Environmental Quality

Drinking Water

Rule R309-540: Facility Design and Operation: Pump and Hydropneumatic Pressure Facilities

Effective Date: 07/01/2026

Admin. Code Reference: R309-540

Rule Type: Current Rule

R309. Environmental Quality, Drinking Water.

R309-540. Facility Design and Operation: Pump and Hydropneumatic Pressure Facilities.

R309-540-1. Purpose.

The purpose of this rule is to provide specific requirements for pump stations utilized to deliver drinking water to facilities of public water systems. It is intended to be applied in conjunction with Rules R309-500 through R309-550. Collectively, these rules govern the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of public drinking water system facilities. These rules are intended to assure that facilities are reliably capable of supplying quantities of water which consistently meet applicable drinking water quality requirements of Rules R309-200 and R309-510 and do not pose a threat to general public health.

R309-540-2. Authority.

This rule is promulgated by the Drinking Water Board as authorized by Title 19, Chapter 4, Safe Drinking Water Act, Subsection 104(1)(a)(ii), and in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3 Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.

R309-540-3. Definitions.

Definitions for certain terms used in this rule are given in Rule R309-110. Terms not defined in Rule R309-100 but used in Rule R309-540 include those defined in Subsections R309-540-3(1) through (8).

(1) "Air-Over-Water Hydropneumatic Tank" means a pressure tank with a single chamber in which air and water are in direct contact. Water pumped into the tank compresses the air above it.

(2) "Bladder Hydropneumatic Tank" means a pressure tank that has a bladder in the bottom section of the tank that holds water under pressure. Water pumped into the bladder compresses the air in the upper section of the tank.

(3) "Booster Pump" means a pump that increases pressure in a water distribution system or supplies water to an elevated storage tank. The water supplying a booster pump is provided by a water storage tank or a water distribution line.

(4) "Diaphragm Hydropneumatic Tank" means a pressure tank with a fixed, flexible diaphragm that separates water in the lower section of the tank from air in the upper section. Water pumped into the lower section compresses the air in the upper section of the tank.

(5) "NSF/ANSI 60" - the joint National Sanitation Foundation/American National Standards Institute 60, Drinking Water Treatment Chemicals - Health Effects

(6) "NSF/ANSI 61" - the joint National Sanitation Foundation/American National Standards Institute 60, Drinking Water System Components - Health Effects

(7) "Pump Station" means a structure housing pumps and associated piping, valves, and auxiliary equipment.

(8) "Service Factor" - A multiplier which, when applied to rated power, indicates a permissible power loading that may be carried under the conditions specified for the service factor.

R309-540-4. Applicability.

Rule R309-540 applies to a pump, other than a well pump, that pumps drinking water for distribution or storage by a public water system.

R309-540-5. Pump Stations.

(1) Location. The location for a pump station shall be compatible with the hydraulics of the water system.

(2) Flood Protection and Site Drainage.

(a) A pump station shall be located at, or protected from, flooding to an elevation of at least three feet above either the 100-year flood or highest recorded flood, whichever is higher.

(b) The site for a pump station shall be graded to direct surface water drainage away from the pump station.

(3) Pump Station Drainage and Flooding Prohibition. A pump station:

(a) may not be subject to flooding;

(b) shall be drained to prevent water from collecting on the floor; and

(c) shall provide an outlet for drainage from pump glands, air release valves, and other equipment without allowing water to flow across the floor to reach the outlet. See Subsection R309-550-6(6) for clearance requirements for air release vent pipes discharging to floor drains.

(4) Access.

(a) A pump station shall be accessible.

(b) Access to a pump station in an underground vault or compartment or between floors of a pump station shall be provided by a permanent stairway, ladder, or ramp.

(5) Construction, Security, and Layout. A pump station shall be:

(a) weatherproof;

(b) constructed and maintained to exclude animals;

(d) sized, configured, and equipped to allow for:

(i) operation and maintenance; and

(ii) installation and removal of pumps and other equipment.

(6) Heating. Heating shall be provided if needed:

(a) for the safe and efficient operation of equipment; and

(b) to prevent equipment from freezing.

(7) Lighting. Lighting shall be provided to allow for the operation and maintenance of equipment.

(8) Ventilation.

(a) Ventilation shall be provided for a pump station.

(b) Forced ventilation of at least six air-changes per hour shall be provided for a pump station:

(i) in a confined space;

(ii) in a subsurface compartment or vault;

(iii) if an unsafe atmosphere may develop.

(9) Wet Wells. A Finished water wet well at a pump station shall:

(a) be waterproof;

(b) allow for the removal of water and sediment;

(d) have an access opening and a lid that meet the requirements for a water storage tank in Section R309-545-14.

(10) Return of Used Water to the Drinking Water System Prohibited. Water withdrawn from a public drinking water system for any use may not be returned to the system.

(11) Automatic and Remote-Controlled Stations.

(a) An automatically operated pump station shall have an automatic signaling apparatus that immediately notifies a water system operator when the station is out of service.

(b) A remote-controlled pump station shall be:

(i) electrically operated and controlled; and

(ii) have an automatic signaling apparatus that immediately notifies a water system operator when the station is out of service.

R309-540-6. Pumps.

(1) A pump used to provide minimum distribution system pressure shall:

(a) have the capacity to meet the maximum demand of the specific portion of the distribution system served; and

(b) be capable of providing the minimum pressure requirements of Section R309-105-9.

(2) If a pump station is the only means available for a community PWS to meet the minimum distribution system pressure requirements of Section R309-105-9, the pump station shall have at least two pumps in operation.

(a) Transient and non-transient non-community PWSs shall have at least one pump in operation to maintain the minimum distribution system pressure requirements of Section R309-105-9. If the director finds that unplanned closures could cause harm to public health, the director may require a transient or non-transient non-community PWSs to install at least two pumps to maintain minimum distribution pressure.

(b) Transient and non-transient non-community PWSs that have only one pump in operation shall have a backup pump available that is ready to install if necessary.

(3) In a pump station that requires at least two pumps, if the largest pump is out of service, the second pump shall have the capacity to meet the maximum demand of the water distribution pipeline served by the pump station.

(4) Each booster pump:

(a) shall have an automatic shutoff or low-pressure controller as recommended by the pump manufacturer;

(b) that withdraws water from a distribution line shall maintain an intake pressure of at least 20 psi when the pump is in normal operation;

(5) A pump motor shall:

(a) have the capacity to meet operating conditions without overloading; and

(b) provide the maximum horsepower necessary to run the pump without the use of a service factor.

(6) Any material that may come in contact with drinking water in a pump facility shall be certified to meet NSF/ANSI 61.

(7) Any pump with suction lift shall:

(a) be within the pump manufacturer's recommended limits; and

(b) have priming for the pump.

(8) When a pump requires priming, the priming system shall:

(a) use water of at least the same quality that the pump is pumping; and

(b) include a means to prevent back siphoning.

(9) For vacuum priming that uses an air-operated ejector, the ejector shall draw clean air through a screened intake that is:

(a) at least ten feet above the ground; and

(b) at least ten feet away from a point of contamination.

(10) A pump that uses water for a seal shall have water of at least the same quality that the pump is pumping. A water line supplying drinking water for a seal for a pump that pumps non-potable water shall have backflow protection.

(11) A booster pump within the premise plumbing of a building or on the service lateral connection, including a home booster pump, is acceptable if:(a) the pump is not necessary to resolve deficiencies related to the necessary minimum pressures at the point of connection for the service lateral per Section R309-105-9;

(b) the PWS approves the pump installation; and

(c) the pump installation and operation meet the applicable requirements in the International Plumbing Code and any amendments that the Department of Commerce has adopted.

R309-540-7. Pump Appurtenances.

(1) Valves.

(a) Valves shall be provided to allow satisfactory operation and maintenance of a pump facility.

(b) Each pump shall have an isolation valve:

(i) on the intake side of the pump; and

(ii) on the discharge side of the pump.

(i) be provided where needed to allow the release of accumulated air in pump facility piping; and

(ii) meet the requirements of Subsection R309-550-6(6).

(d) If used, a foot valve shall be sized according to the manufacturer's recommendation.

(2) Piping. Piping for a pump shall:

(a) have watertight joints; and

(b) be protected against surge or water hammer

(3) Controls. Controls for a pump shall:

(a) be protected from flooding;

(b) allow a pump motor to operate at rated capacity without overloading;

(d) provide for alternate operation of pumps where two or more pumps are installed;

(e) prevent the pump motor from starting during pump backspin;

(f) set start and cutoff pressures to prevent continuous on-off cycling;

(g) follow manufacturer's requirements for automatic cutoff pressure; and

(h) prevent surge pressures from activating controls that turn on pumps or other equipment outside the normal design cycle of operation.

(4) Water Pre-Lubrication of Pump Bearings. If water is used for automatic pre-lubrication of pump bearings, and an auxiliary direct-drive power supply is provided:

(a) the pre-lubrication line shall have a valved bypass around the automatic control so that the bearings can be lubricated manually before the pump is started; or

(b) the pre-lubrication controls shall be wired to the auxiliary power supply.

(5) Pressure Measurement. A pump or group of pumps operating together shall have a means of measuring pressure:

(a) on the discharge line; and

(b) on the intake line capable of indicating positive and negative pressure.

(6) Standby Power Supply.

(a) A community water system that relies solely on a pump facility to supply water to a service area shall be provided with standby power, power using a permanent or portable generator or electrical service from two independent substations.

(b) If a fuel-operated generator provides standby power:

(i) the water supply shall be protected from contamination from the fuel supply and fuel line; and

(ii) a carbon monoxide detector shall be installed if the generator is located indoors.

R309-540-8. Hydropneumatic Facilities.

(1) Section R309-540-8 applies to air-over-water, diaphragm, and bladder hydropneumatic pressure tanks.

(2) Section R309-540-8 does not apply to:

(a) a surge protection tank;

(b) pressure relief equipment; or

(3) Where a hydropneumatic facility is the only means available for a PWS to meet the minimum distribution system pressure requirements of Section R309-105-9, the number of pumps shall meet the requirements in Subsection R309-540-6(2).

(4) A hydropneumatic pressure tank shall have:

(a) NSF/ANSI 61 certification; and

(b) ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code certification.

(5) A community water system may not use the volume of a hydropneumatic pressure tank to meet the water storage sizing requirements in Section R309-510-8.

(6) A below-ground location for a hydropneumatic pressure tank and appurtenances shall meet the requirements of:

(a) Subsection R309-540-5(2) for flood protection and site drainage;

(b) Subsection R309-540-5(4) for pump station drainage and flooding prohibition;

(d) Subsection R309-540-5(9) for ventilation.

(7) Electrical controls for a hydropneumatic pressure tank located below ground shall be:

(a) located above grade; and

(b) protected from flooding.

(8) Hydropneumatic facilities shall have means to measure the operating pressures.

(9) Each hydropneumatic tank shall have bypass piping and isolation valves to allow draining and maintenance of the tank without disruption of water distribution.

(10) The volume of a hydropneumatic tank shall be large enough to avoid continuous pump cycling as recommended by the manufacturer.

(11) An air-over-water pressure tank shall have:

(a) an access opening;

(b) a drain;

(d) a means to measure the water level in the tank;

(e) an automatic or manual air blow-off;

(f) a means for adding air; and

(g) pressure operated start-stop controls for a pump.

(12) Air delivered by a compressor to an air-over-water pressure tank shall be:

(a) drawn from a point above ground;

(b) free of contamination;

(d) oil free.

(13) The volume of water remaining in an air-over-water pressure tank at the lowest pressure setting shall provide a water seal at the water outlet to prevent the leakage of air.

KEY: drinking water, pumps, hydropneumatic systems, individual home booster pumps

Date of Last Change: July 1, 2026

Notice of Continuation: February 10, 2025

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 19-4-104