Ohio's public water systems (PWSs) provide an invaluable service and vital resource to the populations they serve. Chapter 6109 of the Ohio Revised Code authorizes Ohio EPA to safeguard public health by enforcing requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act. The Division of Drinking and Ground Waters (DDAGW) oversees the operation and permitting of PWSs, which partially includes the review of engineering plans.

To ensure that adequate quantities of safe drinking water are provided, DDAGW staff review engineering plans and other information pertinent to proposed PWS projects. The division also develops engineering guidance documents, collaborates with the Ohio Section of American Water Works Association and reviews PWS backflow prevention and cross-connection control programs.

For more information or questions about engineering considerations for PWSs, please contact your DDAGW district office or call DDAGW Central Office at (614) 644-2752.

IMPORTANT — Plan Submittal Instructions

Hard copy detail or general plans will not be received by Ohio EPA. When plans are received electronically, an invoice for payment of the review fee, along with instructions on how to pay, will be sent to the party that submitted the plans. Review will begin when payment is received. The detail plans, general plan, Water Supply Data Sheet and/or specifications can be submitted to DDAGW.Engineering@epa.ohio.gov either directly if less than 25 MB or through Liquid Files.

To send plan packages using DDAGW's new Liquid Files file drop site go to: https://fileshare.epa.ohio.gov/filedrop/DDAGW_Engineering_Plans. On the DDAGW Engineering Plans page you will need to enter your Email Address and Subject. The message is optional. At the bottom of the screen click the Add button to browse to the folder that contains the files you need to send to DDAGW. Once your files are added click the Send button below the Add button to submit your plan package to DDAGW.

If you currently have plans submitted, you can use the DDAGW.Engineering@epa.ohio.gov to inquire on the status or email the staff engineer directly who is reviewing them. If you are submitting a revised set of plans in response to comments, then please direct them to the staff person who signed the comment letter.

Plan Review and Approval

• Plan Review Procedures
• Plan approval rules Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Chapter 3745-91
• Water Supply Data Sheet (Form 5300) [PDF] or [Word]
  • Submit with detail plans or general plans
• New Public Water System or Well Site Application Instructions revised June 16, 2020
• New Public Water System or Well Site Application revised June 16, 2020

Project Summary Sheets/Forms

• Water Supply Data Sheet (Form 5300) [PDF] or [Word]
  • Submit with detail plans or general plans
• Pump Stations [PDF] or [Word]
• Pressure Reducing Stations and Air Relief Valves [PDF] or [Word]
• Small System Plan Submittal Checklist [PDF] or [Word]
• Storage Tanks [PDF] or [Word]
• Waterline Extensions [PDF] or [Word]
• Well Project Summary Sheet [PDF] or [Word]

Standards, Policies, Guidance and White Papers

• Parameters Required for a Complete Well Analysis
• Contingency Plan Template [PDF] - [Word]
• Recommended Standards for Water Works ("Ten States Standards") 
• Engineering Policies and Guidance
• Guidelines for Design of Small Public Water Systems ("Greenbook") issued in 2015.
  • NOTE: Correction notes have been added to Appendix B and Appendix F of the Greenbook. The new well site application in Appendix B is not current. Use one of the following for completing a new well site application: [PDF] or [Word] revised July 20, 2016. Additionally, two typographical errors are noted at the beginning of Appendix F which covers required well analysis used by public water systems.
• Guidelines for Arsenic Removal Treatment for Small Public Drinking Water Systems
• Additional guidance is available on water treatment plant optimization for protection against waterborne disease.
• White Papers Developed in Conjunction with AWWA Ohio Section Technology Committee
  • White Paper on Distribution Optimization for Water Quality
  • White Paper on Disinfection with Hypochlorites
  • White Paper on Aeration to Reduce Trihalomethanes
  • White Paper on Algal Toxin Treatment

Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control

• General Information (Protecting Our Public Water Systems brochure)
• Ohio EPA Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control Manual, 4th Edition
• Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control Rules in Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Chapter 3745-95
• Approved devices can be found in OAC Rule 3745-95-06.

Approved Capacity

• Approved Capacity: 
  Planning and Design Criteria for Establishing Approved Capacity for the following:
  • Surface Water and Ground Water Supply Sources
  • Drinking Water Treatment Plants
  • Source and Water Treatment Plant Systems
• Questions and Answers on Approved Capacity Planning and Design Criteria
• Water Production Projections Worksheet [XLSX]
• Webcast Series Session 1: Introduction to Approved Capacity and Water Production Projections [slides]  
• Webcast Series Session 2: Approved Capacity of Water-Supply Sources, Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) and Source/WTP Systems [slides]

Contact Time Calculations

• Ground Water Rule Excel Spreadsheets for Determining Contact Time
  • Cylindrical Tanks and Pipe Only [XLS]
  • Rectangular Clearwells
    • Baffled [XLS]
    • Unbaffled [XLS]