The Design Criteria for Potable Water Systems, also known as Safe Drinking Water Program Implementation Policy #5, is a key policy used as a basis for reviewing and making determinations of design applications for drinking water treatment works in Colorado. The division routinely updates the document to maintain industry standards with input from stakeholders and recently completed a revision. The new policy was published on Nov. 27, 2024.
In April 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency set maximum contaminant levels for five per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The division initiated a stakeholder engagement process on June 4, 2024, and asked for feedback on PFAS criteria and other select portions of the drinking water design criteria. Two working groups focused on PFAS treatment and storage tanks met over the course of several months to develop proposed changes to the drinking water design criteria. The division and stakeholders recently completed an update to the policy, which incorporates PFAS treatment criteria and source water testing requirements, updates to storage tank requirements and Appendix A, and a variety of editorial changes to correct errors and clarify language.
How to get involved
The division held a stakeholder engagement process to discuss the proposed updates and collect stakeholder input on the planned design criteria modifications. Workgroups were formed to address PFAS and storage tank
The process included advanced notification to stakeholders who have subscribed to email notifications, including drinking water utilities.
Please sign up for email notifications to receive future notifications about drinking water design criteria.
Meeting materials can be accessed by using this public folder.
Storage tank workgroup
The storage tank workgroup collaborated on proposed updates to Chapter 7 of the policy. New language was added to clarify requirements for storage tank roofs and interior construction materials. The requirements for vents, overflows, drains, and access openings were clarified as well.For more information, please email Kristen Harris at Kristen.Harris@state.co.us.
PFAS workgroup
The PFAS workgroup incorporated requirements for PFAS removal to align with the Environmental Protection Agency’s maximum contaminant level. These changes focused primarily on adsorptive media and included design submittal requirements for media selection justification, design capacity, operations, and control strategy. Clarification surrounding the requirements for piloting adsorptive media treatment systems was also incorporated. For more information, please email Chelsea Cotton at Chelsea.Cotton@state.co.us.
Appendix A updates
The division updated Appendix A, which outlines design review submittal requirements. The updates did result in additional changes to the design criteria in Chapters 1 and 4 of the policy.
For more information,For more information about this stakeholder engagement effort, please contact Chelsea Cotton at chelsea.cotton@state.co.us.