Pollutant Minimization Plan for Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in the Delaware River Estuary

Transcription

1 Pollutant Minimization Plan for Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in the Delaware River Estuary Robert Hindt Delaware County Regional Water Quality Control Authority 100 East Fifth St Chester, PA & John Botts Aquatic Sciences Consulting 2130 Glencourse Ln Reston, VA Delaware Estuary Science & Environmental Summit The Grand Hotel, Cape May, NJ January 13, 2009

2 Delaware River Basin Fish tissue concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) often exceed human health criteria i [i.e., federal criteria of 0.17 ng/l and Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) criteria of ng/l as total PCBs (later revised to ng/l for all zones)] DRBC set total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for PCBs for zones 1 6 TMDLs allocated to point and non-point discharges

3 Existing Loadings Versus Stage 1 TMDLs Delaware Estuary Taken from DRBC s TMDL Report September 2003

4 Pollutant Minimization Plan PCBs have been banned since the late 1970s and municipal pretreatment ordinances prohibit PCB discharge to sewer systems. Residual PCBs are contributed from unknown and diffuse sources (e.g., atmosphere, recycling); however, treatment to criteria levels is impractical DRBC chose a pollution prevention approach: Section of the 2005 Water Quality Regulation Amendments require dischargers to prepare and implement Pollutant Minimization Plans (PMP) to identify and control PCB sources in their service areas/facilities Goal is to achieve a 50 percent reduction of the aggregate point and nonpoint loads of total PCBs within the next five years

5 PCB Sources Known Sources (i.e., contribute PCB levels in excess of the water quality criteria and have defined pathway of release); Examples: atmospheric deposition, CSO tide gate infiltration, intake water, water supply Potential Sources (i.e., PCBs present, but no pathway of release); Examples: non-leaking electrical l equipment such as transformers, current and former waste sites, commercial and household materials Unknown Sources - to be identified through trackdown

6 Pollution Prevention Efforts for Known and Potential Sources Education Programs Presentations at public meetings (EAC, LEPC) Handout PCB Brochure to interested groups Education of DELCORA personnel Industrial User Awareness Requested data on PCBs removed and stored at permitted Industrial Users; Documented survey results in data base Inspections now include review of site for potential PCB containing equipment and issues Assess Waste and Abandoned Sites Assess Waste and Abandoned Sites Visited several sites within our sewer system Reviewing DelTriP reports and coordinating site visits with agencies

7 PCB Reduction Since 1990s (Documented by Internal Review and Industrial User Survey) Project DELCORA - Transformers and Capacitors Other Facility Projects PCB Fluids Removed 2960 Kg 2025 lbs / 920 Kg Other Industrial Users 80,000+ Kg Total Over 83,000 Kg

8 Pollution Prevention Efforts for Known and Potential Sources (continued) Upgrade CSO and Stormwater Infrastructure Rebuilt 24 storm inlets in 2006 and 30 in 2007 Rebuilt 3 CSO Regulator Chambers Installed remote monitoring systems at all CSOs Clean and Rehabilitate Sewers Cleaned sediment from over 225,000 ft of sewer in 2006 and 380, ft in 2007 Cleaned 300 ft of on-site storm sewer Replaced 160 ft of collapsed brick sewer and 3700 ft of pipe

9 Phase 1 Trackdown: Total PCBs by Sampling Location Central Delaware County Authority ND 69 Central Delaware PS ND 27 Naamans Creek PS NM Industry A ND WRTP Service Area Industry B ND ND 2 Legend Chester PS Pump Station 33 EPS-1 PS ** WRTP Influent 7 Marcus Hook PS 1 2 Water (ng/l) PISCES (ng/l)* Industrial User/WRTP Influent 23 7 Water (ng/l) PISCES (ng/l)* ND not detected by HRGC/LRMS NM = not measurable due to matrix interferences * PISCES passive in-situ continuous extraction sampler ** 2006 sample

10 Phase 2 Trackdown EPS-1 Sewershed Sampling Locations 95 Legend 95 Stony Creek Interceptor Booth St Interceptor West End Interceptor Delaware Ave Interceptor Trainer Sewer Line DE Sampling Location BN SI BE Highway WEN WEW 291 T BSW EPS WE DE DEM 322 DES 291 WES WRTP INF C

11 Phase 2 Trackdown EPS-1 Sewershed Results 291 T 17 INF WRTP 23 BSW 10 EPS 67 WE 18 DE 37 DEM 18 C <1 CDE 16 CDE 16 Actual location (further east) Legend Stony Creek Interceptor Booth St Interceptor West End Interceptor Delaware Ave Interceptor Trainer Sewer Line Sampling Location and Total PCB Result (ng/l)

12 Question & Answer