idaho department of environmental quality · 21. snake river (multiple) 2016 –2018 public...

Idaho Department of

Environmental QualityEmerging Contaminants in Drinking Water

Maureen Pepper

Drinking Water Program

Idaho Department of Environmental Quality

• >2,000 public water systems

(PWS)

• 96% Groundwater

• 4% Surface Water (~80 PWSs,

includes GWUDI)

• Includes over 50 different sources

state-wide

Idaho’s Public Water Systems

IDWR


Emerging Drinking Water Contaminants

❖Cyanotoxins – Microcystin & Cylindrospermopsin

❖Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

❖Perchlorate

❖Manganese

• Hexavalent Chromium

• 1,4-dioxane

• Pharmaceuticals

• Personal Care Products

• Microbials

• Legionella

• Chlorinated Volatile Organic Compounds


Emerging or Emerged?

PFAS Contamination SitesHexavalent Chromium1,4-dioxane


Cyanotoxin Detections


Unregulated Contaminants Monitoring

Rule (UCMR)

• Currently in 4th round

• Large PWSs >10,000 and select small PWS sampling under EPA direction to determine if regulation is needed

• Takes years to develop, pass, and implement rules

• EPA has issued short-term health advisories (HA) for some in the interim

– Cyanotoxins(2), PFOA/PFOS, Manganese, Perchlorate

Drinking Water Health Advisory

• Provide information on contaminants that can cause human health effects and are known (or anticipated) to occur in drinking water.

• Non-regulatory unlike MCLs

• Exposure durations: 1-day, 10-day, and lifetime

• EPA has over 100.


• Most basic life form

• Bacterial and algal (photosynthetic) properties; not algae

• Not all produce toxin

• 7 species found in Idaho to date

What are Cyanobacteria?

7

5

1

2

Idaho Cyanobacteria1. Aphanizomenon2. Dolichospermum (Anabaena) 3. Gloeotrichia

4 63

4. Lyngbya5. Microcystis6. Planktothrix7. Woronichinia

What are Cyanotoxins?

• aka harmful algae blooms

• Toxins are produced by cyanobacteria bloom during a bloom

• Blooms caused by high nutrients (N &P) and warmer water

• Various sources of nutrient loading

• Toxins target the liver, kidney, and/or nervous system.


EPA Health Advisories (HA) (non-regulatory)

EPA’s 2015 drinking water health

advisories

EPA’s 2019 human health recreational

ambient water quality criteria or swimming

advisories

August 2014 – Lake Erie, Ohio

• Cyanotoxins in Toledo’s (Lucas County) drinking water

• 500,000 without water for 2 days

• Treatment approach increased toxicity

• Land alterations and nutrient loading contribute to issue


Why you should care…

Salem, Oregon 2018

1. Avondale Lake2. Black Lake3. Fernan Lake4. Hayden Lake5. Cocolalla Lake6. Chatcolet Res.7. Dworshak Res.8. Brownlee Res.9. Hells Canyon Res.10. Oxbow Res.11. Horsethief Res.12. Cascade Res.13. NF Payette River14. Lake Lowell15. Blacks Creek Res.16. Little Camas Res.17. Mountain Home Res.18. Salmon Falls Creek Res.19. Long Tom Res. 20. C.J. Strike Res. 21. Snake River (multiple)

2016 – 2018 Public reports, observations, photos of cyanobacteria

22. Private property (multiple)

23. Murtaugh Lake24. American Falls

Res.25. Island Park Res.26. Henry’s Lake27. Henry’s Fork28. Magic Res.29. Mormon Res.30. Chesterfield Res.31. Fish Creek Res.32. Blackfoot Res.33. Lost Valley Res. 34. Eagle Island

State Park35. Anderson Ranch

Recreational water health advisories posted in 2018 (9); many on list have had an HA issued in past years.


2019

Recreation

Water

Health

Advisories

(14):


• Idaho Harmful Algal Bloom

Response Plan, 2017

– Agency’s roles in recreational

health advisory response

– Communications coordinated

with DW Program

• Social media and press releases

• Resources specific to public

drinking water operators

Coordinating Communications &

Outreach on Cyanotoxins


Manganese

Manganese Sources

Steel Alloys

Fertilizer

Batteries

Fireworks

Essential Nutrient

Imaging Films

Paints

Cosmetics

Infant HA (10-day) = 0.3 mg/L


• No detections in ID

• HA = 15 µg/L

Perchlorate

Perchlorate Sources

Rocket Fuel

Explosives

Fireworks

Airbags

Flares

Fertilizers

Batteries

Chlorine/ Bleach

Lead and Copper

EPA revised major overhaul of 1991 rules, on 6 key areas:

1. Identifying the areas most impacted

2. Strengthening drinking water treatment requirements

3. Replacing lead service lines

4. Increasing sampling reliability

5. Improving risk communication

6. Protecting children in schools and child care facilities

Public comment period extended to February

12, 2020


Significant Proposed Rule Changes:

Requirements for Water Systems

• Develop a lead service line (LSL) inventory within three years; systems with LSLs, compliance samples will be at homes with LSLs.

• Take certain actions if “trigger level” of 10 ppb was detected to be better prepared for a future exceedance of the 15 ppb action level (AL).

• Develop a LSL replacement plan when above the “trigger level”, and would start replacing LSLs at a minimum of 3% a year with an action level exceedance (ALE).

• Notify the public within 24 hours of an ALE, and to also notify residents within 24 hours if an individual sample is above the AL; make pitcher filters available to residence(s) that sample above the AL.

• Sample 20% of the K-12 schools and licensed child care centers in the service area.

• Have corrosion control treatment in place to re-optimize their CCT if the trigger level or action level is exceeded.


Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

PFAS Sources

Food

Electronics

Firefighting Foams

Stain/ Water

Repellents

Nonstick Products

Polish, Wax, Paint

Cleaning Products

Metal Plating

HA = 70ppt


PFAS History and Challenges

• Group of more than 4,000 chemicals, developed in 1930; use increased after 1967 USS Forrestal fire

• “Forever”, can accumulate in human body over time with affects to organs, hormones, thyroid, learning, growth, etc.

• EPA’s lifetime health advisory = 70 ppt

• Drinking water test method available; validated methods for soil, wastewater, and surface water are not available yet.

• Contamination considered hazardous waste = remediation


PFAS – Looking Ahead

• In early 2019, EPA announced its PFAS Action Plan– Short- and long-term actions to help officials better

understand the chemicals and clean from contaminated water sources.

– How EPA aims to work with other agencies and manufacturers to research and monitor the development of new and existing

– How EPA intends to provide detailed information and risk communication to the public.

• Dec. ‘19 EPA submitted proposed regulatory determination and asked for public comment

• Detected above health advisory at Mountain Home AFB in 2 wells in 2016; wells turned off

• DEQ and IDHW coordinating communication


Who is Involved?

Health Agencies

Elected Officials

Public

Industry

Scientists

Professors

What you can do:

• Understand and

support drinking water

• Public education

• Water quality

protection


Free Lead Testing for Idaho’s Public

Schools from Idaho Bureau of Labs


Maureen Pepper

208-373-0174

[email protected]

Thank you

idaho department of environmental quality · 21. snake river (multiple) 2016 –2018 public...

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