IDEM Drinking Water Branch Office of Water Quality. Drinking Water Branch. Drinking Water Branch 9/13/2016. Mary E. Hollingsworth, Branch Chief

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1 IDEM Office of Water Quality Mary E. Hollingsworth, Branch Chief The carries out the requirements of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) which is designed to ensure that Public Water Supplies (PWS) deliver water to Hoosier homes and businesses that is adequate in quantity and is safe to drink. We do this by concentrating on the water from the source all the way to the tap. The has five different sections: Compliance Inspection Construction Permits Groundwater Capacity Development and Operator Certification. 1

2 Forty-nine staff members are comprised of environmental scientists, inspectors, geologists and chemists Collectively they have over 500 years of experience managing public water suppliers and carrying out requirements of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Regulates 4,066 Public Water System Number and Type of Public Water Systems in Indiana Community Nontransient Noncommunity Transient Noncommunity Systems must sample for Total Coliform Nitrate Inorganic Chemicals Volatile Organic Compounds Synthetic Organic Compounds Radionuclides Stage 1 and Stage 2 Disinfection Byproducts Lead and Copper 2

3 Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) Background LCR, June 7, 1991 Lead Action Level (AL) of 15 ug/l (ppb) An AL exceedance is not a violation, but can trigger other requirements. Applies to all Community Water Systems (CWSs) and Nontransient Noncommunity water systems (NTNCWs) Lead Present Lead seldom occurs naturally in water supplies like rivers and lakes, and is rarely present in water coming from treatment plants Rather, lead, if present in drinking water, is likely a result of corrosion of plumbing materials containing lead such as lead pipe, copper plumbing containing lead-based solders, brass faucets, fittings and other various customer premise fixtures containing lead. How Lead Gets in the Water Some public water systems are facing a complex problem, due to aging pipes. Lead can be found in the pipes and/or plumbing that carrieswater to its consumers. Water Source Lakes, rivers, reservoirs,and wells do not usually contain action-level lead amounts, but the water can be corrosive to lead pipes. Treatment facility All large systems (serving a population greater than 50,000 people) must have treatment in place to control corrosivity of the water. Small and medium-sized systems must have treatment in place if the systems exceed the lead or copper action level, as determined by the U.S. EPA. Reducing the contamination Utilities should test and treat water to control the corrosivity at the treatment facility. The most common treatment involves adding chemical phosphates to coat the inner lining of the service pipes to reduce contact between the water and the lead in the pipes and/or plumbing. Ultimately, utilities and property owners need to work together to replace any lead service lines with non-lead pipes and household plumbing that should not contain lead. Main lines to home and businesses The main water line pipes coming directly from the treatment plant do not contain lead. Some water mains have packing that connects pipes together, which may contain lead. Service linepipes (the lines running from the water main to the home) may be made of lead. Testing IDEM and the U.S. EPA have the same drinking water rule standards. The rule specifies kitchen or bathroom cold water taps at single family residences should be tested every three years. If more than 10% of the locations sampled have lead levels above the action level, additional action is required by the water system. 3

4 How Lead Gets into Drinking Water Lead Service Lines Lead Pipes Lead Goosenecks Brass or Chrome-plated brass faucets Copper pipes with Lead Solder Health Effects of Exposure to Lead Children Behavior and learning problems Lower IQ and hyperactivity Slowed growth Hearing problems Anemia Pregnant Women Reduced growth of the fetus Premature birth Lead and Copper Sample Collection Method First Draw 6-hour standing time One-liter Volume System or residents can collect Samples are taken from kitchen/bathroom cold water taps, typically used for consumption. 4

5 Requirements After Lead AL Exceedance Distribute Public Education (PE) to all users of water system within 30 days Deliver Lead Consumer Notice to occupants of each location sampled Monitor for Water Quality Parameters Source water sampling for Lead and Copper Submit Corrosion Control Treatment Plan PWS must demonstrate two consecutive six-month rounds below Lead and Copper AL Public Education (PE) Systems Affected All systems exceeding Lead Action Level Educates consumers about the lead health effects, sources, and steps to minimize exposure Deliver materials to bill-paying customers Deliver within 60 days after end of monitoring period Consumer Notice of Lead Results All systems must provide individual Lead tap results to occupants of each location sampled. Regardless if results exceed the Lead Action Level An explanation of the health effects of Lead Steps to reduce exposure 5

6 Water Quality Factors Affecting Release of Lead and Copper Alkalnity, ph, and Dissolved Inorganic Carbon (DIC) Corrosion inhibitors Hardness (calcium and magnesium) Buffer intensity Dissolved Oxygen Ammonia, chloride, and sulfate Oxidation Reduction Potential Natural Organic Matter Iron, aluminum, and magnesium Corrosion Control Treatment Make your water less corrosive by adjusting ph, Alkalinity, and/or DIC levels. Addition of phosphate or silicate based corrosion inhibitor Remove sources of Lead and Copper Corrosion Control Treatment EPA Optimal Corrosion Control Treatment Evaluation Technical Recommendations (March 2016) 6

7 IDEM Lead Updates Requested systems to complete Service Line Questionnaire. Review and update Lead and Copper Sample Plan Ensure systems are monitoring from locations that are at high risk of Pb/Cu contamination Sampling at Schools 7

8 Some Changes at IDEM Consumer notice within 24 hours if results is over the AL All consumer notice within 10 days Public Education within 30 days Increase sampling Some Changes at EPA Developing a New Action Plan for Drinking Water Advancing Next Generation Safe Drinking Water Act Implementation Addressing Environmental Justice and Equity in Infrastructure Funding Strengthening Protections against Lead in Drinking Water Emerging and Unregulated Contaminant Strategies Challenges The Water Research Foundation (WRF) has funded over 45 research projects since the 1980s at a cost of "$14 million. "The most effective way to reduce the total mass of lead measured at the tap is to replace the entire lead service line, followed by replacing lead sources in the premise plumbing, the faucet, and then the meter." 8

9 Challenges Further complicating the issue are the findings from a growing body of scientific research that indicates partial lead service line replacements, where only the utility-owned portion is replaced and the customer-owned portion is left intact, have not been effective in reducing potential lead exposure and may make the situation worse WRF and EPA research suggests the removal of only a portion of a lead service line and leaving lead on the customer side should be reconsidered or avoided where possible. Challenges An interim short-term strategy of delaying partial replacement until the customer is willing to fund the work is also not considered an effective solution. These strategies could delay other important water infrastructure upgrades that would benefit many customers. If the utility chooses to avoid partial line replacements because of the potential exposure, or the customer is unable to pay to replace his/her portion of a lead service line, the utility faces a significant dilemma. Professionals of Water For those of us in the water profession, Flint reminds us that our first and most important job is to protect the families we serve. A lack of money or political will or technical resources can never be an excuse to put people at risk. From public officials, to water utility managers, to regulators, to chemists, to every operator at the treatment plant and throughout the distribution system, we must renew our commitment daily to providing safe water to our communities. 9

10 Flint If there is one lesson to be learned from the Flint crisis, it is this: Our communities will be safer in the long run with no lead pipes in the ground. But the Flint crisis lays bare a simple fact: As long as there are lead pipes in the ground or lead plumbing in homes, some risk remains. Web Sites Drinking Water and Lead Drinking Water Laboratory Certification Drinking Water Watch Virtual File Cabinet IDEM Drinking Water Watch 10

11 Questions Contact Information Phone: