Water Treatment Plant Daily Inspection Checklist [FREE PDF]

Daily inspections of water treatment plants are mandated under the EPA Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and associated National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Parts 141-142) to ensure continuous delivery of safe, potable water to the public. Operators must verify treatment processes including coagulation, filtration, and disinfection are within permitted parameters, and must document any deviations that could impact public health. This checklist incorporates requirements from EPA Surfa

  • Industry: Water Utilities
  • Frequency: Daily
  • Estimated Time: 60-90 minutes
  • Role: Utility Engineer
  • Total Items: 42
  • Compliance: EPA 40 CFR Part 141 - National Primary Drinking Water Regulations, EPA 40 CFR Part 142 - National Primary Drinking Water Regulations Implementation, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.119 - Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals, EPA Surface Water Treatment Rule (SWTR) - 54 FR 27486, DOE Safety Order DOE O 440.1B - Worker Protection Program for DOE Federal Employees

Raw Water Intake and Screening

Inspect raw water intake structures, screens, and initial quality parameters before treatment.

  • Is the intake structure free of debris accumulation, ice, or aquatic blockage?
  • Are traveling screens or bar screens operating without mechanical failure?
  • What is the current raw water turbidity reading (NTU)?
  • What is the raw water pH?
  • Is raw water flow rate within the permitted design capacity of the plant?

Coagulation and Flocculation

Verify chemical dosing, mixing equipment, and floc formation in the coagulation and flocculation basins.

  • Is the coagulant chemical feed pump operating at the correct dosage rate?
  • What is the current coagulant feed rate (mg/L or mL/min)?
  • Are rapid mix and flocculation basin mixers operating without excessive vibration or noise?
  • Is visible floc formation observed and of appropriate size and density in flocculation basins?
  • Are chemical storage containment areas free of spills, leaks, or overfill conditions?

Sedimentation and Clarification

Inspect sedimentation basins, sludge collection systems, and settled water quality.

  • Is settled water turbidity within the target set point for effective clarification?
  • What is the settled water turbidity reading (NTU)?
  • Is the sludge collector mechanism operating and sludge blanket within acceptable depth?
  • Are sedimentation basin weirs clean and providing uniform overflow across the basin length?
  • Is sludge being wasted and disposed of according to the approved residuals management plan?

Filtration Systems

Inspect filter beds, individual filter effluent turbidity, head loss, and backwash operations.

  • Is each individual filter effluent turbidity at or below 0.3 NTU?
  • Record combined filter effluent (CFE) turbidity (NTU)?
  • Is filter head loss within acceptable operating range and not approaching maximum?
  • Have all filters due for backwash been washed per the established backwash protocol?
  • Is filter media surface free of mudballs, surface cracks, or visible media loss?
  • Attach photo of filter bed condition and turbidity meter readings for each filter?

Disinfection and Chemical Dosing

Verify disinfectant residual, CT compliance, chemical feed systems, and disinfection byproduct precursor control.

  • Is the primary disinfectant feed system (chlorine/UV/ozone) operating at the correct dose?
  • What is the free chlorine residual at the point of entry (POE) to the distribution system (mg/L)?
  • Is the CT value for the day meeting the required inactivation credit for the source water?
  • Are chlorine cylinder or bulk storage areas properly secured and leak-checked?
  • Is pH of treated water adjusted and within range for corrosion control compliance (6.5-8.5)?
  • What is the treated water temperature at the point of clearwell entry (°C)?

Chemical Safety and Hazardous Materials

Inspect chemical storage areas, handling equipment, spill containment, and worker protection measures.

  • Are all chemical Safety Data Sheets (SDS) current, accessible, and posted in chemical areas?
  • Is PPE (chemical splash goggles, acid suit, gloves, respirator) available and in serviceable condition?
  • Are emergency eyewash and safety shower stations operable and flushed within weekly interval?
  • Are chemical containment berms and secondary containment structures intact and free of accumulated water?
  • Is the chlorine or chemical gas detection system alarming correctly and within calibration?

Clearwell Storage and Distribution Pumping

Verify clearwell levels, contact time, pumping system operation, and distribution system pressure.

  • Is clearwell water level within the operational storage range for the current demand period?
  • Are all high-service distribution pumps operating within normal current draw and pressure parameters?
  • Is system distribution pressure at the required minimum (typically ≥20 psi at all service points)?
  • Is the SCADA system displaying real-time data for all monitored points without communication faults?
  • Are pump station alarm systems (high/low level, power failure, high pressure) tested and functional?

Compliance Monitoring and Daily Reporting

Confirm all required monitoring samples have been collected, logged, and reported to the appropriate authority.

  • Have all required daily compliance samples (turbidity, disinfectant residual, pH) been collected and recorded?
  • Have any maximum contaminant level (MCL) or treatment technique (TT) violations occurred today?
  • Has the daily operations log been completed with all required parameter entries?
  • Are there any equipment failures, process upsets, or unusual conditions requiring supervisor notification?
  • Provide a summary of operational conditions, abnormal findings, and actions taken during this inspection?

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Why Use This Water Treatment Plant Daily Inspection Checklist [FREE PDF]?

This water treatment plant daily inspection checklist [free pdf] helps water utilities teams maintain compliance and operational excellence. Designed for utility engineer professionals, this checklist covers 42 critical inspection points across 8 sections. Recommended frequency: daily.

Ensures compliance with EPA 40 CFR Part 141 - National Primary Drinking Water Regulations, EPA 40 CFR Part 142 - National Primary Drinking Water Regulations Implementation, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.119 - Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals, EPA Surface Water Treatment Rule (SWTR) - 54 FR 27486, DOE Safety Order DOE O 440.1B - Worker Protection Program for DOE Federal Employees. Regulatory-aligned for audit readiness and inspection documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Water Treatment Plant Daily Inspection Checklist [FREE PDF] cover?

This checklist covers 42 inspection items across 8 sections: Raw Water Intake and Screening, Coagulation and Flocculation, Sedimentation and Clarification, Filtration Systems, Disinfection and Chemical Dosing, Chemical Safety and Hazardous Materials, Clearwell Storage and Distribution Pumping, Compliance Monitoring and Daily Reporting. It is designed for water utilities operations and compliance.

How often should this checklist be completed?

This checklist should be completed daily. Each completion takes approximately 60-90 minutes.

Who should use this Water Treatment Plant Daily Inspection Checklist [FREE PDF]?

This checklist is designed for Utility Engineer professionals in the water utilities industry. It can be used for self-assessments, team audits, and regulatory compliance documentation.

Can I download this checklist as a PDF?

Yes, this checklist is available as a free PDF download. You can also use it digitally in the POPProbe mobile app for real-time data capture, photo documentation, and automatic reporting.

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