Drinking Water Rules and Regulations

Subscribe to our rules update electronic mailing list:  Subscribe

Drinking Water Program

Rules of the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) administered by the Division of Drinking and Ground Waters, which constitute the primary drinking water rules for Ohio public water systems, are located on this page. They include rules in the following chapters of OAC:

3745-7 Operator Certification for Public Water Systems and Wastewater Treatment Works 3745-9 Water Well Standards 3745-34 Underground Injection Control 3745-81 Primary Drinking Water Rules 3745-82 Secondary Contaminant Standards 3745-83 Operational Requirements 3745-84 Licenses to Operate 3745-85 Contingency Plans 3745-86 Emergency Loans 3745-87 Capability Assurance Plans 3745-88 Disadvantaged Community Loans 3745-89 Laboratory Certification 3745-91 Plans Approval 3745-92 Escrow Requirements 3745-95 Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control 3745-96 Consumer Confidence Reports

Electronic versions of currently effective rules in these chapters may be viewed by scrolling down this page to the section labeled Effective Rules or by clicking on the link above. These rules in paper format are published in copies of the OAC, which are available at many Ohio libraries or can be purchased from:

Ohio EPA
Legal Records Section
P.O. Box 1049
Columbus, OH 43216-1049

Proposing new rules and amendments to existing rules is a regular activity conducted by the Ohio EPA in response to laws passed by the General Assembly and federal rule requirements. The Agency is also required by state law to review its rules at least once every five years to ensure their continued need and relevance.

During the Ohio rule-making process, rules are in one of four phases: draft, proposed, final but not yet effective and effective. Electronic versions of rules in each of these various phases may be viewed by scrolling down this page or by clicking on the appropriate links above.

Ohio EPA distributes draft rules to interested parties for review and comment before they are filed with the Ohio General Assembly's Joint Committee on Agency Rule (JCARR). Ohio EPA considers comments received from this preliminary review and makes changes to the rules as appropriate. Ohio EPA then files proposed rules with JCARR and other agencies as required by Ohio Revised Code 119.03. Another opportunity for public comment is offered. After Ohio EPA considers public comments and makes additional changes to the rules as appropriate, and after the review by JCARR is completed, the agency adopts final rules. Final rules are the enforceable requirements found in OAC.

We have tried to make this printing agree with the official versions of these Chapters of the OAC. However, this printing is still likely to include some mis-prints. If you notice any parts of our rules which appear to be in error, please call these possible errors to our attention, preferably by sending a note to:

Ohio EPA DDAGW
Enforcement & Water Quality Section
P.O. Box 1049
Columbus, OH 43216-1049

Many of the following documents are Adobe PDF documents. If you do not have the free Adobe PDF viewer, please visit the Adobe web site.

Draft Rules

License to Operate

Public Notice: DDAGW seeks comments on draft amendments to the license to operate rules.

• 3745-84-01 (Rescind) Public water system licenses.
• 3745-84-01 (New) Definitions.
• 3745-84-02 (New) Application for a license to operate or maintain a public water system.
• 3745-84-03 (New) Expiration and renewal of license to operate or maintain a public water system.
• 3745-84-04 (New) Format and display of license to operate or maintain a public water system.
• 3745-84-05 (New) Fees for operating or maintaining a public water system.
• 3745-84-06 (New) Conditioning, denial, suspension or revocation of a license to operate or maintain a public water system.

Well Standards Rules

Public Notice: DDAGW seeks comment on draft amendments to the well standards rules

Well Standards Fact Sheet

• 3745-9-01 Definitions
• 3745-9-02 Scope and exemptions
• 3745-9-04 Well siting
• 3745-9-09 Well development and pump test
• 3745-9-09-Appendix A

Plans Approval

• 3745-91-10 Drinking water source protection plan
   

Underground Injection Control Rules

Public Notice: DDAGW seeks comments on draft amendments to the underground injection control rules.

• 3745-34-01 (Amendment): Definitions
• 3745-34-04 (Amendment): Classification of wells
• 3745-34-07 (Amendment): Prohibition of movement of fluid into underground injection
• 3745-34-08 (Amendment): Prohibition of class IV wells
• 3745-34-09 (Amendment): Requirements for wells injecting hazardous wastes
• 3745-34-11 (New Rule): Class V wells
• 3745-34-12 (New Rule): Application by permit; authorization by permit
• 3745-34-13 (Recission): Class V wells
• 3745-34-13 (New Rule): Class I permit application
• 3745-34-14 (New Rule): Class I permit to drill applications
• 3745-34-15 (New Rule): Class I permit to operate applications
• 3745-34-16 (Recission): Application for a permit; authorization by permit
• 3745-34-16 (New Rule): Class V permit requirements
• 3745-34-17 (Amendment): Signatories to permit applications and reports
• 3745-34-32 (Amendment): Area of review
• 3745-34-35 (Amendment): Criteria for establishing permitting priorities
• 3745-34-39 (Amendment): Information to be considered by the director in authorizing class I wells
• 3745-34-40 (Amendment): Seismic Reflection Survey Requirements for class I wells
• 3745-34-54 (Amendment): Construction requirements
• 3745-34-59 (Amendment): Information to be evaluated by the director
• 3745-34-63 (New Rule): Class I annual permit fee; fee per ton of waste injected

Proposed Rules

Analytical Techniques Rules

Public Notice: DDAGW seeks comments on proposed amendments to the analytical techniques rules

• 3745-81-27 Analytical techniques
• 3745-89-01 Definitions

Response to comment on draft analytical techniques rules
 

Final But Not Yet Effective Rules

Backflow Prevention and Cross-connection Control Proposed Rule

Public Notice: DDAGW final filed with JCARR on July 29, 2008. The effective date will be August 8, 2008.

• 3745-95-07 Booster pumps

Effective Rules

Operator Certification for Public Water Systems and Wastewater Treatment Works

Note: Rule number followed by effective date.

• 3745-07-01 (21 December 2006) Definitions.
• 3745-07-02 (21 December 2006) Certified operators required.
• 3745-07-03 (21 December 2006) Public water system classification and staffing requirements
• 3745-07-04 (21 December 2006) Treatment works and sewerage system classification and staffing requirements
• 3745-07-05 (21 December 2006) Classification of operator certification.
• 3745-07-06 (21 December 2006) Certification of operators.
• 3745-07-07 (21 December 2006) Operator in training.
• 3745-07-08 (21 December 2006) Limited certificate.
• 3745-07-09 (21 December 2006) Record Keeping Requirements and Responsibilities of a Certified Operator
• 3745-07-10 (21 December 2006)  Operator Certification Advisory Council
• 3745-07-11 (21 December 2006)  Duties of the Council
• 3745-07-12 (21 December 2006)  Suspension or revocation of certification
• 3745-07-13 (21 December 2006)  Reciprocity
• 3745-07-15 (21 December 2006) Expiration and renewal of  operator certification.
• 3745-07-17 (21 December 2006)  Operator certification fees.
• 3745-07-18 (21 December 2006) Conduct during the examination process

Water Well Standards

• 3745-9-01 effective 5-1-03    Definitions.
• 3745-9-02 effective 5-1-03    Scope and Exemptions.
• 3745-9-03 effective 5-1-03    Monitoring Well.
• 3745-9-04 effective 5-1-03    Well Siting.
• 3745-9-05 effective 5-1-03    Well Construction.
• 3745-9-06 effective 5-1-03    Well Construction, Specific Geologic Conditions.
• 3745-9-07 effective 5-1-03    Well Grouting for Construction or Closure.
• 3745-9-08 effective 5-1-03    Well Disinfection.
• 3745-9-09 effective 5-1-03    Well Development and Pump Test.
• 3745-9-10 effective 5-1-03    Abandoned Well Sealing.

Underground Injection Control

• 3745-34-01 - Definitions
• 3745-34-02 - Considerations under federal law
• 3745-34-03 - Confidentiality of information
• 3745-34-04 - Classification of wells
• 3745-34-05 - Identification of underground sources of drinking water
• 3745-34-06 - Prohibition of unauthorized injection
• 3745-34-07 - Prohibition of movement of fluid into underground injection
• 3745-34-08 - Elimination of class IV wells
• 3745-34-09 - Requirements for wells injecting hazardous waste
• 3745-34-10 - Waiver of requirement by director
• 3745-34-13 - Class V wells
• 3745-34-16 - (17 October 2003) Application for a permit; authorization by permit
• 3745-34-17 - (25 July 1984) Signatories to permit applications and reports
• 3745-34-18 - (20 January 1995) Class V Injection Well Area Permits
• 3745-34-19 - (25 July 1984) Emergency permits
• 3745-34-20 - Effect of a permit
• 3745-34-21 - Duration of permits
• 3745-34-22 - Transfer of permits
• 3745-34-23 - (24 January 2000) Modification or revocation and re-issuance of permits
• 3745-34-24 - Termination of permits
• 3745-34-25 - Minor modifications of permits
• 3745-34-26 - (20 January 1995) Conditions applicable to all permits
• 3745-34-27 - Establishing drilling permit and injection permit conditions
• 3745-34-28 - Schedule of compliance
• 3745-34-29 - Requirements for recording and reporting of monitoring results
• 3745-34-30 - Plan of corrective action
• 3745-34-32 - Area of review
• 3745-34-33 - Corrective action
• 3745-34-34 - (24 January 2000) Mechanical integrity
• 3745-34-35 - Criteria for establishing permitting priorities
• 3745-34-36 - Plugging and abandoning class I wells
• 3745-34-37 - Construction requirements for class I wells
• 3745-34-38 - Operating, monitoring, and reporting requirements for class I wells
• 3745-34-39 - Information to be considered by the director in authorizing class I wells
• 3745-34-40 - Seismic Reflection Survey Requirements for Class I wells
• 3745-34-50 - Criteria and standards for class I injection wells
• 3745-34-51 - (24 January 2000) Minimum criteria for siting class I hazardous waste injection wells
• 3745-34-52 - Area of review
• 3745-34-53 - Corrective action for wells in the area of review
• 3745-34-54 - Construction requirements
• 3745-34-55 - Logging, sampling, and testing prior to new well operation
• 3745-34-56 - Operating requirements
• 3745-34-57 - Testing and monitoring requirements
• 3745-34-58 - Reporting requirements
• 3745-34-59 - Information to be evaluated by the director
• 3745-34-60 - Closure
• 3745-34-61 - Post closure
• 3745-34-62 - Financial responsibility for closure and post closure care

Primary Drinking Water Rules

• 3745-81-01 (01 August 2005) Definitions.
• 3745-81-02 (27 December 1978) Coverage.
• 3745-81-03 (27 December 1978) Siting Requirements.
• 3745-81-04 (17 October 2003) Administrative penalties
• 3745-81-10 (01 January 2002) Maximum residual  disinfectant levels.
• 3745-81-11 (01 August 2005) Maximum contaminant levels and best available technologies for inorganic contaminants.
• 3745-81-12 (01 January 2002) Maximum contaminant levels and best available technologies for organic contaminants.

• 3745-81-14 (01 January 2008) Maximum Contaminant Levels for Microbiological Contaminants

• 3745-81-15 (15 September 2004) Maximum contaminant levels for radium-226, radium-228, and gross alpha particle radioactivity in community water systems.
• 3745-81-17 (13 September 1993) Treatment techniques.
• 3745-81-19 (01 August 2005) Use of non-centralized treatment devices.

• 3745-81-21 (01 January 2008) Coliform Monitoring Requirements

• 3745-81-23 (01 August 2005) Inorganic chemical monitoring requirements.
• 3745-81-24 (01 August 2005) Organic chemical monitoring requirements.
• 3745-81-26 (15 April 2005) Monitoring frequency for radioactivity in community water systems.
• 3745-81-27 (28 June 2003) Analytical techniques.
• 3745-81-28 (01 November 2004) Acceptability of analytical results. [Adobe PDF]
• 3745-81-29 (27 December 1978) Monitoring of consecutive public water systems.
• 3745-81-31 (01 April 1999) Reporting requirements for public water systems

• 3745-81-32 (01 January 2008) Public Notification

• 3745-81-33 (01 November 2004) Record maintenance
• 3745-81-60 (03 August 2004) Sanitary Surveys.
• 3745-81-70 (01 January 2004) Monitoring requirements for disinfection residuals
• 3745-81-71 (01 January 2005) General requirements for filtration and disinfection of surface water sources.
• 3745-81-72 (01 January 2005) Disinfection of water from surface water sources.
• 3745-81-73 (01 January 2005) Filtration of water from surface water sources.
• 3745-81-74 (01 January 2005) Turbidity and disinfection monitoring requirements for surface water systems.
• 3745-81-75 (01 January 2005) Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
• 3745-81-76 (01 January 2002) Water source designation.
• 3745-81-77 (01 January 2004) Treatment techniques for control of disinfection byproduct (DBP) precursors
• 3745-81-78 (01 January 2004) Optimization of distribution systems for control of disinfection byproducts
• 3745-81-79 (03 August 2004) Filter backwash recycling
• 3745-81-80 (17 October 2003) Control of lead and copper - general requirements
• 3745-81-81 (17 October 2003) Control of lead and copper; applicability of corrosion control treatment steps to small, medium-size, and large water systems
• 3745-81-82 (17 October 2003) Control of lead and copper; description of corrosion control treatment requirements
• 3745-81-83 (17 October 2003) Control of lead and copper; source water treatment requirements
• 3745-81-84 (17 October 2003) Control of lead and copper - lead service line replacement requirements
• 3745-81-85 (17 October 2003) Control of lead and copper - public education and supplemental monitoring requirements
• 3745-81-86 (17 October 2003) Control of lead and copper - monitoring requirements for lead and copper in tap water
• 3745-81-87 (17 October 2003) Control of lead and copper - monitoring requirements for water quality parameters
• 3745-81-88 (17 October 2003) Control of lead and copper - monitoring requirements for lead and copper in water entering the distribution system
• 3745-81-89 (17 October 2003) Analytical methods
• 3745-81-90 (17 October 2003) Control of lead and copper - reporting and recordkeeping requirements

Secondary Contaminant Standards

• 3745-82-01 (1 October 2006) Definitions
• 3745-82-02 (13 September 1993) Secondary maximum contaminant levels.
• 3745-82-03 (1 October 2006) Monitoring for compliance with secondary maximum contaminant levels

Operational Requirements

• 3745-83-01 (1 October 2006) Operational requirements

Licenses

• 3745-84-01 (03 August 2004) Public water system licenses [Adobe PDF]

Contingency Plans

• 3745-85-01 (21 April 2001)

Emergency Loans

• 3745-86-01 (21 April 2001)

Capability Assurance Plans

[Adobe PDF]

• 3745-87-01 (01 October 1999) Definitions.
• 3745-87-02 (01 October 1999) Capability assurance plans.

Disadvantaged Community Loan Rules

• 3745-88-01 (1 October 2006) Definitions

• 3745-88-02 (1 October 2006) Disadvantaged community loans

Laboratory Certification

[Adobe PDF]

• 3745-89-01 (18 June 2004) Definitions

• 3745-89-02 (18 June 2004) Analyses requiring laboratory certificate of approval

• 3745-89-03 (18 June 2004) Procedure for laboratory approval

• 3745-89-04 (18 June 2004) Renewal of laboratory certificate of approval

• 3745-89-05 (18 June 2004) Requirements for maintaining laboratory certification

• 3745-89-06 (18 June 2004) Director's actions for laboratory certification

• 3745-89-07 (09 April 1990) Laboratory certificate property of state; display.

• 3745-89-08 (18 June 2004) Reporting of analytical results

• 3745-89-09 (18 June 2004) Interim authorization for plant control tests

• 3745-89-10 (18 June 2004) Interim authorization for new contaminants and new methods
   

Plans Approval

• 3745-91-01 (31 December 2006) Definitions

• 3745-91-02 (31 December 2006) Application for approval of plans

• 3745-91-03 (17 October 2003) Requirements for plan drawings
• 3745-91-04 (26 November 1980) Requirements for specifications.
• 3745-91-05 (01 January 2002) Requirements for data sheet.
• 3745-91-06 (01 January 2002) Requirements for supporting information.
• 3745-91-07 (01 January 2002) Requirements for submittal letter.
• 3745-91-08 (01 July 2004) Procedure for approval; changes
• 3745-91-09 (01 January 2002) Iron and  manganese treatment.
• 3745-91-12 (01 January 1999) Certification by political subdivisions and investor-owned utilities
   

Escrow Requirements

• 3745-92-01 (26 November 1980) Definitions.
• 3745-92-02 (26 November 1980) Escrow deposit required.
• 3745-92-03 (26 November 1980) Amount of deposit.
• 3745-92-04 (26 November 1980) Release of escrow.
• 3745-92-05 (26 November 1980) Orders of the director, notice to owner.
• 3745-92-06 (26 November 1980) Fee for escrow deposit.

Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control

• 3745-95-01 (1 October 2006) Definitions
• 3745-95-02 effective 5-1-03  Cross-connections.
• 3745-95-03 (26 November 1980) Surveys and investigations.
• 3745-95-04 effective 5-1-03  Where protection is required.
• 3745-95-05 effective 5-1-03  Type of protection required.
• 3745-95-06 effective 5-1-03  Backflow prevention devices.
• 3745-95-07 effective 5-1-03  Booster pumps.
• 3745-95-08 (26 November 1980) Violations.
• 3745-95-09 (1 October 2006) Requirements for yard hydrants

Consumer Confidence Reports

• 3745-96-01 (01 July 2004) Applicability and definitions

3745-96-02 (01 August 2005) Required report content.

3745-96-03 (01 August 2005) Required additional health information.

• 3745-96-04 (01 May 2001) Report delivery and recordkeeping
   

  Back to DDAGW Homepage