Only monitoring conducted utilizing acceptable sites can be used to determine compliance with this chapter. Water systems shall complete a materials evaluation of its distribution system to identify targeted sample sites. Sufficient sample sites shall be selected to allow an availability of acceptable sites and thus allow monitoring based on the number of samples required in Table 11-1.

1. (a) Monitoring sites for Community systems--Community water systems must conduct all lead and copper monitoring utilizing tier one sites or document the lack of sufficient sites and conduct the remaining monitoring from tier two sites. Water systems with insufficient tier one and two sites may utilize tier three sites. A community water system with insufficient tier one, two or three sites shall monitor utilizing replacement sites throughout the distribution system. A replacement site is a site in which the plumbing materials used at that site would be commonly found at other sites served by the water system but not conforming to tier one, two or three requirements.

   1. 1. Any water system whose distribution system contains lead service lines shall conduct at least 50% of the monitoring from these sites during each monitoring period. Monitoring shall be conducted from the lead service line. Should a sufficient number of sites be unavailable to provide 50% of the required monitoring, written documentation is necessary to demonstrate why the system was unable to locate a sufficient number of such sites.
   2. 2. Tier one sites--These sites include single family structures containing lead pipe or plumbing, are served by a lead service line, or contain copper pipes with lead solder and were constructed after 1982.
   3. 3. Tier two sites--These sites include buildings and multiple family residences containing lead pipe or plumbing, are served by a lead service line, or contain copper pipes with lead solder and were constructed after 1982.
   4. 4. Tier three sites--These sites include single family structures containing copper pipes with lead solder which were constructed prior to 1983.

2. (b) Monitoring sites for NTNC water systems--NTNC systems shall conduct all lead and copper monitoring from tier one sites. Systems with insufficient tier one sites may use tier two sites and those systems consisting of fewer structures than required sites may collect more than one sample at a structure, but from different spigots which consist of building containing copper pipes with lead solder installed before 1983. A NTNC water system with insufficient tier one or two sites shall conduct the remaining monitoring from replacement sites throughout the distribution system. A replacement site is a site in which the plumbing materials used at that site would be commonly found at other sites served by the water system but not conforming to tier one or two requirements.

   1. 1. Tier One Sites--These sites include buildings with lead pipes or plumbing, are served by a lead service line or contain copper pipes with lead solder constructed after 1982.
   2. 2. Tier two sites--These sites include buildings with copper pipes and lead solder constructed before 1983.
3. (c) Lead service line samples--Any water system whose distribution system contains lead service lines shall conduct 50% of the monitoring from sites served by a lead service line each monitoring period. If a sufficient number of sites served by a lead service line cannot be identified, all identified sites shall be monitored.

Author: Joe Alan Power

Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§22-23-33, 22-22A-5, 22-22A-6.

History: Adopted: September 23, 1992; effective November 9, 1992. Amended: Filed February 6, 2002; effective March 13, 2002.