NAC445A.6682. Fluoridation.

     1. On or before March 1, 2000, all water delivered for human consumption in a county whose population is 400,000 or more by a:

     (a) Public water system that serves a population of 100,000 or more; or

     (b) Water authority,

Ê must be fluoridated.

     2. In a county whose population is less than 400,000, all requests that fluoride be added to the water supply for the reduction of the incidence of dental caries must be referred to the health authority, who shall send the request to the board of health for consideration. In addition to any approval required pursuant to NRS 445A.025 to 445A.050, inclusive, the following must agree to a request to add fluoride to the water supply:

     (a) The public water system;

     (b) The county board of health;

     (c) The State Board of Health;

     (d) The local dental and medical society, or if there is none, the state dental and medical society; and

     (e) The local governing authority.

Ê If such approval is granted, the fluoridation of the water must be provided in accordance with the provisions of this section.

     3. The State Board of Health will exempt a public water system or water authority from the requirement of fluoridation of the groundwater in its wells if the public water system or water authority submits documentation to the State Board of Health that demonstrates that its system for the production of groundwater:

     (a) Produces less than 15 percent of the total average annual water production of the public water system or water authority for the years in which drought conditions are not prevalent; and

     (b) Is part of a combined regional and local system for the distribution of water that is served by a fluoridated source.

     4. A public water system or water authority that is required to fluoridate all water delivered for human consumption pursuant to subsection 1 shall:

     (a) Cease fluoridation of that water during an emergency related to fluoridation of the water;

     (b) Submit to the Division of Public and Behavioral Health within 30 days after the emergency occurs, a written notice describing the emergency and the length of time during which the public water system or water authority ceased fluoridation of the water; and

     (c) Resume fluoridation of the water when the emergency no longer exists.

     5. A public water system or water authority that is required to fluoridate all water delivered for human consumption pursuant to subsection 1 may cease fluoridation of that water during a period of routine maintenance if the public water system or water authority:

     (a) Submits to the Division of Public and Behavioral Health within 30 days before the period of routine maintenance, a written notice describing the maintenance and the length of time during which the public water system or water authority will cease fluoridation of the water; and

     (b) Resumes fluoridation of the water when the maintenance is completed.

     6. In addition to meeting the standards set forth in NAC 445A.450 to 445A.492, inclusive, a public water system or water authority shall maintain in all water it delivers for human consumption:

     (a) A minimum concentration of fluoride that is not less than 0.7 ppm; and

     (b) A maximum concentration of fluoride that does not exceed 1.2 ppm.

     7. The introduction of a chemical for fluoridation into the facilities of a public water system or water authority must be made:

     (a) Through accurate feeding equipment; and

     (b) In accordance with Water Fluoridation: A Manual for Engineers and Technicians.

     8. The feeding equipment must be maintained in accordance with Water Fluoridation: A Manual for Engineers and Technicians.

     9. The feeding equipment must be controlled in such a manner that fluoride is added to the facilities of the public water system or water authority only when those facilities and the related equipment for supplying water are functioning properly. Electrical power to the feeding equipment must be wired in conjunction with the pumping or flow control equipment of the public water system or water authority in such a manner that fluoride cannot be introduced into the supply of water when the water is not flowing. Pumps for feeding chemicals must be equipped with flow detectors which ensure that the injection of chemicals stops when the well or booster pumps stop.

     10. Either gravimetric or volumetric dry-feed equipment or positive displacement liquid-feed equipment with an accuracy within 5 percent is required. When liquid-feed equipment is used, at least two solution tanks must be available for the preparation and storage of the fluoride solution.

     11. A person who handles chemicals that are added to the water in the fluoridation process shall comply with the requirements relating to protective equipment set forth in section 5.3.4 of the Recommended Standards for Water Works.

     12. Each public water system and water authority shall:

     (a) Maintain a kit which is approved by the health authority for testing the concentration of fluoride in water.

     (b) Adjust the concentration of fluoride if the natural concentration of fluoride in the water delivered for human consumption by the public water system or water authority is not within the permissible concentrations of fluoride set forth in subsection 6.

     (c) Take samples from one or more points in the distribution system that are approved by the health authority.

     (d) Test or monitor the concentration of fluoride daily after its introduction into the facilities of the public water system or water authority and maintain accurate records of the results of that testing or monitoring.

     (e) Report the results of the daily testing or monitoring to the health authority at least monthly and in accordance with any written instructions prescribed by the health authority.

     (f) Not less than once a week, have a properly certified laboratory verify the results of the testing or monitoring for at least 1 day using the methods approved in the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. The health authority may take samples from points in the distribution system approved by it pursuant to paragraph (c) to test the samples for control purposes.

     (g) Follow any written instructions of the health authority for the sampling of water to which fluoride has been added.

     (h) Keep a record or copy of the results of the daily testing or monitoring on the premises of its facility or at a convenient location near the premises for the period specified in 40 C.F.R. § 141.33. The record or copy must be available for inspection by the health authority upon request.

     (i) In the fluoridation of water, only use fluoride that meets the requirements set forth in standards B701-94, B702-94 and B703-94 of the American Water Works Association Standards.

     (j) Notify the Division of Public and Behavioral Health as soon as possible, but not later than the end of the next business day, if:

          (1) The concentration of fluoride in the water that is delivered for human consumption does not meet the levels of concentration required by subsection 6; or

          (2) Any other event occurs that may affect the ability of the public water system or water authority to produce safe, potable water.

     (k) Comply with the provisions of:

          (1) This section;

          (2) The Recommended Standards for Water Works;

          (3) The Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater;

          (4) Water Fluoridation: A Manual for Engineers and Technicians; and

          (5) Standards B701-94, B702-94 and B703-94 of the American Water Works Association Standards.

Ê If there is a conflict between any of the provisions described in this paragraph, the most stringent of those provisions prevails.

     13. As used in this section:

     (a) “Health authority” has the meaning ascribed to it in NAC 445A.66055, except that with regard to a county whose population is 400,000 or more, “health authority” means the officers and agents of the Division of Public and Behavioral Health.

     (b) “Water authority” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 377B.040.

     [Bd. of Health, Water Supply Reg. § 10, eff. 1-8-52]—(NAC A 2-20-97; R118-99, 2-10-2000)