the influent riser and effluent piping when the unit is not operating. If piping is buried, it shall be maintained under positive pressure higher than the ground surface.

NR 811.45(3m)(c)8. 8. The water flow to each tower shall be metered.

NR 811.45(3m)(c)9. 9. Include an overflow line that discharges 12 to 24 inches above a splash pad or drainage inlet. Proper drainage shall be provided to prevent flooding of the area.

NR 811.45(3m)(c)10. 10. Butterfly valves may be used in the water effluent line for better flow control and to minimize air entrainment.

NR 811.45(3m)(c)11. 11. Include means to prevent flooding of the air blower.

NR 811.45(3m)(c)12. 12. The water influent pipe shall be supported separately from the tower’s main structural support.

NR 811.45(3m)(d) (d) The air flow system shall meet all of the following requirements:

NR 811.45(3m)(d)1. 1. The air intake and outlet vent shall be protected with a 24-mesh corrosion resistant screen and cover and be accessible for maintenance and inspection.

NR 811.45(3m)(d)2. 2. The air inlet shall be in a location protected from airborne contaminants.

NR 811.45(3m)(d)3. 3. An air flow meter or an alternative method to determine air flow shall be provided on the influent air line.

NR 811.45(3m)(d)4. 4. A positive air flow sensing device and a pressure gauge shall be installed on the air influent line. The positive air flow sensing device shall be a part of an automatic control system that will turn off the influent water if positive air flow is not detected. The pressure gauge shall serve as an indicator of the fouling buildup. The backup motor for the air blower shall be readily available.

NR 811.45(3m)(e) (e) Other design features shall meet all of the following requirements:

NR 811.45(3m)(e)1. 1. Include a sufficient number of access ports with a minimum diameter of 24 inches to facilitate inspection, media replacement, media cleaning, and maintenance of the interior.

NR 811.45(3m)(e)2. 2. Include a method of cleaning the packing material when fouling may occur.

NR 811.45(3m)(e)3. 3. Tower effluent collection and pumping wells shall be constructed to potable reservoir construction standards as required under subch. IX.

NR 811.45(3m)(e)4. 4. Include provisions for extending the tower height without major reconstruction.

NR 811.45(3m)(e)5. 5. Include disinfection application points both ahead of and after the tower to control biological growth.

NR 811.45(3m)(e)6. 6. Include disinfection and adequate contact time after the water has passed through the tower, prior to the distribution system.

NR 811.45(3m)(e)7. 7. Include adequate packing support to allow free flow of water and prevent deformation with deep packing heights.

NR 811.45(3m)(e)8. 8. Include adequate foundation to support the tower and lateral support to prevent overturning to wind loading.

NR 811.45(3m)(e)9. 9. Include protections to prevent vandalism to the tower.

NR 811.45(3m)(e)10. 10. Provide access of all components of the tower, including the exhaust port and demister.

NR 811.45(3m)(e)11. 11. The operation of the blower and chemical feed pump shall be interlocked with the operation of the appropriate well or service pump.

NR 811.45(4) (4) Other methods of aeration. Other methods of aeration may be approved by the department only if a pilot plant study conducted in accordance with s. NR 811.44 demonstrates the method’s effectiveness. Methods include spraying, diffused air, and mechanical aeration. The treatment processes shall be designed to meet the particular needs of the water to be treated.

NR 811.45(5) (5) Disinfection. Aerated water other than from pressure aeration shall receive continuous disinfection treatment. A corporation stop shall be provided on the inlet piping to all non-pressure aerators to allow disinfection for emergency or maintenance purposes.

NR 811.45(6) (6) Protection from wind. Aerators that discharge through the atmosphere shall be protected by being placed in a louvered enclosure designed to provide easy access to the interior.

NR 811.45(7) (7) Protection from contamination. Aerators that are used for oxidation or removal of dissolved gases from waters that will be given no further treatment other than chlorination shall be protected from contamination from insects and birds, obnoxious fumes, all types of precipitation and condensation, and windborne debris or dust.

NR 811.45(8) (8) Bypass piping. Bypass piping and any associated valves or other appurtenances shall be installed to allow water to be bypassed around a non-pressure aerator unless the aerator is necessary to comply with primary maximum contaminant levels or the requirement is waived by the department because the water system has access to other water sources that can provide at least an average day supply of water.

NR 811.45(9) (9) Redundancy. Redundant aeration systems shall be provided for units installed to comply with primary maximum contaminant levels unless the requirement is waived by the department because the water system has access to other water sources that can provide at least an average day supply of water.

NR 811.45(10) (10) Water quality. A metal smooth-end sampling faucet installed on the aerator outlet piping and test equipment shall be provided to test for appropriate water quality parameters following aeration such as dissolved oxygen, pH, iron, manganese, radon gas, and carbon dioxide when required by the department to insure proper operation of the aeration equipment.

NR 811.45 History History: CR 09-073: cr. Register November 2010 No. 659, eff. 12-1-10; CR 22-074: am. (1) (e), r. and recr. (2) (k), cr. (3m) Register January 2024 No. 817, eff. 2-1-24.

NR 811.46 NR 811.46 Arsenic removal. The following minimum requirements shall be met when the following treatment methods are employed for arsenic removal:

NR 811.46(1) (1) Pilot testing. All process designs shall be based on information from a pilot study unless waived by the department based upon previous demonstration that the process design will effectively remove arsenic based upon the water quality to be treated. Documentation shall be submitted to the department to support any pilot test waiver.

NR 811.46(2) (2) Oxidation and filtration. Arsenic III shall be oxidized by chemical or physical processes or both to arsenic V and then filtered out.

NR 811.46(2)(a) (a) Adequate detention time shall be provided if necessary to complete the conversion to arsenic V before filtration.

NR 811.46(2)(b) (b) Ferric chloride or ferric sulfate shall be added to the water supply for water with less than a 20 to 1 ratio of iron to arsenic if necessary in order to provide adequate arsenic removal efficiency.

NR 811.46(3) (3) Adsorptive media. Metal oxide coated adsorptive media may be used as the sole means of removing arsenic or in cooperation with or as a polishing unit after oxidation and filtration of arsenic.

NR 811.46(3)(a) (a) The adsorptive media shall be NSF/ANSI Standard 61 approved in accordance with s. NR 810.09 (5).

NR 811.46(3)(b) (b) The pilot study and final design shall address the following issues:

NR 811.46(3)(b)1. 1. Pre- and post-filtration adjustment of pH to enhance the arsenic removal rate and reduce water corrosivity.

NR 811.46(3)(b)2. 2. Conversion of the arsenic III to arsenic V prior to filtration.

NR 811.46(3)(b)3. 3. Oxidation and filtration of iron and manganese to prevent fouling of the media.

NR 811.46(3)(b)4. 4. Concentrations of sulfate and dissolved solids in the source water and the need to remove or reduce the concentrations in order to maintain treatment efficiency and minimize media fouling.

NR 811.46(4) (4) Other acceptable treatment methods. Coagulation and filtration, anion exchange, electrodialysis, membrane filtration, and lime softening are treatment methods that may also be used to remove arsenic. The pilot study and final design shall address the following issues, if applicable:

NR 811.46(4)(a) (a) Pre- and post-treatment adjustment of pH to enhance the arsenic removal rate, prevent scaling, or fouling of the treatment equipment, and reduce water corrosivity.

NR 811.46(4)(b) (b) Conversion of the arsenic III to arsenic V prior to removal.

NR 811.46(4)(c) (c) Oxidation and filtration of iron and manganese to prevent fouling of the treatment equipment.

NR 811.46(4)(d) (d) The use of ferric chloride, ferric sulfate, alum, or a polymer as coagulant aids.

NR 811.46(4)(e) (e) Concentrations of sulfate and dissolved solids in the source water and the need to remove or reduce the concentrations in order to maintain treatment efficiency and minimize treatment equipment fouling.

NR 811.46 History History: CR 09-073: cr. Register November 2010 No. 659, eff. 12-1-10.

NR 811.47 NR 811.47 Clarification. Clarification plants prior to filtration shall meet all of the following requirements unless other design criteria are justified through pilot testing under s. NR 811.44 or other specific information provided to the department supports the proposed design, as determined by the department:

NR 811.47(1) (1) Provide a minimum of 2 units each for rapid mix, flocculation and sedimentation.

NR 811.47(2) (2) Permit operation of the units either in series or parallel.

NR 811.47(3) (3) Be constructed to permit units to be taken out of service without disrupting operation with drains or pumps sized to allow dewatering in a reasonable period of time.

NR 811.47(4) (4) Provide multiple-stage treatment facilities if required by the department.

NR 811.47(5) (5) Be started manually following shutdown.

NR 811.47(6) (6) Minimize hydraulic head losses between units to allow future changes in processes without the need for repumping.

NR 811.47(7) (7) Meet the following specific requirements:

NR 811.47(7)(a) (a) Presedimentation. Waters containing high turbidity or having unusual treatment requirements may require pretreatment, usually sedimentation or detention either with or without the addition of coagulation chemicals.

NR 811.47(7)(a)1. 1. ‘Basin design.’ Presedimentation basins shall have the following:

NR 811.47(7)(a)1.a. a. Hopper bottoms or be equipped with continuous mechanical sludge removal apparatus, and provide arrangements for dewatering.

NR 811.47(7)(a)1.b. b. Cover or superstructure.

NR 811.47(7)(a)2. 2. ‘Inlet.’ Incoming water shall be dispersed across the full width of the line of travel as quickly as possible. Short circuiting shall be prevented.

NR 811.47(7)(a)3. 3. ‘Bypass.’ Provisions for bypassing presedimentation basins shall be included.

NR 811.47(7)(a)4. 4. ‘Detention time.’ Three hours detention is the minimum period required for presedimentation. Greater detention may be required in individual cases of chemical pretreatment.