ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM AT KSC
Permitting & Compliance - Water Quality Program - Drinking Water
Overview
Kennedy Space Center maintains a Non-Transient, Non-Community Public Water System (System Number 3054024) for potable water, fire suppression, and industrial uses such as heating, air conditioning, and vehicle launch/processing operations. KSC’s water system is a secondary system meaning that all water is purchased from a provider, the City of Cocoa. The City of Cocoa must provide KSC with water meeting strict State and Federal requirements under the Safe Drinking Water Act and publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report documenting the quality of the water. Water entering KSC’s system is re-chlorinated and treated with a corrosion inhibitor at the primary pumping station prior to use. KSC is required to meet the same Federal and State regulations and standards as other water systems. Therefore, testing is required at various intervals for a variety of parameters to assure the continued safety of the water. Testing results are reported to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and /or the Florida Department of Health, and/or the US Environmental Protection Agency. Water consumption at KSC is limited by a Consumptive Use Permit administered by the St. Johns River Water Management District.
Impacts to Drinking Water Treatment or Distribution System
Organizations and contractors shall be responsible for consulting with ISC Engineering, ISC Operations and Maintenance, ISC Environmental, and the NASA Environmental Assurance Branch (TA-B1B) for input and regulatory guidance during the planning and design phases of any project that may impact to the KSC potable water systems. The NASA Environmental Assurance Branch (TA-B1B) must be included in design review cycles for projects that will impact potable water systems. Impacts to the KSC potable water system that would trigger coordination and review include:
- Depressurizing any part of the distribution system,
- Any break or breach of the system (accidental or intentional),
- Any introduction of a potential contaminant (biological or otherwise) into the system
- Any modification to or construction on the system, or
- Any large consumption of water from the system
Construction or Modification of Drinking Water System
The organization responsible for a project that provides modification, maintenance, or emergency repair of the KSC potable water system, whether a permit is necessary or not, will ensure that regulatory criteria, best engineering practices, codes, specifications, and standards are followed. Construction projects involving work on the KSC water distribution system require varying degrees of regulatory oversight depending on the nature of the project and the work involved. KNPR 8500.1 lists the levels of regulatory action required for projects at KSC and the permitting process associated with each.
All correspondence with regulatory agencies regarding the KSC water system is to originate from the NASA Environmental Assurance Branch (TA-B1B). All NASA and contractor organizations (including design, construction, environmental, or O&M organizations) will process all notifications, permit applications, requests for approval, compliance monitoring, reports, requests for clearance, and any other submittal to a regulatory agency through the NASA Environmental Assurance Branch (TA-B1B).
Drinking Water Points of Contact
- Doug Durham (321-867-8429)
- Tom Price (321-867-8988)