Drinking Water Operator
Training
January 29, 2014
Davis County and Salt Lake
County Health Departments
Salt Lake Valley and Davis County Health
Departments
Fluoridation Regulations
 Overview/History
 Fluoride
Levels
 Reporting/Monitoring
 Operator Safety
 Underfeeds/Overfeeds
 Training
A Little History…..
November 2000: Davis County voted in favor of
water fluoridation
September 4, 2001: Regulation signed into
effect
Set optimal level at .9 control range: .8-1.4 mg/L
November 2004: Davis County again voted in
favor of water fluoridation
February 8, 2005: Revised Regulation signed
into effect
An attempt at more uniformity with SLCoHD
June 2007: Revision of optimal level of fluoride
Set optimal level to .8 control range .7-1.0 mg/L
A Little History…..
November 2010, The Annual Control Range
was changed:
 Davis- 0.6 to 0.8 mg/L with an annual
average of 0.7 mg/L.
 0.6 - 0.7- 0.8
 SLVHD- 0.6 to 0.9 mg/L with an annual
average of 0.7 mg/L.
 0.6 - 0.7- 0.9
A Little History…..
 August

13, 2013
Better defines training requirements and
requires that documentation of training be
submitted to the County by the 15th of January
of each year.
Powers and Duties of Local Health
Departments
Responsibilities
Require fluoridation at Optimal Levels
Require submission of reports of fluoride addition and
analysis
Provide Fluoride Surveillance
The regular review of monitored data and Split Sample
results to ensure that fluoride levels are maintained by the
Public Drinking Water Supply
Distribution samples (in addition to required Water
Supply’s samples)
Monitoring (Davis)
Sampling
Daily, at representative points in the
Distribution System
When there are several zones or areas, the
sample sites can be rotated from day to day,
providing the entire system is covered in one
week (Davis).
Monthly Split Sample
Ensures accurate
testing equipment
Split Samples
 One



sample is split
One sample is analyzed by field kit used for
compliance sampling
One sample is submitted to the lab for
laboratory analysis
These samples should be within 20%. If not,
a repeat is required. If still not in the range,
let’s evaluate any potential issues!
Investigative Samples (Davis)
Results of samples collected by Davis
County Health Department may also be
taken into consideration to determine
compliance.
Minimum 2 samples/month/system (Davis)
Investigative samples are processed in our
NELAC/State certified lab.
Compliance


Compliance is determined by taking the
annual average of the field tests results
taken by water system
Split sample results and the calculated
dose support the validity of the field test
results
2013 Fluoride Compliance
Averages (Davis)
0.90
0.80
0.70
0.60
0.50
0.40
0.30
0.20
0.10
Monitoring (Salt Lake)
Fluoride concentrations, including natural and
added fluoride, need to be recorded daily.
Weekly samples must be taken at representative
locations through out the distribution system
Systems meeting the annual control range may
reduce sampling to twice/month and each site
A monthly Split Sample result (for equipment
calibration verification) must be submitted with
the monthly report
Investigative Samples (Salt
Lake)
 The
investigative samples are analyzed
by SLCoHD and serve as secondary
verification of fluoride concentration
throughout the system.
 Several samples are taken each month
throughout the county at random locations
2013 Fluoride Average Salt
Lake County
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
Series1
Pocket Colorimeter, Fluoride
Analysis
 Only
does fluoride
 SPADNS Method
 Factory calibrated
 Be aware of interfering
substances
Fluoride Reagents
Interferences
Fluoride Analysis
 Materials
needed:
 Colorimeter kit
 Distilled Water
 Beakers
 Standards may be used
to check for accuracy.
Some notes on using this
method (SPADNS):

Samples may be stored in
glass or plastic for at least 7 days
when kept refrigerated.
 Watch expiration dates of reagents
Some notes on using this
method (cont.):

SPADNS reagent contains enough arsenite to
eliminate up to 5 mg/L chlorine
 Aluminum may be an issue for surface treated
water
 Be sure that your meter is not getting any error
codes when turned on and reagents are fresh and
in good condition.
 DI water quality is very important, when testing for
Fluoride… first step in troubleshooting is trying
another source of DI water
Some notes on using this
method (cont.):
 Cleanliness
of sample cells is very
important… Keep these items for fluoride
use only. Acid wash cells after use (1:1
HCL) and rinse three times with DI water
and air dry
 Temperature of sample and DI water must
be the same… temperature differences
will affect results. Also reagent
temperature should be the same.
Some notes on using this
method (cont.):

If you are pipetting , both the reagent and the
sample must be pipette… pipetting errors
cause the most errors in results.
 It is technically possible to get tighter results
using the pipetting procedure … However
many customers are able to get tighter results
by switching to the AccuVac method which is
less technique sensitive. Bulk SPADNS can be
contaminated . Contamination is eliminated
with the AccuVac.
Fluoride Compounds and
Application Equipment
Plan Reviews, Evaluation of Fluoride
Equipment, Fluoride Compounds, Chemical
Feed Equipment and Methods
Refer to Rules for Public Drinking Water Systems,
R309-535-5. Fluoridation.
Fluoride Chemical Standards
AWWA standards and/or ANSI/NSF Standard 60
Does this meet AWWA standards
and/or ANSI/NSF Standard 60 ???
New Requirements!
Operator Safety
References
Refer to R309-525-11 Chemical Addition,
Division of Drinking Water
Refer also to R315-9 Emergency Controls,
Environmental Quality, Solid and
Hazardous Waste
Refer also to R614 Labor Commission,
Occupational Safety and Health
Operator Safety (continued)
The Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
Should be posted at all chemical injection
sites
Spill Response
Recommended Disposal
Health Hazard Data
First Aid
Special Protection
Storage
Storage of Fluoride Compounds
Prevent cross contamination
• Allow enough room for storage
• Separate other chemicals from fluoride
chemicals
• Keep dry chemicals dry!
Bags and drums shall be stored on
pallets
Liquid Chemical Storage
(fluorosilicic acid)
Tanks must: … Have an overflow and a
receiving basin or drain capable of receiving
accidental spills or overflows, …
Fluorosilicic acid must not be allowed in the
storm drains or sanitary sewer.
Vent any unsealed fluorosilicic acid containers
to the atmosphere
Accidental Release
In the event of an uncontained or
accidental release to the environment in
excess of five gallons, operators are to
follow the “Accidental Release Measures”
instructions found on the MSDS.
notify the Department within 24 hours.
Liquid Spills

Use spill control pillows or dams
to contain liquid from spreading

Neutralize with lime

Avoid “flushing” to public sewer or on-site septage
(septic tank) system
Overfeed Requirements
Public notification may be required if
fluoride levels reach 2.0 mg/L
Public notification is required if fluoride
levels reach 4.0 mg/L
Overfeed Requirements
 If
over 2.0, notify Health Department and
supervisor. Determine malfunction/repair
 If over 4.0, if malfunction is not found,
immediately turn off fluoridation equipment,
sample throughout distribution system.
After repairs are complete, with
supervisor’s permission, restart
 If over 10.1, as above, but restart system
with both Health Department and
Supervisor approvals
Underfeed Requirements
For less than 2 weeks:
No action needed if equipment is off line
For 2 weeks - 6 months:
Contact the Health Department in writing with
a proposed plan of action and
an anticipated correction date by week three.
Required Training
A minimum 6 hour training course must be
taken before operation of fluoridation
equipment
Training includes:
Operator safety
Maintenance/operations
Fluoride chemicals
Regulatory requirements
Required Training
 An
ongoing training must be taken every 2
years

A 3 hour course that includes:
• Operator safety
• Regulatory updates/reviews
• Operations/maintenance
Training Possibilities
 All
day course typically every year though
AWWA
 WBWCD, usually every year
 CDC 6 hour training on CD (contact me for
a copy)
 Water Fluoridation: Principles and
Practices, in Sacramento fall course in
Murfreesboro, TN
 Thatcher
CDC-Sponsored Water Fluoridation Training
 Water
Fluoridation: Principles and
Practices CDC Sponsored course


Murfreesboro, Tennessee:
usually in September each year, dates have
not yet been announced
Sacramento, California:
February 11 to February 13, 2014
http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/engineering/tr
aining.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr
4413.pdf
Contact Information
Davis County





Davis County Fluoride Regulation:
http://www.daviscountyutah.gov/documents/heal
th/environmental//fluoridation_regulation.pdf
Dee Jette: 801-525-5111
deejette@co.davis.ut.us
Angie Jones (reports) 801-525-5115
ajones@co.davis.ut.us
For spill reporting call EH emergency phone @
801-807-8872 (after hours, emergencies).
Contact Information

Salt Lake County Fluoride Regulation:
http://www.slvhealth.org/envRegs/reg33flouridation.html

Lili Benavidez: 385-468-3898 libenavidez@slco.org

Submit monthly reports to drinkinwatersamples@slco.org

For spill reporting after hours and weekends call

Emergency Response # 801-580-6681