Chapter NR 811

NR 811.78(3) (3) Hoses may not be contaminated by contact with the ground.

NR 811.78 Note Note: It is recommended that a water meter be installed on the piping at all water loading stations to record water usage. It is also recommended that a free air break be installed in place of installing a reduced pressure principle backflow preventer.

NR 811.78 History History: CR 09-073: cr. Register November 2010 No. 659, eff. 12-1-10; correction in (1) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register December 2011 No. 672.

subch. XI of ch. NR 811 Subchapter XI — Water Pressure Booster Stations

NR 811.79 NR 811.79 General. If the storage or primary pumping facilities cannot provide a minimum static pressure of 35 psi throughout the distribution system at street elevation, it shall be necessary to create a boosted pressure zone to serve those portions of the system. The use of pressure boosting systems on individual service lines shall be limited to a maximum of 10 individual systems in any given service area. The minimum static water pressure at street elevation shall be 20 psi in order for individual pressure boosting systems to be installed. Individual pressure boosting systems shall be owned and maintained by the water system owner. Booster station design shall be in accordance with this subchapter.

NR 811.79 History History: CR 09-073: cr. Register November 2010 No. 659, eff. 12-1-10.

NR 811.80 NR 811.80 Location.

NR 811.80(1) (1) Pumps shall take suction from a reservoir, a water main adjacent to a reservoir, or elevated tank, where possible. If necessary, pumps can take suction from a distribution system water main if the installation complies with the requirements of this subchapter.

NR 811.80(2) (2) For pumps not directly supplied by a reservoir or elevated tank, the suction pressure shall be at least 35 psi when the pumps are supplying design flow rates.

NR 811.80(3) (3) Underground installations shall be permitted only if gravity drainage to the ground surface of large volumes of water from the vault can be provided or if the pumps and drivers are protected from damage by water or can be readily replaced. The department may waive the gravity drainage requirement if a minimum of 20 psi can be maintained at street elevation in the boosted zone by the main zone when the station is out of service or if sufficient elevated storage or alternate supply exists within the booster zone. The drain line may not discharge to a storm or sanitary sewer.

NR 811.80(4) (4) In-line submersible pumps may be installed below the ground surface in a watertight installation. Provision shall be made for operational monitoring, pressure monitoring, flow metering, water sampling, and isolation valves. The pumps shall be accessible for servicing and repairs.

NR 811.80(5) (5) Electrical equipment shall be installed above ground except if determined unnecessary by the department to meet the other requirements in this chapter.

NR 811.80(6) (6) Buried stations may not be installed beneath roadways or in a floodplain.

NR 811.80 Note Note: Refer to ch. NR 116 for floodplain definitions.

NR 811.80 History History: CR 09-073: cr. Register November 2010 No. 659, eff. 12-1-10.

NR 811.81 NR 811.81 Pumps and pressures.

NR 811.81(1) (1) The booster pumps shall maintain static pressures in the area served within the range of 35 to 100 psi under normal operating conditions.

NR 811.81(2) (2) The pump capacities for domestic service only shall be as established in Figure No. 1 in the Appendix, or as justified by additional engineering studies. Fire protection shall be provided if feasible and will require additional engineering studies.

NR 811.81(3) (3) Pumping stations which serve more than 50 living units shall be designed such that the peak demand can be met with the largest pump out of service.

NR 811.81(4) (4) For pumps not directly supplied by an adjacent reservoir or elevated tank, the suction pressure shall be at least 35 psi when the pumps are supplying design flow rates. An automatic cutoff control shall be provided that will stop the pumps when the suction pressure falls below 20 psi.

NR 811.81(5) (5) For pumps supplied by an adjacent but not physically connected reservoir or elevated tank, the suction pressure shall be at least 3 psi under all pumping conditions. An automatic cutoff control shall be provided that will stop the pumps when the suction pressure falls below 3 psi.

NR 811.81(6) (6) For those stations servicing a boosted zone without elevated storage, one of the following shall be provided:

NR 811.81(6)(a) (a) A continuously running pump to maintain pressure in the boosted zone. A small feed back line or other means shall be provided to prevent the pump from overheating.

NR 811.81(6)(b) (b) A single speed pump and one or more hydro-pneumatic tanks with a total gross volume at least ten times the rated gallon per minute capacity of the pump.

NR 811.81(6)(c) (c) A pump fitted with a 2 to 3 minute minimum run timer and one or more hydro-pneumatic tanks to prevent frequent pump cycling.

NR 811.81(6)(d) (d) A pump controlled by a variable output control device along with one or more hydro-pneumatic tanks having a total gross volume meeting the requirements of s. NR 811.34 (6).

NR 811.81 History History: CR 09-073: cr. Register November 2010 No. 659, eff. 12-1-10.

NR 811.82 NR 811.82 Storage requirements. Elevated storage is not required for a boosted pressure zone where the primary pressure zone can provide minimum pressures of 35 psi at street elevation in all areas of the boosted zone. Elevated storage facilities shall be provided for a boosted pressure zone serving more than 50 living units in any of the following situations:

NR 811.82(1) (1) If the primary pressure zone cannot maintain pressures of 3 psi or greater at street elevation in all areas served by the booster pumps including situations where emergency power is provided.

NR 811.82(2) (2) If the primary pressure zone provides pressures of 3 to 35 psi at street elevation in all areas served by the booster pumps and an emergency power source is not provided for the booster station.

NR 811.82 History History: CR 09-073: cr. Register November 2010 No. 659, eff. 12-1-10.

NR 811.83 NR 811.83 Emergency power requirements. Boosted pressure zone emergency power installations shall meet the following requirements:

NR 811.83(1) (1) Emergency power shall be provided if 50 or fewer living units are being served and the primary pressure zone cannot maintain positive pressures of 3 psi or greater at street elevation in all areas served by the booster pumps, and sufficient elevated storage is not provided.

NR 811.83(2) (2) Emergency power shall be provided if more than 50 living units are being served and the primary pressure zone cannot maintain pressures of 20 psi or greater at street elevation in all areas served by the booster pumps, and sufficient elevated storage is not provided.

NR 811.83(3) (3) Emergency power shall consist of a dedicated on-site engine-generator set with an automatic transfer switch capable of powering at minimum the domestic service pumps and station building demands.

NR 811.83 History History: CR 09-073: cr. Register November 2010 No. 659, eff. 12-1-10.

NR 811.84 NR 811.84 Station requirements.

NR 811.84(1) (1) The on-off operation of the pumps and the system pressure at the booster station shall be monitored at one of the main waterworks pumping stations, other waterworks facility, or wherever the master control panel is located. At stations serving 50 or fewer living units, monitoring may be provided by a light or an audible alarm placed in a conspicuous location outside the station to indicate pump failure. A continuous recording pressure device may be provided.

NR 811.84(2) (2) Pressure gauges shall be provided on the booster pump suction and discharge lines.

NR 811.84(3) (3) A flow meter shall be provided, if practical, in the booster pump discharge line. Booster pump motors shall be provided with hour meters if a flow meter will not be installed.

NR 811.84(4) (4) A metal smooth-end sampling faucet shall be installed on the combined booster pump discharge piping.

NR 811.84(5) (5) The design shall provide for automatically bypassing the pumping units when the pumps are not operating.

NR 811.84(6) (6) The design shall include piping and shut-off valves for manually bypassing the station when the station is out of service.

NR 811.84(7) (7) If chemical addition is necessary, the station shall be provided with a separate chemical room meeting the requirements of subchs. VI and VII.

NR 811.84(8) (8) General requirements for above grade stations are listed in subch. IV.

NR 811.84(9) (9) Underground stations shall be equipped with heating, ventilation, and dehumidification equipment. Sump and sump pump equipment shall be provided unless a discharge to the ground surface can be provided. Access manways shall terminate a minimum of 24 inches above grade with an overlapping, gasketed, watertight, locking cover. Sump pump discharge and vent pipes shall be metal and terminate a minimum of 24 inches above grade in a downward facing U-bend with a 24-mesh corrosion resistant screen. Chemical addition equipment may not be installed in underground stations.

NR 811.84 History History: CR 09-073: cr. Register November 2010 No. 659, eff. 12-1-10; CR 22-074: am. (9) Register January 2024 No. 817, eff. 2-1-24.

subch. XII of ch. NR 811 Subchapter XII — Waste Disposal

NR 811.85 NR 811.85 General. Provisions shall be made for proper disposal of all wastes from waterworks facilities including wastes from sanitary facilities, laboratories, and treatment plants. All waterworks facilities shall meet the general requirements of this section and the relevant sections of this subchapter, which contain standards to be utilized in meeting the requirements of ch. 283, Stats. The discharge of specific types of wastes shall be limited to those methods listed under this subchapter. If other treatment or disposal methods are proposed or the treatment results are uncertain, the department may require laboratory testing, pilot testing under s. NR 811.44, or full-scale testing to establish design parameters. In addition, water system waste disposal shall meet all of the following requirements:

NR 811.85(1) (1) Discharge requirements. Waterworks wastewater sludge, and solid wastes generated in the drinking water treatment process that is not recycled within the waterworks or disposed of in a licensed landfill shall meet all of the following provisions:

NR 811.85(1)(a) (a) Discharge to a sanitary sewer.

NR 811.85(1)(a)1. 1. The indirect discharge of any pollutant from a waterworks facility into a publicly owned treatment works shall conform to all the applicable requirements under ch. NR 211.

NR 811.85(1)(a)2. 2. An equalization tank or lagoon shall be provided if it is necessary to prevent overloading the sewers, interference, or pass through at the publicly or privately owned treatment works.

NR 811.85(1)(b) (b) Discharge to a water of the state.

NR 811.85(1)(b)1. 1. The discharge of any pollutant from a water treatment plant to a water of the state shall be in accordance with the limitations and terms contained within a WPDES permit issued for the discharge. The discharge of solely sanitary wastes to a POWTS, as allowed under s. NR 811.851, is exempt from this requirement.

NR 811.85 Note Note: The department’s wastewater program in the bureau of water quality is responsible for the issuance of WPDES permits for discharges from waterworks to a water of the state. Waterworks owners should contact the department’s district wastewater staff for WPDES permit application and administration.

NR 811.85(1)(b)2. 2. The radionuclide content of the wastewater, including waste sludge, shall comply with s. NR 811.856. Any proposed land treatment system shall comply with the applicable requirements under ss. NR 204.07 and 214.18.

NR 811.85(1)(b)3. 3. Land application of wastewater and sludge shall comply with the applicable requirements under s. NR 204.07 and ch. NR 214. Under s. NR 214.02 (3) (k), uncontaminated lime sludges applied in accordance with s. NR 518.04 (3) are exempt from this requirement.

NR 811.85 Note Note: Uncontaminated lime sludge excludes any sludge containing radium-226, radium-228, or uranium and other contaminants that are regulated under a WPDES permit under ch. 283, Stats.

NR 811.85(1)(b)4. 4. The discharge of wastewater to a water of the state shall be separated from a well in accordance with the applicable separation distances under s. NR 811.12 (5) (d) 6. and 8. The department may apply additional limitations to the location of a discharge on a case-by-case basis if necessary for adequate protection of a groundwater or surface water source.

NR 811.85(1)(c) (c) Discharge to a holding tank.

NR 811.85(1)(c)1. 1. All wastewater discharged to a holding tank shall be regularly pumped and hauled to a permitted wastewater treatment plant.

NR 811.85(1)(c)2. 2. The indirect discharge of any pollutant from a waterworks facility into a publicly owned treatment works shall conform to all the applicable requirements under ch. NR 211. The discharge shall not interfere with the operation of and effluent quality from a privately owned treatment works.

NR 811.85(2) (2) Plan approval. With the exception of facilities defined solely as plumbing under s. 145.01 (10), Stats., a wastewater conveyance, treatment, storage, equalization, or discharge facility shall be reviewed and approved by the department prior to construction under s. 281.41, Stats. A wastewater conveyance, treatment, storage, or equalization structure shall meet the design requirements under this chapter and ch. NR 213. A land treatment system shall also meet applicable design requirements under ch. NR 214.

NR 811.85 Note Note: The department’s wastewater section in the bureau of water quality is responsible for the review of plans for wastewater facilities. Plans for water treatment plant alterations should be submitted to both the wastewater section and the public water engineering section.

NR 811.85 History History: CR 09-073: cr. Register November 2010 No. 659, eff. 12-1-10; CR 22-074: renum. 811.85 to 811.85 (intro.) and am., cr. (1), (2) Register January 2024 No. 817, eff. 2-1-24.

NR 811.851 NR 811.851 Sanitary wastes. Wastes from toilet facilities shall be discharged to a sanitary sewer system. The floor elevation of a building from which there is a discharge shall be constructed at least one foot above the rim of the nearest sanitary sewer manhole in accordance with s. NR 811.25 (1) (h) to prevent contamination from sewer backup. When a sanitary sewer system is not available, the department may approve the discharge to a holding tank or an individual POWTS if the installation meets ch. SPS 383 requirements and if the POWTS separation distances to a community water system well comply with the requirements under s. NR 811.12 (5) (d). A holding tank or POWTS shall meet the requirements under s. NR 811.25 (1) (h) 2. c.

NR 811.851 History History: CR 09-073: cr. Register November 2010 No. 659, eff. 12-1-10; correction made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register December 2011 No. 672; CR 22-074: am. Register January 2024 No. 817, eff. 2-1-24.

NR 811.852 NR 811.852 Floor drainage. Floor drains in pump stations and treatment plants shall comply with the requirements of s. NR 811.25 (1) (h).

NR 811.852 History History: CR 09-073: cr. Register November 2010 No. 659, eff. 12-1-10.

NR 811.853 NR 811.853 Backwash wastewater from iron and manganese filters. Iron and manganese filter backwash shall be discharged according to one of the following methods:

NR 811.853(1) (1) Discharge to sanitary sewer. Backwash wastewater from iron and manganese removal filters may be discharged to a sanitary sewer subject to the requirements under s. NR 811.85 (1) (a).

NR 811.853(2) (2) Discharge to sand filters. All of the following requirements apply when sand filters are used to treat backwash wastewater from iron and manganese removal filters:

NR 811.853(2)(a) (a) Filters shall be designed for a maximum rate of 35 gallons per square foot per day except if testing indicates that higher rates will not cause excessive plugging of the media and a quality effluent can be maintained. Sufficient surface area shall be provided so that during any filtration cycle the wastewater depth over the media does not exceed 2 feet. The filters shall be sized to handle the entire backwash volume from all of the iron and manganese filters at the treatment plant unless the iron and manganese filters are washed on a rotating schedule.

NR 811.853(2)(b) (b) No filter, regardless of the volume of water to be handled, may be smaller than 100 square feet in area. Multiple units may be necessary to facilitate cleaning.

NR 811.853(2)(c) (c) The filter media shall consist of a minimum of 12 inches of sand, 3 to 4 inches of supporting small gravel or torpedo sand, and 9 inches of gravel in graded layers. All fines shall be removed from the media by washing. The filter sand shall have an effective size of 0.3 to 0.5 mm and a uniformity coefficient not exceeding 3.5.

NR 811.853(2)(d) (d) An adequate underdrainage collection system shall be provided. Provision shall be made to allow for sampling the filter effluent.

NR 811.853(2)(e) (e) A cover shall be provided which prevents freezing during the winter months.

NR 811.853(2)(f) (f) The filter shall be located in an area not subject to flooding, and the site shall be graded to prevent ponding of surface runoff. Finished grade elevation shall be designed to facilitate maintenance, cleaning, and removal or replacement of surface sand. An overflow may not be provided.

NR 811.853(2)(g) (g) The filtrate shall be discharged to a sanitary sewer, water of the state, or holding tank and shall meet the provisions under s. NR 811.85 (1).

NR 811.853(3) (3) Discharge to lagoons. Lagoons used to settle backwash wastewater from iron and manganese removal filters shall meet all of the following design requirements:

NR 811.853(3)(a) (a) Lagoons shall be designed with a volume which is 10 times the total quantity of wastewater discharged during any 24-hour period.

NR 811.853(3)(b) (b) Lagoon length shall be 4 times the width, and the width shall be at least 3 times the depth. The minimum useable depth shall be 3 feet.

NR 811.853(3)(c) (c) Adequate inlet and outlet devices shall be provided so that velocity currents are minimized.

NR 811.853(3)(d) (d) Lagoons shall be designed to comply with ch. NR 213.

NR 811.853(3)(e) (e) The lagoon effluent shall be discharged to a sanitary sewer, water of the state, or holding tank and shall meet the provisions under s. NR 811.85 (1) or shall be returned to the water treatment plant in accordance with the requirements under s. NR 811.862.

NR 811.853(4) (4) Discharge to detention tanks. Detention tanks used to settle backwash wastewater from iron and manganese removal filters shall meet all of the following design requirements:

NR 811.853(4)(a) (a) Detention tanks shall be designed to maximize settling by means of inlet piping and baffling configurations. Tanks shall be of sufficient capacity to hold at least 2 complete backwash cycles. The floor shall be sloped to a sump and access manholes provided to facilitate cleaning. A cover shall be provided to prevent freezing.

NR 811.853(4)(b) (b) A convenient means of sampling the effluent shall be provided.