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Planning for and Collecting Valid and Meaningful Drinking Water Samples 1 James Latimer Environmental Program Specialist Drinking Water Program AK Dept. of Environmental Conservation E-mail: james.latimer@alaska.gov 2010 Sustained Compliance Workshop Anchorage, AK Sept 23-24, 2010

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Presentation Summary Sample Planning generalized and detailed Collecting Samples preparations and procedures Sample Demonstration total coliform & chemical Sample Results understanding results and following through as needed Questions 2

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Sample Planning 3 Planning Tools Total Coliform Sample Siting Plan Lead & Copper Sample Plan

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Planning ahead can be critical to maintaining an adequate supply of safe and healthy water To succeed, we need to know (and do): 1. what needs to be done 2. when & where to sample 4 Importance of Planning

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A Monitoring Summary includes: 5 What to sample for & where to sample How often to sample Date of last sample Date next sample is due Definitions and explanations DEC contact information

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Other Examples of Monitoring Summaries 6

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Other Planning Tools Printed media e.g., wall or desk calendar Electronic media e.g., email alerts 7 Quarter

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Specific Sample Plans The following sampling plans will not be covered today: A source water monitoring plan for Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2); or A Stage 2 Disinfectant and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (Stage 2 DBPR) Initial Distribution System Evaluation (IDSE) sampling plan 8

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Creating, Using, & Modifying a Total Coliform Rule (TCR) Sample Siting Plan 9

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Total Coliform Sample Siting Plan ( 18 AAC 80.410) Who is required to have one? Applies to Community, Non Transient Non-community, & Transient Non-community public drinking water systems What it is? Where and when to sample Routine sampling; and In the event of total coliform positive result: Within 24 hours, and the following month Sample site selection is important Keep a copy readily available onsite, & revise as needed 10

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DEC TCR Sample Siting Plan* Template * for smaller systems, serving 1000 or less people 11 http://dec.alaska.gov/eh/dw /publications/forms.html

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System Information 12

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Quarterly-Monthly Sampling Chart 13

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What to do if a result is positive/present for total coliform bacteria or E. coli 14

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Distribution System Schematic Any format E.g., engineer schematic, hand-drawn, notes on satellite image, and others DEC Drinking Water Program staff review & approve all Total Coliform Sample Siting Plans 15

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Lead and Copper Sampling Plan (CWS and NTNCWS) Site selection Based on materials evaluation (pipes and fixtures containing lead and/or copper), & use (i.e. residential vs. commercial) Do not include sites with point-of-use or point-of- entry treatment devices for inorganics (1 exception) What to do if not enough sites. Names or IDs of sites should be clear and consistent Consistent locations provide results that can be compared over time Accessibility - changes Activity/Inactivity ( i.e., schools ) First Draw, after 6 hours with no-flow Newly replaced pipes or fixtures may influence results 16

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Lead and Copper Sampling Plan Essentials Provide an explanation for selection of sites Provide clear and complete descriptions and names for each site, and include alternative sites Note sample procedures Flushing procedures Describe how 6-hour idle flow time will be met Note if residents will collect samples Emphasize collection from cold water tap Emphasize use of consumptive taps 17

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Collecting Samples Preparations Supplies, Instructions, Forms Collecting samples Tap or site issues Potential contamination Container specifics Demonstrations Total Coliform Volatile Organics (VOCs) Recording & reporting data 18

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Pre-collection Preparations Supplies Sample bottles Valid free chlorine residual powder packets Tools & paper towels Cooler (s) Ice & packing materials Disinfectant Forms Other items as needed Arrangements Lab hours Flights Coordinate with any relevant contractors Courtesy reminders to home or business owners ensure access Payments Other items as situation warrants 19

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Quiz & Clues Distribution System Free Chlorine Residual Same Time & Location as each Total Coliform Sample Collect prior to Total Coliform sample Free - and check powder packet type & expiration date There is at least one approved free chlorine residual test strip When and where do we sample distribution chlorine residual? Do we sample before or after total coliform sampling, and does it matter? Is this a free or total chlorine measurement? How about test strips? 20

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Distribution Chlorine Residual 21 http://dec.alaska.gov/eh/dw/publications/sample.html

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Common Methods of Determining Free Chlorine Residual 22 Follow instructions provided by the manufacturer

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Total Coliform Bacteria Sampling Reminders Arrange transportation Keep enough extra sample bottles on site Confirm sample location on the sample siting plan Personal and area sanitation is important Prepare faucet (avoid sampling at drinking water fountains): Disinfect then flush Fill to 100+ ml - not too little < 100ml gets rejected Not too much Sample bottles are brittle Pad for shipping, and do not submit if damaged Cool, yet not frozen Double check forms Limited hold time 23

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Total Coliform Bacteria Sampling 24 http://dec.alaska.gov/eh/dw/publications/sample.html

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A Completed Form/Analysis 25

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Non-TCR Samples Todays Special - VOCs Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) & Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Lead & Copper Inorganics Arsenic Fluoride and more... Special bottle/lid Open septa lid prevents contamination while allowing for sample extraction at lab Do not rinse bottle Low tap flow Close to tap Bottle angled Fill completely - no air space Minimize overflow 26

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VOC Sampling 27 http://dec.alaska.gov/eh/dw/publications/sample.html

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Lab Forms 28

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Partially Completed Forms 29 the lab

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Sampling Demonstrations West aisle Kelly Cobbs (DEC) East aisle Leticia Tadina (DEC) 30

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Reporting Ensure that time and money are not wasted: Recheck forms & labels for accuracy & completeness Label on bottle Labs are required to report results directly to DEC PWSs are responsible to ensure that DEC receives results 31

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Points To Ponder & To Act On Plan & sample as far ahead as possible Develop, revise, and keep handy TCR and Pb/Cu sample plans Understand and use the Monitoring Summary, and use in combination with a calendar or other sample scheduling or tracking media. Sampling begins and ends with accurately and completely filling out forms Understand & address sample issues specific to each type of sample collected Accurate results are very important Water is very important Your job is very important 32

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Thee End! ??? Questions, comments ??? 33