Polychlorinated Biphenyls in the Collection System and WWTP the Charlotte Water Experience

Transcription

1 Polychlorinated Biphenyls in the Collection System and WWTP the Charlotte Water Experience Jon Lapsley CDM Smith Darrell DeWitt CLT Water

2 Agenda History of PCBs Charlotte Water Contamination and Response Data Collection and Management Cleanup/Remediation Plans Lessons Learned Wrap Up/Questions 2

3 History of PCBs Manmade combination of chemicals (oils and waxes) Insulator/fire retardant properties Congeners Arocolors PCBs Insoluble in water, highly soluble in fats dangerous to humans 3

4 History of PCBs (cont) Human health risk - carcinogen 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA): 40 CFR 761 Governs handling and disposal of contaminated materials Time-intensive and costly process Illegal disposal Not specific to WWTPs 4

5 Mallard Creek WRF 5

6 Charlotte Water Contamination Event Mallard Creek WRF February 6,

7 Charlotte Water Contamination Event Mallard Creek WRF Quick response diverted the discharge the Equalization Basin 7

8 Charlotte Water Contamination Event Mallard Creek WRF Response Activities Fire Department and HazMat Testing confirmed PCBs and TCBs 8

9 Charlotte Water Contamination Event Mallard Creek WRF Emergency Command Center opened and staffed 24/7 Charlotte Water staff City of Charlotte Engineering and Property Management Charlotte Fire Department HazMat Unit EPA and NCDENR Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and the FBI City of Charlotte on call contractors and consultants Regular updates to the public Emergency Command Center closed on February 21,

10 Charlotte Water Contamination Event Mallard Creek WRF Response Activities Containment Efforts 10

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12 Charlotte Water Contamination Event Mallard Creek WRF Collection System Sampling 12

13 Charlotte Water Contamination Event Mallard Creek WRF Powder Activated Carbon 13

14 Now What? 14

15 TSCA Rules of the Road Total PCB Concentration < 3 ppb Total PCB Concentration > 3 ppb but < 50 ppm Total PCB Concentration > 50 ppm Liquids with Total PCB Concentration > 50 ppm Liquids with Total PCB Concentration > 500 ppm 15

16 Data Management Sampling protocols enacted immediately throughout the plant Hundreds of individual samples, thousands of parameters 16

17 Contamination Response Plans and Documentation EPA requires written decontamination plans Multiple areas requiring decontamination/cleanup Mallard Creek WRF Mallard Creek Stormwater Outfall No. 3 McAlpine Creek WWMF 17

18 Status as of March 2015 Stormwater Outfall No. 3 Decontaminated and Clean Mallard Creek WRF Contaminated biosolids hauled to Emelle, Alabama Subtitle C Landfill Solids disposal at local Subtitle D Landfill (hoping to resume land application soon) RFP for service provider assistance for cleanout and decontamination McAlpine Creek WWMF Work is ongoing 18

19 Lessons Learned and Suggestions Basic training for operations staff (oily sheens, hydro carbon smells, etc.) SOP for contacting regulators and notifying the public Agreements/plans in place for contractors and third party lab testing Plan for isolating redundant equipment Maintain accessibility to outfall locations Work with EPA and NCDENR (TSCA is not WWTP specific) 19

20 Acknowledgements Maggie Macomber, Charlotte Water Jackie Jarrell, Charlotte Water Kim Neely, Charlotte Water Charlie Justice, CDM Smith Richard Tsang, CDM Smith David Wagoner, CDM Smith Numerous others 20

21 Questions? Darrell DeWitt Jon Lapsley, P.E.