Chapter NR 108

NR 108.04(2)(c)1. 1. This requirement may be waived at the discretion of the department for certain industrial wastewater and industrial pretreatment facilities not affecting public health and for groundwater monitoring systems. Factors which shall be considered by the department when granting a waiver include nature and size of the facilities, evidence of the individual’s qualifications to design such specialized facilities as may be proposed, and the absence of public health and safety concerns.

NR 108.04(2)(c)2. 2. This requirement is waived for community water systems which are not municipal water systems, as defined in s. NR 108.02 (9), and which are not systems serving subdivisions, as defined in s. 236.02 (8), Stats. For community water systems covered by this waiver, plans and specifications for proposed wells may be submitted by a well driller registered in Wisconsin, and for proposed pump installations, including the pump, piping and other appurtenances up to and including the pressure tank, by a pump installer registered in Wisconsin.

NR 108.04(2)(d) (d) If construction is not commenced within 4 years from the date of approval for water main and sanitary sewer extensions or within 2 years from the date of approval for other systems, the approval is void. If approval lapses by passage of time, a new department approval of plans submitted in accordance with the requirements of s. NR 108.04 (2) must be received before construction can commence.

NR 108.04(2)(e) (e) If modifications in the approved plans or specifications are necessary, revised plans or specifications shall be submitted to the department for its approval prior to commencement of construction of the project modifications. Revised plans or specifications need not be submitted in the event the modifications in the approved plans or specifications will not affect the public health, the capacity, flow or operation of the proposed facilities or devices to determine permit compliance.

NR 108.04(2)(f) (f) Plans shall be made on a high grade paper that will not crack when folded nor tear with reasonable usage. The maximum plan size should be 24″ x 36″; and sheets in the same set of plans shall be numbered. The scale in feet to which the plans are drawn, the north point, the date and the name of the designer and owner shall, in all cases, be indicated. Drawings obtained from the manufacturer or supplier containing proprietary names or symbols will not be accepted for approval. All plans shall be drawn to a suitable scale not smaller than one inch equaling 40 feet for detailed plans and, whenever practicable, not smaller than one inch equaling 100 feet for general plans. Reductions of full-scale plans with an appropriate scale for the reduced plans not smaller than one inch equaling 100 feet may be accepted by the department provided that the plans are clear and legible. Plans for modifications of or extensions to existing waterworks, sewerage systems, industrial wastewater facilities or industrial pretreatment facilities shall clearly indicate the connections or relations thereto, and, if not already on file with the department, shall include plans of the existing system or facility.

NR 108.04(3) (3) Plans and specifications review.

NR 108.04(3)(a) (a) The department shall examine and approve, conditionally approve, or reject the plans and specifications. The conditions of approval or reason for rejection shall be stated in writing.

NR 108.04(3)(b) (b) Approval of plans and specifications is not to be construed as a department determination on the issuance of a Wisconsin pollutant discharge elimination system permit, an opinion as to the ability of the proposed system to comply with effluent limitations in such permit, an approval of the environmental analysis that may be prepared for this project or an approval for any activities requiring a permit under ch. 30, 31, or 281, Stats. Approval of plans and specifications is also not to be construed as department certification of the ability of a proposed industrial pretreatment facility to comply with applicable pretreatment standards.

NR 108.04(4) (4) Review delegation.

NR 108.04(4)(a) (a) The department may delegate plans and specification review and/or approval authority for industrial pretreatment facilities to the governing body which controls the sewerage system to which the discharge is or will be directed. This delegation may be authorized upon written request and demonstration by the governing body of its capability to perform an adequate technical review.

NR 108.04(4)(b) (b) Review delegation shall be rescinded immediately, without a hearing, under any of the following circumstances:

NR 108.04(4)(b)1. 1. The body receiving delegation requests that delegation be rescinded;

NR 108.04(4)(b)2. 2. The department determines through an audit procedure that adequate and timely reviews and/or approvals have not been performed.

NR 108.04(4)(c) (c) If the department has delegated approval authority, copy of plans and specifications, the review notes and correspondence, and a copy of the letter which approves, conditionally approves or rejects the plans and specifications shall be submitted to the department by the body receiving delegation at the time that final action occurs.

NR 108.04(4)(d) (d) If the department has delegated review authority, a copy of plans and specifications, the review notes and appropriate correspondence shall be submitted to the department by the body receiving delegation following the review activity.

NR 108.04(5) (5) Post start of construction submittals. The department may not approve plans and specifications for any project for which construction has commenced. The department may review the plans and specifications and require changes to components which may adversely affect public health, the operation of the proposed or existing facility and the determination of permit compliance. This review does not prohibit the department from taking enforcement action under s. NR 108.03.

NR 108.04 History History: Cr. Register, November, 1974, No. 227, eff. 12-1-74; am. (2) (c), Register, April, 1982, No. 316, eff. 5-1-82; r. and recr. (1), am. (2), cr. (3) to (5), Register, January, 1987, No. 373, eff. 2-1-87; am. (1), (2) (b) and (f), Register, December, 2000, No. 540, eff. 1-1-01; corrections in (2) (a) and (3) (b) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, December, 2000, No. 540; CR 09-123: am. (2) (b) and (5) Register July 2010 No. 655, eff. 8-1-10; CR 13-022: am. (3) (b) Register March 2014 No. 699, eff. 4-1-14.

NR 108.05 NR 108.05 Design requirements.

NR 108.05(1) (1) Final plans and specifications shall incorporate accepted engineering practices. If new or innovative equipment or methods are proposed in the plans, sufficient data, based upon practical application, experimental or otherwise, shall be submitted to show that satisfactory results can be secured.

NR 108.05(2) (2) Waterworks, exclusive of the distribution system, shall be designed to provide for the estimated requirements based on a projected 20-year growth. Water distribution systems shall be designed for the estimated ultimate tributary population. These requirements may be modified by the department where it can be shown that a shorter design period is more cost-effective, more environmentally sound or that additional distribution system capacity will be provided in a future phase of construction.

NR 108.05(3) (3) Sewage treatment facilities shall be designed to provide capacity for estimated future flows in accordance with s. NR 110.09 (2) (j). Interceptors shall be designed to provide capacity for estimated future flows in accordance with s. NR 110.10 (2). Collector sewers shall be designed for the estimated ultimate flow.

NR 108.05 History History: Cr. Register, November, 1974, No. 227, eff. 12-1-74; r. and recr. (2) and cr. (3), Register, December, 1978, No. 276, eff. 1-1-79.

NR 108.06 NR 108.06 Plant operation.

NR 108.06(1) (1) General. Every owner of a waterworks, sewage treatment facility, or industrial wastewater facility shall operate these facilities as efficiently as possible. If operating difficulties or mechanical breakdown of plant units resulting in impairment of treatment effectiveness should occur, the owner shall immediately notify the appropriate district office of the department.

NR 108.06 Note Note: Where a facility is so operated or constructed that satisfactory results cannot be obtained, the department may require operational changes or modifications to the facility.

NR 108.06(2) (2) Supervision. Every municipal water system, sewage treatment plant and industrial wastewater facility shall employ a certified operator as provided in s. 281.17 (3), Stats. The owner of any such facility shall notify the department within 15 days of any change in the certified operator or operators employed to operate such facilities.

NR 108.06(3) (3) Chemicals. When chemicals are used in connection with any purification or treatment process, a 30-day supply of such chemicals shall be kept on hand at all times to insure against ineffective operation resulting from shortages and delays in securing these materials. Approval of the department shall be obtained prior to utilizing any chemicals and paints or coatings that will be in contact with or added to a potable water supply.

NR 108.06 Note Note: The requirement that a 30-day supply of chemicals be kept on hand at all times may be waived by the department if compliance with it is impractical or unnecessary.

NR 108.06(4) (4) Reports and records.

NR 108.06(4)(a) (a) Reports of operation of all municipal water systems, sewage treatment plants and industrial wastewater facilities and analyses of samples collected in conjunction thereto shall be submitted to the department on approved forms. Reports regarding the operation of waterworks during the preceding month shall be submitted to the department not later than the 10th day of each month. Reports regarding the operation of sewage treatment plants and industrial wastewater facilities shall be submitted to the department at the frequency specified in the permit for the facility.

NR 108.06 Note Note: See s. NR 809.80 and ch. 811 for other community water system reporting requirements.

NR 108.06(4)(b) (b) All owners or operators of sewage treatment plants and industrial wastewater facilities discharging wastewater into the waters of the state shall provide adequate flow measurement and recording equipment to measure the volume of effluent discharged from their facility. Recorded flow data shall be submitted to the department at the frequency specified in the permit for the facility.

NR 108.06(4)(c) (c) All other waste facilities discharging to the waters of the state shall report under ch. NR 101 and ch. 283, Stats.

NR 108.06 History History: Cr. Register, November, 1974, No. 227, eff. 12-1-74; am. (1), (2) and (4) (a), Register, March, 1978, No. 267, eff. 4-1-78; am. (4), Register, January, 1987, No. 373, eff. 2-1-87; corrections in (2) and (4) (c) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, December, 2000, No. 540.