DEQ opens comment period on water treatment oversight rule

The Department of Environmental Quality is accepting public comments through Aug. 31 on proposed changes to state rules for certain supplemental water treatment facilities.

RALEIGH — The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality is accepting public comments through Aug. 31 on proposed changes to state rules governing oversight of facilities that provide supplemental water treatment.

The proposed changes are being handled by DEQ’s Public Water Supply Section and would apply to 15A NCAC 18C .1303, according to the department. DEQ said the rulemaking is intended to align state rules with changes passed by the General Assembly in Session Law 2025-94.

The rule affects oversight requirements for certain facilities that provide supplemental water treatment. DEQ said the frequency of required oversight visits may be reduced from weekly to once per month for facilities that feed only disinfectant and meet other technical requirements related to process automation and real-time data access.

DEQ said the water system must remain in compliance with all other provisions of 18C to be eligible for reduced oversight.

A public hearing on the proposed rule is scheduled for 1 p.m. Aug. 6 in the Ground Floor Hearing Room of the Archdale Building, 512 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh. Written comments may be submitted during the comment period to Ava Fierst with the Division of Water Resources, Public Water Supply Section, 1634 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699, or by email at ava.fierst@deq.nc.gov.

The rulemaking is a statewide regulatory item because it concerns state oversight of public water supply-related facilities and follows legislation enacted by the General Assembly. It does not appear limited to one local project or permit.

DEQ said additional details, including the proposed rules and regulatory impact analysis, are available through the department’s proposed rules page.

The comment period gives water systems, regulated facilities, local governments and members of the public an opportunity to respond before the rulemaking process moves forward.

Editor’s note: This article was drafted with the assistance of artificial intelligence and was reviewed and fact-checked by a member of the NC Political News editorial team before publication.