Regulatory Requirements for Groundwater Replenishment. Dr Clemencia Rodriguez Environmental Health Australia Conference September 2015

Transcription

1 Regulatory Requirements for Groundwater Replenishment Dr Clemencia Rodriguez Environmental Health Australia Conference September 2015

2 The need for alternative water sources

3 The Groundwater Replenishment (GWR) Journey 2004 Water Corporation considering GWR as a viable drinking water source and commenced engagement 2005 EPA strategic advice on GWR supported further investigation with trials and low risk projects Feasibility Study: Premier s Collaborative Research Program Groundwater Replenishment Trial Construction and commissioning of trial plant (Oct 2010) 2010 Commenced recharge (November 2010) 2012 Trial Complete (December 2012) 2013 Government approved GWR as a next major water source for Perth Groundwater Replenishment Scheme July/14 Contract for commissioning of full scale plant (14 GL/year) signed September/14 Trial plant decommissioned Recharge from full scale plant expected late 2016

4 Feasibility Study: PCRP Project Lead by DoH (Project partners: DoW, DER, Water Corporation CSIRO, MNI, ChemCentre, Curtin University, UWA) Objectives: Characterise microbial and chemical constituents in Perth s metropolitan WWTP Determine performance of MF/RO to produce water meeting health requirements (KWRP and Beenyup pilot plant) Use results to refine policy and regulation Key information More than 400 parameters tested and more than 19,000 records excluding field and trip blanks Microbial characterisation of the secondary wastewater and two viruses challenge test conducted at BPP. Bioassays for cytotoxicity and genotoxicity using a human lymphoblastoid cell-line conducted.

5 Feasibility Study cont. Results Water quality after MF/RO treatment in compliance with health values N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) occasionally above the AGWR (Phase 2, 2008) value of 10 ng/l. However, always below ADWG (2011) value of 100 ng/l. Identification of recycled water quality indicators for the validation and verification monitoring Confidence to proceed with the GWRT

6 Chemical Indicators

7 Groundwater Replenishment Trial (GWRT) Trial Objectives: Technical feasibility Policy and regulation Community engagement and discussion

8 GWRT Treatment Train

9 Advanced Water Replenishment Trial Plant Visitors Centre Recharge Bore Monitoring Bores

10 GWRT site

11 Policy and Regulation for GWR An Inter-Agency Agreement between Water Corporation, DOH, DOW and DER was signed in March 2007 An Interagency Working Group (IAWG) was created to develop policy and regulation Permit to recharge in PDWSA (P3) Drinking water quality standards at the point of recharge Recharge management zone (250m for the Beenyup site) Groundwater Replenishment Regulatory Framework (December 2012)

12 Memorandum of Understanding Principles: Implementation of a Risk Management Framework Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling: Managing Health and environmental risk Phase 1 and Phase 2 (Augmentation of Drinking Water Supplies). Multi barrier approach from catchment to recharge Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Monitoring Focus on surrogates and operational (online) parameters Recycled Water Quality Indicators (to demonstrate safety of recycled water with respect to specific chemical groups) Recycled Water Quality Parameters (to demonstrate safety of recycled water with respect to specific chemical groups) Events Notification Level 1 notification between 24 hours Level 2 notification at the monthly Health Advisory Committee for GWRT meetings

13 Critical Control Points and Operational Parameters Define limits and alarms that can indicate compromised performance/integrity

14 Chemical Indicators (Verification Monitoring)

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16 Conclusions GWR Regulatory Framework has been successfully developed. The Framework defines the documentation requirements and standards for future GWRS The MoU has been successful to formalise the relationship between the Water Corporation and the DOH by describing the reporting requirements, the water quality guidelines, operational performance and by setting the notification and communication protocols. The GWRT confirmed the adequacy of the selected Recycled Water Quality Indicators for verification monitoring. Monthly Health Advisory Committee meetings have been adequate to assess the management systems and processes.

17 Acknowledgements Water Corporation GWRT Project Team Stacey Hamilton, Senior Process and Framework Specialists