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UN resolution declares access to clean water as fundamental right
NEW YORK, July 29, 2010 (Water Tech) — On July 28, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution that declared access to clean water and proper sanitation as a fundamental human right, RTTNews reported. While 122 nations voted in favor of the resolution and none voted against it, 41 nations, including the U.S. and Canada, abstained from voting because of fears that the resolution may undermine the ongoing process in the UN’s Human Rights Council in Geneva to build a consensus on water rights. However, the nations that supported the measure claimed that the resolution will provide momentum for the consensus-building process, the article stated. The resolution states that the right to clean drinking water is “essential for the full enjoyment of the right to life,” and urges UN member nations to “scale up efforts to provide safe, clean, accessible and affordable water and sanitation for all.” Contaminated groundwater threatening Potomac Aquifer
WILIMINGTON, DEL, July 27, 2010 (Water Tech) — Plumes of dangerous chemicals are spreading through groundwater in Northern Delaware, posing a serious threat to the Potomac Aquifer, which supplies drinking water to thousands of residents in Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey, The News Journal reported. High concentrations of industrial byproducts — such as benzene, vinyl chloride and chlorinated benzenes — have been found in areas near Delaware City and New Castle, the article stated. State regulators and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) previously claimed that deep layers of clay protected the aquifer, but scientists now say the protective layer is full of holes, according to the story. “We’ve not studied nearly as much the link between water pollution and various health outcomes,” said Collin P. O'Mara, state secretary of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. “Water is probably the greatest environmental challenge facing the state right now.” Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53 to reduce Benzene, a VOC. Concrete manufacturer penalized for Clean Water Act violations
BOSTON, July 21, 2010 (Water Tech) — To resolve numerous violations of the Clean Water Act at its concrete manufacturing facility, Cardi Materials LLC of Warwick, R.I., will pay a $55,000 civil penalty and perform an additional project costing $168,500, according to a press release. In addition to a financial penalty, the proposed settlement requires Cardi to eliminate all process water discharges from the facility, which will result in the elimination of caustic chemical discharges, the elimination of tens of thousands of pounds of sediment being discharged into the environmental annually, as well as significant reductions in oil, grease, iron, nitrate and nitrogen. The company must also conduct additional monitoring and reporting of stormwater discharges, hire personnel certified in stormwater management to oversee compliance with stormwater permits and provide training in stormwater management for all operational employees. “Stormwater run-off from industrial facilities can carry sediment, debris and other pollutants into surrounding waterways,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) New England office. “Protecting our waters is everybody’s responsibility, and we expect others in the industry to assess the adequacy of their own stormwater controls.” Waterborne diseases cost US healthcare system more than $500 million annually
ATLANTA, July 16, 2010 (Water Tech) — Research presented on July 14 at the International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases indicated that hospitalizations for three common waterborne diseases cost the U.S. healthcare system as much as $539 million annually, according to a press release. Using data from a large insurance claims database between 2004 and 2007, Michael Beach of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and his colleagues estimated the hospitalization cost of three common waterborne diseases in the United States: Legionnaires’ disease, cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis. For each case of disease, they calculated the cost paid by the insurer, the out-of-pocket cost to the patient and the total amount paid, the release stated. Total estimated costs for hospitalization for the three diseases were $154-539 million, including $44-147 million in direct government payments for Medicare and Medicaid. Estimated annual costs for the individual diseases were: Giardiasis, $16-63 million; cryptosporidiosis, $37-145 million; and Legionnaires’ disease, $101-321 million. Inpatient hospitalization costs per case averaged more than $34,000 for Legionnaires’ disease, approximately $9,000 for giardiasis and more than $21,000 for cryptosporidiosis. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53 to reduce Cyst and Giardia. Study: Private wells near Laramie, Wyo., contain high nitrite levels
LARAMIE, WY, July 15, 2010 (Water Tech) — According to a study commissioned by the Laramie, Wyo. City Council, many private wells outside the city limits contain high nitrite levels, the Laramie Boomerang reported. The study found that while several private wells are contaminated, city wells are still producing safe drinking water. “In these particular areas that have relatively high densities of septic systems, that have relatively small property sizes … we are seeing significant — at least in some areas — significant impact of nitrate, and at levels that are not consistent with natural sources,” said Phil Brandhuber of HDR, an architectural and engineering firm hired to conduct the study. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure’s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Nitrate/Nitrite. Study finds pharmaceuticals, chemicals in Ohio River
LOUISVILLE, KY, July 13, 2010 (Water Tech) — A recent study conducted by the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission found that treatment facilities in the eight-state region were unable to completely remove some chemicals and pharmaceuticals from wastewater, The Courier-Journal reported. Dozens of potentially hazardous substances — including antidepressants, veterinary hormones and cocaine — were detected in the Ohio River, the article stated. However, according to the researchers, the contaminants are in low concentrations and do not pose a risk to human health. Other scientists who reviewed the data expressed concern over the potential hazardous effects to fish and wildlife in the Ohio River, according to the story. Some of the pollutants have been identified as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in fish and the scientists said there are legitimate concerns that the contaminants may cause health problems for people who use the river for drinking water. “When we see something this basic being altered in fish, we should be concerned about what it's doing to our own health,” said Peter DeFur, a research associate professor at Virginia Commonwealth University. The study targeted 158 contaminants that are essentially unregulated in U.S. waterways and drinking water supplies, the article reported. Online dialogue to address EPA’s new drinking water contaminant strategy
WASHINGTON, July 12, 2010 (Water Tech) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will host an online dialogue on July 28-29 to address the agency’s new strategy for regulating drinking water contaminants by group, according to the American Water Works Association. The new strategy is meant to streamline decision-making and expand protection under existing law and promote cost-effective new technologies to meet the needs of rural, urban and other water-stressed communities. EPA has invited everyone interested in safe drinking water to join the discussion on approaches the agency should consider when developing a framework to group contaminants. Information from this exchange will help develop the agenda for an upcoming Drinking Water Strategy stakeholder meeting and the framework for addressing contaminants as groups. Ghastly trend is leading to ground contamination
FREMONT, CA., July 7, 2010 (Water Tech) – Answering the call to address dozens of abandoned and closed gas stations throughout the state, which have been leaking contaminants and threatening groundwater for years, the State Water Resource Control Board has authorized more than $3 million to invest in the cleanup, according to KGO-TV. Fifty-five gas stations in the state have been focused on for the $3 million investment, added the article, and three of these hazardous sites are in the Bay Area. According to the article, at least one station is contaminating the ground with gas, diesel fuel and MTBEs that have been leaking out of the tanks for untold years. Fremont resident Norma Broussard said: “I think it’s ridiculous, and if it’s seeping into the drinking water … hello! That’s worse than ridiculous. We live here, we’re affected.” “We tried to get the owners to step up to the plate and to date, they haven’t, and that’s why we pursued the route to the state,” said Walter Wandow, general manager from the Alameda County Water District. “While there is no immediate threat to drinking water, eventually over time, that kind of contamination could migrate into the groundwater. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53 to reduce MTBE. Historic water levels and turbidity could raise taxes Three-mile project will help polluted area
ROCHESTER, Ind., July 6, 2010 (Water Tech) – Plans are in the works for extending a water line nearly three miles to reach homes where the area’s groundwater has been polluted, according to an article from the Chicago Tribune. The water line extension, proposed by Textron Inc., is believed to be a viable option to provide safe water to 41 homes, stated the article. The company’s agreement with state and federal agencies permits it to pay for installation of water lines, maintenance for 75 years and, continued the article, pay the residents’ water bills for 20 years. Textron’s attorney Jamie Schiff is interested in determining the long-term maintenance costs with the city’s officials, added the article. EPA approves New York State’s list of impaired waters
NEW YORK, June 30, 2010 (Water Tech) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved the 2010 list of waters in New York State that are considered either impaired or threatened by pollutants, according to a press release. New additions on the 2010 list include waters in Long Island’s South Shore Estuary, shore areas of Lake Ontario, and water bodies contiguous with the lands of several Native American Nations, including the Onondaga, Tonawanda Seneca and St. Regis Mohawk, the release stated. An impaired water body is one that does not meet water quality standards even after pollution controls have been put in place. A threatened water body is one that is expected to be impaired within two years. The list helps to set priorities for addressing current water pollution threats. The Clean Water Act requires states to assess the quality of their waters and to report their findings every two years to EPA. The list is compiled by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and is a valuable tool for reaching the Clean Water Act goal of “fishable and swimmable” waters for all of New York State. “Identifying and prioritizing the state’s most seriously polluted waters are important steps in the effort to reduce water pollution,” said EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck. “In the almost 40 years since the Clean Water Act was adopted, water quality in many of the state’s rivers, lakes and streams has improved, but we still have a very long way to go. The list of impaired waters helps governments, concerned citizens and businesses take action to reach the goal of being able to safely fish and swim in all of our waters.” Wastewater overflows into Blue River in Kansas City, Mo. The American Water Works Association EPA to revise Total Coliform Rule
WASHINGTON, June 18, 2010 (Water Tech) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a revision to the 1989 Total Coliform Rule in order to achieve greater public health protection against waterborne pathogens in public water systems, according to a press release. With the revision, EPA aims to incorporate improvements recommended by a federal advisory committee that included representatives from a broad range of stakeholder groups, including public health and public interest groups, environmental groups, state drinking water agencies and drinking water utilities, the release stated. The revised rule will better protect people from potential exposure to dangerous microbes because it requires water systems to take action when monitoring results indicate that contamination or a pathway to contamination may be present. Under the proposed rule, when monitoring results are positive, systems must find and fix any pathways leading to microbial risk. The proposal also provides incentives for better system operation by improving the criteria for public water systems to qualify for and stay on reduced monitoring, which provides an opportunity to reduce system burden, according to the release. California Water Board releases list of 1,700 severely polluted waterways
SACRAMENTO, CALIF., June 16, 2010 (Water Tech) — According to the California State Water Resources Control Board, there are more than 1,700 beaches, rivers, lakes and coastal waters that are severely polluted or “impaired.” Every two years, the State Water Board is required to create a list of seriously polluted water bodies, known as the “303(d) list,” after Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act. The list, which was formerly adopted on June 15, indicates that more than 90 percent of Californians live within 10 miles of a severely polluted waterway. “The new list reflects a staggering water pollution problem in California,” said Tom Lyons of the California Coastkeeper Alliance. “It shows just how far California is from realizing the Clean Water Act’s promise of fishable, swimmable, drinkable waterways almost four decades after the Act was signed into law.” Pennsylvania House committee to hold public hearing on chloramines
DANBY, VT., June 16, 2010 (Water Tech) — Vermonters for a Clean Environment’s (VCE) Executive Director Annette Smith and a member of People Concerned about Chloramine will testify on June 17 before the Pennsylvania House Health and Human Services Committee, according to a press release. The committee is holding a public hearing on the use of chloramine as a disinfectant in water treatment. Smith’s testimony is part of VCE’s support of legislation in Pennsylvania to place a moratorium on the further use of chloramine in the state, the release stated. The hearing is being held at the request of the Chloramine Information Center and Pennsylvania residents who are concerned about short- and long-term health and engineering impacts caused by the use of chloramine as a secondary disinfectant. “VCE appreciates the chance to educate elected officials in Pennsylvania about Vermonters’ experience with chloramine and changes in water disinfection,” said Smith.“I will be sharing testimony we have heard in Vermont from scientific experts, doctors and individuals who have suffered symptoms. Information is power — if Pennsylvania legislators are listening to the experiences of citizens in other states, they should be thinking twice about allowing the use of chloramine in their state.” Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53 to reduce Chloramine. Residents call for city to delay conversion to chloramine disinfection
GLOUCESTER, MASS., June 11, 2010 (Water Tech) — A group of residents in Gloucester, Mass., have called for the city’s water treatment plant to delay its planned conversion to chloramine disinfection, the Gloucester Times reported. The residents cite evidence that suggests that chloramines may corrode pipes, cause skin rashes and increase rates of asthma and cancer, the article stated. State officials side with the US Environmental Protection Agency, which says chloramines are safe, according to the story. “I want the city representatives to know there is another whole side to chloramine in hopes that this can be delayed so that it can be investigated more,” said local nurse Pat Murphy. “It is not proven to be safe.” Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53 to reduce Chloramine. EPA takes action against Iowa beef feedlots for Clean Water Act violations
KANSAS CITY, KAN., June 10, 2010 (Water Tech) — The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken a series of civil enforcement actions against three beef feedlot operations in Iowa for violations of the Clean Water Act, according to a press release. The actions were part of a continuing enforcement emphasis aimed at ending harmful discharges of pollutants from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) into the region’s rivers and streams, the release stated. “In some instances, we are finding harmful bacteria such as E.coli in wastewater discharged by feedlots at levels that are exponentially higher than the levels at which EPA permits municipal wastewater treatment systems to discharge their treated wastewater,” EPA Regional Administrator Karl Brooks said. “This is just one measure of the harm that can come when feedlots fail to operate within the law.” Manufacturing facilities significant source of pharmaceuticals in water
WASHINGTON, June 7, 2010 (Water Tech) — A new study by the US Geological Survey (USGS) conducted in cooperation with the State of New York indicated that pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities can be a significant source of pharmaceuticals to surface waters, according to a press release. The findings were published in the American Chemical Society’s journal Environmental Science and Technology. Outflow from two wastewater treatment plants in New York that receive more than 20 percent of their wastewater from pharmaceutical facilities had concentrations of pharmaceuticals that were 10 to 1000 times higher than outflows from 24 plants nationwide that do not receive wastewater from pharmaceutical manufacturers, the release stated. “This is the first study in the U.S. to identify pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities as a significant source of pharmaceuticals to the environment,” said Matthew C. Larsen, USGS Associate Director for Water. “The USGS is working with water utilities to evaluate alternative water treatment technologies with the goal of reducing the release of pharmaceuticals and other emerging contaminants to the environment.” This study is part of a long-term effort to determine the fate and effects of chemicals of emerging environmental concern and to provide water-resource managers with objective information that assists in the development of effective water management practices, according to the release. EPA takes action to reduce pesticides in American waters
WASHINGTON, June 2, 2010 (Water Tech) — The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a new permit requirement that would decrease the amount of pesticides discharged to the nation’s waters, according to a press release. This action is in response to an April 9, 2009 court decision that found that pesticide discharges to US waters were pollutants, thus requiring a permit, the release stated. The proposed permit, released for public comment and developed in collaboration with states, would require all operators to reduce pesticide discharges by using the lowest effective amount of pesticide, prevent leaks and spills, calibrate equipment and monitor for and report adverse incidents. Additional controls, such as integrated pest management practices, are built into the permit for operators who exceed an annual treatment area threshold, according to the release. “EPA believes this draft permit strikes a balance between using pesticides to control pests and protecting human health and water quality,” said Peter S. Silva, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Water. Nestle Waters’ John B. Challinor II responds to bacteria in bottled water study
GUELPH, ONTARIO, May 28, 2010 (Water Tech) — In a column posted on nationalpost.com, John B. Challinor II, director of corporate affairs for Nestle Waters Canada, responded to a recent study that showed that bottled water contains more nonpathogenic heterotropic (HPC) bacteria than tap water. Challinor quoted Health Canada as stating, “Like most foods, bottled water may contain naturally occurring bacteria which typically have little or no health significance. In numerous studies, heterotropic bacteria isolated from water have been shown to be of no human health consequence.” He also referenced a 2003 World Health Organization study found that these bacteria pose “no significant risk to consumers.” Challinor
concluded by saying, “HPC bacteria can sometimes be found in trace
amounts in bottled water and municipal water systems, even after
disinfection.” Officials hold public meeting to address contaminated wells
ROGERSVILLE, MO., May 26, 2010 (Water Tech) — A public meeting was held on Tuesday to address concerns about well water contamination in Rogersville, Mo., according to ky3.com. The chemical trichloroethylene (TCE) has been found in 12 area wells and another well tested positive for E. coli bacteria, the article stated. Public officials ordered the meeting in order to update residents on the ongoing investigation and explain how they can protect themselves, the story reported. The source of the TCE has not yet been determined. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is providing filtration systems and bottled water to the affected well users, according to the report. “It’s just one of those unfortunate things that we just don't have the answers to right away,” said Renee Bungart, a spokeswoman for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. “That’s really why we’re trying to focus on the home owners, the people who are drinking the water, getting a solution for them.” Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Trichloroethylene (TCE), a VOC. EPA takes action against CAFOs for Clean Water Act violations
KANSAS CITY, KAN., May 25, 2010 (Water Tech) — The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken a series of civil enforcement actions against six beef feedlot operations in Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska for violations of the Clean Water Act, according to a press release. The EPA Region 7 actions are part of an increased emphasis aimed at ending harmful discharges of pollutants from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) into the region’s rivers and streams, the release stated. Runoff from CAFOs contains pollutants such as pathogens, heavy metals, hormones, antibiotics, sediment and ammonia, as well as nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous, all of which can harm aquatic life and impact water quality. “EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson has made it clear that the protection of America’s waters is an enforcement priority for the Agency,” EPA Regional Administrator Karl Brooks said. “Here in the heartland of America, good agricultural stewards take care of our valuable waters. EPA will use civil enforcement, including penalties when appropriate, to stop illegal practices that pose risks to human health, impact water quality, threaten aquatic life and its habitat and impair the use and enjoyment of waterways.” Nitrate warning issued in Fremont, Ohio
FREMONT, OHIO, May 21, 2010 (Water Tech) — City officials in Fremont, Ohio, issued an alert after water samples collected Wednesday and Thursday showed the water contained nitrates in excess of the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 mg/L, The News-Messenger reported. Tests showed the average concentration of nitrate in the city’s drinking water was 11.35 mg/L, the article stated. While the water is safe for adults and children older than six months, officials warned that infants can become seriously ill if exposed to high levels of nitrates, according to the story. Residents were also advised not to boil the water as boiling can make the nitrates more concentrated. Stephen Lamale, assistant superintendent of the water treatment plant, said the excessive nitrate levels were due to “the amount of rain we’ve had and fertilizers from the fields.” Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure’s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Nitrate/Nitrite. Hexavalent chromium found in basements of N.J. homes
GARFIELD, NJ, May 20, 2010 (Water Tech) — High levels of hexavalent chromium have been found in the basements of 16 homes in Garfield, N.J., according to NorthJersey.com. The carcinogenic chemical seeped into the homes from polluted groundwater, the article stated. The contamination dates back to 1983, when more than 5,000 pounds of chromium spilled from a storage tank at an industrial facility located in close proximity to the affected neighborhood. The US Environmental Protection Agency discovered the chromium contamination during a large-scale study of water and air samples from 163 homes in the area, the story reported. EPA has begun cleaning the basements and will take measures to prevent recontamination, according to the report. “I try to take things in stride, but the bottom line is the properties will be cleaned and that’s all we hope for,” said Mayor Frank Calandriello. “Is it distressing for property owners? Absolutely.” Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure’s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Hexavalent Chromium. Contaminated groundwater plume continues to migrate
GRAND ISLAND, NE, May 19, 2010 (Water Tech) — An underground plume of contaminated water is continuing to migrate under Grand Island, Neb., The Grand Island Independent reported. The water is polluted with degreasing solvents tetrachloroethylene and 1,1-trichloroethane that were dumped at the former Heinzman Engineering irrigation company in the 1970s, the article stated. In the last year, the migration has caused 22 residences on private wells to be hooked up to city water or install whole-house filtration systems, according to the story. In order to resolve the problem, a treatment facility is being installed that will pump 2 million gallons of contaminated water a day, clean it and discharge it into the city’s storm drains. Additionally, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will begin injecting oxidizing chemicals into the groundwater in order to break down the solvents, the story reported. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and 1,1,1-Trichloroethane, both VOCs. Nitrate contamination rampant in California
SAN FRANCISCO, May 17, 2010 (Water Tech) — According to a California Watch investigation, more than 2 million California residents have been exposed to harmful levels of nitrates over the past 15 years, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. The investigation found that the number of wells exceeding the health limit for nitrates went from nine in 1980 to 648 by 2007, the article stated. State law requires public water systems to remove nitrates, but many rural areas do not have access to the appropriate treatment systems, according to the story. Lenient regulations have allowed nitrate contamination to spread virtually unimpeded, and scientists believe the problems will continue to worsen if remedial steps are not taken, the article reported. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure’s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Nitrate/Nitrite. EPA awards $936,000 to upgrade water infrastructure in Village of Jane, Mo.
KANSAS CITY, KAN., May 14, 2010 (Water Tech) — The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $936,000 to the McDonald County, Mo., Public Water Supply District for the construction of a new wastewater collection system in the Village of Jane, Mo., according to a press release. The project is designed to eliminate 130 septic systems which have been polluting ground and surface waters in the Village of Jane, the release stated. A series of pump stations and pipelines will be constructed to convey the wastewater to the existing Bella Vista, Ark., wastewater treatment plant. “It’s always a pleasure to help Missouri communities better protect their water resources. These EPA funds will help build a better system that safeguards the crystal streams and vital groundwater that make the Ozarks a national treasure,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Karl Brooks. Bill reauthorizes Safe Drinking Water Act state revolving fund
WASHINGTON, May 12, 2010 (Water Tech) — Rep. Henry A. Waxman, Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Rep. Edward J. Markey, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, have released legislation that will reauthorize and increase funding for the drinking water state revolving fund (SRF) under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), according to a press release. The “Assistance, Quality and Affordability Act of 2010” will amend SDWA to increase assistance to states, water systems and disadvantaged communities, encourage good financial and environmental management of water systems, strengthen US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforcement authority, reduce lead in drinking water and strengthen the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program, the release stated. The drinking water SRF was created in the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments to provide capitalization grants to states to award infrastructure loans to water systems. “Drinking water infrastructure is a pressing issue in so many of our communities,” said Chairman Waxman. “This bill will increase compliance with SDWA requirements nationwide, protect human health, assist disadvantaged communities and ensure the provision of safe and affordable drinking water for years to come.” Panel recommends water filtering devices for cancer prevention
LISLE, IL, May 19, 2010 (Water Tech) — In its official annual report, the President’s Cancer Panel recommended the use of home filtering devices to decrease exposure to cancer-causing agents, according to a press release. In the report, titled “Reducing Environmental Cancer Risks: What We Can Do Now,” the panel stated, “Individuals and families have many opportunities to reduce or eliminate chemical exposures. For example, filtering home tap water or well water can decrease exposure to numerous known or suspected carcinogens or endocrine-disrupting chemicals.” “This reaffirms what independent testing shows,” said Peter J. Censky, executive director of the Water Quality Association (WQA). “Home water treatment is a proven final barrier against many harmful chemicals.” The President’s Cancer Panel is a three-person body that reports to the President of the United States on the development and execution of the National Cancer Program. To read complete article, go to: www.watertechonline.com/news.asp?N_ID=74130 Panel: Chemicals pose big cancer risk
WASHINGTON, May 7, 2010 (Washington Post) -- An expert panel that advises the president on cancer said Thursday that Americans are facing "grievous harm" from chemicals in the air, food and water that largely have gone unregulated and ignored. The President's Cancer Panel called for a new national strategy that focuses on such threats in the environment and workplace. It called those dangers "underestimated." "With the growing body of evidence linking environmental exposures to cancer, the public is becoming increasingly aware of the unacceptable burden of cancer resulting from environmental and occupational exposures that could have been prevented through appropriate national action," the panel wrote in a report released yesterday. Federal chemical laws are weak, funding is inadequate and regulatory responsibilities are split among too many agencies, the panel found. Children are particularly vulnerable because of their smaller bodies and fast physical development, the panel found. The report noted rising rates of cancer in children, and it referred to recent studies that have found industrial chemicals in umbilical-cord blood, which supplies nutrients to developing fetuses. To read complete article, go to: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_679918.html High levels of PCBs, DDT found in stormwater runoff
YAKIMA, WASH., May 5, 2010 (Water Tech) — The Washington Department of Ecology (WDE) has found high concentrations of DDT and PCBs in stormwater runoff samples gathered in Yakima and Union Gap, the Yakima Herald-Republic reported. PCBs were detected in all 13 water samples collected between April 2007 and June 2008, according to the story. Dieldrin, chlordane and toxaphene and high levels of sediment were also found in the samples, the article stated. According to Art Johnson, a natural resources scientist for WDE, the levels of DDT and PCBs in the stormwater samples were in concentrations 100 times higher than in the lower Yakima River as a whole. “I think it is clear that stormwater needs to be addressed in whatever cleanup plans are implemented,” Johnson said. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53 to reduce PCB. EPA launches web tools to inform public about Clean Water Act violations
WASHINGTON, May 3, 2010 (Water Tech) — The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched a new set of web tools, data and interactive maps to inform the public about serious Clean Water Act violations in their communities, according to a press release. The web tools are part of EPA’s Clean Water Act Action Plan to work with states in ensuring that facilities comply with standards that keep that nation’s water clean, the release stated. The new web page provides interactive information from EPA’s 2008 Annual Noncompliance Report, which pertains to about 40,000 permitted Clean Water Act dischargers across the country and lists state-by-state summary data of violations and enforcement responses taken by the states for smaller facilities. The new web page also allows users to compare states by compliance rates and enforcement actions taken and provides access to updated State Review Framework (SRF) reports, according to the release. “EPA is taking another important step to increase transparency and keep Americans informed about the safety of their local waters,” said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Making this information more accessible and understandable empowers millions of people to press for better compliance and enforcement in their communities.” EPA completes groundwater testing in Lower Yakima Valley
YAKIMA, WASH., April 27, 2010 (Water Tech) — The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has completed a second round of sampling in the Lower Yakima Valley in an attempt to link the high nitrate levels in groundwater and private wells to possible sources of contamination, according to a press release. In the first round of testing, which took place between Feb. 22 and March 6, EPA found 21 percent of the 330 residential wells tested had nitrate levels greater than the EPA drinking water standard of 10 parts per million, the release stated. EPA used the results from the first round of testing to identify locations for the second, more focused round of sampling, which was completed on April 22, according to the release. The second round included taking water from 29 wells to test for a wide array of contaminants including nitrate, isotopes of nitrogen, bacteria, pesticides, general chemistry parameters and a variety of pharmaceuticals and hormones. Over the next few months, EPA will analyze and evaluate these samples, which may help link the high nitrate levels in the valley’s groundwater with possible sources of contamination, the release stated. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure’s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Nitrate/Nitrite. EPA orders 79 Penn. municipalities to update MS4 programs
PHILADELPHIA, April 26, 2010 (Water Tech) —The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has sent orders to 79 municipalities in south central Pennsylvania requiring improvements to their Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) programs, according to a press release. The orders require the cited municipalities to correct problems with their respective MS4 programs and come into compliance with their Clean Water Act permits, the release stated. “These actions are critical since improperly managed stormwater can wash harmful pollutants into local streams and rivers,” said Shawn M. Garvin, regional administrator for EPA’s mid-Atlantic region. “EPA is committed to gaining compliance with these municipalities for the health of local waterways in Pennsylvania and the Chesapeake Bay.” UN-Water report focuses on sanitation, drinking water
WASHINGTON, April 23, 2010 (Water Tech) — According to the latest UN-Water Global Annual Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking Water (GLAAS) report, aid commitments for sanitation and water fell from 8 percent of total development in 1997 to 5 percent in 2008, U.S. Politics Today reported. Released yesterday by UN-Water and the World Health Organization (WHO), the report stated that many countries are still not allocating sufficient resources to water and sanitation despite evidence that achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) would lower health care costs, increase school attendance and boost productivity, the article stated. Improved access to sanitation and drinking water can increase a country’s gross domestic product (GDP) by an estimated 2 to 7 percent, according to the story. “Neglecting sanitation and drinking water is a strike against progress. Without it, communities and countries will lose the battle against poverty and ill-health,” said Dr. Maria Neira, WHO director of Public Health and Environment. The complete findings from the report will be presented today at the first annual High Level Meeting of Sanitation and Water for All, hosted by UNICEF in Washington, D.C., the report stated. EPA proposes plan to clean up groundwater contamination site
WARREN COUNTY, NJ, April 20, 2010 (Water Tech) — The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a plan to address groundwater contamination in the Washington and Philipsburg areas of New Jersey, according to lehighvalleylive.com. The plan calls for about 320 homes in Franklin and Greenwich townships to be hooked up to a public water system and the construction of about 10 miles of new water line, the article stated. According
to the story, the proposal, which will cost nearly $14 million in
capital expenses and $77,000 in annual costs, affects the Pohatcong
Valley Groundwater Contamination Site — a Superfund site that has been
contaminated with trichloroethene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE). EPA plans cleanup of San Gabriel Valley Superfund site
ALHAMBRA, CA, April 16, 2010 (Water Tech) — The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has entered into the planning stage on how to clean up water contamination under the San Gabriel Valley’s final untreated Superfund site, the Pasadena Star News reported. The area, which includes the cities of Alhambra, San Gabriel and parts of Rosemead, Temple City, San Marino and South Pasadena, was declared a Superfund site in 1984, but EPA did not complete its full investigation until a few months ago, the article stated. The investigation revealed dangerously high levels of the carcinogens tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE), according to the story. “Now we have the data, so we can begin to consider ways to clean it up,” said Lisa Hanusiak, EPA area project manager. EPA
will spend the next several months determining the best means of
removing the contamination and will announce its final plan next year. Researchers study link between high arsenic levels in groundwater and IQ
OAKLAND, MAINE, April 14, 2010 (Water Tech) — Researchers from Columbia University and the University of New Hampshire have been performing tests on elementary school students in central Maine to study the connection between high concentrations of arsenic in groundwater and intelligence levels, the Morning Sentinel reported. Central Maine school systems have been selected for the study because geological surveys showed the area to have high arsenic content in its groundwater supplies, according to the story. The researchers need more Maine study subjects before they can draw concrete conclusions, but initial findings indicate that there is a “small differential” between the IQs of children with high arsenic levels in their families’ private well-water supplies and those without it, the article stated. After evaluating well-water supplies from more than 200 children and their families, the researchers found that 55 of the first 92 wells studied had arsenic levels that exceed federal guidelines, according to the report. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure’s MP880 Series has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Arsenic V. N.M. town enacts action plan to reduce arsenic in drinking water
BERNALILLO, NM, April 9, 2010 (Water Tech)
— Bernalillo, N.M., has enacted a Corrective Action Plan to bring the
town’s water into compliance with federal regulations, The New Mexico Independent reported. Arsenic in drinking water disturbs Ind. resident
MT. VERNON, ID, April 8, 2010 (Water Tech) — A Posey County, Ind. resident who is disturbed with the amount of arsenic in his drinking water has appealed to the county and state to provide drinkable water, according to an article on wfie.com. After testing their water for arsenic last year, Todd Thurman and his neighbors found high levels of arsenic, the story reported. “Everybody went around and had it checked and it ranged anywhere from 13 parts per billion to 77 parts per billion,” Thurman said. The US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) arsenic standard for drinking water is 10 parts per billion. Thurman said that higher than normal arsenic levels were found even after installing a filtration system, according to the story. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure’s MP880 Series has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Arsenic V. R.I. floodwaters pose serious threat to public health
PROVIDENCE, RI, April 2, 2010 (Water Tech) — Rhode Island health and environment officials warned residents of the potential threats posed by contaminated floodwaters, the Associated Press reported. New England was struck by three days of heavy precipitation this week, causing massive flooding. Rhode Island was hit particularly hard, according to the story. Raw sewage, garbage and other contaminants are being carried in floodwater to the state’s rivers and streams and may end up in Narragansett Bay, the ocean inlet that is the lifeblood of the shellfishing industry, the article stated. Treatment plants in Warwick and West Warwick and a pump station in Cranston have been overwhelmed by the flooding, causing even more problems for the state’s citizens, according to the story. Report on California water conditions published
SACRAMENTO, March 31, 2010 (Water Tech) — California water experts have announced the publication of a five-volume report on California water conditions, challenges and water resource management, according to a press release. Titled “California Water Plan Update 2009,” the report comes on the heels of a historic water legislation package passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger in November 2009, the release stated. Published at five year intervals, the updates of the 1957 California Water Plan are required by law and have been important sources of information for water planners, according to the release. “The 2009 California Water Plan Update sets forth a blueprint for sustainability and forges a new direction for water management in California,” said Lester Snow, secretary for Natural Resources. To read complete article, go to: http://aquafornia.com/archives/22759 Toxic plumes contaminate groundwater in PA
LIMERICK, PA, March 29, 2010 (Water Tech) — Underground plumes of hazardous chemicals from two industrial sites have contaminated the groundwater beneath several dozen residences in Limerick, Pennsylvania, The Mercury reported. The source of the contamination is believed to be the Teleflex Inc. plant and the former Stanley Stool Works, the article stated. Officials said that the potentially carcinogenic chemicals — trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), 1,1-dichloroethylene (DCE), 1,2 dichloroethene (Cis) and 1,4-dioxane — threaten the area’s wells and could cause health problems for citizens, according to the story. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53 to reduce Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and Trichloroethylene (TCE), both VOCs. Toxic plumes contaminate groundwater in PA
LIMERICK, PA, March 29, 2010 (Water Tech) — Underground plumes of hazardous chemicals from two industrial sites have contaminated the groundwater beneath several dozen residences in Limerick, Pennsylvania, The Mercury reported. The source of the contamination is believed to be the Teleflex Inc. plant and the former Stanley Stool Works, the article stated. Officials said that the potentially carcinogenic chemicals — trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), 1,1-dichloroethylene (DCE), 1,2 dichloroethene (Cis) and 1,4-dioxane — threaten the area’s wells and could cause health problems for citizens, according to the story. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53 to reduce Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and Trichloroethylene (TCE), both VOCs. New EPA drinking water regulations could impact treatment costs in Nev.
RENO, NV, March 25, 2010 (Water Tech) — The new strategies for safe drinking water announced by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on March 22 could have an impact on local water treatment costs in Washoe County, Nevada, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported. EPA has called for a tightening of drinking water standards for the toxic solvent tetrachloroethylene, or PCE, which is present in some groundwater wells in the area, according to the story. Trichloroethylene (TCE), another solvent found in smaller quantities in local groundwater, is also being targeted for stricter regulation, the article stated. Depending on the exact details of the regulations, treatment could be required at some wells, the story reported. “We planned for this possibility. We’re prepared for it,” said Paul Miller, water quality chief for the Truckee Meadows Water Authority. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53 to reduce Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and Trichloroethylene (TCE), both VOCs. AWWA supports EPA's new strategies for drinking water
WASHINGTON , March 24, 2010 (Water Tech) — American Water Works Association Deputy Executive Director Tom Curtis released a statement in response to the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement that it is developing new strategies to protect the nation’s drinking water, according to a press release. In the statement, Curtis addressed EPA’s desire to encourage the development of new water treatment technologies. “The water sector has a longstanding commitment to exploring technological advancements that provide safe, healthy water at a reasonable cost to communities and consumers,” Curtis said. “AWWA especially encourages the exploration of technologies that reduce utility energy costs and the water sector’s carbon footprint. We look forward to facilitating partnerships between AWWA members and EPA to encourage advancements that serve public health.” Curtis also expressed AWWA’s support of the proposed stricter regulations for the carcinogenic compounds tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene, epichlorohydrin and acrylamide. Multi-Pure Commentary: WEST PALM BEACH, FL, March 23, 2010 (Water Tech) — West Palm Beach city officials are considering the installation of a new $63 million water filtration system, the Palm Beach Post reported. A formal vote to approve the project is expected at the city commission’s next meeting, the article stated. According to Mayor Lois Frankel, the new system, which will replace the current 100-year-old water treatment system, would save the city $5 million per year. “This is a very historic situation for us,” said Frankel. “This water system was originally built by Henry Flagler over 100 years ago, and we’re coming into the modern age. We’re very confident now that the water system is better than ever and it’s going to improve dramatically.” U.N. report: Polluted water kills about 2.2 million a year; wars claim fewer victims per year(CNN) March 22, 2010 - Contaminated and polluted water now kills more people than all forms of violence including wars, according to a United Nations report released Monday that calls for turning unsanitary wastewater into an environmentally safe economic resource. "At the beginning of the 21st century, the world faces a water crisis, both of quantity and quality, caused by continuous population growth, industrialization, food production practices, increased living standards and poor water use strategies," the report by the U.N. Environmental Program says. As a result, "it is essential that wastewater management is considered as part of integrated, ecosystem-based management that operates across sectors and borders, freshwater and marine." The report defines wastewater as a combination of fertilizer runoff, sewage disposal and other animal, agricultural and industrial wastes. According to the report -- titled "Sick Water?" -- 90 percent of wastewater discharged daily in developing countries is untreated, contributing to the deaths of some 2.2 million people a year from diarrheal diseases caused by unsafe drinking water and poor hygiene. At least 1.8 million children younger than 5 die every year from water-related diseases, the report says. To read entire article, please go to: EPA announces new strategies for safe drinking water DELAWARE CITY, March 16, 2010 (Water Tech) — New tests have revealed that pollution from a defunct chemical plant near Delaware City is much worse than officials previously believed, The News Journal reported. Concentrations of benzene, a known carcinogen, in the groundwater around the former Metachem Products plant are thousands of times higher than the federal government’s drinking water safety limit, according to the story. At least six other toxic chemicals were also found near the site, the article stated. Brooklyn officials plead to New York governor for drinking water protection Communities file law suit over atrazine contamination City of Lubbock fined for wastewater violations Complaint filed against L.A. County Flood Control District for stormwater violations JEFFERSON CITY, MO, February 22, 2010 (Water Tech) — Missouri Governor Jay Nixon announced that the Department of Natural Resources has awarded $18.7 million in grants and loans to seven communities for wastewater and drinking water infrastructure upgrades, according to a press release. A portion of the funding, which was provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will go towards green infrastructure, water and energy efficiency and environmentally innovative projects, the release stated. The communities receiving the funds are: Joplin, California, Wardsville, Fremont Hills, Carterville, Cassville and Ste. Genevieve. Navy holds meeting to discuss possible contamination of Waller Mill Reservoir Experts to analyze Hudson River PCB dredging reportsALBANY, NY, February 16, 2010 (Water Tech) —This week, independent experts will begin analyzing two technical reports on the first year of PCB dredging from the Hudson River, the Times Union reported. The reports, filed by General Electric and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), delivered the first results from the nation’s largest Superfund cleanup project, the article stated. GE plants discharged PCBs, now known to be probable carcinogens, into the Hudson River for decades before they were banned in 1977, according to the story. EPA believes the project, which will dredge another 30 miles of the river, is on schedule to be completed in five years, the article reported. Multi-Pure Commentary:
EPA sues city of Memphis for violations of Clean Water Act
Drinking water tests reveal high nitrate concentrations Hospital bans bottled water State officials order Duke Energy to test for toxins in groundwater near coal plants Oklahoma business fined for violating Clean Water Act EPA orders Illinois dairy to comply with Clean Water Act AWWA publishes fifth edition of Plain Talk About Drinking Water DENVER, January 25, 2010 (Water Tech) — The American Water Works Association (AWWA) has announced the publication of the fifth edition of its best-selling book Plain Talk About Drinking Water, according to a press release. The book addresses 231 common questions about water in an easy-to-follow question and answer format, the release stated. Plain Talk About Drinking Water was written by Dr. James M. Symons, a University of Houston professor who has published more than 100 technical articles on drinking water and related subjects, according to the release. The book is available at AWWA’s online bookstore. Uranium, Arsenic and water softener salts found in New Mexico wells Tests reveal trace levels of hexavalent chromium in two cities’ water supplies Tests reveal high arsenic levels near schools Is your drinking water safe? Polluted groundwater concerns officials Perchlorates
and other dangerous chemicals used by the aerospace industry were
leaked into the groundwater, causing concern among the US Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and local officials, the story stated.
CHICAGO, December 28, 2009 (Water Tech) — In cooperation with the Ottawa River Group and the state of Ohio, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has started construction on phase one of a cleanup effort of the Ottawa River and Sibley Creek in Toledo, Ohio, according to a press release. The project, which is part of the EPA’s Great Lakes Legacy Act, aims to reduce impacts to human health and the environment by removing approximately 260,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment from the creek and river, the release said. The presence of heavy metals, PCBs and PAHs in the sediment is the main reason that fish advisories are currently in place, the release added. “The start of this cleanup brings us closer to the day when the public can safely eat all fish from the Great Lakes and their tributaries,” said Bharat Mathur, EPA acting regional administrator. EPA begins cleanup of Ottawa River Study of cancer cases in New Jersey underway That Tap Water Is Legal but May Be Unhealthy Multi-Pure Commentary: Las Vegas’ drinking water among worst in nation Pollutants found in Riverside County’s water supply Tap water report reveals best and worst supplies NY Rep probed over his bottled water budget UTICA, NY, December 14, 2009 (Water Tech)
— U.S. Rep Michael Arcuri’s offices apparently spend $200 a month on
bottled water, an amount that is questionable, according to the
advocacy group Common Cause New York, the Observer-Dispatch reported. High levels of lead at taps in NJ community Drinking water violations examined by NY Times NEW YORK, December 8, 2009 (Water Tech)
— Regulatory and water system data analyzed by The New York Times show
that more than 49 million people in the US have consumed polluted
drinking water since 2004, according to a report in the December 8
print edition of The New York Times. MA town faces $82K fine for drinking water violations BOSTON, December 4, 2009 (Water Tech) — Gloucester, a city on Massachusetts’ North Shore which was forced to issue a 20-day boil-water order during August and September, now faces more than $82,000 in fines from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for violating safe drinking water regulations, The Boston Globe reported December 4. The total fine is $82,187.50: $15,000 for clean water violations during the drinking water crisis and a $67,187.50 penalty that will be suspended if the city complies with the terms of the consent order, the DEP said in a December 3 news release. The consent order requires the city on Cape Ann to make improvements to its water supply system, including $8 million in upgrades to equipment at its Babson water treatment facility. Water testing detected fecal coliform at the Babson plant; the plant eventually was temporarily shut down, as WaterTech Online® reported. According to a December 3 Gloucester Daily Times story, “In their first report on what went wrong this summer, DEP experts cited ‘years of neglect’ of the systems at Babson combined with ‘lax oversight’ by the city of its private water contractor as central causes of persistent bacteria blooms.” EWG's Top-Rated and Lowest-Rated Water Utilities
The Environmental Working Group put together a thorough database of drinking water test results that The New York Times asked to use it in reporting its current series on "What's Wrong with America's Drinking Water?" EWG spent three years analyzing the results of almost 20 million drinking water tests from water utilities. They detected 316 pollutants in water supplied to Americans since 2004. More than half are completely unregulated, and more than 130 turned up in amounts exceeding official health-based guidelines. The good news? When the Environmental Protection Agency sets mandatory water quality standards, the tests show that local water suppliers meet them 92 percent of the time. The bad news? The standards need to be much tougher to protect children and pregnant women, and the EPA hasn't set a single new drinking water standard since 2001. Use EWG's unique online guide to make safe, science-based choices at home. Water quality varies considerably across the country, so they are providing local information for you to make smart decisions about the drinking water in your home. With their
2009 online drinking water guide, you can: You can read EWG's full report at www.ewg.org/tap-water/home to learn more about drinking water pollution -- what contaminants we face, where they come from, what the government is and isn't doing about them -- and what EWG recommends to policy makers. Perchlorate-tainted water gets federal attention New study details Iowa’s emerging contaminants PA AmWater system to switch to chloramines High levels of nitrates prompt warning TCE confirmed in IL communities’ supplies PA residents sue energy co. over water contamination Akron, OH, to improve sewer system WASHINGTON, November 17, 2009 (Water Tech) — The city of Akron, OH, has agreed to make extensive improvements to its sewer system to reduce or eliminate sewage overflows that have long polluted the Cuyahoga River and some connecting waterways, the Justice Department, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state of Ohio announced November 13. Although the city has until October 15, 2028, to comply with the agreement, a Clean Water Act settlement lodged November 13 in federal court requires the city within the next year to identify appropriate methods of controlling or eliminating the discharges. According to the settlement, the city is required to develop and implement a comprehensive plan to reduce or eliminate: ● Untreated overflows of sanitary sewage and storm water from its combined sewer system. The city’s sewage and wastewater discharges flow into the Cuyahoga River, the Little Cuyahoga River, the Ohio Canal and their tributaries and contribute to the impairment of water quality in those waterways, the release said. Among other requirements of the settlement, the city must expand capacity at its wastewater treatment plant to allow for treatment of at least an additional 20 million gallons of wastewater per day. Study finds arsenic prevalent in rural IA wells OH city identifying sources of mercury in effluent Undrinkable water still flows from KY taps High levels of arsenic plague community’s well Research continues on arsenic-diabetes link Odor, high chlorine levels in water worry residents Nitrates, other pollutants dumped in IA waters More frequent Crypto testing ordered for town ID district, EPA settles regarding SDWA violations SEATTLE, October 23, 2009 (Water Tech) — A water district in northern Idaho will do an equipment rehab and a cleanup and pay a $5,000 penalty to settle a federal complaint about non-compliance with drinking water regulations, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said in an October 21 news release. The East Shoshone County Water District in Wallace, ID, will rehabilitate a water filtration plant and distribution system, perform a $20,000 mine adit (tunnel) cleanup, and pay the penalty. The release said the district failed to comply with a Safe Drinking Water Act Compliance Order issued in March of 2000. According to Ed Kowalski, Director of EPA’s Enforcement Office in Seattle, this is a major step forward toward providing safe water for Burke Canyon residents, who comprise a portion of the district’s service area. The district operates three separate water systems that serve about 3,200 customers in the communities of Wallace, Mullan and Burke, in Idaho’s panhandle. The Burke system, located near the city of Wallace, has about 21 service connections that regularly serve approximately 45 people. The announced settlement, under an EPA Consent Decree, requires the district construct and operate a filtration system for water customers in Burke Canyon at an estimated cost of $600,000; rehabilitate the existing distribution system; comply with maximum contaminant levels, monitoring, reporting and public notice requirements for coliform bacteria; and spend approximately $20,000 to modify the discharge from the nearby abandoned mine. The district has also agreed to pay a $5,000 cash penalty. The filtration project is required for the Burke system because it draws its raw water from Sawmill Gulch Creek, and there is the potential for contamination by Cryptosporidium or Giardia. The district currently chlorinates the water prior to providing it to customers, but, according to the EPA, the chlorine treatment alone is insufficient to eliminate the threat from these disease-causing organisms. Multi-Pure Commentary: Lead detected in Utica, NY, city schools Four FL schools find drinking water violations Small city’s tough search for arsenic treatment High levels of lead in Purdue U. water EPA called on to address toxic school-water Final airliner drinking water rule to take effect CA lead-free rule applies to treatment devices EPA orders PA system to reduce arsenic EPA extends perchlorate comment period Tampa leaders mull ‘toilet-to-tap’ NEW YORK, September 25, 2009 (Water Tech) — Unsafe levels of lead, pesticides and other contaminants have been found in the drinking water at thousands of US schools in all 50 states over the last decade, and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not have the authority to require testing for all schools, according to an investigative report by The Associated Press (AP), published September 25. Although the EPA can provide environmental guidance, according to the report, “the problem has gone largely unmonitored by the federal government, even as the number of water safety violations has multiplied.” Drinking water expert Marc Edwards, Ph.D., a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA, said “it’s an outrage” that “we have no system to make people follow the rules to keep schoolchildren safe.” The AP report includes a comment from Cynthia Dougherty, head of EPA’s Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water, in which she notes “there’s a different risk for kids” than for adults in drinking contaminated water. Because children drink more water per pound than adults, they are more vulnerable to the effects of hazardous substances, the AP reported, noting that stricter federal safe drinking water regulations for a number of contaminants, such as arsenic, mean drinking water at more schools is now exceeding standards. The AP investigation found that the problem is most apparent at schools with wells, which represent 8 to 11 percent of the nation’s schools. AP said that after it analyzed data from the EPA, it found that “roughly one of every five schools with its own water supply violated the Safe Drinking Water Act in the past decade.” Multi-Pure Commentary: PCE linked to increased risk of defects: research Medicines, perchlorate on new EPA ‘candidate’ list Pesticides-in-water prompt POE carbon WQA urges use of POU devices following NYT report Contaminated water drunk by 1 in 10 Americans: NY Times WY rancher still doesn’t trust his well water Filtration system, bottled water temporary solutions State officials have found low levels of TCE, or trichloroethylene, and arsenic in local wells. IL community gets high nitrates warning MENDON, IL , September 3, 2009 (Water Tech) — A recent routine weekly water test revealed high nitrate levels in this western Illinois village’s drinking water, a September 3 Quincy Herald-Whig story said. The village on August 21 received news that the nitrate level was 12 milligrams per liter (mg/L); the federal maximum contaminant level is 10 mg/L. The Mendon Water Department distributed a drinking water alert that day noting that while the water was safe for adults and children older than 6 months of age, the high nitrate level posed a danger to infants 6 months and under. Water high in nitrates that is ingested by infants, pregnant women, adults with low stomach acidity or people with a certain enzyme deficiency can cause methemoglobinemia, or “blue baby syndrome,” as the ingested nitrates are converted to nitrites in the body. This reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, and severe cases result in brain damage or death. Multi-Pure Commentary: Plume with TCE migrates toward well field POU devices may help, Indiana says of atrazine High atrazine in water unreported, NY Times finds Water quality an issue for Oregon community Turbidity prompts water-use restrictions Army looks for chemicals in private well water
New CA lead rule still vague, industry says Lead-in-water inquiry finds more children affected PCB dredging in Hudson River stops, then resumes Bill would require national MCL for perchlorate Most consumers want to buy ‘green,’ study finds 31 MO systems fail to complete routine testing According to the department, each system has at least three major monitoring violations in a 12-month period. How arsenic affects severity of H1N1 flu studied WOODS HOLE, MA, July 17, 2009 (Water Tech) — Researchers studying the link between exposure to arsenic and a reduced immune response to influenza A virus (H1N1) are reporting for the first time how arsenic exposure affects the severity of the disease, a July 17 Environmental Health News (EHN) report said. The EHN report reviews the study, “Low Dose Arsenic Compromises the Immune Response to Influenza A Infection in vivo.” The study, initially published online in May by peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health Perspectives, has been reviewed, revised and accepted for print publication. At the time of online publication, researchers Joshua Hamilton of Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole, MA, and Courtney Kozul of Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH, et al, reported that the study, conducted in mice, concluded that low-level, long-term exposure to arsenic, such as through contaminated drinking water, “significantly compromises the immune response” to H1N1, also known as swine flu. Theirs is the first study to link arsenic exposure to a reduced immune response, as WaterTech Online® reported. The researchers now are reporting that those mice exposed to arsenic exhibit a decrease in the number of dendritic cells, immune cells that lead the immune system response against infections. Research also showed that exposure changed important immune functions, such as reducing dendritic cell movement into the lungs. These changes predisposed the mice to the severe immune failure following H1N1 infection, the study said. The
results suggest those people most exposed to arsenic through their
drinking water may be more susceptible to illness and possibly death
when infected with the H1N1 swine flu virus, EHN reported. Stimulus funds slated for arsenic removal Tracing nitrates from groundwater to Chesapeake Bay Small system’s radium levels concern customers EPA revises Stage 2 DBP Rule Cancer cluster raises questions about wells Birds Eye seeks to remedy well contamination UNC clean drinking water program gets boost Carbonate aquifers low in contaminants: USGS WASHINGTON, June 26, 2009 (Water Tech) — Carbonate aquifers, which provide more groundwater for drinking water than any other type of bedrock aquifer in the United States, are typically low in contaminants, the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported in a June 26 press release summarizing the results of a new USGS study. Carbonate aquifers are underground rock layers typically consisting of limestone or dolomite, and some can contain caves or cause sinkholes. Much of Florida, for instance, is underlain by these aquifers, and the large Edwards-Trinity aquifer is beneath Texas. Carbonate aquifers supply 20 percent of the groundwater used for drinking in the United States. The USGS noted that radon and nitrate were among the few contaminants with elevated concentrations in samples taken in its study from water wells drilled into carbonate aquifers. Nitrate was the most commonly detected contaminant sampled in these aquifers at concentrations above its federal maximum contaminant limit (for nitrate: 10 parts per million), the USGS said. Nitrate exceeded that standard in 5 percent of sampled wells. USGS said the types of contaminants found in carbonate aquifers are closely related to land use, such as the use of fertilizers, pesticides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Multi-Pure Commentary: Possible VOC contamination prompts state advisory CA city to test active wells for perchlorate Arsenic removal ordered for OH facility MN county’s study enters ‘nitrate’ phase FL residents to decide on drinking reclaimed water Arsenic cluster remedied with public hookups PFOA found in supply for GA communities Multi-Pure Commentary: Toronto finds elevated lead in tap water TORONTO, May 29, 2009 (Water Tech) — The most recent round of water tests here has revealed high levels of lead in seven of 100 residential locations tested, according to a May 29 Mirror Guardian report. The results from the Ministry of the Environment-regulated tests, performed from last December to April, are consistent with those gathered during a similar testing program carried out during the same period last year. Health Canada has set a recommended limit of less than 10 parts per billion of lead in drinking water. The tests are conducted in areas of the city known to have lead pipes and in which homes built prior to the mid-1950s are located. The city is addressing the problem through its nine-year lead pipe replacement program, the report said. Dry-cleaning chemicals threaten IL groundwater FOX LAKE, IL, May 27, 2009 (Water Tech) — After two Fox Lake municipal wells tested positive for levels of dry-cleaning chemicals greater than groundwater standards, Illinois health officials have advised private well owners to test their wells for a host of contaminants, according to a May 26 Chicago Daily Herald report. State officials reported that levels of two chemicals, dichloromethane and benzene, exceeded standards in Fox Lake wells. Other chemicals, including carbon tetrachloride and trichloroethylene, also were detected, but at levels less than groundwater standards. The Illinois Department of Public Health said owners of private wells should contact a private laboratory to test their well water for the contaminants, which may have originated at two dry cleaners in the village, the report said. Multi-Pure Commentary: Study: Arsenic in water vs. lowered H1N1 immunity WOODS HOLE, MA, May 21, 2009 (Water Tech) — Drinking water contaminated with arsenic may compromise the immune system’s ability to mount a response to influenza A (H1N1) infection, also known as swine flu, researchers say, according to a May 21 ScienceDaily report. Researchers at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) and Dartmouth Medical School, whose study is reported on in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, said when a person is infected with the flu, they immediately develop an immune response. In a normal response, immune cells rush to the lungs and produce chemicals that help fight the infection. Joshua Hamilton, MBL’s chief academic and scientific officer and a senior scientist in the MBL Bay Paul Center, and Dartmouth graduate student Courtney Kozul, found that mice which had ingested 100 parts per billion (ppb) of arsenic in their drinking water for five weeks had an initially feeble immune response to H1N1 infection. When a response finally did kick in days later, it was “too robust and too late,” according to Hamilton, who noted that this led to bleeding and damage in the lungs.Morbidity over the course of the infection was significantly higher for the arsenic-exposed animals than the normal animals, the report said. The researchers chose to study the link between arsenic-contaminated drinking water and the response to H1N1 because Mexico, where the current flu outbreak is believed to have started, has large areas of very high arsenic in its well water. Those areas include places where the flu first appeared. According to Hamilton, “We don’t know that the Mexicans who got the flu were drinking high levels of arsenic, but it’s an intriguing notion that this may have contributed.”Multi-Pure Commentary: Lower PFOA advisory level needed: researchers TRENTON, NJ, May 20, 2009 (Water Tech) — Research on the toxic chemical perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in New Jersey drinking water has led the study’s authors to recommend a health-based drinking water limit for PFOA of 0.04 micrograms per liter (µg/L), according to a May 12 ScienceNews article. Researchers
report online and in an upcoming issue of the journal Environmental
Science & Technology that humans are exposed through drinking water
to PFOA, also known as C8, at levels approaching concentrations that
trigger adverse health effects in laboratory animals. Chemical
maker DuPont, which has manufacturing facilities in New Jersey, has
used the chemical to make Teflon® and other non-stick coatings. PFOA is
considered carcinogenic and toxic to the liver. DuPont has said it will
discontinue use of the chemical by 2015. According to ScienceNews, Cooper noted that where contaminated water entered a water treatment plant, “[PFOA] concentrations in the intake water and the output water were basically the same.” Cooper told WHYY news on May 18 that the levels of PFOA in drinking water he observed raise concerns because the chemical can remain in the human body: “Anytime you have a compound that can bio-accumulate and has a very long half-life in the blood of humans, it has the potential to cause problems.” Multi-Pure Commentary: Widow alleges husband died from contaminated water CHICAGO, May 15, 2009 (Water Tech) — More legal action faces the suburban Chicago village of Crestwood after the widow of a Crestwood man has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the village and its former mayor, The Southtown Star reported May 15. The widow is claiming in a lawsuit filed May 14 in Cook County Circuit Court that her husband developed lymphoma after drinking the village’s contaminated water for a number of years. In mid-April, a Chicago Tribune investigation revealed that officials of Crestwood cut water supply costs by supplementing the community’s supply with municipal well water tainted with dichloroethylene and vinyl chloride, two chemicals related to the dry-cleaning solvent perchloroethylene (PCE). PCE is linked to cancer, liver damage and neurological problems. The well was shut off in 2007 following testing of municipal wells by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. On April 29, seeking village records, agents from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), FBI and other federal agencies raided the village Department of Public Works and other offices in connection with the allegations, as WaterTech Online® reported. That investigation is continuing.US senator calls for EPA to study meds-in-water WASHINGTON, May 13, 2009 (Water Tech) — US Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, announced on May 12 a legislative proposal to study the presence of trace amounts of pharmaceuticals in drinking water and their long-term health effects. According to Gillibrand’s office, the senator announced the proposal in response to reports of trace levels of pharmaceuticals, such as estrogen and codeine, found in waterways in New York and around the nation. In March 2008, an Associated Press investigation reported the presence of antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones, among other drugs in drinking water. Gillibrand’s office said the senator will move her proposal ahead this week when the Senate considers comprehensive legislation to improve water infrastructure across the country. As a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Gillibrand seeks to play a leading role in drafting the Water Infrastructure Financing Act, with the aim of revitalizing the country’s deteriorating sewage and water treatment systems. “As we upgrade our failing water infrastructure, it is important that we also address the safety of our drinking water,” Gillibrand is quoted as saying. “Right now the federal government does not have adequate data on the long-term health effects of these trace chemicals. Parents count on the government to ensure clean, safe drinking water for all our families.” According to Gillibrand, her provision will require the US Environmental Protection Agency to study the presence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in water, identify exactly what is found and at what level, identify the source, and how to control, limit, treat or prevent their dissemination in drinking water. The EPA would have two years to produce the study. VT Senate passes chloramine-alternative study bill Montpelier, VT, May 6, 2009 (Water Tech) — The Vermont Senate on May 5 passed legislation that could prompt a study of alternatives to chloramine as a secondary disinfectant in public water supplies, the Burlington Free Press reported on May 6. The
legislation outlines an engineering study of disinfection methods that
the Champlain Water District (CWD) and other Vermont water districts
could use, the newspaper said. The study would be supported by funding from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), secured through efforts by the state Department of Environmental Conservation. An EPA contractor would perform the study, the report said. According to advocacy group Vermonters for a Clean Environment, chloramine has been linked to hundreds of reported cases of skin, breathing and digestive problems since the CWD began using it in April 2006. The CWD currently is the only system in Vermont using chloramine; however, the cities of Rutland and Bennington are reported to be considering its use, the CWD said. The CWD and advocacy group People Concerned About Chloramine are advocating for a multiyear moratorium on the use of chloramine, the report said. Multi-Pure Commentary:Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 42, to reduce Chloramine. Poll: Chloramine now common in water systems April 28, 2009 (Water Tech) — Chlorination is still a common disinfection method for public drinking water systems, but systems that use chloramine, either by itself or in combination with chlorine, are now used by about half of all such systems, results of the latest WaterTech Online® online reader poll suggest. The increasing use of chloramine for disinfection is in large part a result of new US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules, which seek to limit the levels of potentially harmful disinfection byproducts (DBPs) that are more likely to occur with chlorine than with chloramine. A Netherlands-based developer of water disinfection systems, Lenntech, has estimated that in 2002, about 20 percent of US drinking water production companies used chloramines. In the unscientific online reader poll, 47 percent of respondents reported that the system employing them disinfects its drinking water with chlorine only. About 32.5 percent reported disinfecting with a combination of chlorine and chloramine, and about 15.7 percent used chloramine only. These results also suggest, by adding response groups together, that about 48.2 percent of respondents’ water systems use chloramine for disinfection, with or without chlorine, and that about 79.4 percent use chlorine, with or without chloramine. Chlorine has been used in public water systems for at least a century. In other responses, 3.6 percent said that no disinfection of any kind is required or used in their system, and 1.2 percent said their system disinfects its water, but not with chlorine or chloramine. Chloramine refers to any of several compounds resulting from the reaction between chlorine and ammonia. Like chlorine, chloramine compounds disinfect through oxidation, but have a slower reaction time than chlorine. The poll asked: “If you work for a public or community drinking water system (or a public system owned and/or operated by a private company), which of the following applies to the drinking water treated by that system?” Respondents could choose among five options: that their water system uses chlorine only; uses chloramine only; uses both chlorine and chloramine; is disinfected, but not with chlorine or chloramine; or does not require or use disinfection of any kind.NY village struggling with PCBs hit with penalty STILLWATER, NY, April 23, 2009 (Water Tech) — The New York state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) this month imposed a $758,000 penalty upon this Saratoga County village for failing to adhere to a March 2008 consent order regarding water and sewer problems, according to an April 23 Albany Times Union article. Following the consent order, the village paid a $2,000 fine and agreed to address problems at both its water and sewage treatment plants. The state DEC says plans have not been submitted and more fines will be imposed at a rate of $4,000 per day if the village does not comply. Stillwater Mayor Ernest Martin told the Times Union that the village can’t afford to pay the fine, which is due April 29. Martin, who said he requested a meeting with DEC officials, noted that the fine represents half of the village’s annual budget, or $447 for every resident. Martin said the village began work on the drinking water system last summer, but had to put that on hold after learning there were polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the wells that provide the water. Martin said Stillwater is considering a plan to connect both its water and sewer lines to county systems, but can only afford to do that if federal stimulus money is granted, the article said. Multi-Pure Commentary:Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce PCB. Chicago ’burb knew tainted water went to taps: report CHICAGO, April 20, 2009 (Water Tech) — The safety of drinking water in the village of Crestwood, a Chicago suburb, is the center of an investigation by the Chicago Tribune, which reported on April 19 that village officials for more than two decades supplemented the community’s publicly supplied water with municipal well water tainted with two chemicals related to a dry-cleaning solvent. The solvent, perchloroethylene (PCE), is linked to cancer, liver damage and neurological problems. According to the Tribune report, officials knew of the high levels of dichloroethylene and vinyl chloride polluting the well water, but, in a cost-cutting measure, continued to use the well to augment village supplies. Regulators from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the late 1980s told village officials that a PCE-related chemical had leached into the well; village officials then announced they would buy treated Lake Michigan water from nearby Alsip and deliver only that lake water to the village’s 11,000 residents. They put the well on “emergency-backup status” and the Illinois EPA stopped requiring routine testing for chemical pollutants, the Tribune reported. According to the Tribune, which gathered some of its information from “a hand-written ledger buried in village files and verified by the state EPA,” Crestwood continued to use untreated water from the PCE-contaminated well on a routine basis until December 2007, never notifying residents or state regulators. During some periods, the village used the untreated water for up to 20 percent of its supply. Some residents are blaming the chemicals in the well water for illnesses. High arsenic in water costs 200 jobs BUFFALO LAKE, MN, April 15, 2009 (Water Tech) — A high level of arsenic in the well water of a beef slaughtering facility here has forced the plant to close, costing more than 200 workers their jobs, according to an April 15 Star Tribune article. North Star Beef Inc. owner William Gilger said in the article the Minnesota Department of Health tested the plant’s water last summer and found 18.4 parts per billion (ppb) of arsenic; the federal maximum contaminant level of arsenic in drinking water is 10 ppb. Gilger said he could not afford to fix the water safety issue in time to avoid federal penalties. The business also recently suffered a fire that caused at least $1.1 million in damage, the article said. Multi-Pure Commentary:Multi-Pure’s MP880 Series has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Arsenic V. Benzene enters Lake Michigan from NW Indiana GARY, IN, April 6, 2009 (Water Tech) — Benzene-laden groundwater has been seeping into Lake Michigan, a drinking water source for many communities including this city and the metro Chicago area, for several years, the Post-Tribune reported on March 29. It won’t be until sometime this summer that a treatment system will be installed to remediate the situation, the article said. U.S.
Steel Gary Works said it plans to install in August or September a $1.4
million treatment system with 11 wells that will remove the benzene and
cycle the water back to the ground. According to Tamara Ohl, project manager for the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “We don't know exactly when the plume reached the lake. It was the (monitoring) data from 2008 that really got this going.” The federal Safe Drinking Water Act sets a maximum contaminant level for benzene in drinking water at 5 parts per billion (ppb); U.S. Steel’s testing revealed a benzene-laden groundwater plume containing a benzene concentration of 1 to 3 parts per million (ppm), or 1,000 to 3,000 ppb. According to the article, Indiana American Water has a drinking water intake north of U.S. Steel’s property. Routine testing of volatile organic compounds has not revealed benzene in the company’s finished water, Jeff Robinson, director of water quality for the company, is quoted as saying. Multi-Pure Commentary:Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Benzene, a Volatile Organic Compound (VOC). Group sees toxic brew: Perchlorate in both formula and water WASHINGTON, April 3, 2009 (Water Tech) — Advocacy group Environmental Working Group (EWG) is warning in research released April 2 that some infants potentially are exposed to unsafe levels of the chemical perchlorate with their intake of perchlorate-containing powered infant formula that is reconstituted with drinking water containing “safe” levels of perchlorate. The group is basing its warning on a recent study conducted by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CDC researchers, who published their findings in the March 2009 edition of the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, found that 15 brands of powdered infant formula are contaminated with perchlorate, a rocket fuel component detected in drinking water in 28 states and territories. Perchlorate occurs both in nature and as a manmade chemical; its contamination of drinking water is usually associated with defense installations where it may have been dumped in the ground. The
two most contaminated infant formula brands, made from cow’s milk,
accounted for 87 percent of the US powdered formula market in 2000,
according to the scientists. In fact, EWG reported that many scientists contend that the EPA “safe” level is too high to protect public health. Studies have established that the chemical is a potent thyroid toxin that may interfere with fetal and infant brain development. Multi-Pure Commentary:Multi-Pure’s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Perchlorate. Emerging DBPs found more toxic than regulated ones Champaign, IL, April 2, 2009 (Water Tech) — A 10-year study on disinfection byproducts (DBPs) reports on the connection between certain DBPs in drinking water that are “emerging” in scientific studies and their carcinogenic potential, according to a March 31 ScienceDaily report based on a University of Illinois press release. The study, which began with a grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has found that iodine-containing DBPs are much more toxic and genotoxic than other DBPs now regulated by EPA, according to University of Illinois geneticist Michael Plewa, the study’s author. Plewa said another “somewhat surprising” discovery concerns nitrogen-containing DBPs. “Disinfectant byproducts that have a nitrogen atom incorporated into the structure are far more toxic and genotoxic, and some even carcinogenic, than those DBPs that don’t have nitrogen. And there are no nitrogen-containing DBPs that are currently regulated,” Plewa said. Ironically, the DBPs that are regulated by the EPA tend to be some of the least toxic DBPs in Plewa’s study. “We’ve found that the emerging DBPs are much more genotoxic and much more cytotoxic. But I can’t fault EPA because these data were not present at the time, and in fact the development of the database of over 70 DBPs has been done in concert with our colleagues at the federal EPA.” In addition to drinking-water DBPs, Plewa said that swimming pools and hot tubs are DBP reactors. “You’ve got all of this organic material called ‘people’ — and people sweat and use sunscreen and wear cosmetics that come off in the water. People may urinate in a public pool. Hair falls into the water and then this water is chlorinated. But the water is recycled again and again so the levels of DBPs can be tenfold higher than what you have in drinking water,” Plewa said, noting that studies show higher levels of bladder cancer and asthma in people who do a lot of swimming. Plewa said the long-term study has resulted in what he considers the largest toxicological data base on emerging DBPs. Plewa, along with a team of scientists, received an EPA science and technology award for their paper, “Occurrence, genotoxicity and carcinogenicity of regulated and emerging disinfection by-products in drinking water: A review and roadmap for research.” It was published in the scientific journal Mutation Research.Navy is looking for PCBs in VA drinking water source WILLIAMSBURG, VA, April 2, 2009 (Water Tech) — An investigation is under way to determine if chemicals stored in a former US Navy swimming pool have leaked into the Waller Mill Reservoir, Williamsburg’s main source of drinking water, according to an April 2 Associated Press report in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Navy officials said the World War II-era swimming pool at its abandoned Camp Peary originally was used to train Navy Seabees. It then was converted into a general dumping site for construction materials, including polychlorinaed biphenyls (PCBs). PCBs were found on site and on a drainage pathway that directs stormwater runoff from the base into the reservoir. Multi-Pure Commentary:Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce PCB.
Quality of US private well water a concern: study RESTON, VA, March 27, 2009 (Water Tech) — A new study by the US Geological Survey (USGS) has found that more than 20 percent of private domestic water wells sampled nationwide contain at least one contaminant at levels of potential health concern, the USGS stated in a March 27 news release. USGS scientists sampled about 2,100 private wells in 48 states from 1991 to 2004 in 30 of the nation’s principal aquifers used for water supply. They found that the contaminants most frequently measured at concentrations of potential health concern were inorganic contaminants, including naturally occurring radon and arsenic, according to the news release. Nitrate
was the most common inorganic contaminant derived from man-made
sources, such as from fertilizer applications and septic tanks. It was
found at concentrations greater than the federal drinking water
standard for public water supplies of 10 parts per million (ppm).
Nitrate was greater than the standard in about 4 percent of sampled
wells. About 43 million people, or 15 percent of the nation’s population, use drinking water from private wells, which are not regulated by the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. The quality of water drawn from private wells is also not regulated by most states. USGS Associate Director for Water Matt Larsen is quoted in the news release as saying, “The results of this study are important because they show that a large number of people may be unknowingly affected. Greater attention to the quality of drinking water from private wells and continued public education are important steps toward the goal of protecting public health.” The study shows that the occurrence of selected contaminants varies across the country, often following distinct geographic patterns related to geology, geochemical conditions, and land use. During a March 27 Congressional briefing sponsored by the USGS National Water Quality Assessment Program and the Water Environment Federation (WEF), the Water Quality Association (WQA) offered members of Congress information about methods to help ensure safe well water, the WQA announced in March 27 press release. WQA provided members of Congress with a copy of its online fact sheet regarding contaminants in drinking water. WQA represents the point-of-use/point-of-entry water treatment industry. WQA said it has joined a task force to develop independent testing standards that will be able to tell consumers what devices are successful at removing many of these newly discovered contaminants.
Town will air-strip TCE from drinking water ATTICA, IN, March 24, 2009 (Water Tech) — State and local officials are planning to install an air stripper to remove trichloroethylene (TCE) from this town’s drinking water, the Journal & Courier reported March 24. TCE, which poses a cancer risk, is a cleaning solvent and a regulated US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) primary contaminant. The maximum level allowed in public water supplies is 5 parts per billion. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has said levels of TCE measured in Attica’s drinking water are not hazardous, but the agency believes treatment is necessary now to prevent levels from increasing, according to the newspaper. The TCE contamination is believed to be coming from a defunct electronics factory, the article said. EPA, IDEM and the property’s current owner, Kraft Foods Global, which acquired the former factory owner through mergers and acquisitions, are seeking to clean up the site. Attica officials will meet soon to determine how to pay for the air stripper system, the article said. An air stripper uses an air stream to remove volatile compounds from water. Multi-Pure Commentary:Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce TCE, a Volatile Organic Compound (VOC). Study: High levels of metals in slurry MORGANTOWN, WV, March 19, 2009 (Water Tech) — Arsenic, lead and several other metals at levels exceeding federal drinking water standards have been detected in slurry that coal companies pump into worked-out underground mines, according to a report by citizen activists with the Sludge Safety Project, The Associated Press (AP) reported on March 18. Slurry, a byproduct of coal-washing activities, has been injected for decades into abandoned mines in Appalachia as an alternative to massive dams or filtration and drying systems. According to the AP report, coalfield residents are suing coal companies, claiming that waste has contaminated drinking water aquifers and caused health problems. At least one lawmaker is calling for a ban on slurry injection practices, reported The Seattle Times on March 19. West Virginia Sen. Randy White, who introduced a moratorium bill, has said the recent tests show a need to halt the practice until it can be studied more.
Canada testing drinking water for DBP levels OTTAWA, March 18, 2009 (Water Tech) — Canada’s federal health agency is hiring a contractor to perform testing of water from 60 treatment plants and distribution systems across the country in an effort to gauge the levels of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) and potentially toxic contaminants at the tap, according to a March 17 article in The Canadian Press. Health Canada, which issued a request for proposals on March 17, said the discovery of new DBPs “challenges the basis of our current mitigating strategies.” The contractor also will need to collect data on emerging contaminants, such as pharmaceutical compounds and the chemical bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used in polycarbonate water bottles, baby bottles and other food packing. Last year, Canada banned the chemical from baby bottles. According to Health Canada’s RFP, “Some substances in this category have been identified as either known or suspected carcinogens and endocrine or reproductive disruptors. Limited surveys have shown that many of these compounds, thought to have significant health effects, can be present in Canadian drinking water.” Study results are expected to address concerns raised by the scientific community about the quality of Canada’s drinking water. A spokesman for Health Canada, which expects a final report on the study in 2011, is quoted in the article as saying, “The results from this study will help the department determine if new or emerging DPBs identified in the scientific literature are present in Canadian drinking water supplies and establish the priorities for guideline development.”
L.A. school district turns off 2,000 faucets, fountains LOS ANGELES, March 13, 2009 (Water Tech) — The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has shut off 2,000 water faucets and fountains at 660 of its 800 schools due to high levels of lead, the Los Angeles Daily News reported on March 13. This move follows a testing program in which 66,000 outlets were sampled since November; water systems at 11 schools still have to be tested. The sampling program, which began in November, stems from a finding of lead in the water from an elementary school drinking water fountain in April. At that time, it was reported that there were concerns that the problem was more widespread, as WaterTech Online® reported. Neil Gamble, the district’s director of maintenance and operations division, is quoted in the article as saying the district’s flushing policy is being strictly enforced. At some of the schools where contamination was found, plumbing with non-brass pipes and fittings was replaced; in others, faucets and fountains were replaced, the article said.
High levels of DBPs in WV city’s water WHEELING, WV, March 12, 2009 (Water Tech) — Measures to correct high levels of trihalomethanes have been implemented at Wheeling’s water plant, according to a March 12 The Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register article. Routine monitoring shows the disinfection byproducts exceeded the safe drinking water levels between October 1 and December 31. According to Frank Blaskovich, interim water plant manager, when the water department discovered the situation, it began blending water supplies and changed the disinfection process. Wheeling’s main source of drinking water, the Ohio River, has algae growing in it year-round, which contributes to the organic materials that are reacting with chlorine disinfection to form trihalomethanes. Blaskovich said in the article, “The river is almost like a big lake sometimes. We are always looking at new ways of reducing these challenges.” Talks set over CA community’s perchrate RIALTO, CA, March 10, 2009 (Water Tech) — Parties involved in the perchlorate contamination of Rialto’s underground drinking water sources have scheduled two meetings with Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Carl West, who will act as mediator in the matter, according to a March 7 article in The Sun.
Perchlorate,
used as an ingredient in rocket fuel, lubricating oils and other
materials, interferes with thyroid gland function. It flows more than 5
miles from industrial sites in northern Rialto that date back to World
War II, polluting underground drinking water sources and forcing the
closure of water wells and the installation of treatment systems on
others. West’s specialty is complex litigation. The involved parties are scheduled to meet March 24 and April 21. Bob Wyatt, a lawyer for Black & Decker, one of the companies named as contributing to the perchlorate contamination, called the talks “serious,” saying, “This is a vehicle, a mechanism, to facilitate the global resolution process.” Rialto officials said in the article if mediation efforts fail, they believe that getting the US Environmental Protection Agency involved in the area is the next step. Multi-Pure Commentary:Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Perchlorate.
Wanted: PCE source tainting CA wells VISALIA, CA, March 4, 2009 (Water Tech) — State and federal regulatory authorities want to know the source of the toxic chemical perchloroethylene (PCE) that is found in drinking water wells here. The US Environmental Protection Agency EPA this week announced that it began installing six groundwater monitoring wells in Visalia to test for PCE, a chemical commonly used for dry cleaning and metal degreasing. According to a March 4 Visalia Times-Delta article, the wells are being drilled in an area in which California Department of Toxic Substances Control researchers found the high levels of PCE in water wells. Located in the vicinity are two dry-cleaning businesses as well as two former dry-cleaning businesses. The contamination, first detected in the early 1990s, has led the California Water Service Co. (CWS) to install carbon filters on some wells and to destroy a handful of other wells. Multi-Pure Commentary:Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce PCE, a Volatile Organic Compound (VOC). USGS, MA want more info on arsenic in wells RESTON, VA, March 2, 2009 (Water Tech) — The US Geological Survey (USGS) and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are conducting a study of arsenic and uranium in private well water in the Massachusetts counties of Essex, Middlesex and Worcester, the USGS announced on March 2. The USGS and the DEP are conducting the study to assess: ● The number of private wells with arsenic or uranium concentrations that are greater than the current drinking water standards ● The degree to which bedrock units correlate with concentrations of uranium and arsenic. According to the USGS, this study was prompted by recent changes in federal drinking water standards for arsenic and uranium and by the results of previous studies. The USGS said that about 1,600 residents with private wells will receive in early March informational letters along with sampling kits and instructions. There is no cost to residents to participate in the study, and residents’ participation will remain anonymous. The USGS will furnish well users with a copy of results.
Multi-Pure Commentary:
NY community removes TCE from supply ENDICOTT, NY, February 26, 2008 (Water Tech) — Safety concerns linger for the public water supply here despite reassurances from the New York state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) that a plume of trichloroethylene (TCE) is not jeopardizing the supply, WBNG News reported on February 25. For years, DEC has been tracking the flow of the chemical contamination, which stems from a former IBM microelectronics plant. William Wertz, a DEC engineer who addressed the issue during a February 25 public meeting, said a TCE plume can be found in trace amounts in the lower aquifer, which is used for the public supply. Wertz, who said the DEC does not know how the TCE entered the lower aquifer, added that a treatment system is in place to address the lower aquifer’s TCE problems. Increased focus is on levels of TCE in the upper aquifer, which is not used for drinking water. According to Wertz, the TCE entered the shallow water table through elevator shafts, and the chemical plume is creating vapors found in buildings near the plant.
Multi-Pure Commentary:
Many PA private wells do not meet safety standards STATE COLLEGE, PA, February 18, 2008 (Water Tech) — Research by Penn State Cooperative Extension has found that levels of lead and nitrates in private wells throughout Pennsylvania have dramatically fallen during the last 25 years; however, many wells still do not meet state safe drinking water standards, according to an Associated Press report posted February 17 on Philly.com. Researchers found that 40 percent of the more than 700 private wells tested statewide over the last two years contained excessive levels of at least one contaminant. There are more than 1 million private wells in the state that provide drinking water for 3 million people. Brian Swistock, extension water resources specialist, said that 33 percent of the wells tested had some presence of coliform bacteria, though the state standard is “basically zero.” Swistock added that many owners of contaminated wells were unaware of the problems. Class-action lawsuit over lead filed against WASA WASHINGTON, February 17, 2008 (Water Tech) — John Parkhurst, a father of 8-year-old twins, has filed a class-action lawsuit in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia (DC) against the DC Water and Sewer Authority. The suit claims, among other things, that WASA failed to make known the presence and prevalence of lead in its drinking water, according to a February 17 press release from Sanford Wittels & Heisler, LLP, a law firm with offices in DC that filed the lawsuit on February 17 on behalf of Parkhurst. John Parkhurst filed the complaint on behalf of himself and other parents of children in the District; the plaintiffs claim they were affected by the dangerous levels of lead in the community’s drinking water during the period of 2001 through 2004. According to the press release, Parkhurst used tap water provided by WASA to make his children’s formula. His children showed evidence of lead poisoning in 2002, at their 2-year-old medical checkup. Both children have experienced “serious and continuing behavioral and learning difficulties and both have been diagnosed with significant problems in attention, learning and executive functioning,” the release said.
DC official wavers over lead advice: report WASHINGTON, February 11, 2008 (Water Tech) — A February 10 public oversight hearing here regarding the city’s lead-in-water issue left some audience members confused, according to a February 11 article in The Washington Post. Jerry Johnson, general manager of the DC Water and Sewer Authority (WASA), answered questions from council members about the safety of the city’s tap water. The hearing, called by DC Council Members Mary M. Cheh and Jim Graham, was partly driven by a recently released report that raises questions about the number of DC children potentially poisoned by lead in the water between 2000 and 2003. The study, authored by Virginia Tech professor Marc A. Edwards and Dana Best, a pediatrician and epidemiological researcher, found that in some high-risk neighborhoods, the number of toddlers and infants with blood-lead concentrations that can cause irreversible IQ loss and developmental delays more than doubled after harmful levels of lead began leaching into the city’s drinking water in 2001, as WaterTech Online® reported. Johnson was reported to have offered conflicting advice regarding allowing a child to drink the city’s tap water. According to the Post, he said he would allow it. But then asked if he would offer that same advice to the general public, he is quoted as saying, “I don’t know.” Johnson later clarified his statement: “You don’t deal with the general public the way you would deal with yourself.” Representatives of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also were on hand to answer questions during the five-hour hearing. Victoria Binetti, associate director of the EPA's Drinking Water and Source Water Protection division, said that the water “is not necessarily safe for everyone to drink,” especially infants, the elderly and those with weak immune systems. Johnson added that pregnant women and others should filter their tap water if it has not been tested.
Lead in DC drinking water hearing set
District
of Columbia Councilmembers Mary M. Cheh and Jim Graham are set to hold
the joint oversight hearing with the District’s Department of the
Environment and DC Water and Sewer Authority to discuss lead
contamination and the quality of the city’s drinking water.
Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Lead. Concerned residents told to use carbon filters ST. PAUL, MN, February 9, 2008 (Water Tech) — Point-of-use (POU) activated carbon filtration devices are being recommended as an interim tap water treatment method for residents in 15 Minnesota communities who are concerned about potential contamination from chemicals that had been used to make firefighting foam, according to a February 7 Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune article. Minnesota Health Department officials on February 6 informed residents of Apple Valley, Bemidji, Brooklyn Center, Burnsville, Cloquet, Goodview, Luverne, North Mankato, Perham, Pierz, Pine River, Randall, Richfield, Rochester and Winona that their drinking water supplies are being tested for the chemicals, known as perfluorochemicals (PFCs). According to the article, the testing is being done as a precaution because many fire training sites are adjacent to municipal wells. The foam is flushed into storm sewers or left to seep into the ground, raising the possibility that drinking water has been affected, the Star Tribune reported on February 6. “This could have national significance,” Doug Wetzstein, supervisor in the superfund section at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, told the Star Tribune. He added that the foam has been used for decades by firefighters at municipal and college training areas, as well as at military bases, airports and refineries where petroleum-based fires are a concern. PFCs were found in drinking water in Oakdale and Lake Elmo in 2004 at levels that exceed state health guidelines, as WaterTech Online® reported. PFCs do not break down in the environment, and accumulate in humans and wildlife. A manufacturer, 3M Co., stopped making two of the compounds, known as PFOS and PFOA, in 2002, but they remain in foam stockpiled by fire departments, the Star Tribune reported.Results of the drinking water supply testing, scheduled to begin in March, are due later this year. Stew Thornley, a health educator for the Minnesota Health Department, spoke to the Star Tribune regarding the concern some residents have about the safety of their drinking water. Of POU filtration devices, Thornley said, “We don't make a habit of recommending treatment. For those who would feel more comfortable having it, they have been shown to be effective.” The Minnesota Department of Health last July released the findings of its extensive evaluation of activated carbon and reverse osmosis POU water treatment devices for PFC removal. According to the 140-page report, four activated carbon devices and seven RO devices tested were found to reduce PFCs in water, generally well below the reporting limits of testing, as WaterTech Online reported. Multi-Pure Commentary:Read Multi-Pure’s Press Release in response to this article: www.multipureco.com/pfoarelease-update.pdf
CA small system explores arsenic options SONOMA, CA, February 6, 2008 (Water Tech) — The owner of a Sonoma County mobile home park told residents and City Council members at a recent meeting that he is exploring options that will ensure his park’s water system complies with federal drinking water regulations for arsenic, according to a February 6 Sonoma Valley Sun article. In October, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ordered Rancho de Sonoma Mobile Home Park owner Preston Cook to reduce the level of arsenic in the park’s water system or face penalties of up to $32,500 per day for each violation. The EPA’s orders require Cook to develop and meet a schedule to comply with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act’s arsenic standard of 10 parts per billion (ppb), as WaterTech Online® reported. Cook, who told residents and local officials that the order gives him until June 2010 to comply, said his options include a hookup to the city of Sonoma’s water system or the installation of a $675,000 wellhead arsenic reduction system and related piping. The fee to hook up the system to the city water supply is $450,000, or an initial cost of $4,500 per home. Cook noted that the fee does not include plumbing costs. Sonoma City Manager Linda Kelly said current drought conditions mean that if a hookup is approved, it would have to be phased in. Multi-Pure Commentary:Multi-Pure’s MP880 Series has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Arsenic V. Fix for VOCs in NY wells under way GARDEN CITY, NY, February 6, 2008 (Water Tech) — Local officials here approved a $2.1 million bond that will be used to keep the village drinking water supply safe, according to a February 6 article in the online edition of Garden City Life.High levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) closed one of two village wells located at the Garden City Country Club. Now officials are concerned that as VOC levels increase in the second well, that one also will need to be pulled offline. Public Works Director Robert Mangan is quoted as saying, “Without going forward with this project, we face a loss of two wells, which will make it very difficult to get by next summer.” Mangan said Garden City needs to remain proactive. He advocates increasing the treatment levels at both well sites through use of a larger air-stripping tower at the second well. Village officials expect the project to take more than six months to complete, and they are seeking to recoup some of the funds through a New York state Department of Conservation reimbursement. Testing is being performed to determine the source of the VOC contamination, and initial tests point to a former manufacturing plant. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the site is an inactive steel “roll form metal shapes” manufacturing facility that used degreasers, including tetrachloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE) and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA) at the facility until March 1985. Sludges from degreasing equipment were stored in drums, and improper spill control at the waste storage area was noted. The EPA said that more than 300,000 people obtain drinking water from aquifers that are or could be affected by contamination from the site.
Multi-Pure Commentary:
CO cuts funding for safe drinking water program DENVER, February 5, 2009 (Water Tech) — A tight state budget is forcing the Colorado Water Quality Control Division to eliminate a $600,000 grant that funds a safe drinking water program and a $100,000 Clean Water Act program aimed at reducing water pollution, the Summit Daily News reported on February 5. Division director Steve Gunderson said the funding reduction will “put more of a strain on trying to cover all the bases we need to cover.” The division runs the safe drinking water and clean water programs. Both are mandated by federal law. Gunderson said that lack of funding and staffing will make it more challenging for the division to meet its obligations under the federal Safe Water Drinking Act. He told the Summit Daily News, “Drinking water requirements are becoming more stringent, especially for small systems. We need to move forward with implementing those. … We have great drinking water in the state, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have problems. Look at Alamosa,” he said. Gunderson was referring to a serious contamination problem that occurred last March in the southern Colorado city of Alamosa. Salmonella bacteria found in the city’s water supply were being blamed for the death of one salmonellosis victim. Hundreds of others suffered illness after drinking the contaminated water, as WaterTech Online® reported. MI city considers chlorination of supply THREE RIVERS, MI, February 5, 2009 (Water Tech) — Six violations of state safe drinking water regulations in the past eight years have prompted the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to ask city leaders here to submit a safe drinking water compliance plan, the Kalamazoo Gazette reported on February 4.
The
regulatory agency recently issued a week-long boil-water advisory for
the city. In December, a lack of pressure in all city mains threatened
the safety of the water.
Emerging contaminants in water resources reviewed MIDDLEBURG, VA, February 3, 2009 (Water Tech) — Contaminants of emerging concern and their impact on water resources and the environment is the subject of the February 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA), according to a February 2 announcement from the American Water Resources Association (AWRA). According to the announcement, William Battaglin and Dana Kolpin, both of the US Geological Survey in Lakewood, CO, served as the guest associate editors for the collection of papers on “Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Water Resources.” The papers address the environmental occurrence of trace organic compounds such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, pesticides and hormones, and their potential adverse effects on aquatic and terrestrial life, as well as on human health. The papers take a look at how the compounds enter the environment, detection capabilities, and questions concerning contaminant environmental fate and behavior, as well as wastewater and drinking water treatment efficacies. According to an introduction by Battaglin and Kolpin, “As the evidence mounts that some of these contaminants can have human or ecological health effects, there is a need for both better understanding of their fate in environmental systems and better communication of what the results of scientific investigations mean to the general public.” The papers arose from a 2007 AWRA Specialty Conference on the same topic, and they provide an overview of the detection and sources of contaminants of emerging concern, their fate and transport in natural and engineered systems, receptors and effects, and social and engineering solutions to problems, AWRA said. According to Battaglin, “This unique collection of papers highlights the wide variety and complexity of issues related to the occurrence of contaminants of emerging concern in water resources worldwide.” Tests find high metals levels in water near TN spill KINGSTON, TN, February 2, 2009 (Water Tech) — Water quality testing by environmental groups indicates unsafe levels of heavy metals linger in surface waters near the collapse of a coal ash retention pond near here as well as downriver from the site, according to a February 3 WVLT-TV report.On December 22, a massive ash slide occurred here when a retention pond burst, spilling 1 billion gallons of sludge from a Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) coal-fired power plant into nearby surface water and the environment, as WaterTech Online® reported. Environmental groups United Mountain Defense and the Environmental Integrity Project reported that their scientists tested 22 water locations over the course of a week. Jeff Stant with the Environmental Integrity Project was quoted in the report as saying, “The results indicate the collapse of the ash embankment on December 22 has contaminated surface water near the collapse site and downriver with levels of heavy metals that frequently exceed federal drinking water standards and water quality standards.” DC officials want probe on water-lead connection WASHINGTON, January 28, 2009 (Water Tech) — A new study has concluded that hundreds of young children in the Washington, DC, area experienced potentially damaging amounts of lead in their blood from their own tap water several years ago. As a result, DC Council members asked the city’s inspector general on January 27 to investigate whether public health agencies and the water utility “negligently or intentionally” misled the public during the District of Columbia’s water crisis in 2004 and whether they should have delved deeper for a correlation between high levels of lead in the water and health risks to children, The Washington Post reported on January 27 and January 28. The authors of the study are Virginia Tech professor and MacArthur Fellowship recipient Marc A. Edwards, Ph.D, and Dana Best, a Children’s National Medical Center pediatrician and epidemiological researcher. The peer-reviewed study, obtained by The Washington Post, is to be published soon in the journal Environmental Science and Technology. Edwards and Best found that in some high-risk neighborhoods, the number of toddlers and infants with blood-lead concentrations that can cause irreversible IQ loss and developmental delays more than doubled after harmful levels of lead began leaching into the city’s drinking water in 2001. Edwards has extensively studied lead levels in Washington tap water, which is distributed by the DC Water and Sewer Authority (WASA). He found that when the disinfectant chloramine was added to some waters, a resulting lower pH can increase lead contamination. Edwards also found that when WASA began its lead pipe replacement program in 2004, WASA’s partial pipe replacement activities were actually making the lead situation much worse in many cases. He told Water Technology® Magazine in November, “After years of denial, and even false claims that they [WASA] were using dielectrics to stop some of the problems I was observing, a Freedom of Information Act request verified that I was correct on the key issues. After spending more than $100 million on this program over the last few years, WASA finally admitted the program was a complete failure, yielding no detectable benefit whatsoever to control lead in water. … Long-term problems from the partial pipe replacements are also certainly possible.” According to The Washington Post, the findings from the new study raise concern about the 42,000 DC children, now ages 4 to 9, who were in the womb or younger than 2 during the water crisis. Those children might be at risk of future health and behavioral problems linked to lead, according to the report. At the time, although officials acknowledged that the amount of lead in city water was at record-breaking levels, they repeatedly said that they found no measurable impact on the general public’s health. “There is no doubt that many children in this city were profoundly impacted by the years of completely unnecessary exposure to high lead in the District’s water. We hope this study will stop future harm and address the misrepresentations and false statements about what really happened,” Edwards told the Post.NJ residents voice drinking water concerns BARNEGAT, NJ, January 21, 2009 (Water Tech) — Residents of two mobile home parks for senior citizens have asked township officials to correct what they consider to be serious problems with their drinking water and septic systems, a January 21 Asbury Park Press article reported.
The
residents from Pinewood Estates and Brighton at Barnegat mobile home
parks recently attended a Township Committee meeting and told committee
members that their health has been compromised by their drinking water
and overflowing septic tanks and leachfields.
Boil-water order in place for eight months The Rye water system has violated safe drinking water regulations since last May, when the boil-water order first went into effect. According to the report, dirt runoff entered the town’s source water in May. The town was finding replacement of the filtering equipment costly, and took the filtering system offline, according to a September 15 Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment notice. The town plans to have a new treatment plant on line later this spring, the KOAA.com reported.
Boil-water order in place for eight months The Rye water system has violated safe drinking water regulations since last May, when the boil-water order first went into effect. According to the report, dirt runoff entered the town’s source water in May. The town was finding replacement of the filtering equipment costly, and took the filtering system offline, according to a September 15 Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment notice. The town plans to have a new treatment plant on line later this spring, the KOAA.com reported.
EPA issues interim health advisory on perchlorate WASHINGTON, January 8, 2009 (Water Tech) — The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on January 8 that the agency is seeking advice from the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) before making a final determination on whether to issue a national regulation for the rocket-fuel chemical perchlorate in drinking water. The agency said it is issuing an interim health advisory of 15 parts per billion (ppb) to assist state and local officials in addressing local contamination of perchlorate in drinking water and making a corresponding change to the factors it considers in cleaning up Superfund sites. This health advisory value replaces the existing preliminary remediation goal of 24.5 ppb, set in 2005. States can use the health advisory value to establish and enforce drinking water standards, EPA said, noting that the agency encourages state-specific situations to be addressed at the local level. EPA said it expects to issue a final health advisory concurrent with the final regulatory determination for perchlorate. In October, the agency issued a preliminary regulatory determination for public comment in the Federal Register. The notice described the agency’s decision that there is not a “meaningful opportunity for health risk reduction” through a national drinking water regulation for perchlorate, as WaterTech Online® reported. EPA said it received more than 32,000 comments on the notice. “After considering public comments, as well as recommendations from EPA advisory groups and offices, EPA is asking the NAS to provide additional insight on various issues. Specifically, EPA is asking the NAS to evaluate its derivation of the Health Reference Level of 15 ppb, the use of modeling to evaluate impacts on infants and young children, and the implication of recent biomonitoring studies. The agency is also asking the NAS how it should consider the role of perchlorate relative to other iodide uptake inhibiting compounds and if there are other public health strategies to address this aspect of thyroid health,” the EPA said.
Multi-Pure Commentary:
City negotiates fine for failure to remove radium The fine amount is expected to be levied as a single fine as opposed to a fine that accumulates each day the city remains non-compliant, Mayor Larry Nelson told the Journal Sentinel. In October, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) asked the state attorney general’s office to fine the cities of Waukesha and Fond du Lac up to $5,000 per day for failure to reduce the amount of radium in their drinking water, as WaterTech Online® reported. The two cities, along with dozens of other utilities, had a December 2006 deadline to reduce radium levels in drinking water and meet federal safe drinking water standards. The Journel Sentinel reported that the Fond du Lac Reporter recently wrote that Fond du Lac also is negotiating its fine amount. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set a maximum contaminant level of radium in drinking water of 5 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of combined Ra 226 and Ra 228. Radium is a known human carcinogen.
Multi-Pure Commentary: Report says high levels of heavy metals in TN water KINGSTON, TN, January 5, 2009 (Water Tech) — Tests results reported by an environmental group reveal high levels of toxic heavy metals in East Tennessee’s Emory River, the site of a December 22 massive ash slide, the Bloomberg news service reported January 2. Water samples examined by Appalachian State University scientists found levels of arsenic, lead, mercury and other metals at 2 to 300 times higher than limits allowed for drinking water, the Bloomberg report said. According to a January 1 article in The New York Times, the test results were released by Appalachian Voices, an environmental advocacy group based in Boone, NC. The tests were conducted using standard US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) methods, said Dr. Shea Tuberty, an environmental toxicologist at Appalachian State who helped analyze the results. A statement accompanying the release of the test results came from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., chairman of Waterkeeper Alliance, an Irvington, NY-based watchdog that backed the independent testing, Bloomberg reported. Kennedy wrote, “Although these results are preliminary, we want to release them because of the public health concern.” The findings exceed levels reported by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the federal agency that operates the fossil plant where a retention pond burst, spilling 1.1 billion gallons of water mixed with ash from burning coal. The findings also exceed levels reported by the EPA and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. According to the reports, those agencies have reported elevated levels of thallium, lead and arsenic found near the spill but have not released the full results of those tests.
EPA tells Hudson River village that filters will do STILLWATER, NY, December 31, 2008 (Water Tech) — The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has told this upstate New York village on the Hudson River that a temporary filtration system at the village’s water treatment plant should ensure safe water during a project upstream that will dredge polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from the riverbed, the Schenectady Daily Gazette reported on December 31. At a December 30 meeting, village officials asked EPA for an immediate alternate water source, as WaterTech Online™ reported. Earlier this year, the New York State Department of Health found PCBs in the village’s drinking water supply, which comes from the Hudson River. EPA Field Office Director David King told village officials that low-level PCB contamination in the village’s riverside aquifer could increase during dredging that is set to begin in May. King said an $850,000 filtration system, now being designed, would ensure safe drinking water for Stillwater’s customers. Shoreline site preparation for dredging equipment has already begun. “The carbon filters will buy time until an alternative water system can be tapped,” King said in the article. The PCBs were dumped into the Hudson River upstream decades ago by a General Electric Co. electrical insulator factory. Communities that draw their water from the Hudson have been fighting a recent EPA-GE agreement to remove the PCBs, saying dredging is either unnecessary or will put more PCBs into the water. The EPA and the communities have been debating about whether and how alternative drinking water will be supplied during the lengthy dredging process.
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CA reconsiders perchlorate standard SACRAMENTO, CA, December 30, 2008 (Water Tech) — The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment will review in 2009 the public health goal for perchlorate in drinking water, a review which could lead to setting a new drinking water standard for the substance, according to a December 28 Redlands Daily Facts article. Perchlorate has been used as an ingredient in rocket fuel, explosives and some fertilizers, and past disposal practices have caused it to enter some groundwater supplies. It inhibits the thyroid gland from the necessary function of absorbing iodide from the bloodstream. Perchlorate already is a regulated drinking water contaminant in California, with a state maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 6 micrograms per liter (µg/L), or 6 parts per billion, a standard that became effective October 18, 2007. There is no federal MCL for perchlorate, and it appears that the US Environmental Protection Agency is in the final stages of deciding not to set a federal perchlorate standard. The Redland Daily Facts was reporting about an e-mail it received from Sam Delson, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment’s deputy director for external and legislative affairs. Environmentalists, who have said that the earlier public health goal of 6 parts per billion was too high, welcomed the news. “We’re happy, but really how happy we will remain depends on what number they end up with and how long it takes them to get there,” Renee Sharp, director of the nonprofit Environmental Working Group’s California office said in the article. Multi-Pure Commentary:Multi-Pure’s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Perchlorate. PCBs continue to concern Hudson River village STILLWATER, NY, December 30, 2008 (Water Tech) — Village officials here were scheduled to meet on December 30 with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to discuss a report on polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the water supply, the Schenectady Daily Gazette reported on December 30.
Stillwater
Mayor Ernest Martin Sr. is adamant that a new and PCB-free water supply
should be found for his village’s customers as soon as possible, the
newspaper reported. The article said the levels originally were found to be 125 parts per trillion (ppt). In October, the levels were 169 ppt. Jeffrey Hammond of the Health Department told the Gazette two tests taken in November saw levels drop to 155 ppt. The federal maximum contaminant limit (MCL) for PCBs is 500 ppt, with an MCL goal level of zero. The PCBs were dumped into the Hudson River upstream decades ago by a General Electric Co. electrical insulator factory. Some nearby communities who draw their water from the Hudson have been fighting a recent EPA-GE agreement to remove the PCBs through dredging, saying dredging is either unnecessary or will stir up riverbed PCBs into the water. The EPA and the local communities have been debating about whether and how alternative drinking water will be supplied during the lengthy dredging process. EPA has insisted the dredging project, now in its early stages, is necessary to remove cancer-causing PCBs to improve the river’s value as a drinking water and recreation resource. Multi-Pure Commentary:Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce PCB. Arsenic above MCL found in prison water DELANO, CA, December 29, 2008 (Water Tech) — The drinking water at Kern Valley State Prison, located in this Central Valley town, has levels of arsenic exceeding the federal standard, levels that officials have yet to address, according to a December 29 Los Angeles Times article. According to the LA Times, water from two of the prison’s wells contains arsenic in amounts higher than the federal maximum contaminant limit (MCL) for public water systems of 10 parts per billion (ppb). Recent testing has shown the arsenic level in one prison well at 23 ppb and the other at 15 ppb. The state Corrections Department in 2006 had obtained $2.5 million to construct a filtration plant that could remove high levels of arsenic from the water; however, those plans have not materialized yet. According to one state official, plans for the filtration plant are in the “conceptual study phase,” the article said. California public health officials have ordered the prison to develop an arsenic-reduction plan by February to comply with federal regulations, according to the article.
Multi-Pure Commentary: Water expert says fracking threatens public health NEW YORK, December 18, 2008 (Water Tech) — Water expert Albert Appleton, who designed the New York City watershed protection program and served for three years as commissioner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, has stated that the risks gas drilling pose to drinking water are not only environmental issues, but also pressing public health issues, according to a December 18 article in The River Reporter, a weekly newspaper based in Sullivan County, NY. Appleton, in a statement to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) about the impacts of natural gas drilling in the underground Marcellus Shale formation, wrote: “The standard for assessing public health risk is not the environmental standard of balancing environmental risks against economic benefits.” Appleton testified about the potential harms of natural gas drilling within New York City’s watershed in the Catskills during a December 12 public hearing. The hearing was held by New York City Councilman James Gennaro and the council’s Environmental Protection Committee. Gennaro has called for a complete ban on drilling in the watershed. He has stated that the drilling may negatively impact the drinking water for 9 million New Yorkers and jeopardize a special permit that allows the city to operate without a water filtration plant. Earlier this year, New York Gov. David Patterson called for an environmental impact statement on drilling processes, including hydraulic fracturing, also called hydrofracturing or fracking. Fracking is a process by which large amounts of water, sand and chemicals are injected underground at high pressure to break apart rock and release gas. Appleton has called fracturing fluids a “witch’s brew of water and toxic chemicals.” He stated that prevention is the only effective strategy for keeping the contaminants out of drinking water supplies, the article said.
L.A. schools begin big lead sampling program LOS ANGELES, December 11, 2008 (Water Tech) — Each of the 800 schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) now is being tested for levels of lead in water from school drinking fountains, NBC Los Angeles reported on December 10. The recent sampling stems from a finding of lead in the water from an elementary school drinking water fountain in April. At that time, it was reported that there were concerns that the problem was more widespread, as WaterTech Online™ reported. NBC Los Angeles, which is crediting its reporter Joel Grover for prodding the school district superintendent about the sampling program, reported that concerns about aging pipes and fountains leaching lead into the drinking water is the reason every source of drinking water at every Los Angeles school now is being tested. District officials said they hope to complete the sampling program within the next four months. When results are in, the school district said it will determine its course of action about pipe and fountain replacement.
Multi-Pure Commentary: PA court decision paves way for chloramine use HARRISBURG, PA, December 11, 2008 (Water Tech) — A Pennsylvania court on December 10 upheld an Environmental Hearing Board decision on an appeal that paves the way for Pennsylvania American Water Co. to use chloramines as a drinking water disinfectant and affirms that the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) provided sufficient notice to the public on the matter, according to a DEP press release. DEP issued four permits to Pennsylvania American Water to build and operate new and modified water treatment facilities in Silver Spring Township, Cumberland County and Fairview Township, York County, between March 2004 and March 2006 that would use chloramines, a chlorine and ammonia combination, as a disinfectant within the distribution system. The department published two permit application notices and four permit issuance notices in the Pennsylvania Bulletin between July 2003 and April 2006, according to the release.
Multi-Pure Commentary: MA town readies to supply perchlorate-free water WESTFORD, MA, December 8, 2008 (Water Tech) — Perchlorate contamination issues, which have plagued some residents here since 2004, are closer to resolution now that the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has agreed to fund a new waterline to deliver perchlorate-free water to affected homes, the Westford Eagle reported on December 5. Richard Cote, a consultant hired by the town and the state DEP, told the Board of Selectmen on December 2 that the contract for the waterline went out to bid after the DEP agreed to fund the project. Construction on the waterline may begin this week. Selectmen also approved the construction of two wells that will be equipped with technology to remove perchlorate from water, the article said. DEP has not yet decided to fund this project.High arsenic levels keep AK Culligan busy
KENAI, AK, December 4, 2008 (Water Tech)
— High levels of naturally occurring arsenic here now are causing
problems for residents who draw their drinking water from private
wells, according to a December 4 Peninsula Clarion article. Meanwhile, the article noted, a local water treatment dealership is getting more calls about the substance. Now homeowners who rely on private wells are being reminded to test their well water for the presence of arsenic. Mike Polocz, a water treatment specialist with a local Culligan dealership, told the Peninsula Clarion that his business has been receiving more calls weekly for arsenic testing, which costs about $25. New wells are being tested for free through March, Polocz said. According to Polocz, the tests have been revealing some high levels of arsenic. In one homeowner’s well, arsenic levels were found at 70 parts per billion (ppb). The federal maximum contaminant level for arsenic is 10 ppb. Once the arsenic is detected, it can be removed by an iron oxide media filter and reverse osmosis, Poloxcz said in the article. He added that iron oxide filters also will trap some iron and some tannins, also common in central Kenai Peninsula water supplies. Multi-Pure Commentary:Multi-Pure’s MP880 Series has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Arsenic V.
Low levels of man-made chemicals in drinking water: USGS According to a USGS media advisory, the USGS conducted studies in Indiana, Texas, Maryland, North Carolina, Georgia, Massachusetts, Oregon, Nevada and Colorado. Water from nine selected rivers, used as sources for public water systems, was analyzed in the USGS study. Scientists tested water samples for commonly used chemicals, including pesticides, solvents, gasoline hydrocarbons, personal care products, disinfection byproducts and manufacturing additives. Scientists found that low levels of certain man-made chemicals remain in public water supplies after the water has been treated in selected communities. Most of the man-made chemicals assessed are not required to be monitored, regulated or removed from water treatment facilities, the USGS stated.
VOCs ruin water, mushroom farm, grower says Mushroom grower Donald Alger has found that samples from trees on his land show that the trees are contaminated with four types of VOCs: benzene, toluene, styrene and tetrachloroethylene, according to the article. All four of the compounds are regulated as primary drinking water contaminants. Alger’s property is located about 1 mile northwest of the Wexford County Landfill. He purchased land in Cedar Creek Township to house his shiitake mushroom operation and has owned property in the township since the 1950s, the story said. Alger said in the article he now can’t grow the mushrooms because the trees normally serve as living hosts for the fungal organisms. He has joined a civil lawsuit against the county. Plaintiffs in the suit are mostly residents who say the landfill contaminated their drinking water.
MTBE settlements trickle in to Boston communities BOSTON, November 20, 2008 (Water Tech) — Some Boston-area communities, benefiting from a negotiated settlement of a lawsuit that had accused oil companies of contaminating drinking water supplies with the gasoline additive methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), are planning to pump the money into water system upgrades or monitoring — or save it for future expenses, The Boston Globe reported on November 20. The settlement, which was announced in May and passed a final hurdle in September, requires the oil companies to pay a total of $423 million to water suppliers and also pay 70 percent of cleanup costs over the next 30 years. The case is the result of the consolidation of many MTBE lawsuits into a single case. However, some oil companies, such as ExxonMobil, have chosen to proceed with the court case instead of settle. That case will be heard by the federal Multi-District Litigation Court in New York. A date for the next hearing has yet to be set, the Globe reported.For Boston-area communities, the settlement amounts range from $200,000 to more than $1.8 million. Settlements were determined by the amount of MTBE found, the number of test rounds it remained present, and how long ago it was detected, Malden attorney Richard Sandman said in the Globe article. Sandman represented all of the Massachusetts communities in the lawsuit. Low-levels of MTBE can render water undrinkable and high levels of MTBE are considered carcinogenic.
Multi-Pure Commentary:
Perchlorate found in sodium hypochlorite supplies: study DENVER, November 13, 2008 (Water Tech) — Rocket-fuel ingredient perchlorate has been in more than 90 percent of sodium hypochlorite samples from production facilities across North America, reports an article in the November issue of Journal AWWA, the American Water Works Association’s (AWWA) peer-reviewed publication. The article, entitled “Occurrence of Perchlorate in Sodium Hypochlorite” and authored by Peter Greiner and colleagues, is the result of an NSF International survey. In response to recent findings of perchlorate in sodium hypochlorite, NSF surveyed sodium hypochlorite products used to treat drinking water to better understand the occurrence of perchlorate as a contaminant. The authors found a trend of increasing perchlorate concentration as the hypochlorite aged. They also discovered that the duration and conditions of storage can affect the levels of the contaminant in a utility’s hypochlorite supplies — and ultimately its drinking water. According to an abstract of the article, “The investigation provided a basis for recommendations to minimize perchlorate formation and lower the potential for its unintended addition to drinking water. Sodium hypochlorite should be stored in the dark at cool temperatures, diluted if possible, and used within a few weeks of manufacture.” Perchlorate, a chemical also used in the manufacture of fireworks, is considered a contaminant of health concern because exposure to high levels over extended periods may adversely affect thyroid activity. Some states are beginning to regulate perchlorate absent a federal standard. Multi-Pure Commentary:Multi-Pure’s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Perchlorate.
WA city implements water-protection plan ISSAQUAH, WA, November 12, 2008 (Water Tech) — A plan to protect this city’s underground drinking water source now is being implemented, a November 11 Issaquah Press article said. The plan, created by the Issaquah Public Works Engineering Department, will use the Critical Aquifer Recharge Area (CARA) rules, adopted by the City Council in 2007, to help protect the city’s aquifer from hazardous contaminants. The plan will target businesses as a preventive measure because they often work with materials with harmful potential, such as solvents, oil, pesticides and fertilizers. A representative from the Public Works Engineering Department and an expert from environmental consulting firm Farallon Consulting are working to identify businesses that may be subject to CARA regulations. Kelly Ritland, Public Works senior water resources engineer, estimates that only about 100 businesses will end up on the final list. Most changes that businesses will have to make will be minimal, Ritland said in the article.There is no evidence yet that the area where the aquifer sits currently is polluted, but the location of this aquifer makes it highly susceptible to pollution, according to the article. EPA extends comment period for perchlorate finding WASHINGTON, November 11, 2008 (Water Tech) — The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on November 10 that in response to requests, the agency is providing more time for public comment on its preliminary regulatory determination not to regulate perchlorate in drinking water at a national level. The agency now is asking that comments be submitted by a new deadline of November 28. On October 3, the EPA announced that after “extensive review of scientific data related to the health effects of exposure to perchlorate from drinking water and other sources,” a national primary drinking water rule for the chemical is not necessary. The EPA said a national primary drinking water regulation would not provide a meaningful opportunity to reduce the health risk from perchlorate, as WaterTech Online™ reported. Perchlorate is a chemical that has been used at military installations and defense plants as a rocket fuel, and also in conventional fireworks. As originally published in an October 10 Federal Register notice by the EPA, entitled “Drinking Water: Preliminary Regulatory Determination on Perchlorate,” the agency was to make a final regulatory determination for perchlorate after considering comments and information provided in the 30-day comment period following the notice. Environmental advocacy groups, including the Environmental Working Group, said they would sue the EPA if its final perchlorate regulatory determination is that no national standard is needed, as WaterTech Online reported. Substances that are placed on the primary drinking water contaminant list are assigned a maximum contaminant limit (MCL) that is enforceable for public drinking water supplies.
Multi-Pure Commentary:
Construction site to be tested for contaminants
11 CA systems ordered to comply with arsenic rule The EPA’s orders require the systems to develop and meet a schedule to comply with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act’s arsenic standard of 10 parts per billion (ppb).
The EPA has issued orders to the following California public water systems:
Multi-Pure Commentary: Norovirus outbreaks linked to drinking water: study TORONTO, October 27, 2008 (Water Tech) — Findings from a study looking for patterns that might explain winter flare-ups of Norovirus-induced stomach flu, also known as gastroenteritis, may be linked to drinking water sources that also serve as sewage treatment outlets, The Canadian Press reported on October 27. The research found that winter outbreaks were more likely to happen in the week after water temperatures in Lake Ontario dipped below 4 degrees Celsius (39.2 degrees Fahrenheit) or flow from the Don River into Lake Ontario was high. These findings suggest that under certain environmental conditions, noroviruses from human sewage may proliferate in bodies of water that are used both as municipal water sources and sewage treatment outlets, eventually finding their way back into human gastrointestinal tracts through drinking water, according to the report. Lead author of the study, Amy Greer, is a post-doctoral fellow working on the ecology and evolution of infectious diseases at the Research Institute of the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. She presented the findings at an October 26 joint scientific conference of the American Society for Microbiology and the Infectious Diseases Society of America in Washington, DC. While Greer cautioned that the findings are preliminary, she said, “So the question is, if we have a reservoir in the lake of environmental virus, essentially how is it that people are coming in contact with it? … Our findings may suggest that that [drinking water] might be something that we should look at.”
WQA promotes POU for meds removal WaterTech Online™ requested on October 16 more information from ABC News on the water filter research, but that specific request has not been answered. According to WQA Technical Director Joseph Harrison, POU systems are the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly treatment because less than 2 percent of all water consumed is ingested by humans. He said in the press release that while specific product performance standards have not yet been developed for pharmaceuticals, many POU technologies have proven effective for some emerging contaminants.
Multi-Pure Commentary:
Ottawa’s water source contains toxic compounds OTTAWA, October 22, 2008 (Water Tech) — This Canadian capital city’s main drinking water source, the site of a huge raw sewage spill in 2006, contains trace levels of at least 10 toxins, including the chemical bisphenol A (BPA), the pain reliever acetaminophen and the livestock antibiotic lasaloid A, an October 20 UPI report quoting an Ottawa Sun article said. City officials found out about the results of the testing through a memo from the infrastructure services department. Testing took place this spring, taking raw water samples from the Ottawa River. Analysis of the samples found only low levels of the chemical compounds, so city officials have told residents not to worry, according to an October 20 CTV report. One of the toxins detected in the water, BPA, recently was declared a hazardous chemical by the Canadian government. The government has banned it from use in polycarbonate baby bottles, as WaterTech Online™ reported. Meanwhile, the city has received a 107-page report from its auditor general, Alain Lalonde, regarding the 2006 raw sewage spill. Lalonde’s October 22 report concludes that incompetent management and neglect of aging sewage and stormwater equipment were to blame for two weeks of unnoticed sewage dumping into the Ottawa River, the Ottawa Sun reported. The river supplies 338 million liters (89 million gallons) of water daily to 750,000 residents. Some WI well water contains viruses MADISON, WI, October 20, 2008 (Water Tech) — Research released last week by the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey and the Marshfield Clinic, headquartered in Marshfield, shows that human viruses are present in most of the drinking water in this city, and could be infectious enough to cause illness if the city water were not chlorinated, according to an October 18 article in the Wisconsin State Journal. During the study, six city wells were tested every month between September 2007 and September 2008. While no well tested positive in every sampling, gastrointestinal and respiratory viruses were found at least twice in every well. Samples were taken prior to being treated with chlorine, according to the article. Researchers say they believe that the source of the viruses is the leakage of untreated sewage from the Madison sewer system into the wells, according to the article. Neither the states nor federal government sets standards for viruses in drinking water, and communities are not required to treat for them. Hundreds of communities across Wisconsin do not chlorinate their drinking water, according to the article.
Bottled water has same contaminants as tap: study Of the 10 brands of bottled water tested, just two brand names were released in the report: Wal-Mart’s Sam’s Choice and Giant Food Supermarket’s Acadia. All brands tested met federal safe drinking water standards; however, the two brands named violated a state of California standard for disinfection byproducts (DBPs) that is stricter than the federal standard. According to the report, “Two of 10 brands tested, Wal-Mart’s and Giant’s store brands, bore the chemical signature of standard municipal water treatment — a cocktail of chlorine disinfection byproducts [DBPs], and for Giant Water, even fluoride. In other words, this bottled water was chemically indistinguishable from tap water. The only striking difference: the price tag,” the researchers wrote. According to the report, the study’s lab tests on 10 brands of bottled water detected 38 chemicals and other contaminants, such as bacteria, caffeine, the pain reliever acetaminophen, heavy metals and minerals, as well as other “tentatively identified industrial chemicals” used as solvents, plasticizers and propellants. The researchers said that some of the chemicals may have leached into the water from the plastic water bottles. The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA), headquartered in Alexandria, VA, responded to the EWG report, calling it “sensationalized science.” IBWA President Joe Doss said in the group’s October 14 press release, which was published in anticipation of the release of the EWG report, “The testing results show that only two bottled water brands didn’t meet a California state standard for one regulated substance.” Doss noted that the California state standard for DBPs, 10 parts per billion (ppb), is eight times lower than the US Food and Drug Administration standard of quality for bottled water and the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) maximum contaminant level for tap water at 80 ppb. According to an October 15 Associated Press (AP) story on the report, “Wal-Mart said its own studies did not turn up illegal levels of contaminants. Giant Food officials released a statement asserting that Acadia meets all regulatory standards.” Giant Food also noted that Acadia is sold in mid-Atlantic states, so it does not need to meet California state standards. The IBWA noted that the EWG report labels total dissolved solids, for which the EPA has established a non-enforceable secondary drinking water standard, as a “contaminant.” According to the IBWA, “While total dissolved solids are not permitted in distilled bottled water, they are important for the taste and character of spring and mineral water.” In the EWG report, researchers write that the success of bottled water in the United States has been driven in part by concerns over tap water quality. The researchers, based on their findings, recommend policy changes, such as holding bottled water products to the same standards that publicly supplied water must meet and expanding resources dedicated to protecting source waters.
The
researchers also offer advice for consumers searching for safe drinking
water: Use a carbon filter — either a point-of-use device or a pitcher
— to remove many of the contaminants found in public water supplies.
They also recommend consumers drink filtered tap water out of a
stainless steel bottle and lobby policymakers to improve and fund
source water protection programs.
High lead levels detected at NJ school HILLSBOROUGH, NJ, October 15, 2008 (Water Tech) — High lead levels discovered on October 8 at Woodfern Elementary School, located here, have prompted school officials to ban the use of drinking fountains and take other precautionary measures, according to an October 14 article on www.mycentraljersey.com. The school uses well water and tests for various contaminants each year. In two of 10 tests, the water tested “higher lead levels” than acceptable. All water fountains have been covered or disabled, and containers of fresh water have been placed next to the fountains, the article said. Bottled water also is being delivered to the school. School water is being used for cooking. McGowan Well Water Compliance Mgt. LLC is assisting school officials in developing a remediation plan, according to the article. State requirement dictates that the water cannot be retested until the beginning of January 2009. The precautions will be in effect until that time, according to the article. Bottled water versus tap: Which is safer to drink?
LOS ANGELES, October 13, 2008 (Los Angeles Times)
— Those ubiquitous plastic water bottles have been increasingly
vilified in recent years. Los Angeles, San Francisco and Santa Barbara,
among others, have banned them from purchase with city funds. A few
trendsetting restaurants, and even some markets and hotels, have banned
them too.
To read complete story, click on the link below:
Multi-Pure Commentary:
Tests on drinking water wells prompt pesticide ban MADISON, WI, October 7, 2008 (Water Tech) — The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has proposed adding about 1,830 acres to the area in Columbia County in southern Wisconsin where the pesticide atrazine is banned, according to an October 5 article in the Star Tribune. The DATCP says tests on drinking water wells prompted the proposal. The tests indicated that the continued use of the common pesticide would contaminate groundwater. Exposure to high levels of atrazine can cause problems with the heart, lungs and kidneys, and long-term exposure can lead to cancer, according to the article.
If approved, the expansion would go into effect during the 2009 growing
season, according to an October 1 article in Wisconsin Ag Connection.
The added acres would connect two previously existing atrazine
prohibition areas. High lead in some Bay City, MI, tap waterBAY CITY, MI, October 6, 2008 (Water Tech) — Recent sampling has revealed that 20 percent of samples collected from residences throughout this city’s water distribution system have exceeded the federal maximum contaminant level for lead in drinking water, according to an October 6 article in The Bay City Times. John A. DeKam, Bay City Water Treatment Plant superintendent, said in the article that lead plumbing in homes, including faucets, are to blame for the high levels of lead in 14 of 69 samples. The city’s water is in compliance with state and federal drinking water regulations, he added. Regardless, the city must now follow US Environmental Protection Agency regulations and conduct public education; increase the sampling frequency and quantity; resume a program to remove the utility’s portion of any remaining lead service lines going to homes; and “further optimize” the city’s water treatment processes.
Study: Iodinated DBPs more likely with chloraminesATHENS, GA, September 25, 2008 (Water Tech) — Researchers have published for the first time a study that quantifies the levels of iodoacetic acid (iodo-acid) disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in North American drinking water treated with chloramines, producing a compound-by-compound toxicity analysis, according to a September 24 American Chemical Society (ACS) report. Iodo-acid DBPs are more toxic to mammalian cells than bromoacetic acid, which is the most genotoxic (DNA-damaging) of the haloacetic acids (HAAs) regulated in the United States. Iodo-acid also has been shown to cause developmental abnormalities in mouse embryos, the study said. The collaborative study is published in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T) and led by researchers Susan Richardson from the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Exposure Research Laboaratory and Michael Plewa of the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Studies at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. In the study, analytical chemists, analytical biologists, engineers and toxicologists analyzed water samples from 22 US cities and one Canadian city. The study arose from their interest in the growing evidence showing that the formation of iodinated DBPs in drinking water may be higher when utilities use chloramines for disinfectants rather than chlorine, ozone, or chlorine dioxide. According to the study’s authors, the findings could present a conflict for water utilities seeking the best technique for disinfecting drinking water. The research team found higher levels of iodo-acid disinfection DBPs at treatment plants with relatively short free-chlorine contact times, and the lowest level at a chlorine-only plant with long free-chlorine contact times, the report says. Higher levels of iodo-acids also were found in coastal cities with higher levels of naturally occurring iodide in their source waters. According to the report, the paper includes a simple engineering solution for water utilities to aid in determining the relative toxicity and occurrence of these DBPs. Then the utility can modify its disinfection approach to “produce very good water … that is less toxic and includes fewer DBPs,” according to Plewa.
Companies must pay $500K for Superfund cleanup Plumes of industrial chemicals have leaked into the groundwater, forcing the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to take nearly half of its drinking water wells offline, according to an article in the Los Angeles Daily News. The seven companies cited in the release are: Los Angeles By Products Co.; Pick Your Part Auto Wrecking; Waste Management Recycling & Disposal Services of California, Inc. dba Bradley Landfill & Recycling Center; Hawker Pacific Aerospace; the Wagner Living Trust; the Basinger B Trust; and the Basinger C Trust. These companies previously refused to enter into a $1.3 million voluntary settlement agreement to pump and treat groundwater in North Hollywood. Three companies did accept this agreement: Honeywell International, Inc.; Lockheed Martin Corp., Calmat; and California Car Hikers. Solvent contamination was first discovered in the San Fernando Valley in the early 1980s. The North Hollywood groundwater treatment system has removed volatile organic compounds such as TCE and PCE since 1989, according to the release. EPA not likely to set national perchlorate limit WASHINGTON, September 22, 2008 (Water Tech) — The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under pressure from the White House and the Pentagon, is expected to rule as early as September 22 that it will not set a drinking water safety standard for the rocket fuel and fireworks chemical perchlorate, according to a September 22 Washington Post article.The EPA has maintained that perchlorate, which has been linked to thyroid problems in pregnant women, newborns and young children, poses developmental health risks to humans. Earlier this year, the EPA announced that perchlorate, which also is naturally occurring, was included on its most recent Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 3), as WaterTech Online™ reported. The CCL 3 includes possible drinking water contaminants that may need to be regulated to ensure the protection of drinking water. The EPA’s efforts to help determine if regulation of perchlorate in drinking water would “meaningfully” reduce risks to human health has faced opposition from the Bush administration for years. The Washington Post reported: “According to a near-final document obtained by The Washington Post, the EPA’s ‘preliminary regulatory determination’ — which was extensively edited by White House officials — marks the final step in a six-year-old battle between career EPA scientists who advocate regulating the chemical and White House and Pentagon officials who oppose it.” The document estimates that up to 16.6 million Americans are exposed to perchlorate at a level many scientists consider unsafe. Independent researchers, using federal and state data, put the number at 20 million to 40 million, the article said. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure’s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Perchlorate.
PUEBLO, CO, September 16, 2008 (Water Tech) — Data from a US Geological Survey (USGS) study on nitrate levels in groundwater published in the September-October issue of Journal of Environmental Quality indicates that levels of nitrate concentration in well networks have significantly increased in predominately agricultural areas across the United States. This study, which was conducted as part of the USGS federally funded National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) program, examined decadal-scale changes in nitrate levels in 495 wells in 24 well networks. A well network is a set of about 30 wells randomly selected to examine groundwater quality in a region. Each well network was sampled once during 1988-1995 and again in 2000-2004. Seven of the 24 well networks showed an increase in nitrate concentrations. The median nitrate concentration of three of these well networks that saw an increase exceeded the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maximum contaminant level for nitrates of 10 milligrams per liter, according to the abstract. Contamination feared in Edwards aquiferLEON VALLEY, TX, September 15, 2008 (Water Tech) — The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is testing to see if chemical compounds discovered in local private wells could be affecting the Edwards Aquifer, which serves 2 million people in south-central Texas, according to a September 9 article on www.woai.com.The EPA discovered contaminated water in the wells about two years ago, and more recent testing indicates the pollution of a groundwater plume by dry cleaning products. The aquifer has a “honeycomb” type of formation, said Chris Villareal, project manager for the EPA. This means there are many potential pathways throughout the area through which contaminants can migrate. The EPA will need to take samples from the aquifer and monitor its levels before knowing if water treatment is necessary, according to the article. Residents were unaware of the contamination and had been using water from the contaminated wells for years before being hooked up to the public water supply. The EPA will continue water well testing and meet with the Edwards Aquifer Authority to discuss the possibility of contamination, according to the article. Meds-in-water back in spotlight with new dataNEW YORK, September 12, 2008 (Water Tech) — Recent tests of drinking water supplies, prompted by an Associated Press (AP) report in March that 41 million Americans receive drinking water tainted by trace levels of pharmaceuticals, reveal that the number of Americans affected by meds-in-water is at least 46 million, according to a September 10 AP report.The original AP stories prompted federal and local legislative hearings, brought about calls for mandatory testing and disclosure, and led officials in at least 27 additional metropolitan areas to analyze their drinking water, the AP reported. Positive tests were reported in 17 areas, including Reno, NV; Savannah, GA; Colorado Springs, CO; and Huntsville, AL. Results are pending in three other areas. The most recent test results, added to data disclosed by communities and water utilities for the March AP report, produce the new total of Americans known to be exposed to drinking water that contains trace levels of pharmaceutical compounds. Boston, Phoenix and Seattle found no detections of pharmaceuticals in their drinking water supplies. Cities that reported finding pharmaceuticals in their supplies detected substances similar to those found in other cities’ supplies and reported on in March. One such substance is the anti-convulsant carbamazepine. According to AP, the overwhelming majority of US cities have not tested drinking water for pharmaceuticals. One of them, New York City, maintains that testing “is not warranted at this time.” VOCs-contaminated water gets nat’l attentionCHICAGO, September 5, 2008 (Water Tech) — The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has added the East Troy Contaminated Aquifer site in Troy, OH, to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) and has proposed adding another three sites in EPA Region 5 to the list, according to a September 3 EPA press release.The groundwater under the city of Troy is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE) from the East Troy Superfund site. The VOCs also have contaminated a nearby drinking water well field. Adding the site to the NPL enables the EPA to further study the sources of contamination and plan ways to clean all affected locations, according to the release. Two of the three Region 5 sites recommended for placement on the NPL, the Behr Dayton Thermal System VOC Plume in Dayton, OH, and the New Carlisle Landfill in New Carlisle, OH, also involve contaminated water. Groundwater at the Behr Dayton site is contaminated with TCE, and in New Castle, public and private wells have been found to contain vinyl chloride above the safe drinking water level, according to the release. A total of six sites were added to the NPL nationwide, bringing the total to 1,258. Eleven new sites are proposed nationwide. The EPA updates the list twice a year, according to the release. Elevated lead levels found at eight schools BELLEVILLE, ONTARIO, September 4, 2008 (Water Tech) — Eight elementary and high schools here are providing bottled water to students after elevated levels of lead were detected in the buildings’ drinking water, according to a September 3 article in The Community Press. Water testing was performed in anticipation of the resumption of classes after summer recess. There are no lead pipes in any of the buildings, and the source of the lead is thought to be lead solder or brass fixtures. Water sitting in the pipes during the summer months may have encouraged leaching, according to the article. The acceptable upper limit for lead in school water is 0.010 milligrams per liter (mg/L). The levels discovered at the schools ranged from 0.0121 mg/L to 0.0262 mg/L, according to the article. Water fountains at the schools have been bagged to prevent use and the pipes will be flushed until lead levels return to acceptable limits, according to the article. AR city’s supplies contain too much TCE FORREST CITY, AR, August 27, 2008 (Water Tech) — Trichloroethylene levels that exceed the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) maximum contaminant level (MCL) have been detected in 70 percent of the water supplied to this city’s system, according to an August 21 article in the Times-Herald. The high trichloroethylene, or TCE, levels occurred from June 1, 2007, through June 30, 2008, for a total of four violations. The city’s supply contained an average of 0.010 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of TCE. The federal MCL for the solvent TCE is half that, at 0.005 mg/L. In compliance with state and federal regulations, the Forrest City Water Utility has drafted a letter detailing the violation for its customers. The letter states, “The [US Environmental Protection Agency] sets drinking water standards and has determined that trichloroethylene is a health concern at certain levels of exposure. This chemical is a common metal cleaning and dry cleaning fluid.” Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce TCE, a VOC. Small system’s contamination may have natural source INDIO, CA, August 26, 2008 (Water Tech) — Natural sources may be to blame for the presence of perchlorate in a well at La Quinta Ridge Mobile Home Park, according to an August 25 article on www.kesq.com. Dr. Mark Matsumoto of the University of California Riverside’s Chemistry Department said in the article, “Perchlorate can be found in [non-industrial] places for a couple of reasons. First there is some natural perchlorate.” The rocket fuel ingredient perchlorate can result from activities relating to fuel or explosives production or use and can seep into well water over time. Deserts are particularly vulnerable to this, because the chemical will build up and not wash away, according to the article. The managers of the mobile home park will face fines unless they hook the park into the city’s water supply by August 28, according to the article. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure’s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Perchlorate. Fewer raw sewage releases in MIMUSKEGON, MI, August 22, 2008 (Water Tech) — According to a report by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), the state released a total of 26 billion gallons of raw or partially treated sewage into surface water due to combined sewer overflows in 2007, a 30 percent reduction from 2006, an August 21 Associated Press (AP) report on www.mlive.com said. Combined sewer overflows occur when rainwater overwhelms sewer systems that handle both wastewater and stormwater. Dumping sewage prevents water from backing up into residential basements, according to the report. Detroit was responsible for 88 percent of the dumped sewage. Grand Rapids, which ranked second to Detroit, dumped less than one hundredth of a percent of Detroit’s total, according to the report. Local, state and federal agencies have been working since the late 1980s to reduce combined sewage overflows into the Great Lakes, a drinking water source, the report said. In 1989, the state provided $2.8 billion in low interest loans to help cities separate combined sewer lines and upgrade wastewater treatment systems. Kitchen may hold answers for contaminated water YAKIMA, WA, August 22, 2008 (Water Tech) — While looking for ways to clean toxic groundwater at the Hanford nuclear reservation, the most contaminated nuclear site in the nation, researchers have again turned to the kitchen cabinet, according to an August 24 Associated Press article in The Seattle Times. This week, researchers will inject 1,500 gallons of vegetable oil mixed with 50,000 gallons of water into the soil at the site near the Columbia River. An estimated 80 square miles of groundwater near the Pacific Northwest’s largest waterway is contaminated by radioactive waste exceeding state and federal drinking water standards. Federal officials are particularly concerned about a plume of hexavalent chromium, a contaminant that moves easily through water, which stretches for 1.25 miles along the Columbia River shore. Injecting the oil is expected to increase the food supply for natural microbes and remove oxygen from the groundwater, thereby enabling the chromium to convert to the nontoxic form for up to seven years, according to the article. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure’s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Hexavalent Chromium. Arsenic in water may contribute to diabetesCHICAGO, August 20, 2008 (Water Tech) — Research published on August 19 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has linked low-level arsenic exposure, including possibly through drinking water, to type 2 diabetes, according to an August 19 Associated Press report on CNN. Through the analysis of 788 Americans’ medical tests, researchers at Johns Hopkins University found that subjects with low levels of inorganic arsenic loads in their urine carried more than triple the risk of developing the disease than those with even lower arsenic loads. This data follows previous research that indicates an increased risk of diabetes with high levels of arsenic exposure. How arsenic contributes to diabetes is not yet known, but studies have found impaired insulin secretion in pancreatic cells treated with arsenic compound, according to the article. Concerning the policy implications of the new findings, Molly Kile, an environmental health research scientist at the Harvard School of Public Health, wrote an accompanying editorial in JAMA, stating, “Urinary arsenic reflects exposures from all routes — air, water and food — which makes it difficult to track the actual source of arsenic exposure let alone use the results from this study to establish drinking water standards.” Known cancer risks linked to arsenic caused the arsenic limit in public water systems to be lowered to 10 parts per billion in 2001, and it is recommended that private well owners self-test their water. The US Geological Survey has mapped the level of groundwater contamination by arsenic. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure’s MP880 Series has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Arsenic V. Biologist: DC tap water ‘abominable’ for fish WASHINGTON, August 18, 2008 (Water Tech) — The recently renovated National Aquarium — which at the age of 135 is the nation’s oldest aquarium — is seeking a higher profile despite the local water quality issues that complicate filtration and treatment, according to an Associated Press article in The Washington Post. At a recent briefing, aquarium officials discussed the quality — or lack thereof — of the local tap water. “D.C. water is abominable. It cannot sustain life,” Andy Dehart, director of biological programs at the aquarium, said in the article. “But it’s safe to drink!” Executive Director Bob Ramin told the audience, according to the article. Dehart responded to Ramin by specifying that the water was not safe for fish or invertebrates. The water flowing from taps in the nation's capital is treated with chloramine year-round and with chlorine in the summer. In order to sustain aquarium life, these chemicals must be removed using activated carbon and the mineral zeolite. The aquarium has added a new part to its water treatment system after a four-year, $1.6 million upgrade funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which studies what marine creatures need to survive in captivity. Recent trends in aquarium water quality focus on replicating the animals’ natural environments, according to the article. Filters, fractionators and biofilters have recently been added under the advice of consultant Andy Aiken, life support engineer at the Baltimore National Aquarium. SD city marks fourth quarter with THMsYANKTON, SD, August 18, 2008 (Water Tech) — For the fourth quarter in a row, the city of Yankton has been forced to issue a notice informing residents that tests by the South Dakota Department of Environmental and Natural Resources indicate that the city’s drinking water contains an excess of trihalomethanes (THMs), according to an August 17 article in the Press & Dakotan. Jerry Busby, water treatment plant supervisor in Yankton, said in the article, “There will probably be one or two more [notices], unfortunately. The water has basically stayed the same, but [the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)] dropped the THM level from 100 parts per billion (ppb) to 80 ppb on an annual running average.” Yankton’s water averages 92-94 ppb, Busby said. Yankton began to experience heightened levels of THMs after the US Army Corps of Engineers created sandbars upriver to provide habitat for endangered birds. Towns upriver from the sandbars do not have problems with excessive THMs, according to the article. Officials are looking into several solutions, including leasing equipment to introduce chlorine dioxide to the city’s treatment process. They have also considered obtaining water from wells, which would reduce impurities, protect the water treatment system from zebra mussels and reduce the amount of sediment flowing through the system. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce THMs, a VOC. Sewage spill threatens WA drinking water POST FALLS, ID, August 14, 2008 (Water Tech) — A raw sewage spill discovered in the early hours of August 11 is feared to have contaminated the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, which provides drinking water to the Spokane, WA, area, according to an August 13 article in The Seattle Times. Up to 130,000 gallons of raw sewage from the Post Falls wastewater system spilled at the Idahline Lift Station, which raises sewage to a higher elevation for treatment, according to the article. A hydrologist has been hired to determine whether the sewage could seep into the aquifer. The spill occurred over the weekend but was not detected until early Monday morning because of a broken wire in the alarm system, according to the article. Ontario city pushes bottled water banLONDON, ONTARIO, August 12, 2008 (Water Tech) — A proposal to ban the sale of bottled water on city-owned property is scheduled to go before the City Council here on August 18 after the city’s environment and transportation committee passed a recommendation calling for the ban, according to an August 12 article in The London Free Press. During the committee’s August 11 meeting, the regularly scheduled public forum turned into a heated discussion among those in attendance, the article said. On June 9, the City Council voted in principle to stop selling bottled water in city offices, cafeterias and parks in an effort to reduce waste. Jay Stanford, director of the city’s environment and solid waste programs, said the recommendation calls for the gradual phase-out of the sale of plastic water bottles, as WaterTech Online™ reported. Human error results in contamination scareBOZEMAN, MT, August 8, 2008 (Water Tech) — Human error at this city’s water department prompted a possible episode of drinking water contamination, according to an August 8 Associated Press article on www.montananewsstation.com. According to the article, a subcontractor hired to install new software on the computer system that controls the city’s water storage, distribution and wastewater services forgot to put the system back online when he finished on August 7. This caused a decrease in pressure and the possibility that the water could be contaminated with fecal bacteria and chemicals. Local officials are asking that residents do not drink the water, even if it has been boiled, because that could increase the contamination, according to the article. High THM levels found at PA airport FINDLAY TOWNSHIP, PA, August 5, 2008 (Water Tech) — Recent tests of the drinking water at Pittsburgh International Airport revealed excessive levels of trihalomethanes (THMs), according to an August 4 article in The Times. The testing showed the average level of the disinfection byproduct (DBP) in the airport’s drinking water to be 0.081 milligrams per liter (mg/L), according to Allegheny County Health Department spokesman Tom Forgrave. The maximum level permitted by the federal Safe Water Drinking Act is 0.080 mg/L. “They were just over the threshold. It was a very minute quality. Passengers have no need to be concerned, and employees don’t either as long as they are not drinking large amounts of the water over a long period of time,” Forgrave said in the article. Airport spokeswoman JoAnn Jenny said in the article that quarterly tests since the airport’s opening in 1992 have not previously shown excessive levels. Jenny said in the article that the airport would flush its pipes to try to alleviate the problem, and that another test is scheduled in two weeks. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce TTHMs, a VOC.
Senate committee approves perchlorate, TCE bills WASHINGTON, August 1, 2008 (Water Tech) — The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved legislation on July 31 that addresses toxic substances in drinking water, including the rocket-fuel ingredient perchlorate and the degreasing chemical trichloroethylene (TCE), according to a July 31 Media-Newswire press release. Two bills aim to impose federal standards for perchlorate in drinking water. The bills, introduced by Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-CA, chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, include the Perchlorate Monitoring and Right to Know Act (S. 24), which would require the US Environmental Protection Agency to reestablish its previous drinking water monitoring rule for perchlorate until a drinking water standard requires monitoring. S. 24 also would require that people be told about perchlorate contamination in their drinking water. The second perchlorate-focused bill, the Protecting Pregnant Women and Children from Perchlorate Act (S. 150), would require the EPA to set a federal standard for perchlorate in drinking water. Boxer said she introduced the legislation because the EPA was taking too long to establish a standard for perchlorate in drinking water, according to a July 31 Redlands Daily Facts article. Perchlorate contaminates drinking water systems in 35 states, including California. In May, Benjamin Grumbles, EPA assistant administrator for water, told senators that there is a “distinct possibility” that the federal regulatory agency will not set a national drinking water limit for perchlorate, as WaterTech Online™ reported. A Congressional subcommittee approved a similar bill to set a national drinking water standard for perchlorate in drinking water last November, as WaterTech Online™ reported. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee also approved the TCE Reduction Act (S. 1911), which aims to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act by requiring a health advisory and drinking water standard for TCE in drinking water. It also would require the EPA to set a “health advisory” that warns people at what level of TCE is dangerous, according to the release. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce TCE, a VOC.
Final report published on POU-device removal of PFCsST. PAUL, MN, July 31, 2008 (Water Tech) — The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) released on July 31 the findings of its extensive evaluation of activated carbon and reverse osmosis (RO) point-of-use (POU) water treatment devices for perfluorochemical (PFC) removal. According to the 140-page report, four activated carbon devices and seven RO devices tested were found to reduce PFCs in water, generally well below the reporting limits of testing. The final phase of testing, referred to as Phase II, field-tested the 11 devices, using water directly from two municipal wells in southern Washington County, MN: one well in the city of Oakdale had multiple PFCs, including perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS); and one well in the city of St. Paul Park had only PFBA present. Multi-Pure Commentary: Click the below link to read our Press Release on PFCs www.multipureco.com/pfoarelease.pdf
MTBE cleanup plan proceeds for CA wellsSAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA, July 28, 2008 (Water Tech) — This city recently received word from Chevron officials that efforts to remove methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) from city wells could begin next February, according to a July 25 article in The Capistrano District. Remediation of the contamination, caused by a Chevron leak, would include construction of a new filtration system near the Dance Hall Well behind City Hall. That drinking-water well was taken off-line in January after traces of the fuel additive were found in it. Members of the city’s Water Advisory Commission said they were frustrated with the length of time it's taken to get a new cleanup plan in place. Chevron officials responded at a July 22 meeting with the commissioners that they’re working as fast as possible to proceed with cleanup plans, the article said. City officials also learned of another MTBE plume from another old Chevron leak that potentially threatens the city’s wells. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce MTBE.
SC plant works on reducing high levels of DBPsLANCASTER COUNTY, SC, July 24, 2008 (Water Tech) — While officials at the Catawba River Water Treatment Plant are working to control higher-than-acceptable levels of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in their treated water, some residents have taken testing and treating into their own hands, according to a July 22 report in the Fort Mill Times. In June, Lancaster County residents were notified that their drinking water exceeded the federal maximum allowable level of total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) in drinking water of 0.08 milligrams per liter (mg/L). TTHMs occur as a byproduct of disinfectants such as chlorine interacting with organic matter in water. Upon receiving the news from the county, Black Horse Run resident Meta Wasson, who has been drinking bottled water since receiving the news, had independent tests done on her water. Results revealed that her water contained 12 mg/L of TTHMs. Other residents are following the advice of water treatment plant director Mike Bailes by using activated carbon to filter the water before drinking it, the article said. Studies have shown that long-term exposure to higher-than-acceptable levels of TTHMs can cause liver, kidney and nervous system problems and lead to an increased cancer risk. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce TTHMs, a VOC.
'Groundbreaking study' of POU-device removal of PFCs MINNEAPOLIS, July 24, 2008 (Water Tech) — A recently completed study identifies a limited number of commercially available point-of-use (POU) water treatment devices as being effective for the removal of perfluorochemicals (PFCs) from drinking water supplies, according to a July 23 press release from Cedar, MN-based consulting company Water Science & Marketing (WSM), LLC. WSM has released its final report on this study to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). It is expected to soon be published and accessible through the following link: www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/wells/brochures.html. The MDH commissioned WSM to conduct the $640,000 study to provide data relevant to PFC removal performance/capacity for commercially available POU devices. WSM also was asked to identify factors affecting reliability and operational characteristics/limitations. This is the first third-party performance evaluation of its kind, according to the press release. This study, prompted by a new class of toxic contaminants referred to as PFCs that has been detected in drinking water supplies in Minnesota, Ohio, Delaware and West Virginia, is considered Phase II field testing of devices identified in a previous study as effective at PFC removal. Multi-Pure Commentary: Click the below link to read our Press Release on PFCs www.multipureco.com/pfoarelease.pdf
Study: Meds-in-water alter fish appetite, behavior CLEMSON, SC, July 23, 2008 (Water Tech) — Clemson University toxicologists have found that hybrid striped bass exposed to the antidepressant fluoxetine, which has been detected in some surface waters, are less interested in feeding than other fish and often display behaviors that make them easier prey for predators, according to a July 21 Scientific American article. Antidepressants like fluoxetine, the active ingredient in Prozac, block the reuptake by neurons of serotonin, a neurotransmitter strongly tied to emotion, appetite and aggression, according to the article. For the study, researchers Stephen Klaine and Kristen Gaworecki exposed the fish to varying amounts of the drug — zero, 35, 75 and 150 micrograms per liter — over six days, followed by a six-day period in clean water. The fish were offered four live fathead minnows every three days, according to the article. “In general, it took exposed bass longer [than bass not given the drug] to eat each minnow. Some bass exposed to the higher levels of fluoxetine pretty much gave up trying to capture prey by the third or fourth minnow. They really didn’t have the kind of appetite the controls had,” said Klaine. Bass exposed to the greatest amount of the drug also behaved strangely for their species, staying at the top of the tank with their dorsal fin above the waterline or tilting to a vertical position, two actions that would make them easy targets for predators in the wild, according to the article. As WaterTech Online™ previously reported, research has shown that pharmaceutical contaminants in water can affect fish sexually, causing males to produce egg yolk proteins and have limited testicular function.
Gas drilling threatens NYC’s supply, report says. ALBANY, NY, July 22, 2008 (Water Tech) — Although the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) says that plans to drill for natural gas near the New York City watershed pose little risk for water contamination, a joint media investigation has revealed hundreds of instances of drinking water contamination in states where natural gas drilling has been performed, according to a July 22 article in the Times Union. ProPublica, which describes itself as an independent, nonprofit newsroom in the public interest, and New York City public radio station WNYC completed the investigation. Reassured by an initial statement from state environmental officials, the state Legislature approved a bill to streamline the permitting process for a proposed huge influx of wells that could bring the state more than $1 billion in annual revenue, according to the article. Gov. David Paterson has until July 23 to sign the bill, and the DEC has said that drilling permits could be issued in 12 weeks. At least nine companies are trying to obtain drilling rights in what is called the Marcellus Shale, a gas-rich rock layer that lies 9,000 feet below ground and which some geologists believe contains enough gas to meet the nation’s gas needs for two years, according to the article. To extract the gas, a mixture of sand, water and chemicals is shot into the earth with enough force to fracture the rock and release the gas bubbles. Most of the water seeps back out, now laden with toxins, according to the article. The US Department of Energy lists this water as among the most toxic of any oil industry byproduct. The discharge of this water into surface or groundwater means that it could wind up in New York City’s tap water, according to the article. DEC officials told ProPublica and WNYC that it was not aware of the incidents in other states involving water contamination in connection with such drilling, which included toxic chemicals in the water table in New Mexico and 300 chemical spills that affected groundwater in Colorado. The department also said the water would be shipped to Pennsylvania and treated in specialized plants there. An executive at a Pennsylvania plant, whose number was provided to ProPublica by the DEC, denied this in the article.
NY village finds PCBs in its water supplySTILLWATER, NY, July 21, 2008 (Water Tech) — Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been detected in wells that supply drinking water to this village, according to a July 21 article in The Daily Gazette. The well testing was performed in connection with planned dredging of the Hudson River to remove PCB contamination. As WaterTech Online™ previously reported, a stretch of the Hudson River will undergo dredging for PCBs, considered a human carcinogen, which ended up in the river decades ago due to industrial pollution. This is the first time PCBs have been found in Stillwater’s public water supply. Mayor Ernest Martin said in the article, “The levels remain well below the New York state maximum contaminant level of 500 nanograms per liter. Therefore, the water provided by the village of Stillwater remains potable and well under and within the [state Health Department] standards.” Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce PCB. EPA sued by five FL environmental groups WASHINGTON, July 18, 2008 (Water Tech) — Five environmental groups filed a lawsuit against the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on July 17 in Tallahassee, FL, claiming that the federal government is violating the Clean Water Act by failing to set standards for farm and urban runoff, according to a July 17 Associated Press article on www.cbsnews.com. The groups say in their lawsuit that the failure to set standards for farm and urbran runoff is polluting Florida’s waterways, thereby encouraging algae growth and increasing the risk of contaminated water supplies. The plaintiffs, which include the Florida Wildlife Federation, The Sierra Club, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, the Environmental Confederation of Southwest Florida and the St. Johns Riverkeeper, said they hope that the suit will force the EPA to implement standards for every state. Currently, most states have vague limits, if any at all, according to the article. “It’s a priority for the EPA to have states adopt science-based numeric standards to control nutrient pollution,” EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Benjamin H. Grumbles said in an e-mail quoted in the article. According to the article, the lawsuit says that the EPA acknowledged 10 years ago that Florida needed to promptly develop runoff standards to meet the requirements of the Clean Water Act. Perchlorate in mobile-home park water a ‘surprise’ INDIO, CA, July 1, 2008 (Water Tech) — A well at the La Quinta Mobile Estates has an elevated level of perchlorate, a routine test revealed last week, according to a June 28 article in The Desert Sun. John Watkins, deputy director of health for Riverside County, told The Desert Sun that the source of the contamination “is unknown at this point.” He added, “It was kind of a surprise that it was found.” Watkins said the contamination can be fixed by diluting the contaminated water with clean water, balancing out the concentration. The city’s water may be used for this purpose. In the meantime, the park’s owner is providing bottled water to residents, according to the article. If consumed, perchlorate can affect thyroid hormone levels, which are needed for metabolism, mental function, and normal prenatal growth, according to the article. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure’s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Perchlorate.
Benzene allegedly taints CO spring waterPARACHUTE, CO, July 1, 2008 (Water Tech) — The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission is investigating after benzene allegedly was found in a spring that feeds a cabin’s drinking water, according to a June 30 report in The Aspen Times. The Colorado oil and gas regulators issued a Notice of Alleged Violation to four energy companies for a waste discharge that allegedly tainted the spring that feeds the drinking water of area guide and outfitter Ned Prather, located near Parachute. The citations against the companies said that water samples from a spring, faucet and pond at Prather’s cabin, which were taken a day after he filed his June 3 complaint, showed traces of benzene that exceeded the state water quality standards. The source of the contamination hasn’t been identified, the article said. Benzene is a known carcinogen. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Benzene, a VOC.
OR supplier responds to taste, odor complaints WASHINGTON COUNTY, OR, July 3, 2008 (Water Tech) — The Joint Water Commission, which supplies drinking water to nearly a half million customers here, is treating “musty”-tasting and “funny”-smelling water, according to a recent article in The Oregonian. The commission, which received about 100 complaints about the water’s taste and odor in June, said in a June 26 statement that it has relocated the chlorine feed to address the concerns. In addition, powdered activated carbon is being manually fed into the water before filtration to absorb unwanted taste and odor molecules. Because the problem appears to be connected to saturated wetlands draining into the Tualatin River, the main source of water, reservoir water is being released to dilute the wetland inflow. $45M recycled water project under way EL MONTE, CA, July 8, 2008 (Water Tech) — The Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, headquartered here, is moving forward with its $45 million four-phase recycled water project that will deliver recycled water to public and private lawns, according to a July 6 article in the Whittier Daily News. The $9 million third phase of the project, pipeline installation in Whittier Narrows, broke ground in June. According to California Assemblyman Mike Eng, D-El Monte, “This project is significant at several levels. It will save energy, it will free up drinking water so we don’t have to import it, and … it will build on the public’s acceptance of recycled water.” The four-phased project extends from Whittier to Walnut, and relies on a combination of agencies for funding and planning, such as the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the Rowland Water District and the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, the article said. Some CT tap water has elevated lead levelsNEW BRITAIN, CT, July 10, 2008 (Water Tech) — The water department here has said that 17 households have elevated levels of lead in their tap water, according to a July 10 article in The Hartford Courant. Recent tests indicated that those households had lead concentrations levels at about 21 parts per billion (ppb). The US Environmental Protection Agency maximum contaminant level for lead in drinking water is 15 ppb. Lead solder and fixtures are to blame, city water director Gil Bligh said in the article. The city now will study ways to control corrosion in pipes, will notify residents about test results and will test the water for six months. Minneapolis water smelly due to organic matterMINNEAPOLIS, July 10, 2008 (Water Tech) — Algae and other organic matter in source water is creating foul-tasting and smelly tap water here, according to a July 10 report in the Star Tribune. City spokesman Matt Laible said in the report, “It is all due to organic matter that is in the water, like algae and other things that flow into the [Mississippi] River, but we don’t know the specific element. It has nothing to do with the [city’s two] water treatment plants.” The plants are located in Fridley and Columbia Heights. The taste and odor issues are occurring in the wake of the city’s efforts to tout the quality of its tap water over bottled water, the report said. Laible said in the report that the water treatment plants are ramping up usage of traditional treatment chemicals to neutralize taste and odor from organic matter, as well as increase the use of activated carbon. Researchers create map of groundwater contaminated by arsenicWASHINGTON, July 14, 2008 (Water Tech) — A research team funded by the Swiss-based aquatic research institute Eawag, led by geologist Lenny Winkel and environmental chemist Michael Berg, has compiled existing geological data from Myanmar, Bangladesh, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Indonesia to trace arsenic and create an accurate map of areas where the groundwater has been contaminated with the toxin, according to a July 14 article on www.sciencedaily.com. Arsenic, even in low concentrations, can cause skin problems, liver and kidney dysfunction, and various types of cancer. Over 100 million people worldwide are exposed to excessive amounts of arsenic in their drinking water, according to the article. The data related to surface sediments and soil properties provides sufficiently accurate conclusions about the chemical and physical conditions in groundwater. The scientists then studied the statistical relations between 30 surface parameters and arsenic concentrations. In particular, young river deposits with organic rich sediments proved to be indicators of groundwater arsenic contamination, according to the article. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure’s MP880 Series has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Arsenic V.
L.A. expands its use of recycled water LOS ANGELES, June 24, 2008 (Water Tech) — The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) announced in a June 23 news release that the Valley Generating Station in Sun Valley now is supplied with 684 million gallons of recycled water instead of potable water to use in its cooling process. The switch will help the city save enough drinking water for 4,200 residences a year. The LADWP also announced that Balbao and Encino golf courses now are supplied with recycled water for landscape irrigation. Altogether, the city’s total use of recycled water is up to 7,200 acre-feet (2.3 billion gallons) per year for irrigation and industrial uses, as a barrier to seawater intrusion, and for environmental-benefit uses. The LADWP said in the news release that its recycled water program is saving the city a total of more than 2 billion gallons of purified and treated drinking water — enough for up to 14,400 residences — per year. The city’s expanding recycled water program is part of its Water Supply Action Plan, “Securing L.A.’s Water Supply,” which was introduced in May. The plan is a pledge to meet all new demand for water through water conservation and recycling. As part of that plan, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said Los Angeles would consider using recycled wastewater to recharge drinking water aquifers, as WaterTech Online™ reported. In a June 24 redOrbit article that addresses the viability of a “toilet-to-tap” drinking water plan, LADWP General Manager H. David Nahai said he believes attitudes have changed for the better. “The science on recycled water is better, the area’s water shortage is more severe, the public is more environmentally aware, and the DWP now is more savvy about public relations.” Arsenic levels exceed limit at national monument RUSHMORE, SD, June 23, 2008 (Water Tech) — The drinking water at Mount Rushmore National Memorial exceeds the new federal limit for arsenic levels established in 2006, according to a June 21 article in the Rapid City Journal. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lowered the maximum allowable level of arsenic in drinking water from 50 parts per billion (ppb) to 10 ppb in 2006. The arsenic levels in Mount Rushmore’s drinking water are at 14 ppb. Mount Rushmore officials have submitted quarterly water samples to the EPA and have posted warnings about the water at the mountain. They have also been looking into a drinking water filtration system, according to the article. The administrator for South Dakota’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources program, Mark Mayer, said in the article that the presence of arsenic in water is just a matter of geology, and that some areas have higher amounts of the element than others. Plans to drill another well at the mountain are currently under way, according to chief of cultural resources and facilities Duane Babec. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure’s MP880 Series has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Arsenic V. Resident wants water tested for herbicides, pesticides COOPERSTOWN, NY, June 19, 2008 (Water Tech) — A recent presentation at a Cooperstown village board meeting might result in the summertime testing of the village’s drinking water for traces of herbicides and pesticides, according to a June 19 article in The Daily Star. Resident Michael Whaling fears that the toxins sprayed on the Leatherstocking Golf Course may be making their way into Otsego Lake, which is the source of the village’s water and of the Susquehanna River, according to the article. Mayor Carol Waller noted the golf course’s policy of not spraying within 25 feet of the lake shore. Tests performed on the drinking water in the spring of 2006 did not detect the presence of these poisons, but Whaling says that springtime is not the right time to test because the water levels are more constant in the summertime. “You get a much more reliable reading in the summer,” Whaling said. Whaling told village officials that he obtained information from the state Department of Environmental Conservation Web site that 2,517 pounds of herbicides were used on the golf course in 2007, up from 1,600 pounds in 2006, according to the article. NY water polluters may face stiffer penalties ALBANY, NY, June 18, 2008 (Water Tech) — A bill that aims to increase penalties for polluters of public drinking water has received legislative approval, according to an Associated Press article on www.wcax.com. The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Hugh T. Farley, R-Schenectady, and Assemblyman Brian Kavanagh, D-Manhattan, was prompted amid concerns over the pollution of the Great Flats Aquifer beneath Schenectady County. The aquifer has suffered under the current penalties for drinking water polluters, which have remained unchanged since 1885. The current penalty is a one-time $200 fine, and it has failed to stop polluters who treated it as a cost of doing business, according to the article. If signed by Gov. David A. Paterson, the new fine would be $200 per day for each violation, and would allow courts to impose a $1,000 fine and up to a year in jail. Deliberate contamination at WA drug rehab siteCOWLITZ COUNTY, WA, June 9, 2008 (Water Tech) — The state Department of Health (DOH) is determining how to clean the private well and 30,000-gallon reservoir at a drug treatment center near Castle Rock, where contaminants were recently discovered in the water, according to a June 5 article in The Daily News. “It’s clear something was deliberately added to the water at the Drug Abuse Prevention Center because the contaminants could not have appeared naturally,” DOH spokeswoman Carolyn Cox said in the article. The specifics of the contaminants have not been released. The contamination took place sometime during Memorial Day weekend and was discovered by workers who noticed vandalism to the wellhead. No one reported any concerns about the water until the vandalism was discovered, according to the article. Chief Criminal Deputy Charlie Rosenzweig said in the article that the center seems to have been specifically targeted. Staff and residents will be using portable water systems until water safety can be assured. nspection reveals AZ groundwater contaminationSAN FRANCISCO, June 6, 2008 (Water Tech) — The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently fined Lost Lake Resort, located near Poston, AZ, $55,076 for underground storage tank violations that caused groundwater contamination at the Colorado River Indian Tribes reservation, located in Parker, AZ, according to an EPA press release. Upon inspection of the storage tanks, the EPA and Colorado River Tribes Environmental Protection Office discovered faulty piping and a gasoline release into the environment. Lost Lake Resort did not take the proper steps to prevent leaks to the tanks and did not monitor the tanks or maintain suitable records, according to the EPA. The tanks are located adjacent to the Colorado River and near two drinking water wells. “This facility was not maintaining its tanks properly and this caused the release,” Acting Waste Director for the EPA’s Southwest region Nancy Lindsay said in the press release. “The Colorado River Indian Tribes and many other communities depend on the Colorado River and its protection is vital.” Lost Lake Resort is now developing a cleanup plan to address the gasoline contamination.Cleanup could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, EPA said. More contaminants found in TX wellsODESSA, TX, June 2, 2008 (Water Tech) — The US Environmental Protection Agency and the city of Odessa are joining forces to extend city water service to about 30 well users in an area found to have more groundwater contamination that previously thought, according to a May 30 article in Odessa American Online. Above-average levels of the contaminants tetrachloroethene, trichloroethene and 1,2-dichloroethene were discovered in the groundwater in 2005. The Department of Health and Human Services and The National Toxicology Program have labeled two of these chemicals as probable carcinogens, according to the article. Discovery of these chemicals led to further investigation which resulted in the recent discovery of elevated levels of nitrate in the well water. In one well the nitrate was four times the acceptable level. Seven weeks on a boil-water order for CO town HOT SULPHUR SPRINGS, CO, May 28, 2008 (Water Tech) — For more than a month, residents here have been boiling their tap water before drinking it and cooking with it, and the Colorado Department of Health and Environment is ready for that to change, according to a May 27 Sky-Hi Daily News article. The state Department of Health and Environment this week is scheduled to issue an enforcement order to the town, seeking an outline of when Hot Sulphur Springs can safely lift its boil-water order and how it plans to maintain delivering safe drinking water, the article said. The town’s water has high levels of turbidity, and its aging plant needs updating to properly treat the water. To address the issue, the town is updating its plant and building a new clear well with new pumps. To pay for the water infrastructure project, the town is banking on a $200,000 relief check in June from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs in the form of a matching grant, and is considering rate increases, the article said. National infrastructure bill gets support WASHINGTON, May 27, 2008 (Water Tech) — The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, (NARUC), an association representing state public service commissioners who regulate essential utility services, recently sent a letter expressing support for the National Infrastructure Development Act (H.R. 3896) to the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-CT. H.R. 3896 is designed to promote efficient investments and financing of infrastructure projects and new job creation through the establishment of a National Infrastructure Development Corp., according to washingtonwatch.com. Water committee chairman David King of New Mexico drafted the letter. He wrote, “Nowhere is this national crisis more acute than in the water and wastewater sectors that are so vital to the public health of American citizens. With increased environmental costs and more stringent clean water regulations on the horizon, cities, towns and utilities will face significant challenges over the next several decades replacing aging and deteriorating water infrastructure.”
First Nations citizens ‘fear’ drinking water qualityOTTAWA, May 23, 2008 (Water Tech) — First Nations communities in Canada report that their tap water is a “source of fear,” believing it is the common denominator in what is making many of their residents sick, according to a May 22 Canwest News Service report in the National Post. That information is part of a report released May 22 by the advocacy group Polaris Institute, the Assembly of First Nations and the Canadian Labour Congress. “The deplorable conditions that First Nation people live in would not be accepted in any other part of the country. For many, water has become a source of fear, and people have good reason to believe that what comes out of their taps may be making them sick. What is happening should be considered a violation of fundamental human rights in this country,” the report said. The report, which focused on six First Nations communities across the country, is co-authored by Andrea Harden and Holly Levaillant from the Polaris Institute. The report says the situation has reached a crisis for many local residents. Phil Fontaine, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said in the report, “One of the problems that we face, of course, is that there is a tendency to blame us for the situation. Well in fact, we never polluted or contaminated our water, yet we’re being held accountable to make sure we fix this, and I think this is completely unfair.” Fontaine added that some First Nations communities have water that is tainted by uranium and harmful bacteria, among other contaminants. According to the report, about 100 aboriginal communities across the country remained on drinking water advisories as of April without adequate response from the federal government.
NM city considers arsenic removal options SOCORRO, NM, May 22, 2008 (Water Tech) — High levels of arsenic in the city’s public water system have officials here considering options that will help to bring the system into compliance with federal safe drinking water standards, according to a May 22 report in The Mountain Mail. Mayor Ravi Bhasker told the Socorro City Council on May 19 that the city has been in violation of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s arsenic standards since the agency lowered acceptable levels from 50 parts per billion (ppb) to 10 ppb. Options include construction of a new $1 million water treatment plant, which would cost several hundred thousand dollars to operate annually. Officials also are considering taking Socorro Springs, the source of the naturally occurring arsenic, offline. Utilities Director Jay Santillanes said in the article, “Another alternative is to take the springs offline, and make up the difference with the new Evergreen Well. It could maintain the capacity, but we would have to start looking for a new well — one with low arsenic levels.”
EPA, Justice order fine in Arizona TCE case SAN FRANCISCO, May 20, 2008 (Water Tech) � The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Justice announced in a May 19 press release that three companies � Motorola, Siemens, and GlaxoSmithKline � were ordered to collectively pay a $500,000 civil penalty for system failures that led to the release of trichloroethylene (TCE) into the public drinking water system in Scottsdale, AZ. The settlement resolves violations of the North Indian Bend Wash consent decree, filed in 2003, which occurred when TCE above contamination limits was released from the Miller Road Treatment Facility on two separate occasions, in October 2007 and January 2008. Though the Miller Road Treatment Facility is owned and operated by the Arizona American Water Co., under the terms of the consent decree, Motorola, Inc., Siemens and GlaxoSmithKline are responsible for the remedy, which requires pumping and treating contaminated groundwater so that TCE does not exceed an acceptable limit of 5 parts per billion, the press release said. The EPA and the Justice Department ordered the penalties called for under the Superfund law for each groundwater violation. Penalties also were imposed for inaccurate reporting of the incidents to the regulator. �These three companies failed to properly treat groundwater for TCE at the site and further failed to alert proper authorities about the release despite being under an agreement to do both,� Ronald J. Tenpas, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department�s Environment and Natural Resources Division, said in the press release. The complaint and stipulation and order were filed May 19 in US District Court in Phoenix. L.A. mayor considers $1B �toilet-to-tap� plan LOS ANGELES, May 15, 2008 (Water Tech) � Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the Department of Water and Power are expected to announce on May 15 a revised water use and management plan for this city that includes using recycled wastewater to recharge drinking water aquifers, according to a May 15 Los Angeles Times article. The new plan allocates about $1 billion for the proposed reclamation system, also known as �toilet-to-tap� or �sewer-to-spigot.� The city would recycle about 4.9 billion gallons of treated wastewater to drinking standards by 2019, the Wall Street Journal reported on May 15. Villaraigosa, who less than a decade ago opposed such a plan, now is considering using the highly treated wastewater to recharge underground drinking supplies serving the San Fernando Valley, Los Feliz and the Eastside, The Times said. The long-term proposal is expected to carry a $2 billion total price tag, and impose water-use restrictions on Angelenos. Ratepayers also would be encouraged to upgrade their appliances to those that are water-saving. The Times reported that financial incentives and building code changes would be used to incorporate high-tech conservation equipment in homes and businesses. The proposed plan has been devised to help the city meet its increasing water demand, which is expected to grow by 15 percent within the next 22 years. Water suppliers, oil cos. settle in big MTBE caseNEW YORK, May 9, 2008 (Water Tech) � More than 150 water suppliers across the United States will benefit from a negotiated settlement of a lawsuit that had accused oil companies of contaminating drinking water supplies with the gasoline additive methyl tertiary butyl ether, or MTBE, news outlets reported this week. The settlement would require the oil companies to pay a total of $423 million in cash upfront to the water suppliers, and also pay 70 percent of cleanup costs over the next 30 years, according to a May 8 article in The New York Times. Terms of the settlement have been submitted for approval by the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, which had been hearing the case. The case is the result of the consolidation of many MTBE lawsuits into a single case, the Times said. In its May 9 edition, Newsday reported that the single largest beneficiary of the settlement would be the Suffolk County Water Authority, which serves a large suburban area east of New York City on Long Island. That authority would be awarded $104.3 million and would receive $73.4 million after deducting attorney fees, Newsday said. MTBE was detected in 450 of the authority�s 600 wells, the story said. Among other major settlement beneficiaries would be the California Water Service Co. of San Jose, CA, to be awarded $49.7 million, according to a May 9 San Francisco Chronicle article. The article said California Water Service found MTBE in 27 of its wells and has 786 wells that could be exposed to it. The 153 plaintiffs � providers of public water including municipalities, water agencies and private water companies � were represented by the Dallas, TX, law firm of Baron and Budd, P.C. In a May 8 press statement, Baron and Budd said about 70 percent of the nation�s oil refiners agreed to what the law firm called the �landmark settlement� that �marks a significant step toward protecting the long-term viability of drinking water resources across the United States.� Oil companies agreeing to the settlement include BP Amoco, Atlantic Richfield, Chevron, CononcoPhillips, Shell, Marathon, Valero, CITGO, Sunoco, Hess, Flint Hills, El Paso Merchant Energy, and Tesoro, according to the plaintiffs� law firm. Despite their agreement to the new settlement, those defendants will continue to argue that MTBE has not been proven to be a human health risk, and that the federal government had compelled them to use MTBE since the 1980s as an additive to increase fuel efficiency, news reports said. Under a legal cloud, oil companies stopped adding MTBE to gasoline in 2007. Other oil companies, including ExxonMobil, have not agreed to the latest settlement, and it�s expected that trials involving those defendants will start in September, Baron and Budd said in its statement. The Times quoted an attorney representing Chevron and Shell as saying, �No court has ruled that gasoline with MTBE is a defective product. This settlement does not concede the point. Quite the contrary, the settling companies are prepared to vigorously defend the product.� Twice in recent years, Congress considered legislation that would have shielded the oil companies from MTBE lawsuits, but the legislation never was approved. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not list MTBE as a primary or secondary drinking water contaminant, although it is now under consideration as a candidate contaminant in a review process that started recently. When present in an amount as little as 5 parts per million, it can add a foul turpentine-like taste or odor to water, and it has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals exposed to high doses. EPA considers it to be a potential human carcinogen, but has not drawn any conclusions about its health risks. High lead levels prompt POU device recommendationTRENTON, ONTARIO, May 9, 2008 (Water Tech) � Point-of-use water treatment devices were recommended to a dozen homeowners here who recently were informed by the city that that their tap water contains elevated levels of lead, according to a May 9 article in The Intelligencer. Mandatory testing, ordered by the provincial Ministry of Environment in 2007, has revealed that 11 homes have tested positive for elevated levels of lead in tap water. One sample of residential tap water showed a lead level of 88 micrograms per liter (�g/l), or 88 parts per billion (ppb). The acceptable standard in Canada is 10 �g/l (10 ppb), the article said. The city sent letters to the homeowners, explaining the potential health effects associated with drinking water containing high levels of lead, and referring the homeowners to the local health unit for information on POU devices designed to remove lead. Mandatory testing began in 2007. During this recent round, 143 homes known to be served by lead pipes were tested. A second round of testing will be completed in August, the article said. NM small system tries to find high-nitrate sourceTORRANCE COUNTY, NM, May 7, 2008 (Water Tech) � Homestead Water Co., a small water system with about 120 customers here, is working with the New Mexico Environment Department�s Drinking Water Bureau after high nitrate levels were found in the company�s groundwater supply, according to a May 6 New Mexico Weekly Journal article. The state agency and the water company are trying to determine the source of the nitrates. Once the source is found, the water company will be required to submit a corrective action plan to the state. The Environment Department issued a drinking water warning to the water company�s customers. Consumers were told to avoid giving the water to infants and avoid boiling the water, which can concentrate the nitrates. It said healthy adults should exercise caution in drinking the water, the article said. Long-term exposure to nitrates in drinking water has been associated with diuresis (the increased formation of urine by the kidneys), increased starchy deposits and hemorrhaging of the spleen. Research indicates that long-term exposure also can lead to an increased risk of certain types of cancer. Infants exposed to high levels of nitrates can suffer from methemoglobinemia, or �blue-baby syndrome,� a condition that interferes with the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Nitrates.
�Distinct possibility� of no nat�l perchlorate limit WASHINGTON, May 6, 2008 (Water Tech) � A top official at the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says the agency may not take action to limit the level of perchlorate in drinking water supplies, according to a May 6 Associated Press (AP) report. EPA has maintained that perchlorate, an ingredient in rocket fuel and fireworks, poses developmental health risks to humans. Benjamin Grumbles, EPA assistant administrator for water, told senators May 6 that there is a �distinct possibility� that the federal regulatory agency will not set a national drinking water limit for perchlorate. Grumbles said that although the EPA deems the chemical toxic, after years of study the agency has not determined whether regulating perchlorate would meaningfully reduce that risk, the AP reported. MO city has first violation in three decadesCOLUMBIA, MO, May 2, 2008 (Water Tech) � Columbia Water & Light announced on May 2 that this city�s publicly supplied water in 2007 exceeded the federal maximum contaminant level for total trihalomethanes (TTHM), a disinfection byproduct. According to the announcement, the city�s average reported concentration for 2007 is 0.0823 milligrams per liter (mg/L). The federal maximum contaminant level for total TTHM is 0.080 mg/L. The violation is the city�s first in more than three decades, according to a May 2 Columbia Missourian report. Connie Kacprowicz, a spokeswoman for the city water utility, said in the report that the city learned of the problem at the end of 2007. After contacting the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the city slightly lowered the level of chlorine used for disinfection to correct the problem. The most recent sample, taken in February, found the level of trihalomethanes below the federal standard, at 0.077 mg/L, Kacprowicz said in the report. AZ small system agrees to pay federal fineSAN FRANCISCO, May 2, 2008 (Water Tech) � The US Environmental Protection Agency�s (EPA) Region 9 announced on April 30 that the American Realty & Mortgage Co., located near Maricopa, AZ, has agreed to pay a $1,000 fine to resolve alleged drinking water violations. Until August 2007, American Realty & Mortgage Co. supplied drinking water to approximately 50 residents of the Hacienda Acres subdivision in Pinal County, AZ. According to the EPA, �The company failed to monitor its drinking water for lead, copper and nitrates, and failed to notify customers of its violations of safe drinking water requirements, a Safe Drinking Water Act mandate. In August 2007, American Realty & Mortgage Co. ceased operating the water system and it was turned over to a court-appointed interim operator.� High TCE levels prompt public system connection BUCKS COUNTY, PA, May 2, 2008 (Water Tech) � A permanent connection to a public water system is closer for some Perkasie homeowners whose community well water is contaminated by high levels of trichloroethylene (TCE), according to a May 5 phillyBurbs.com article. The well water, which serves the development, has been contaminated with TCE since the 1970s. Levels of TCE have reached 140 parts per billion (ppb). The most recent test showed TCE levels at 17 ppb. The federal maximum contaminant level for TCE is 5 ppb. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), along with state and county agencies, are performing additional tests this month. Results are due back in June, the article said. For now, homeowners rely on water that is passed through a carbon filtration system or bottled for drinking. Water woes for L.A. school districtLOS ANGELES, April 24, 2008 (Water Tech) � Water from one drinking fountain at a San Fernando Valley elementary school, which is part of the Los Angeles Unified School District, has tested positive for high levels of lead, according to an April 23 Daily News article. David Brewer III, school district superintendent, said in a news conference that he is holding staff accountable for this latest drinking water safety infraction. Brewer said at a news conference that school staff at the Woodlake Elementary School responsible for flushing water fountains and keeping logs will be held accountable for their negligence. Reports indicate that there are concerns about the safety of the water in 26 of the district�s schools, the article said. Addition in CA town to fight Crypto in fountainLOS GATOS, CA, April 24, 2008 (Water Tech) � The Los Gatos Town Council voted last week to spend $34,500 to design an addition to a treatment system to keep Cryptosporidium out of an interactive fountain at the town�s Plaza Park, said an April 29 article by the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, as carried on The Mercury News Web site. After people playing in a similar fountain in nearby San Jose came down with Crypto infections in 2006, the local county health department had ordered all of its municipalities to install ultraviolet disinfection systems for these types of fountains, the article said. Total cost of the treatment addition in Los Gatos will be $350,000, and completion of the project is expected over the coming winter, according to the article. The fountain will be operating this summer, but the town has meanwhile installed signs urging people not to drink fountain water and warning against allowing children in diapers to play in the fountain. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Cyst. PA school district considers treatment options ANNVILLE, PA, April 22, 2008 (Water Tech) � Officials at the Annville-Cleona School Board are considering treatment options for elevated levels of lead and copper at the district�s North Annville Elementary School, according to an April 22 Midstate News article. District officials initially thought the elevated lead and copper levels in the school�s water supply were due to contaminated groundwater around the school. To determine the exact cause, the school district signed a consent order with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and moved forward on an environmental assessment. Local environmental consultant firm ARM Group, Inc., which performed the assessment, found the cause to be corrosion of the school�s water system. Stephen Fulton, vice president of environmental services for the ARM Group, said in the article that the problem could be fixed with a water treatment system that would reduce the acidity of the water. Such a treatment system would cost between $8,000 and $10,000, he added. Students and staff will continue to drink bottled water while the district considers its options, which include closing the school. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Lead and under Standard 58, to reduce Copper. Spent POU filter gets officials� attention PINCONNING TOWNSHIIP, MI, April 16, 2008 (Water Tech) � A local resident who had been complaining about his water took a dirty, spent point-of-use water treatment filter to a public meeting to finally make his point, according to an April 16 article in The Bay City Times. Pinconning Township resident Joe Holbrook gave the filter belonging to his son-in-law, who lives next door, to Bob Hill from the Bay County Environmental Health Division. The filter got Hill�s attention, and soon the county sampled Holbrook�s water supply. Sample results indicated that the water contains �atypical� levels of bacteria. In response, crews from the Bay County Department of Water and Sewer flushed and resampled the lines. Holbrook and his son-in-law said they plan to continue to use a POU water filter, according to the article Feds fail to develop drugs-in-water research plan WASHINGTON, April 15, 2008 (Water Tech) � Documents obtained by The Associated Press (AP) reveal that a White House task force was aware of public concern about pharmaceuticals in drinking water supplies, and that it failed to meet its December deadline to produce a federal plan to research the issue of pharmaceuticals in drinking water, according to an April 14 AP story. The AP, which reported in March that at least 41 million Americans receive drinking water containing an array of pharmaceuticals, said it obtained task force-related documents under the Freedom of Information Act. The documents reveal that the task force, which includes representatives from nine federal agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency, Agriculture Department and the Food and Drug Administration, failed to develop mandated reports and recommendations for coordination among federal agencies on a national plan to research pharmaceuticals in public drinking water supplies, AP said. According to the AP, the working group on pharmaceuticals in the environment was formed two years ago through the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. It has met several times, and in March 2006, then-task force coordinator Kevin Geiss wrote: �There has been considerable congressional interest in this topic.� While the AP has reviewed more than 70 pages of the task force�s documents, such as e-mails and weekly reports, it was not able to obtain the task force�s agendas and minutes because the White House classified them as internal documents, meaning they cannot be released. The group�s annual report is in draft form, which makes it also unable to be released, the AP reported. POU devices examined for drug-removal capabilitiesDENVER, April 14, 2008 (Water Tech) � An April 9 article in The Denver Post examined the usefulness of home water treatment devices in removing trace levels of pharmaceuticals in drinking water. The article, which referenced the March Associated Press report that the drinking water supplies of 24 major metropolitan areas contain trace levels of pharmaceuticals, included an interview with Joseph Harrison, technical director for the Water Quality Association, based in Lisle, IL. WQA members include manufacturers of water treatment equipment. To address consumers� concerns about what they can do at home, Harrison said in the article, �The best advice I could give people is use a reverse osmosis device with activated carbon. You would definitely get a lot of pharmaceuticals out with that technology.� Harrison added that the WQA is working with NSF International, the standards organization based in Ann Arbor, MI, to establish pharmaceutical standards for water filtration systems. The article included a synopsis of water treatment device options, from pitchers to point-of-entry systems. Taste and odor issues decrease for MN city ST. PAUL, MN, April 14, 2008 (Water Tech) � An 18-month, $9.6 million project undertaken by St. Paul Regional Water Services, which supplies water to 417,000 customers in this city and its suburbs, has yielded tastier water that smells better, according to an April 14 Pioneer Press article. Musty-smelling and -tasting tap water used to be the norm here each spring as algae blossomed on the lakes that supply this city�s drinking water, the article said. In 2006, St. Paul Regional Water Services, after receiving 187 complaints, decided to do something about it. The agency began a project at its Maplewood headquarters to cut down on off-taste and off-odor in the water. The agency, which worked with students from the University of Minnesota, selected granular activated carbon (GAC) to reduce taste and odor problems in its supply. Twenty-four large filters were installed over a period of about 18 months, the article said. Steve Schneider, general manager of St. Paul Regional Water Services, said in the article, �We�re very pleased with the initial results.� Schneider added that the new filters will be changed out every few years. He estimated they cost the consumer about 2 cents to 2.5 cents per 100 gallons. Meanwhile in nearby Minneapolis, organic matter is entering the city�s supply and despite treatment, the water has an off-taste and off-odor. City spokesman Matt Laible said in the article the city is receiving several complaints daily.
Water tops public�s environmental concerns COLUMBIA, MO, April 1, 2008 (Water Tech) � Protecting drinking water and reducing pollution of water sources topped a list of 12 environmental issues that Americans think government should put �a lot more� effort into addressing, a new survey has revealed. �Protecting community drinking water� and �reducing pollution of the nation�s rivers, lakes and ecosystems� gained more responses favoring �a lot more� government effort, at 40 percent each, than any other environmental issue listed in the survey, �Public Attitudes on the Environment,� conducted by researchers at the Harry S Truman School of Public Affairs at the University of Missouri, based here. Almost 70 percent of the 1,000 adults who responded nationally think the government should put �a little bit more� or �a lot more� effort into addressing the two water-related environmental issues, according to the survey. Higher DBP levels when Cl used first, study says WASHINGTON, March 28, 2008 (Water Tech) � A study reporting on the formation of halogenated furanones, also known as disinfection byproducts (DBPs), found that the highest levels of DBPs were produced when disinfection at the drinking water treatment plant began with chlorine or chloramine, according to a March 26 Chemical & Engineering News report. The study, �Occurrence of Halogenated Furanones in US Drinking Waters,� was published by the American Chemical Society in its Environmental Science & Technology journal (DOI: 10.1021/es071374w). Gretchen D. Onstad of the University of Washington and author study authors reviewed how different water treatment methods, as well as quality of source water, can affect DBP formation. Public concern rises after AP report, WQA poll finds LAS VEGAS, March 26, 2008 (Water Tech) � Recent news reports about pharmaceuticals in public drinking water have had an impact on the American public, according to survey results released March 25 by the Water Quality Association (WQA) at its annual convention and trade show. Bottom line: The public became more concerned about drinking water quality in the wake of reports, first published March 9 by the Associated Press about its five-month investigation and quickly carried by many news media, about the presence of pharmaceuticals, said a March 25 WQA press announcement issued here at the WQA Aquatech USA water treatment industry show. In a survey conducted March 15-18 for WQA by Applied Research-West, Inc., about two-thirds (67 percent) of respondents said they were generally concerned about the quality of their household water supply. That was up from 55 percent who gave that response in a January WQA poll, according to WQA�s March 25 announcement. Use POU devices, city tells residentsHAMILTON, ONTARIO, March 25, 2008 (Water Tech) � Health officials here are telling families whose homes are serviced by lead pipes to filter their water before drinking, according to a March 24 article in The Hamilton Spectator. Hamilton health inspectors found that running cold water for 15 minutes to flush lead out of household plumbing did not always bring lead levels below the maximum allowable concentration in drinking water of 0.010 micrograms per liter (or parts per billion). Health officials have prepared a report for the municipality�s Board of Health that says more must be done to make people aware of the risk of elevated levels of lead in drinking water. The report also recommends that the city promote its water filter fund, designed to offer $100 to low-income families to buy a point-of-use water filter.
Tap water quality concerns consumers � surveyLISLE, IL, March 18, 2008 (Water Tech) � The majority of consumers responding to the 2008 National Consumer Water Quality Survey indicated that they are concerned about both the quality of their household water supply and of their drinking water, according to information published by survey sponsor Water Quality Association (WQA), based here. The WQA, which offered a peek at survey results in its �WQA Update 2007/08,� reported that 55 percent of survey respondents said they were �concerned about the quality of their household water supply.� Fifty-nine percent of survey respondents said they were �very concerned about the quality of their drinking water,� according to the WQA, which is making the research summary available for purchase at its WQA Aquatech USA convention and trade show. The WQA reported that 22 percent of consumer survey respondents said their main water quality concerns regarded �contaminants in tap water.� Trace pesticides in treated Oregon drinking water RESTON, VA, March 18, 2008 (Water Tech) � Treated drinking water from Oregon�s Clackamas River contains trace levels of pesticides, according to results of a recently released US Geological Survey (USGS) study, in which the Clackamas River Water Providers and the Clackamas County Department of Water Environment Services cooperated. Information on the study, available in the USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2008-5027, Pesticide Occurrence and Distribution in the Lower Clackamas River Basin, Oregon, 2000-2005, was released by the USGS in a March 18 press release. The treated drinking water samples were collected from a drinking water treatment plant that uses the Clackamas River as a raw water source. One or more of 15 pesticides were detected in nine of 15 samples of drinking water. According to the USGS, all of the detections in drinking water were �far below� existing US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) drinking water standards and other human health benchmarks. The UGGS said its study also found a variety of pesticides in water samples from the lower Clackamas River mainstem and tributaries, with more pesticides detected in the tributaries than the mainstem. The herbicides atrazine and simazine were the most commonly detected. High-use herbicides such as glyphosate and triclopyr/2,4-D, the active ingredients in RoundUP� and Crossbow�, respectively, also were frequently detected, reported the USGS. Bill calls for tougher federal TCE standards WASHINGTON, March 4, 2008 (Water Tech) � Legislation calling for the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to tighten its maximum contaminant level (MCL) drinking water standard for the degreasing chemical trichloroethylene (TCE) was scheduled to be introduced March 4 in the US House of Representatives, according to a press release issued by US Rep. John Hall, D-NY, one of the bill�s sponsors. The proposed bill, called the Toxic Chemical Exposure Reduction Act or the TCE Reduction Act, also is sponsored by US Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-NY. It is the House companion to similar legislation filed last year in Congress by Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY. According to the press release, the TCE Reduction Act addresses both groundwater contamination and vapor intrusion caused by trichloroethylene and would require the EPA to: ● Issue a revised health advisory for TCE within 6 months of enactment ● Issue revised draft health standards for TCE in drinking water within 12 months of enactment, and final drinking water standards within 18 months ● Issue a health advisory standard for TCE vapor intrusion within 12 months of enactment ● Establish an integrated risk information system reference concentration for TCE vapor which is protective within 18 months of enactment ● Ensure that all standards set under the bill fully protect susceptible populations (including pregnant women, infants and children) from the adverse health affects of TCE. Hall announced introduction of the legislation on March 3 in Hopewell Junction, NY, a community whose public drinking water system is contaminated by TCE. He said, �Growing scientific evidence shows the danger TCE pollution poses to people. Yet the EPA continues to drag its feet instead of setting a new standard that would help the residents of Hopewell Junction and similar communities throughout the country.� Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce TCE, a VOC. 2006 pipe replacement raised lead levels WASHINGTON, February 26, 2008 (Water Tech) � A February 23 story in The Washington Post revealed that although city drinking water lead levels rose sharply following a 2006 lead pipe replacement program, this knowledge has only recently become public. Three years ago, the story says, the Washington DC Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) launched a $93 million plan to replace 35,000 lead pipes throughout the city. The result was an increase, rather than a decrease, in drinking water lead levels, says the story. The increase was explained as being caused by disruption and freeing of lead scale and shavings in the system during the replacement process. The problem was uncovered when Marc Edwards, a Virginia Tech professor of civil and environmental engineering and a 2007 MacArthur Fellow, obtained WASA test results through a Freedom of Information Act request and analyzed the data. The article quotes DC Council member Jim Graham, who chairs the committee that oversees WASA, as saying, �We�ve spent $93 million, we�ve torn up all these neighborhoods, and it appears that the situation is worse than when we started. This raises serious concerns about what WASA has been doing all this time, wittingly or unwittingly.� Graham also voiced concern about hearing about the problem from an independent scientist instead of WASA itself. Edwards calculated the lead levels in the water at 658 homes during the post-replacement period averaged 260 parts per billion, according the article. The US Environmental Protection Agency requires that when lead is at or above 15 parts per billion in a public water system, the system must take steps to control the water�s corrosiveness. �Partial lead service replacement has been a complete waste of money and has actually made things worse,� Edwards was quoted as saying. �It should be stopped.� Vermont group charges chloramine hazards dismissedDANBY, VT, February 26, 2008 (Water Tech) � Vermont government agencies are not taking complaints of chloramine-related health problems seriously, charges a February 25 press release issued jointly by People Concerned About Chloramine (PCAC) and Vermonters for a Clean Environment (VCE). The press release bases its charges on government documents uncovered through Freedom Of Information Act requests. The excerpts from the documents and the press release are available on the VCE Web site. �What we have found is evidence of a coordinated attempt to use state agencies to ignore the health impacts people are suffering and instead be the mouthpiece for the CWD (Champlain Water District),� Ellen Powell, coordinator of PCAC, is quoted as saying in the release. �The records show few if any discussions about how to get to the bottom of the hundreds of complaints that have come in, but instead discussions about how to �win� the fight to defend chloramine. We�re not trying to �win� anything, just help people be able to drink the water in their own homes.� Annette Smith, executive director of the VCE, said in the release, �There was no evidence that any of the health concerns raised are being taken seriously. For the past two years we have been seeking a partner in the government to get to the bottom of the health issues. Today we�ve made a formal request for a meeting with the governor to share our concerns, review these documents, and ask for his direct intervention to ensure that the health issues get addressed.� Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Chloramine. Heightened MTBE threat for New York communities RONKONKOMA, NY, February 25, 2008 (Water Tech) � A recently released study shows that aquifers which supply the drinking water for this Long Island community face a greater threat then previously thought from the fuel additive methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), according to a February 23 Newsday article. The New York state Department of Environmental Conservation released a study on February 22 that showed MTBE plumes from previously undetected petroleum spills migrating toward aquifers that supply public drinking water. The study, which was conducted between 2002 and 2006, included the installation of monitoring wells at 52 gas stations in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Each are within 1-1/2 miles of public drinking water supply wells, and none of the stations had a known history of MTBE spills, the article said. Although the state banned MTBE in 2004, the study showed new MTBE spills in groundwater at 32 of 52 gas stations that were monitored between 2002 and 2006. Two of the sites require immediate remediation, which DEC says will cost a combined $2.25 million, the article said. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce MTBE. Illegal atrazine use detected in well waterMADISON, WI, February 22, 2008 (Water Tech) � Atrazine, an herbicide used on corn crops, has been found in varying levels in a private well near Arlington, WI, and farmers who tend nearby fields have been fined more than $14,000 for illegal applications of the pesticide, according to a February 21 Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) press release. Wisconsin�s pesticide law identifies areas in which certain pesticides cannot be used. Dennis Kelley, of Arlington, and his son, Christopher, run Kelley Farms, 2,800-acre operation. Approximately 2,000 acres of the farm are in an atrazine prohibition area, the release said. Dave Fredrickson, DATCP pesticide compliance director, said in the release, �The pesticide investigation began because levels of atrazine in a private well near Arlington were �bouncing around� when they should have been stable or declining because atrazine was not supposed to be used in the area. We also received an anonymous suggestion that someone might be applying atrazine on area fields.� DATCP investigators traced sales records of local pesticide dealers and determined the Kelleys were using atrazine on cornfields within prohibition areas. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Atrazine, a VOC.
San Bernadino County to clean up perchlorateRIALTO, CA, February 21, 2008 (Water Tech) � The City Council of Rialto announced Tuesday night that it will receive $4 million from San Bernadino County to clean up perchlorate in the city�s groundwater supply, reports the Press Enterprise. According to the newspaper, after a closed-door session of the council, City Administrator Henry Garcia read a statement saying, �The council has voted unanimously to authorize the mayor to execute a settlement agreement with the county of San Bernadino under which the county will remediate the western plume of perchlorate, and pay $4 million to the city of Rialto.� Earlier in the meeting, states the story, the council also approved formation of a joint-powers authority with the city of Colton, the county, Fontana Water Co. and the West Valley Water District. The intent is to �develop, facilitate, finance and implement groundwater treatment programs in the Rialto Colton Basin.� The city filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Defense about the perchlorate contamination, and is also trying to get several companies to take financial responsibility for cleaning up perchlorate contamination caused over the past 55 years. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Perchlorate. Some utilities wary of reporting non-regulated contaminantsNEW YORK, March 11, 2008 (Water Tech) � Although many water departments are aware of trace amounts of pharmaceuticals in their water, they often do not release information about those substances, a March 10 Associated Press story said. The utilities and others cite various reasons behind their decisions not to provide the information, according to the story.Water utilities are not required by federal or state law to report the presence of substances that are not designated as regulated contaminants, and pharmaceuticals are not so designated. However, some water agencies also contend that, if such substances were detected, customers who do not understand or know how to interpret test results might become unduly alarmed, according to the AP.�They hear something has been detected in source water and drinking water, and that�s cause for alarm � just because it�s there,� Elaine Archibald, executive director of California Urban Water Agencies, an 11-member organization comprised of the largest water providers in California, was quoted as saying in the story.Although federal law requires water providers to distribute annual �consumer confidence reports� that reveal levels of federally regulated contaminants, many contaminants, including pharmaceuticals, are not regulated, the story said.
WQA, AP reporter comment on POU effectivenessLISLE, IL, March 11, 2008 (Water Tech) � In the wake of the recently released Associated Press report on pharmaceuticals in US drinking water supplies, the Water Quality Association (WQA), based here, has issued a statement saying residential point-of-use (POU) water treatment devices offer the �best protection� for drinking water. The WQA statement, available on the association�s Web site, offers what it describes as facts for consumers to consider, such as: �Filtering systems in the home provide the highest technology available for treatment of drinking water.� The WQA states that residential POU systems �act as a final contaminant barrier,� further purifying water for drinking that already is treated and meeting federal Safe Drinking Water Act regulations. Joe Harrison, WQA technical director, told WaterTech Online� that one important point for consumers to consider is that water treatment technologies effective at removing pharmaceuticals, such as reverse osmosis, are cost-effective when working at POU. �When you go to a home, we can apply these high technologies and they don�t become too expensive because we�re only treating 1 or 2 percent of the water at the most,� said Harrison. While there are no federal safety standards on pharmaceuticals in drinking water and currently there is no ANSI-accredited certification program for product performance for pharmaceuticals, the WQA offered this: �Many point-of-use technologies have proven effective for some of these emerging contaminants. Nanofiltration and reverse osmosis systems removed drugs tested by the Colorado School of Mines at full-scale facilities in Arizona and California. Activated carbon, distillation, ozonation, and advanced oxidization have likewise shown promise in removing many of these contaminants.� The WQA statement echoes what AP investigative reporter Jeff Donn told The NewsHour�s Ray Suarez during a March 10 interview regarding the AP�s five-month inquiry into pharmaceuticals in drinking water supplies across the United States. The NewsHour is broadcast on PBS. Suarez asked Donn what consumers can do to remove trace amounts of pharmaceuticals from their home drinking water. Donn said that while home water treatment systems �are not designed� to remove pharmaceuticals, �they may remove some of them.� Donn also suggested consumers concerned about contaminants in their drinking water have their water tested by an independent local water chemistry laboratory. Water quality experts are examining pharmaceuticals and other emerging contaminants, such as those found in personal care products and pesticides, as WaterTech Online� reported. Pharmaceuticals in water gain national attentionNEW YORK, March 10, 2008 (Water Tech) � At least 41 million Americans receive drinking water tainted by an array of pharmaceuticals, including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, caffeine, mood stabilizers and sex hormones, according to a recent investigative report by The Associated Press.The report, covered in various media outlets ranging from The Washington Post to CNN to AOL News, confirms that the pharmaceuticals in drinking water sources and treated drinking water are in trace amounts. �Utilities insist their water is safe,� according to the report.The AP report, stemming from a five-month inquiry, revealed that drugs have been detected in the drinking water supplies of 24 major metropolitan areas, from Southern California to northern New Jersey, from Detroit to Louisville, KY.In the Washington, DC, area, for example, drinking water contains trace amounts of seven pharmaceuticals, including those administered to humans, used as an ingredient in soap products or administered to farm animals. The list, supplied to The Washington Post by water supplier Washington Aqueduct, includes caffeine; carbamazepine, an anti-convulsive to reduce epileptic seizures and a mood stabilizer for treating bipolar disorders; monensin, an antibiotic administered to cattle; sulfamethoxazole, an antibiotic that can be used to treat infections in humans and animals; and triclocarban, a disinfectant found in antibacterial soaps.AOL News� coverage of the report offers a snapshot of cities found to have pharmaceuticals in their drinking water. It also polls readers on their water beverage of choice (bottled vs. tap) and asks, �How concerned are you about the drugs found in drinking water?� Of 387,286 poll respondents, 57 percent answered that they drank bottled water.Readers offering their opinion on how concerned they are regarding drugs in drinking water were offered three responses: �very,� �a little� and �not at all.� Of 373,628 poll respondents, the majority � 70 percent � said they were �very� concerned and just 9 said �not at all.�As WaterTech Online� has reported, the area of research into drinking water contaminated by pharmaceuticals is emerging and more reports nationally and internationally are detailing the potential impacts on aquatic and human life.The Water Quality Association (WQA), a Lisle, IL-based association of water treatment professionals, has included pharmaceuticals, also known as endocrine disrupting chemicals, among �emerging contaminants� and noted that the water treatment industry will be looked upon as a resource for technology to remove the contaminants from drinking water, as WaterTech Online reported.
Multi-Pure Commentary: Click here to read Multi-Pure�s Press Release CA choice: Install POU now, or wait for city arsenic removalMANTECA, CA, February 20, 2008 (Water Tech) � Reduction of arsenic in the public water supplies of this community and others in south San Joaquin County will take time and money, and as a result local residents are now considering whether they should in the meantime install point-of-use (POU) arsenic removal equipment, a February 19 article in The Record of Stockton said. Aaron Marinucci of Pure Water Pros Ionics, a local water treatment dealership, told a reporter he was offering free arsenic filters to homes and schools this month, with customers paying for installation and periodic filter replacement, the article said. Manteca, located about 60 miles south of Sacramento, is installing treatment systems at the head of two �arsenic-rich� municipal wells, each system costing about $1 million. In neighboring Lathrop, the article added, construction will begin later this year on an $11 million treatment plant to reduce arsenic. Officials are unsure yet whether the new municipal treatment systems will cause water rates to go up. Officials are taking no position on whether residents or businesses should now install POU arsenic removal equipment, according to the article. Manteca city Associate Engineer Keith Conarroe was quoted as saying, �If somebody wants to (install a filter) for their own peace of mind, go ahead.� Marinucci said many people are unaware that arsenic is in their water and are �shocked� to find out. He said in the article he�s not trying to scare people into buying his treatment systems: �We are all about giving them information. They can decide what to do.� Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP880 Series has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Arsenic V.
New Jersey officials advise contaminated-well owners OXFORD TOWNSHIP, NJ, February 20, 2008 (Water Tech) � Because about 10 percent of 148 local residential wells have tested positive for arsenic, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) met recently with residents to address concerns and discuss application procedures for state remedial aid, according to a news story at NJ.com. Should it be determined that the contamination came from a man-made source, there is a state Spill Fund available to provide water treatment systems and possibly a water line extension, the story said. If residents receive the funds, and the source of the arsenic contamination is later determined to be natural in origin, they need not return the money, but future maintenance costs for the well become the homeowner�s responsibility. DEP is trying to determine the extent of contamination as well as the most cost-effective way to address the problem, said the article. Free well testing is available through the township and the DEP. More data is needed to determine the scope of the problem and most cost-effective treatment. The New Jersey Geological Survey will investigate the source of the contamination. According to the article, state officials say there is �strong evidence� that the contamination is coming from old furnace slag, although most arsenic contamination in New Jersey comes from natural sources. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP880 Series has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Arsenic V.
AZ utility�s TCE incidents under regulatory fire SCOTTSDALE, AZ, February 15, 2008 (Water Tech) � Arizona American Water Co.�s plan to no longer blend treated water from a TCE-tainted well into its drinking water supply may not be enough to keep the company from losing its ratepayers here and in Paradise Valley, AZ, according to local reports. Arizona American is responsible for two recent incidents in which water contaminated with trichloroethylene entered the public drinking water supply, as WaterTech Online� reported. A state regulatory agency, the Arizona Corporation Commission, is deciding whether to pursue fines and sanctions against the utility, according to a February 13 East Valley Tribune article. The commission also has said the utility in January illegally flushed the potentially contaminated water from fire hydrants into the stormwater sewer. Arizona American President Paul Townsley said on February 13 during an information meeting held by the regulatory commission that treated water from the TCE-tainted well no longer will supplement the drinking water supply, according to a February 14 article in The Arizona Republic. February 14, 2008 (Water Tech) - Water Technology has introduced a regular monthly technical feature, starting with its January 2008 issue, which offers brief profiles of contaminants found in water sources. Trichloroethylene (TCE) is the focus of the inaugural column in the January issue. Physical characteristics, where the contaminant is found and potential health effects are covered. Regulatory information is provided, as well as common water treatment methods. Read more in the January 2008 issue of Water Technology, which now can be accessed online. Black yeast found in promotional bottled water ALBUQUERQUE, NM, February 13, 2008 (Water Tech) � Tests have confirmed that the substance found in bottles of treated water, which were distributed as part of this city�s promotion of its new water source, is black yeast, according to a February 13 Associated Press report on KVIA.com. In January, Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez blamed the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority for the incident, as WaterTech Online� reported. The utility had distributed 900,000 bottles of the water. The bottled water was part of a city-sponsored effort to promote drinking water from the San Juan-Chama Project. Water utility officials said in the AP report that they will do more testing to ensure safety. They also said they do not think the yeast could have survived the water purification process. GA county considers �toilet-to-tap� DEKALB COUNTY, GA, February 12, 2008 (Water Tech) � Officials in this drought-stricken county are considering a sewage reuse plant on the South River as one means of ensuring a reliable potable water source, according to a February 12 article in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The county, in which portions of Atlanta are located, is struggling to keep up with demands on the water supply. Francis Kung�u, who runs DeKalb�s water system, said in the article that a reuse plant, much like the one in use in Orange County, CA, would accommodate projected growth. However, he noted, it may face criticism from consumers. Commissioner Jeff Rader, a city planner, said in the article that the county�s current water source, the Chattahoochee River, is filled with discharge from upstream communities. �We already informally recycle wastewater into drinking water," Rader added. Chemicals in drinking water disrupt male healthFORT COLLINS, CO, February 6, 2008 (Water Tech) � Chemicals found in drinking water, and in the environment at large, are changing male reproductive health and impacting sexual function, development and cancer rates of today�s generations and possibly their offspring, according to research by a Colorado State University expert, the university reported in a February 5 press release. Rao Veeramachaneni, a biomedical sciences professor in Colorado State University�s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, has found from more than 15 years of research that chemicals including insecticides; pesticides; common pollutants in groundwater; and chemicals in plastics, make-up and nail polish are causing developmental abnormalities to male reproductive organs, as well as impaired sperm quality and impotence. Reproductive health also can be compromised if males are exposed at various times in life spanning from in utero up to adulthood. According to the press release, �Some of these chemicals can survive in the environment for 30 to 40 years, and the chances for exposure are high because the chemicals have permeated our world. For example, the [US Environmental Protection Agency] EPA says that about one-third of the nation�s lakes and one-quarter of its rivers are polluted.� Perchlorate review intensifiesWASHINGTON, January 30, 2008 (Water Tech) � Recently released research based on the US Food and Drug Administration�s (FDA) ongoing Total Diet Study, in which dietary intake of perchlorate is analyzed, has US lawmakers and advocacy groups intensifying their call for a national drinking water limit for the chemical that is most commonly used in rocket fuel. According to the FDA�s analysis of 285 foods, the average 2-year-old is exposed daily to more than half of the US Environmental Protection Agency�s (EPA) recommended maximum dose of perchlorate from food alone. Children in at least 28 states also are exposed to perchlorate in tap water. According to advocacy group Environmental Working Group (EWG), which says it also analyzed the FDA study, �Analysis of FDA�s new data shows that every proposed or final drinking water standard fails to protect 2-year-olds from routine, daily, unsafe exposure to perchlorate when combined food and water exposures are considered.� In the EWG analysis, the group quoted a 2006 study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in which the CDC concluded that the EPA�s reference dose for perchlorate in drinking water allows for exposure that can have significant effects on the thyroid gland. According to the EWG, �These important findings from the CDC demonstrate that EPA�s current reference dose is not health-protective. � EPA should promptly establish a safety standard for perchlorate in tap water that accounts for findings from the CDC that show that exposures to perchlorate at levels far lower than the EPA�s current safe dose have significant effects on the thyroid gland. In addition, a health-protective drinking water standard must account for widespread, significant exposures to perchlorate from food, especially among children.� Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Perchlorate. Arsenic deadline for eight NM cities extended SANTA FE, NM, January 18, 2008 (Water Tech) � Water systems in eight New Mexico cities have been given an additional year to meet the new US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standard for arsenic in drinking water of 10 parts per billion (ppb), a recent Associated Press report in the Las Cruces Sun-News said. New Mexico had already received an extension of the compliance deadline to the end of 2007 due to lack of funds to meet the standard, which took effect in January 2006. But the cities of Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Rio Rancho, Los Lunas, Desert Sands, Bosque Farms, La Mesa and Espanola will now have until the end of 2008, the report said. Santa Fe, the state capital, has been temporarily meeting the new arsenic standard by diluting its high-arsenic well water with other supplies, that city�s water agency director, Gary Martinez, was quoted as saying. The city is seeking a longer-term solution, and �the cost is really the driver,� Martinez said. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP880 Series has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Arsenic V.
Private AZ utility under fire after TCE event SCOTTSDALE, AZ, January 18, 2008 (Water Tech) � A private water utility here is under fire for not notifying all of its 5,000 ratepayers individually that a malfunction at a treatment facility may have allowed TCE to enter the drinking water supply, according to a January 18 East Valley Tribune article. This is the second time in three months Arizona American Water Co., which serves Scottsdale and nearby Paradise Valley, has had to advise its customers to drink bottled water after a potential TCE problem. In November, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the utility�s drinking water supply may have contained 9 parts per billion (ppb) of TCE from a south Scottsdale Superfund site, as WaterTech Online� reported. The EPA maximum contaminant limit for TCE is 5 ppb. Benzene contamination prompts city hookupFAYETTEVILLE, NC, January 18, 2008 (Water Tech) � Fourteen homes here with benzene-contaminated well water soon will receive city water, according to a January 29 News 14 report. The groundwater contamination, blamed on chemical leaks from a nearby gas station, has been ongoing since the 1980s. Some residents, while pleased the City Council voted to approve the plan, voiced frustration at how long the process has taken. Each homeowner will owe $5,000 toward the $300,000 project. The remainder of the cost is being paid for by the city, which annexed the area several years ago. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Benzene, a VOC.
Superfund site contaminated our well � MI familiesGAINES TOWNSHIP, MI, January 18, 2008 (Water Tech) � Current residents and a former owner of a home located one-quarter mile away from the site of the former Berlin & Farro dump, once a Superfund site, say that the site has contaminated the home�s well water and it is causing their cancer illnesses, according to a January 29 article in The Flint Journal. The families� pleas to state and federal officials to again investigate the 40-acre site, once contaminated with volatile organic compounds, PCBs and pesticides, are now being heard. State and federal agencies said they may take another look at the site they declared toxin-free 10 years ago and will take water samples from the home�s private well. The former home�s owner, Beth Agle, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer when she lived in the house. It is now owned by the Voelker family, who have had two cases of cancer since moving in, the article said. Rains and perchlorate concern CA communityRIALTO, CA, January 17, 2008 (Water Tech) � Experts here are concerned that recent torrential rain storms could have worsened existing perchlorate contamination of the city�s drinking water source, according to a January 15 article in The Sun. A plume of perchlorate, a chemical most commonly used in rocket fuel and suspected of causing thyroid problems in humans, is present in Rialto�s groundwater from an industrial area north of the 210 Freeway. Kevin Mayer, US Environmental Protection Agency regional perchlorate coordinator, said in the report that the rains could have a positive effect by diluting the contamination, or, on the downside, rains could flush it into groundwater. Mayer also said it�s possible that rain in the mountains could raise the water table, allowing the water table to �catch� perchlorate resting above it and further contaminating the water. Tilting of the water table also is possible, and this could speed up growth of the contaminant plume through the groundwater. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Perchlorate. Chemicals, contaminants, pollution, price: new reasons to rethink what you drink and beware of bottled water.
By Janet Majeski Jemmott Reader's Digest (February 2008)
Growing ThirstRemember the drinking fountain, that once ubiquitous, and free, source of H2O? It seems quaint now. Instead, bottled water is everywhere, in offices, airplanes, stores, homes and restaurants across the country. We consumed over eight billion gallons of the stuff in 2006, a 10 percent increase from 2005. It's refreshing, calorie-free, convenient to carry around, tastier than some tap water and a heck of a lot healthier than sugary sodas. But more and more, people are questioning whether the water, and the package it comes in, is safe, or at least safer than tap water�and if the convenience is worth the environmental impact.
For complete article, go to: www.rd.com/special-reports/the-environment/rethink-what-you-drink/article.html Filtration reduces cryptosporidiosis: reportATLANTA, January 7, 2008 (Water Tech) � Filtration added to a public water supply can substantially reduce the number of confirmed cryptosporidiosis cases, reports a study published in the January 2008 issue of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention�s (CDC) Emerging Infectious Diseases journal. Researchers studied the association between the consumption of unfiltered water from Loch Lomond, Scotland, and cryptosporidiosis. According to the study, researchers reported that before November 1999, the Loch Lomond water had been only microstrained and disinfected with chlorine. Since that time, other treatment of the water, such as coagulation and rapid gravity filtration, was added. Researchers determined risk factors, including those associated with drinking water, for cryptosporidiosis, and analyzed data on laboratory-confirmed cases of cryptosporidiosis collected from 1997 through 2003. They identified an association between the incidence of cryptosporidiosis and unfiltered drinking water supplied to the home. According to the article abstract, �The association supports the view that adding a filtration system to minimally treated water can substantially reduce the number of confirmed cryptosporidiosis cases.� Nitrates high in WA elementary school SUNNYSIDE, WA, January 3, 2008 (Water Tech) � High nitrate levels were detected in drinking water at the 600-student Outlook Elementary School, located here, according to a January 3 Yakima Herald-Republic article. Regular quarterly testing, conducted December 13, showed a nitrate level of 10.36 parts per million (ppm). The federal safe drinking water standard for nitrate (as nitrogen) is 10 ppm. The school, located in an agricultural area, offered students returning from Christmas vacation bottled water for drinking. State health officials said the tap water was safe for hand-washing, the article said. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Nitrates. MTBE found in many New Hampshire wells WASHINGTON, January 2, 2008 (Water Tech) � A fair portion of New Hampshire�s groundwater contains the gasoline additive MTBE (methyl tertiary-butyl ether), but almost all of its concentrations are below both the state�s drinking water limit and the federal government�s advisory limit, according to a new US Geological Survey (USGS) study, results of which were announced in a January 2 USGS press release. Groundwater in four more densely populated counties � Rockingham, Strafford, Hillsborough and Merrimack, all in southeast New Hampshire � was more likely to contain MTBE than samples taken elsewhere in the state, USGS said. MTBE was introduced nationally into gasoline in 1979 as an octane booster that would substitute for lead. It was mandated for the four New Hampshire counties (above) in 1995 to provide cleaner-burning gasoline, but not in the rest of the state, according to USGS. A number of states have now banned it in gasoline, but USGS says no data exist on the human health effects of ingesting MTBE in drinking water. There is no federal maximum contaminant limit (MCL) for MTBE in drinking water, but the US Environmental Protection Agency has an advisory limit of 20 to 40 parts per billion (ppb). New Hampshire has a state limit for MTBE in drinking water of 13 ppb. The USGS said it sampled more than 800 wells throughout New Hampshire in 2005 and 2006. Statewide, MTBE was found in untreated groundwater in 18 percent of the public supply wells and 9 percent of the private wells. Most of the concentrations in those wells measured less than 1 ppb. About 2 percent of the public wells and 1 percent of the private wells had levels higher than the state limit of 13 ppb. In the four New Hampshire counties where MTBE has been used in gasoline, it was at or above 0.2 ppb in 30 percent of public supply wells and 17 percent of private residential wells, the USGS release said. In the most densely populated areas of Rockingham County, about half of the wells tested had MTBE, according to USGS. Across the state, more than 70 percent of wells serving mobile home communities had MTBE, USGS said. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce MTBE. Toxic chemicals found in IN well waterELKHART, IN, December 28, 2007 (Water Tech) � More than 100 homes in a the Meadow Farms subdivision here have been given water filters and pumps to reduce the levels of contaminants that have leached into their well water from nearby Geocel Corp., according to a December 27 Fox 28 report. Three industrial chemicals � dichloromethane 1, dichloromethane 2 and vinyl chloride � are contaminating the wells, according to the report. The US Environmental Protection Agency regulates their levels in drinking water and has reported that all are potential human carcinogens. In the spring, the homes will be connected to city water at the expense of Geocel. In the meantime, residents are concerned that the high cancer rate in their neighborhood is connected to the contaminated water and are considering legal action, the report said. TCE threat to VA water yields Superfund statusSTERLING, VA, December 20, 2007 (Water Tech) � A US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) official said this week a closed landfill here that is the probable source of trichloroethylene (TCE) contamination in residential drinking water wells will be added in March to its Superfund National Priorities List, according to a December 20 article in The Washington Post. The designation means that the Hidden Lane Landfill in Loudoun County would be slated for cleanup. According to the Post, TCE, a cleaning solvent that is a potential carcinogen, was first detected in residential wells near the landfill in 1989. The landfill was in operation from 1971 to 1984. TCE has been found in varying levels in residential wells in Broad Run Farms and monitoring wells since it was first detected. Most global illness linked to poor water � CNN ATLANTA, December 18, 2007 (Water Tech) � Unsanitary water conditions are to blame for 88 percent of all diseases, and agriculture is endangering groundwater worldwide, CNN reported on December 18. The CNN report, a review of the world water-health situation, relays information from various global sources, such as the World Bank, which reported that water-related problems are responsible for 88 percent of all diseases. Other sources quoted in the CNN report include UNICEF, the US Geological Survey, UNESCO, the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Global Environment Outlook-4, the Natural Resources Defense Council and others. CNN reporter Rachel Oliver�s report notes that agriculture is responsible for contaminating groundwater directly with pesticides, and indirectly by eutrophication, which allows algal blooms. Industrial waste is another major contributor to water pollution worldwide, according to the report, which quotes UNESCO saying that as much as 70 percent of industrial waste is dumped untreated into rivers and lakes in the developing world. The CNN report summarizes some of the challenges contaminated groundwater presents, including a chain of ill-health among populations exposed to it, the time it takes for water to clean itself and the cost of delivering reliable, safe drinking water, especially to developing countries. Chlorine may help in arsenic treatment � study MADISON, WI, December 17, 2007 (Water Tech) � New research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison shows that appropriate treatment for arsenic-tainted wells varies depending on the source of the contamination, according to a recent University of Wisconsin-Madison press release. However, results of the study also suggest that chlorine disinfection may also limit arsenic release in wells under some conditions. Lead researcher Madeline Gotkowitz, a hydrogeologist at the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, warns that chlorine treatment may not be appropriate in all environments. Gotkowitz said the oxidizing properties of bleach may pose more of a concern in arsenic-affected regions with lower water tables, while wells drawing from aquifers highly contaminated with arsenic are unlikely to benefit from localized treatment. Gotkowitz said in the release that naturally occurring arsenic in rocks is usually associated with sulfur � or iron-rich minerals � where it poses no threat to groundwater. However, arsenic becomes more problematic once it is released from mineral form into groundwater through geochemical or biological processes. Chronic exposure to arsenic has been linked to skin lesions and increased risk of several cancers. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP880 Series has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Arsenic V.
Chlorine may help in arsenic treatment � study MADISON, WI, December 17, 2007 (Water Tech) � New research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison shows that appropriate treatment for arsenic-tainted wells varies depending on the source of the contamination, according to a recent University of Wisconsin-Madison press release. However, results of the study also suggest that chlorine disinfection may also limit arsenic release in wells under some conditions. Lead researcher Madeline Gotkowitz, a hydrogeologist at the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, warns that chlorine treatment may not be appropriate in all environments. Gotkowitz said the oxidizing properties of bleach may pose more of a concern in arsenic-affected regions with lower water tables, while wells drawing from aquifers highly contaminated with arsenic are unlikely to benefit from localized treatment. Gotkowitz said in the release that naturally occurring arsenic in rocks is usually associated with sulfur � or iron-rich minerals � where it poses no threat to groundwater. However, arsenic becomes more problematic once it is released from mineral form into groundwater through geochemical or biological processes. Chronic exposure to arsenic has been linked to skin lesions and increased risk of several cancers. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP880 Series has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Arsenic V.
MT city avoids fines in excess-copper caseBOULDER, MT, December 11, 2007 (Water Tech) � The City Council here recently voted 3-1 to settle a lawsuit with the state Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) over the city�s noncompliance with federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) regulations for copper, according to a December 12 Associated Press report in The Billings Gazette. In March 2006, the DEQ sued the city for noncompliance with the SDWA because copper in the city�s drinking water exceeded the federal standard of 1.3 milligrams per liter (mg/L) by 0.5 mg/L. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Copper.
EPA to clean up PCE with zero-valent iron injection BILLINGS, MT, December 11, 2007 (Water Tech) � The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will start work cleaning up PCE and three other contaminants from groundwater in a neighborhood here using an injection of zero-valent iron, according to a December 12 Associated Press story KXNet. The contaminants have created a 140-acre underground plume under about 400 homes, buildings and businesses, the story said. Big Sky Linen is being eyed as the source of the PCE contamination, which took place decades ago, the story said. The EPA zero-valent iron is supposed to work with the PCE, creating a permeable wall that water can pass through but will then contain less amounts of the chemical. The agency also will remove the contaminated soil that is being blamed for the contaminated groundwater. The entire clean-up effort could cost up to $7 million and take between three and five years. BETHEL, ME, December 6, 2007 (Water Tech) � The Bethel Water District, which was using a temporary pipeline prone to freezing, has been dogged by problems this week, including the need to issue a boil-water order, defend its contract-hiring process and investigate the site of new wells for MTBE contamination, according to local reports. The town�s water infrastructure endured millions of dollars in damages in July after heavy rains filled its only water source with hundreds of trees and boulders. The district installed a new water pipe to bypass the debris. CA residents want answers about perchlorate San Luis Obispo, CA, December 6, 2007 (Water Tech) � Residents showed up at a hearing here wanting answers about the cleaning up of perchlorate that was discovered in their wells in 2000, a December 7 Mercury News story said. The perchlorate came from an old road-flare manufacturing plant in Morgan Hill which made flares from 1955 to 1996. A 10-mile plume of the perchlorate ended up leaking into the aquifer. The plume also affected the cities of Morgan Hill and Gilroy. A plan to clean up the plume has been years in the making and the Regional Water Quality Control Board is reviewing a plan that would make Olin, the road-flare company, responsible for cleaning up a portion of the plume that contains the highest amounts of perchlorate. The company would be given two years to activate the plan. Some think the plan is too lenient. Morgan Hill City Manager Ed Tewes said in the story, �It�s too puny, and too late. As proposed, it allows Olin to adopt a cleanup strategy that calls for monitoring, which means they don't have to do anything.� Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Perchlorate. San Diego moves forward with recycled waterSAN DIEGO, December 4, 2007 (Water Tech) � The City Council here December 3 voted 5-3 to overturn Mayor Jerry Sanders veto of a controversial citywide water recycling plan, according to local sources. The council had voted 5-2 on October 29 for the city to begin a pilot program of the recycled water project, which will create potable water from treated wastewater, as WaterTech Online� recently reported. Sanders vetoed the plan November 14, saying the program�s estimated $10 million to $15 million price tag is too high. The plan, more formally referred to as �reservoir augmentation,� or as �toilet-to-tap� by detractors, now faces the challenge of being implemented by Sanders� staff. Sanders maintains that there are more effective and cost-efficient ways to augment the city�s water supply, according to a December 4 San Diego Union-Tribune article. Perchlorate may harm nursing infants: studyBRONX, NEW YORK, December 4, 2007 (Water Tech) � Perchlorate, a pollutant linked to thyroid ailments, becomes actively concentrated in breast milk and � in extreme cases � may lead to mental impairment in nursing babies, a team of researchers from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, located here, and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, located in Baltimore, has reported. The researchers� findings suggest that perchlorate contamination of drinking water may pose a greater health risk than previously realized. The study appears in the December 3-7 advance online issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, according to a December 3 Albert Einstein College of Medicine press release. Professor Nancy Carrasco, senior author of the study, said in the press release, �Our study suggests that high levels of perchlorate may pose a particular risk in infants.� According to Carrasco, nursing mothers exposed to high levels of perchlorate may provide less iodide to their babies. The thyroid needs iodide to make the hormones essential for normal development of the central nervous system. The study also found that nursing mothers exposed to high levels of perchlorate may pass it on to infants via breast milk. In Congress, the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials recently approved by voice vote a bill that would limit the levels of perchlorate in drinking water, as WaterTech Online� reported. The measure, which could go to the full House of Representatives in 2008, requires the US Environmental Protection Agency to set a national drinking water standard on the chemical, which has been used in rocket fuel and fireworks. Several states have already set their own perchlorate standards in drinking water. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Perchlorate.
Puronics survey places filtered water on top LIVERMORE, CA, November 28, 2007 (Water Tech) � A nationwide survey of adult women sponsored by Puronics Inc. found that 54 percent of respondents think filtered tap water is the best alternative to bottled water. The survey, conducted by Gibbs & Soell, asked if respondents had purchased water in the last 30 days and asked what they considered to be the best alternative to bottled water. Filtered tap water, unfiltered tap water, sports drinks/vitamin, juice, soda, other, none, and "don't know" were offered as answer options. After filtered tap water, unfiltered tap water came in second, with 18 percent of respondents; sports drinks/vitamin water came in third with 13 percent; and juice and soda tied for fourth place with 4 percent of the votes. Scott Batiste, chairman and CEO of Puronics, said in a press release, �Bottled water consumption has skyrocketed � It�s refreshing to see that more than half the women surveyed see a real alternative in filtered tap water. It tastes great and is calorie-free�� 'Gray water' goes on line in Orange County, CA ORANGE COUNTY, CA, November 27, 2007 (Water Tech) � Underground aquifers that supply drinking water for 2.3 million people will begin receiving treated recycled water on November 30 when this county�s new Groundwater Replenishment System goes on line, according to a November 27 article in The New York Times. The Times article profiled the new Orange County plant, detailing how the wastewater is treated and what it does once injected underground: It will both form a barrier against saltwater intrusion and filter into aquifers that supply drinking water for about three-quarters of the county. The new system replaces the county�s Water Factory 21, which blended treated recycled water with deep well water to prevent saltwater intrusion along the coast. EPA tells MT school: Arsenic levels are too high BOZEMAN, MT, November 27, 2007 (Water Tech) � The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently told the Manhattan Christian School, a private school located in nearby Manhattan, MT, that its new well contains levels of arsenic that are above the federal maximum contaminant level of 10 parts per billion (ppb), according to a November 27 Bozeman Daily Chronicle article. Water sampled from the school�s well is at 15 ppb. According to Sylvia Ypma, business manager for the school, officials there are now looking into whether they should buy a treatment system, which she says could cost $35,000, or drill a new well, which she estimates at $25,000. The EPA turned the matter over to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality�s (DEQ) enforcement division. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP880 Series has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Arsenic V. House committee wants answers on TCEWASHINGTON, November 26, 2007 (Water Tech) � A House committee wants to know why federal regulators overlooked recommendations to conduct health evaluations on residents who were exposed to TCE-contaminated groundwater in California that was used as drinking water in the 1980s and earlier, according to a November 26 Los Angeles Times article. The House Energy and Commerce Committee sent a letter November 26 to Julie Louise Gerberding, head of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, an Atlanta-based federal public health agency of the US Department of Health and Human Services. In the letter, the committee says the agency failed to follow recommendations made more than a decade ago that called for a thorough assessment of potential public health damage from extremely high levels of trichloroethylene (TCE) in aquifers under the San Gabriel and San Fernando valleys. The aquifers supplied drinking water to nearly 2 million residents. US Rep. Joe Barton, R-TX, ranking member of the committee, wrote in the letter, �We are concerned that the agency has failed to complete or act on health recommendations and studies,� the article said. Barton�s staff believes that the health review could prompt residents who might have been exposed to the contaminant through drinking water to get annual health screenings and early medical intervention. MN city�s water is yellow, red, or brownEDINA, MN, November 19, 2007 (Water Tech) � Residents here have been complaining that their tap water is either yellow, brown and muddy, or reddish in color, a November 17 Star Tribune story said. Resident Tara Bizily said in the story that her water �� was definitely brown and it had tiny things floating in it.� The discolored water is caused by the city�s aging cast-iron water pipes. An unusually warm summer also contributed to the discoloration. In the spring the city will scour rust from the 4.1 miles of water pipes and then line them with cement or plastic. The $1.4 million project will take about three years to complete. In the meantime, the city has been flushing water pipes by opening hydrants. Water quality will also improve once the temperature of the Mississippi River dips below 50 degrees, the story said. Chris Catlin, Minneapolis superintendent of water plant operations, said in the story, �This year has been rougher than most. From a real solid health standpoint ... the water leaving our plant is meeting all the requirements and actually at the users� tap, it�s meeting all the regulations.� New water park to treat its source�s arsenic MESA, AZ, November 19, 2007 (Water Tech) � A planned water park here, which will need up to 100 million gallons of water a year, will get and treat water from a well with elevated levels of arsenic, a November 19 Associated Press story said. The park, which will feature surfable waves, a whitewater river, scuba diving and snorkeling, will not tap into the city�s water supply. The 125-acre Waveyard park will initially need 50 million gallons of water to fill the water features. The park will build a treatment plant to make the arsenic-laden water safe, the story said. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP880 Series has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Arsenic V.
TCE-laced water may have entered AZ co.'s supply SCOTTSDALE, AZ, November 16, 2007 (Water Tech) � Officials from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced to residents here on November 15 that water containing higher-than-acceptable levels of trichloroethylene (TCE) may have entered their drinking-water supply during an eight-day period in October, according to a November 16 Associated Press report on KOLD News 13. The water, containing 9 parts per billion (ppb) of TCE, entered the water supply from a south Scottsdale Superfund site, according to a November 16 East Valley Tribune article. The water, pumped from the Superfund site to a treatment plant run by Arizona American Water Co., was apparently introduced into the company's supply when workers shut down one of two treatment towers and shifted operations to a third, backup tower. Samples taken from that tower�s output later showed levels of the solvent TCE nearly twice the maximum allowed in drinking water, according to the AP report. Bottled water in Chicago gets taxed CHICAGO, November 15, 2007 (Water Tech) � The City Council here approved on November 13 Mayor Richard Daley�s $5.9 million 2008 budget, which includes adding a 5-cent tax to all containers of bottled water. Alderman Joe Moore, referring to the new bottled water tax and to a scandal surrounding the administration�s hiring practices, said in a November 13 Chicago Tribune article, �How many bottles of water must be sold to pay for the $12 million fund created to compensate victims of the city�s rigged hiring system?� Daley�s original 2008 budget included a 10-cent tax on containers of bottled water. Daley, yielding to pressure, reduced the tax to 5 cents, reported the Chicago Sun-Times on November 14. Study: Arsenic adversely affects hormone receptorsHANOVER, NH, November 14, 2007 (Water Tech) � Researchers at Dartmouth Medical School have discovered that low doses of arsenic, such as levels found in US drinking water in some areas, disrupt the activity of a hormone critical in development, according to a November 14 press release issued by the Dartmouth College Office of Public Affairs. The study, which appeared in the October 26 online edition of the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, was carried out by Joshua Hamilton, director of the Center for Environmental Health Sciences at Dartmouth and Dartmouth�s Superfund Basic Research Program on Toxic Metals, and his team of researchers. The study will be published in a forthcoming issue of the journal. Hamilton and his team, whose previous work demonstrated that low doses of arsenic have a broad impact on human physiology, found that low levels of arsenic disrupt the activity of two hormone receptors, the retinoic acid receptor and the thyroid hormone receptor, that are involved in normal development. The researchers studied the impact on frog development, but noted that these receptors, considered important members of the larger nuclear hormone receptor family, are vital to human development, according to the release. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP880 Series has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Arsenic V. San Jose, CA, considers bottled water banSAN JOSE, CA, November 13, 2007 (Water Tech) � City officials are evaluating a proposal drafted by Councilman Sam Liccardo to ban the purchase of single-serving bottled water for municipal offices and city-sponsored meetings and events, according to a November 12 article in The Mercury News. Under the proposal, the city would retain its 5-gallon bottled water coolers and is considering installation of reverse osmosis treatment systems at some sinks in City Hall to reduce off-taste, the article said. Although the city hasn�t officially tallied how much it spends on bottled water annually, under Mayor Chuck Reed�s environmental platform there is a greater push to look at various programs. John Stufflebean, the city�s environmental services director, said in the article, �We produce perfectly good water in San Jose. There�s really no reason to spend the extra cost of bringing the water in from other locations.� Filter, reusable-bottle markets perking up NEW YORK, November 12, 2007 (Water Tech) � The bottled water industry may be frowning at the negative press it has received lately, but new public interest in alternatives to bottled water and to problematic tap water are fueling growth in other water treatment market sectors, The New York Times reported in its November 10 edition. �All told, it is a great time to be selling water filters and reusable bottles,� Times reporter Claudia H. Deutsch wrote. The article looked at several manufacturers in those sectors: Clorox Co.�s Brita brand and Procter & Gamble�s PUR brand, both makers of tap and pitcher filters; Thermo Fisher Scientific�s Nalgene Outdoor Products unit, which makes reusable plastic bottles and is partnering with Brita on a Web site; and GE Water and Process Technologies, which is involved in a number of water purification technologies worldwide, including putting up water kiosks in train stations in India where people can refill reusable bottles. All those companies, the article said, report healthy growth in their various markets due to a variety of factors � new online marketing approaches, media attention, the new �green� market and concerns about bottled water, water quality issues generally, and in the case of India, the need for very low-cost potable water. Bottled water banned at CA city functionsDAVIS, CA, November 8, 2007 (Water Tech) � The purchasing and selling of single-use bottles of water has been banned at city council meetings and city-sponsored events here, a November 8 California Aggie story said. The city council voted unanimously for the ban at an October 25 meeting, claiming it was the �first step� toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions under its climate protection plan that was approved in April. More sustainability actions will be announced at the city council�s November 13 meeting, the story said. Bottles of water had been distributed at meetings and events. The one exception to the ban is that firefighters will be allowed to have bottled water. However, the city council is considering alternatives. Baltimore schools go to bottled-only BALTIMORE, November 8, 2007 (Water Tech) � The school system here, which has flushed, tested and reviewed hundreds of water fountains in a 15-year lead-removal effort, announced November 7 that, with some fountains continuing to test unacceptably high for lead, bottled water will now be provided to all schools. Baltimore City Public School System CEO Dr. Andr�s Alonso announced the shift, noting that the move was prompted by new testing which found that several school water fountains, having passed previous tests for lead and having been returned to use, nevertheless failed more recent tests. The shift to providing drinking water to students and staff from bottled water coolers is expected to be completed by November 9. The school system expects to spend approximately $675,000 per year for bottled drinking water. It had already been paying approximately $350,000 for bottled water in schools lacking adequate numbers of working fountains, $275,000 for staff and consultants to oversee the testing program, $50,000 for laboratory analysis, and additional costs for �hundreds of custodians [who] spend time flushing each water fountain every day, and many other school system and health department employees [who] are involved in reviewing and approving results,� according to the announcement. Lead is growing problem � drinking water expertBLACKSBURG, VA, November 5, 2007 (Water Tech) � Lead in drinking water is a growing problem across the United States, says Marc Edwards, an expert in drinking water safety who recently was interviewed by Earth & Sky Radio. Edwards, a civil engineering professor at Virginia Tech and a MacArthur Fellow for 2007, said Americans most likely take safe drinking water for granted, but that they should not, noting that aging water-delivery infrastructure contributes to lead levels in tap water. Edwards said it would cost $1 trillion to completely correct infrastructure problems related to the more than 5 million lead pipes in the US water infrastructure. He noted that over time, lead corrodes and leaches into the water, with the attendant possibility of the lead affecting children's neurological development, the report said. Although there are no laws that require lead testing at the tap or replacement of plumbing, Edwards said that homeowners can take the first step themselves. �There are simple measures we can take that are very inexpensive to mitigate this problem. For example, installing filters where the water comes out,� he told Earth & Sky Radio, referring to point-of-use treatment technology. Lead levels in Pittsburgh-area water examinedPITTSBURGH, November 1, 2007 (Water Tech) � WPXI�s Channel 11 news reported October 31 that after an examination of water quality reports from Pittsburgh-area water utilities, the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority has the highest amount of lead in its drinking water of those companies. The study, carried out by Channel 11 and not considered scientific, looked at only lead levels found in Pittsburgh-area drinking water. The US Environmental Protection Agency sets the maximum allowable limit for lead in drinking water at 15 parts per billion (ppb). Drinking water from the Pittsburgh Water Authority had a lead level of 9.5 ppb, the report said. �Boston Tea Party� over bottled water tax CHICAGO, October 30, 2007 (Water Tech) � A modern Boston Tea Party, using bottled water and less raucous than the original, took place here on October 29, as Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. and two Cook County commissioners threw bottled water into the Chicago River in a symbolic protest. According to an October 29 Chicago Business story, Jackson and Commissioners Forrest Claypool and Larry Suffredin were protesting the recent proposed tax increase on bottled water. As reported by WaterTech Online�, Mayor Richard Daley has proposed a 10-cent tax on bottled water as part of his $5.4 billion 2008 budget presented to the city council on October 10. San Diego�s recycled water program nudges forwardSAN DIEGO, October 30, 2007 (Water Tech) � Officials here on October 29 voted 5-2 for the city to begin a pilot program of its hotly debated recycled water project, which will create potable water from treated wastewater, according to an October 30 article in the San Diego Union-Tribune. The San Diego City Council�s action calls for Mayor Jerry Sanders, who opposes the project, to launch a one-year pilot program by June 2008, first updating the council on progress by January. It also directs the mayor to examine the implications of proposals to boost the city�s water supply and to begin a series of informational community forums in January. The program, deemed �toilet-to-tap� by detractors and �reservoir augmentation� by proponents, could cost the city up to $10 million, Water Department Director Jim Barrett told the council, the article said. He noted his budget does not contain funding for the program and warned that ratepayers would bear the expense. He also said it would be nearly impossible to begin the pilot project in 2008 because the department has yet to design or plan it. Fred Sainz, the mayor�s spokesman told the Union-Tribune that Sanders will veto the plan. If the council overrides the mayor�s veto with a simple majority vote, Sainz said the mayor will use �the bully pulpit� to oppose the consumption of recycled water. FL city given 90 days to outline corrective action WEST PALM BEACH, FL, October 30, 2007 (Water Tech) � This city now is under a mandate from the West Palm Beach County Health Department to hire independent experts to assess and repair its water treatment plant, according to an October 30 Palm Beach Post article. A recent fecal bacteria contamination problem, which resulted in a 10-day boil-water order that was lifted October 7, prompted the action. The county�s letter to the city lists possible water-quality violations and calls for the experts to complete a �comprehensive correction program� within 90 days. Some of the cited problems are unrelated to the recent contamination incident, the article said. Dr. Jean Malecki, director of the county Health Department, said in the article, �It has reached a critical juncture and something has to be done immediately.� EPA lodges civil complaint against AZ water co. SAN FRANCISCO, October 31, 2007 (Water Tech) � The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced in an October 30 press release that it lodged a civil complaint seeking a $27,500 fine against Wittmann, AZ-based American Realty & Mortgage Co., alleging the public water company repeatedly disregarded an order to monitor its drinking water supply for lead, copper, and nitrates. The EPA release states, �Monitoring is a key component of ensuring water quality for the company�s 50 Pinal County residents, and failing to do so violates the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Children are particularly susceptible to the adverse health effects of lead and nitrate in drinking water.� EPA notified the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), state agencies that have authorities over water utilities, of the water company�s drinking water violations. The ACC recently placed this system in receivership. Global Resources, the interim operator, is presently running the water system. The EPA release said that American Realty and Mortgage also failed to notify customers about its failure to monitor for lead, copper and nitrates, and of excessive levels of nitrate in the water.
Vote in IA city on perchlorate treatment HILLS, IA, October 29, 2007 (Water Tech) � Residents in this Johnson County city just south of Iowa City are set to vote in November on whether they want the city to move forward on a new $3 million municipal drinking water system as part of a US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandate to protect owners of perchlorate-contaminated wells, according to an October 27 Press-Citizen article. In 2001, the EPA found the perchlorate contamination in wells that draw water from a shallow aquifer. In 2006, the EPA ordered the city to establish a water system for homes with contaminated wells and for homes that could be affected in the future, the article said. Hills Mayor Russ Bailey said in the article, �We have a safe drinking water problem in our city. � For the people with short wells, we as a community need to help.� Not all residents are in favor of the proposed water system development. One resident, Steven Cook, said in the article that he doesn�t like the plan because he�s already financed the installation of his own deep well. The proposed citywide system would cost residents about $50 per month in addition to their current $61.50 quarterly sewer and garbage bill, the article said. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Perchlorate.
Viruses found in six Madison, WI, city wells MADISON, WI, October 29, 2007 (Water Tech) � Low levels of two human viruses have been found in more than half of city drinking water wells recently tested, according to an October 27 Madison State Journal article. Mark Borchardt, who conducted similar well sampling here in 2003, reported that he found either enteroviruses, which can cause gastrointestinal illnesses, or adenoviruses, which can cause respiratory illness, in six of 11 wells sampled in September. Borchardt, a scientist at the Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation in Marshfield, WI, and a specialist in drinking water microbiology, is conducting the research through a grant from the state Department of Natural Resources. Borchardt said in the article that the viruses were found in low levels and in untreated well water. �My guess is that there is no health risk unless there is a chlorination failure,� he said. Chlorination problems recently have plagued the Madison Water Utility. In 2006, a city well was left untreated for six weeks, and twice this year water was not adequately disinfected, as reported by WaterTech Online�. NY towns frustrated with no word from EPA SARATOGA COUNTY, NY, October 25, 2007 (Water Tech) � Town of Waterford Supervisor John Lawler told The Saratogian newspaper that he has been hearing the same thing for the last 18 months from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding his request for General Electric Co. (GE) to pay for an alternate drinking water supply for the neighboring towns of Waterford and Halfmoon. The EPA is still negotiating with GE. If at a November 15 public hearing the EPA does not order GE to pay, Lawler said in the article, the towns will begin litigation in federal court. Saratoga County has provided $100,000 to support a legal action by the towns. The towns, part of Albany's northern suburbs, are downstream from an EPA-ordered polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) dredging project in the Hudson River that is set to begin in 2009. The PCBs, considered a human carcinogen, entered the river decades ago from at least two GE plants. Waterford and Halfmoon have used treated Hudson River water for drinking, but are now concerned about the PCB dredging program's potential effect on that supply. GE and EPA have already agreed on a clean-up program. MD county bans bottled water purchasesFREDERICK, MD, October 25, 2007 (Water Tech) � Frederick County Commissioner Kai Hagen announced to those in attendance at a recent county commission meeting that the county now favors the use of tap water over bottled water during its meetings, according to an October 26 article in The Frederick News-Post. The policy, part of the county�s wider �green� initiative to reduce waste generation, calls for all county offices to eliminate bottled water and Styrofoam cup purchases. County commissioners also are working to increase awareness regarding recycling and the impact other disposal products have on the county landfill. County Manager Ron Hart said in the article, �One of the big issues right now is the going �green� concept, and, in my opinion, this is going to go a long way to eliminate waste generation at the county�s landfill.� County needs billions for its water systems OAKLAND COUNTY, MI, October 24, 2007 (Water Tech) � A $2 million study concluded that this county�s 61 communities will have to spend up to $9.9 billion on water system improvements over the next 30 years, the Daily Tribune reported on October 24. The two-year study released October 24 is meant to serve as a guide, according to County Drain Commissioner John P. McCulloch. The Water and Wastewater Master Plan also said that 19 communities will need brand-new or expanded water systems. The plan suggests exploring alternative water sources and says that community wells are a cost-effective idea. The plan also suggests looking to developing or expanding wastewater treatment plants and adding water storage facilities.
Poultry vaccine plant source of TCE contamination MILLSBORO, DE, October 22, 2007 (Water Tech) � The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) recently released a report that said trichloroethylene (TCE) is to blame for contaminating the water supply here and in nearby Dagsboro in 2005, according to an October 18 Cape Gazette article. The report, based on an investigation from December 2005 to May 2006, said the source of the TCE was a poultry vaccine manufacturing plant that closed in 1999. According to the report, TCE also is hovering above Millsboro in a 1,500-foot long, 300-foot wide cloud. In October 2005, high levels of TCE were found in water samples taken from a Boys and Girls Club in Dagsboro, which receives its water from Millsboro. The Millsboro and Dagsboro public water systems were taken offline, and carbon filters were installed. Levels of the chemical in subsequent water samples were within acceptable limits and the water ban was lifted, the article said. Beavers threaten MA town�s waterHOLLISTON, MA, October 19, 2007 (Water Tech) � This town�s water department wants to trap and kill beavers that are threatening the water supply after non-lethal removal attempts were unsuccessful, an October 18 MetroWest Daily News story said. The beavers are threatening the drinking water that comes from a town well. In March, two residents complained of beaver-related floods in their yards. The water department and the Board of Health monitored the well starting in the spring and noticed in late summer that the beaver pond had not receded from the well. The Board of Health hired Beaver Solutions, a company that removes beavers in non-harmful ways, but the company was unsuccessful. Marielle Stone, chief of the Department of Environmental Protection�s Drinking Water Program/Bureau of Resource Protection, wrote in a letter to the town, �The presence of muskrats or beavers within 400 feet of a public water supply well creates a potential threat to public health. Both animals have commonly been identified as carriers of Giardia Lamblia and Cryptosporidium.� Stone advised town Superintendent Ron Sharpin to work with the Board of Health and Conservation Commission to get rid of the beavers and lower the water levels. Ontario town bans bottled water in its facilitiesBLUE MOUNTAIN, ONTARIO, October 19, 2007 (Water Tech) � This town council has banned the consumption of bottled water in town buildings, an October 21 Bayshore Broadcasting story reported. Mayor Ellen Anderson said in the story that she�s trying to �lead by example� by encouraging the consumption of tap water in this resort community on Georgian Bay. Anderson said she is against supporting businesses that take water away from aquifers that is shipped and then sold in other areas. The mayor said the initiative will help with recycling and waste management overhead.
Troubled Waters � 2007 ReportOctober 18, 2007 marks the 35th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, a landmark law intended to restore and maintain the physical, chemical and biological integrity of the nation�s waters. In passing the Clean Water Act, Congress set the goals of eliminating the discharge of pollutants into the nation�s waterways by 1985 and making all U.S. waterways fishable and swimmable by 1983. Although we have made significant progress in improving water quality since the passage of the Clean Water Act, we are far from realizing the Act�s original vision. Thousands of facilities continue to exceed their Clean Water Act permits.
These facilities often exceed their permits more than once and for more than one pollutant.
These facilities often exceed their permits egregiously.
Wastewater �label� lists salt to toilet paper SYRACUSE, UT, October 15, 2007 (Water Tech) � Labels on water samples handed out during tours of the North Davis Sewer District facility list everything from water and fecal matter to industrial chemicals and laundry soap. The labels on the tour samples prompt people to think about what they put down their drains, according to an October 15 story in the Deseret Morning News. Sewer district manager Kevin Cowan, who hands out bottles of the water during facility tours, said the labels are all in good fun and designed to make people think about water quality. Syracuse is about 25 miles north of Salt Lake City. Cowan said in the story, �We make [visitors] think it is the treatment product. But it�s also a lesson about our environment ... [about] being more conscious about what goes down the drain.� Ingredients listed on the label include water, fecal matter, toilet paper, hair, lint, rancid grease, stomach acid and trace amounts of Pepto Bismol, chocolate, urine, body oils, dead skin, industrial chemicals (aluminum, copper, zinc, lead, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, selenium, silver arsenic, mercury) ammonia, laundry soap, bath soap, shaving cream, sweat, saliva, salt and sugar. The label says the water was originally all-natural sewage collected through reinforced concrete sewer lines in the high mountain valleys. It says the water was treated with screening, grit removal, sedimentation/flotation, biological oxidation, solids contact conditioning, and chlorine, and that 94 percent of biodegradable pollutants were removed. It also says the water contains no artificial colors or preservatives and that variations in taste and/or color can occur due to �holidays, predominant cuisine preference, infiltration/inflow, or sewer cross-connections.� Lead problems plague Toronto schools TORONTO, October 12, 2007 (Water Tech) � Five public schools here have elevated levels of lead in their drinking water, causing water fountains to be turned off and warnings to be issued, according to local reports. Recent samples from the schools show that lead levels in the water exceed the maximum allowable amount in Ontario Ministry of the Environment standards, which were revised in June to 10 micrograms per liter, according to an October 12 article in The Globe and Mail. The schools, Blythewood Junior, HA Halbert Junior, Bliss Carmen Senior, Charles Gordon Senior and Victoria Park Collegiate, are supplying students and staff with bottled water until samples come back within allowable limits and the source is determined. Kelly Baker, communications coordinator of the Toronto District School Board, said in an October 11 Toronto Community News report, �These five schools are still being tested regularly.� She noted that there have been no reports of illness related to the elevated lead levels in drinking water in the schools. The new Ministry of Environment regulations require all schools to flush their water supplies at least once weekly and any school with plumbing installed before 1990 is to perform daily flushing. Arsenic water leads to $400M lawsuit against county MERCED COUNTY, CA, October 12, 2007 (Water Tech) � Merced County employees who worked or work at the John Latorraca Correctional Facility are suing the county for $400 million as a result of arsenic being found in the facility's drinking water, an October 12 Modesto Bee story reported. Attorney Barry Bennett said the county failed to act after knowing the drinking water at its jail and juvenile hall was contaminated. Bennett said employees may have consumed food made with the contaminated water. According to Bennett, county employees have gotten sick with symptoms attributed to arsenic consumption. Arsenic exceeding federal guidelines was detected in three wells in May and August. A violation was issued to the Department of Public Works on September 24 by the Division of Environmental Health. In response, the county provided bottled water to employees and inmates. The lawsuit alleges that county officials knew in 2004 about high arsenic levels in the facility�s water and failed to notify employees. Mark Hendrickson, a county spokesman, said the county has �vigorously� denied the charge and that in 2004 the wells did not exceed allowable arsenic levels, according to the story. Hendrickson said in the story, �I think it is important to note that this situation is not unique to Merced County, and there are a number of communities throughout the San Joaquin Valley that are dealing with this naturally occurring element.� Hendrickson said the county is working on implementing a water treatment system at the correctional facility over the next six months. The jail is currently being supplied with water from a well with the least amount of arsenic. The well has an arsenic level of 13.5 parts per billion (ppb). Two other wells at the facility have arsenic levels of 45.7 ppb and 37.8 ppb. In January 2006, the Environmental Protection Administration lowered the maximum contaminant level for arsenic in public water supplies from 50 ppb to 10 ppb. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP880 Series has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Arsenic V. Revised lead rule means more info for consumersDENVER, October 11, 2007 (Water Tech) � As the federal government�s revised Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) for drinking water was published October 10 in the Federal Register, the nation�s water utilities were reminded the same day by their trade group that the revised rule �will encourage more awareness� of the importance of utilities communicating effectively about lead with the water-using public. American Water Works Association (AWWA) Executive Director Jack W. Hoffbuhr said in a statement that the revised LCR ensures that water utilities will discuss lead in their annual consumer confidence reports, that all persons whose tap water has been sampled for lead will get the results of those tests, and that coordination between utilities and public health agencies will improve in those cases where lead maximums have been exceeded. �While lead is rarely present in water leaving treatment plants or traveling through distribution systems, it can leach into drinking water from lead plumbing, solders and fixtures,� Hoffbuhr said. �That means both the utility and the consumer have important roles to play in assuring the water remains safe for drinking.� Chicago mayor calls for 10-cent bottled water taxCHICAGO, October 11, 2007 (Water Tech) � Mayor Richard Daley is officially proposing a 10-cent tax on bottled water as part of his $5.4 billion 2008 budget presented to the city council on October 10, a recent cbs2chicago story said. "I've decided, reluctantly, that, as our last resort, we must ask taxpayers for more," Daley said in the story. One resident, Lauren Hurley, said in the story, �I�ll try to drink more tap water, try to cut down on a lot of other things. What I can do is what all I can do.� An October 10 Chicago Tribune quoted Alderman George Cardenas (12th), who campaigned for a bottled-water tax in August, as saying, �Money-wise, it�s a good idea, and environmentally, it�s a good idea � People get upset when they hear the word tax. There�s no tax on water. There�s a tax on the plastic. [Tap] water is practically free.� Some are unhappy with the Mayor�s proposal. David Vite, president of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, said in the story, �It�s the wrong tax, because here we are doing everything possible to [prevent] illnesses and obesity, and discouraging people from drinking water through a tax is not the best thing to do for their health and lifestyle.� Multi-Pure Commentary: This topic is great for starting a conversation with people about how they can save money by purchasing a Multi-Pure Drinking Water System. At only 8� gallon, Multi-Pure is much more cost effective than bottled water. Multi-Pure is the better way to healthier drinking water. Study finds no effect from low-level perchlorate NEW YORK, October 5, 2007 (Water Tech) � A new study has found that low levels of exposure to perchlorate have no effect on the thyroid function of women in early pregnancy, an October 5 report on Newswise said. The study will be presented October 6 to the annual meeting of the American Thyroid Association, a society of physicians and scientists who specialize in the research and treatment of thyroid diseases, Newswise said. The study�s lead author is Dr. Elizabeth N. Pearce, assistant professor of medicine at the Boston University School of Medicine. The impairment of thyroid functioning in expectant mothers can impair neurological development in the fetus and newborn, and it has been thought that perchlorate decreases the entry of iodine into the thyroid gland, the report said. Adequate iodine intake is essential for proper functioning of the gland. California recently set a maximum upper limit of 6 micrograms per liter of perchlorate in drinking water, although the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has not yet decided whether there should be a federal limit. Perchlorate is a chemical component of rocket fuel and fireworks, and has been found in some groundwater. Dr. Pearce was quoted in the Newswise report as saying, �In a large study of first-trimester pregnant women, which is a potentially vulnerable population, we found no effect of environmental perchlorate exposure on thyroid function, even though the amount of perchlorate in the urine was similar to that found in the US population and about 70 percent of the women were thyroid-deficient.� The study involved 396 women in Europe during their first trimester of pregnancy, and suggests that concerns based on some other studies � those showing changes in thyroid function due to similar low-level perchlorate intake � may not be justified. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Perchlorate. PA county to do chloramine switch CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PA, October 4, 2007 (Water Tech) � Despite some residents� opposition, the Pennsylvania American Water Co. (PAWC) plans to go ahead and add chloramine to the water supply for its 35,000 customers, The Sentinel of Carlisle, PA, reported October 4. PAWC had planned to switch from using chlorine on August 12, but commissioners from the Hampden township unanimously voted to delay the switch until more information on the disinfectant was presented. Some residents claimed that chloramine produces more dangerous disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in water than chlorine, although the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recommended use of chloramine as a chlorine replacement, to reduce DBPs. John Repetz, a spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), said his department says that chlorine is less safe than chloramines because chlorine dissipates into the air much faster, the Sentinel reported. PAWC spokeswoman Joi Corrado said that her company is aware of the recent chloramine studies and said the chloraminated water will not cause adverse health effects. Small AZ cos. under EPA gun in DBP monitoringSAN FRANCISCO, October 3, 2007 (Water Tech) � The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said in an October 2 press release that two small Arizona water companies in violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act are under order to submit to EPA a plan for monitoring disinfection byproducts (DBPs). According to the EPA, the 220-customer South Mountain Water Co. and the 80-customer Signal Peak Water Co., which both serve customers in Pinal County, AZ, each failed to submit a plan detailing how they will monitor and sample for DBPs. The two systems were required to submit their monitoring plans by April 1. If either water company fails to comply with the order, it could face fines of up to $32,500 per day. EPA said it regulates the concentrations of DBPs such as trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids, bromate and chlorite, which can be produced when disinfectants are used in water treatment and react with natural organic matter. Arsenic forces Alaskan city to drill two wellsKENAI, AK, October 3, 2007 (Water Tech) � Naturally occurring arsenic has contaminated two municipal wells here, and the city has given the go-ahead to drill two new wells in October in an area that tests cleaner, according to an October 2 Anchorage Daily News article. The city�s wells have tested above the federal maximum contaminant level for arsenic of 10 parts per billion (ppb, or micrograms per liter), with readings at 15 ppb. The new wells will cost between $65,000 and $90,000 each, the article said. The city�s well woes are not unique: According to data from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), 25 regulated public systems � those serving 25 residences or more � statewide have tested above the federal standards for arsenic. Susan Bulkow, a regional drinking water program coordinator for the Alaska DEC, said in the article, �Anyone with a well on the Kenai Peninsula has the potential to have arsenic in the water.� At the Paradisos Restaurant in Kenai, restaurant manager Yana Pitsilionis said of the water, �It looks bad. It tastes bad. It�s embarrassing.� Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP880 Series has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Arsenic V. Roadkill dumped in ravine could be threatening CA supplySARATOGA, CA, October 1, 2007 (Water Tech) � For more than 10 years, California Dept of Transportation (Caltrans) workers have been dumping roadkill into a ravine on the San Jose Water Co. property, despite a �No Littering� sign, and now the company is worried the water supply is vulnerable. According to a September 29 Mercury News story, thousands of deer, raccoon and other carcasses were dumped over a cliff onto the property. Many of the carcasses and skeletons ended up in Saratoga Creek as a result. John Tang, a spokesman for the company, which supplies water to more than 1 million people, said in the story, �This is an important issue. It could have an impact on the water supply.� A Caltrans spokeswoman said the agency was notified about the roadkill dumpings by a KPIX television reporter on September 27. Residents have been saying that the Saratoga creek is cloudy and foamy. John Cherbone, Saratoga�s public works director, said the creek has tested for high levels of fecal matter in the past. Cherbone said in the story, �At this point, we don�t know if carcasses of dead animals or whatever have any connection to what we�ve been looking at. But we�ll certainly be looking at that moving forward.� $1M fine for contaminating MD groundwater GAMBRILLS, MD, October 1, 2007 (Water Tech) � The Maryland Department of the Environment fined Constellation Energy and the operator of its fly ash dump site here $1 million on October 1 for contaminating drinking water, according to an October 2 article in the Baltimore Sun. As part of the penalty, the power company and dump owner BBSS Inc. are required to clean up the contaminated groundwater, which has seeped into private wells. Constellation, which temporarily connected six homes to the Anne Arundel County public water system, will provide permanent hookups for 40 homes with potentially contaminated wells. State records show that there was the potential for contamination at the Gambrills dump site as early as 1998. In October 2006 the county launched a 10-month investigation into the extent of the pollution and found 23 of 83 private wells tested contaminated with components of fly ash, the article said. Californians speak out on water crisisSAN DIEGO, September 28, 2007 (Water Tech) � Two new polls, one statewide and one in the San Diego area, have now tallied residents' opinions about California's water crisis and what to do about it, and the results should give the state's political and water agency leaders plenty of food for thought. In one poll, conducted by Competitive Edge Research, San Diegans were asked about the potential of a water shortage and what conservation efforts they�ve taken. They also were quizzed on whether using treated recycled water was a good option for dealing with shortages, according to a September 27 KPBS report. Water recycling was respondents� least favorite option, when given a choice of using desalination, mandatory rationing or water recycling to deal with shortages. John Nienstedt of Competitive Edge Research told KPBS that a significant number of respondents, after receiving more information about water recycling, were willing to change their minds. The �toilet to tap� issue is hot right now in San Diego; the city�s mayor is against it while the city�s attorney is for it. Chloramine switch draws Vermonters� ireCHITTENDEN COUNTY, VT, September 27, 2007 (Water Tech) � Several residents here complained to state leaders and federal health officials on September 26 about rashes, lesions, and burning, itchy eyes they suffered after the Champlain Water District (CWD) switched from using chlorine to chloramine, a September 26 WCAX-TV story said. People Concerned about Chloramine (PCAC), a group of residents served by the CWD, was formed by Ellen Powell, a South Burlington resident. She said she experienced health problems when the CWD in 2006 switched from chlorine to chloramine as a way to reduce production of disinfectant by-products (DBP) that can occur in standard chlorination. Powell said in the story, �We have at least 50 people who have removed themselves from exposure to the water and their symptoms went away.� According to a story in the Burlington Free Press, residents criticized the Vermont Health Department for defending the use of chloramine while representatives from the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) listened. PCAC is not alone in its quest to quell chloramine use. Residents of Palo Alto, CA, were scheduled to meet with EPA officials in September and one group in Hampden Township, PA, successfully delayed its town�s switch to chloramine. Benzene contaminates WY well, threatens others CLARK, WY, September 26, 2007 (Water Tech) � A natural gas well blowout here in 2006 is to blame for the high levels of benzene recently detected in a private drinking water well adjacent to the blowout site, according to a September 26 Billings Gazette article. The well�s benzene levels are seven times higher than the maximum amount allowed by federal drinking water quality standards, the article said. Windsor Energy�s Crosby 25-3 well experienced a blowout that lasted 58 hours in August 2006. It caused the benzene-tainted groundwater plume that now threatens other residential wells. The state Department of Environmental Quality is overseeing the company�s voluntary cleanup efforts, which include monitoring tests to be performed more than quarterly and active remediation to begin in April 2009. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Benzene, a VOC.
EPA revises rule on lead in drinking water WASHINGTON, September 26, 2007 (Water Tech) � The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing seven targeted regulatory changes to the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR) for lead and copper, known as the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR or 1991 Rule), according to a September 26 EPA press release. Monitoring, treatment processes, public education, customer awareness and lead service line replacement are among the changes designed to provide greater protection of public health by reducing exposure to lead in drinking water, EPA said. Through the revisions, water suppliers will be required to provide consumers with information to help them make decisions about how to limit their exposure to lead in drinking water. EPA, which published its signed notice of the revisions on September 25, said the revisions will take effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. CA city considers �homegrown� water supply SAN JOSE, CA, September 25, 2007 (Water Tech) � City officials here were set to meet on September 25 with the Santa Clara Valley Water District to discuss the potential of expanding delivery of the city�s recycled water to faucets, according to a September 25 article in The Mercury News. San Jose has used recycled water for non-potable uses for a decade. The �toilet-to-tap� proposal is being led by the San Jose South Bay Water Recycling Project, a water reclamation program established under federal and state auspices to re-establish salinity levels of the saltwater marsh in the southern tip of San Francisco Bay. �This is a homegrown resource. It is the most reliable supply you can have,� the project�s division manager, Eric Rosenblum, said in the article. The plan calls for treated recycled water to be blended into existing stream and groundwater aquifers. Linda Sheehan, executive director of the California Coastkeeper Alliance, based in Fremont, CA, said in the article, �Recycled water is going to be a critical component of California�s water future.� She noted that recycled water used for drinking will need to be rigorously tested for both traditional contaminants, such as bacteria, and emerging contaminants, such as trace amounts of pharmaceuticals and hormones. CA�s new perchlorate rule takes effect Oct. 19 SAN BERNARDINO, CA, September 24, 2007 (Water Tech) � A new statewide standard for perchlorate in drinking water was made official on September 19 when the law was signed by California Secretary of State Debra Bowen, a September 21 Press-Enterprise story said. The rule sets the standard for perchlorate at 6 parts per billion, or 6 micrograms per liter. Perchlorate has contaminated dozens of wells in the Inland Empire, a region of California east of Los Angeles, according to the story. The regulation also requires that customers are warned of the possible health hazards related to the consumption of the chemical, which has been used to manufacture rocket fuel and fireworks. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Perchlorate. Contaminated water qualifies some for SuperfundWASHINGTON, September 20, 2007 (Water Tech) � The US Environmental Protection Agency announced in a September 19 press release that seven new hazardous waste sites have been added to the National Priorities List (NPL) for investigation and cleanup, and some of the sites are deemed a threat to drinking water supplies. The list sets priorities under the federal Superfund program that addresses complex uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites in the United States. Contaminants found at the final and proposed sites include arsenic, barium, benzene, beryllium, cadmium, cesium-137, chromium, copper, 1,1-dichloroethane, dioxins, lead, mercury, naphthalene, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans silver, tetrachloroethene (PCE), thorium-230, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, trichloroethene (TCE), zinc and other metals, the release said. EPA also is proposing to add 12 other sites to the list. Some of the new NPL and proposed NPL sites have groundwater and surface water contamination that pose a threat to drinking water supplies. The Five Points PCE Plume Site near Woods Cross City, UT, which was added to the list, consists of a groundwater plume of PCE that is threatening four municipal wells. The San German Ground Water Contamination site in Puerto Rico, which EPA proposes to add to the list, consists of seven public drinking water wells that are contaminated with PCE and TCE. The addition of one site, the Hidden Lane Landfill in Sterling, VA, to the proposed list has local residents concerned. ABC 7 News reported on September 19 that some residents living near the site are relying on residential water treatment devices to remove any potentially harmful contaminants. KY wastewater vs. OH drinking water CINCINNATI, September 14, 2007 � A water war pitting wastewater treatment effluent against drinking water is taking place between utilities in Kentucky and Ohio. Sanitation District No. 1, which treats wastewater and rain overflow for 33 communities in several counties of northern Kentucky, wants to open a new wastewater treatment plant in Alexandria, KY, located near the border of Ohio and the metropolitan area of Cincinnati, according to a September 13 9News report. The effluent from the new plant will be discharged into the Brush Creek in Alexandria, which is connected to the Ohio River, a source of drinking water used by the Cincinnati Water Works. The Cincinnati Water Works, which supplies drinking water for several counties in Ohio and one in Kentucky, is objecting to the plant�s opening, citing that potentially hazardous waste could flow into the Ohio River, the article said. Cincinnati Water Works� Dan Schleuter said in the report, �We�re concerned very much about contaminants, like bacteria and viruses, pharmaceuticals and chemicals, that disrupt the endocrine system. All of them aren�t good to drink.� The Sanitation District, which will use ultraviolet light at the plant to disinfect the sewage, has refused a $9 million offer from the Cincinnati Water Works to reroute the plant�s discharge pipes so that the effluent would not enter the Ohio River. Private wells near Lake Tahoe contaminated SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA, September 14, 2007 � Private wells in a subdivision near Lake Tahoe�s South Shore are contaminated, but the groundwater contamination is localized, according to a September 14 Tahoe Daily Tribune article. Contamination includes excess levels of tetrachloroethylene (TCE), and methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE). Freon and chloroform also were found, but within acceptable levels. Chuck Curtis, supervising engineer for the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, said in the article, �We're relieved that the contamination appears to [be] limited to a small area of the Tahoe Meadows subdivision, and only a few residences were affected.� He also said that some contaminants may have reached Lake Tahoe, but they would not have �any measurable effect.� The source of the contaminants is not known, but a former dry cleaner is being considered a likely potential source. �Cocktail of metals� in MD woman�s water GAMBRILLS, MD, September 13, 2007 � For eight years, Irene Carr drank water contaminated with cadmium and thallium, and now Constellation Energy, an energy supplier, is providing her and her neighbors with a weekly delivery of bottled water, a September 12 story in The Capital reported. In October 2006, the county Health Department took water samples from 82 wells including Carr�s. Carr�s well contained cadmium levels three times over the Environmental Protection Agency�s (EPA) allowable level of 5 parts per billion (ppb), according to the EPA Web site. Tests also showed her well contained thallium two times over the allowed EPA level of 0.5 ppb. Twenty-two other wells tested had �a cocktail of metals,� according to the The Capital. According to the story, the health department�s investigation came years after tests by Constellation confirmed the presence of heavy metals. In 1999, Constellation told the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) that fly ash, a coal-burning byproduct which contains arsenic, manganese, nickel, aluminum and sulfate, may be getting into the groundwater. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Cadmium. Water and the environment: A laughing matter?COLLEGE PARK, MD, September 13, 2007 � The University of Maryland, which recently replaced its bottled water offerings with triple-filtered tap water in its campus dining rooms, is using a Cathy comic strip to encourage students to break their bottled water habit. Students have free access to the filtered-water stations. While there, they�ll find a copy of Cathy Guisewite�s August 19 comic strip posted with permission. In the comic strip, Cathy is reading a health-oriented magazine, enjoying her beverage of �zero calories�: water. As she reads recently published statistics on the environmental costs of bottled water, she experiences �water guilt� and exclaims, �I want tap water.� Joe Mullineaux, associate director of dining services at the university, said the comic strip is the perfect visual aid to accompany the university�s efforts toward green dining. �Poor records� led to CA recycled water fiascoCHULA VISTA, CA, September 5, 2007 (Water Tech) � Mistakes made by an Otay Water District inspector and others are highlighted in a district report concerning an Eastlake-area business park that for two years received treated sewage water through pipes intended for potable water only, according to a September 5 article in The San Diego Union-Tribune. For two years, 17 businesses in the Fenton Business Center unknowingly were drinking and using treated sewage water. It was after the business park�s property manager took a sample of the water to an independent lab that the error became known. The sample showed the presence of total coliform bacteria. The district�s report, presented to the Otay board on September 5, concludes that Otay inspectors did not follow regulations or missed signs that pipes weren�t properly connected during construction of the Fenton Business Center. It also reports that the engineer on the project, Irvine, CA-based Hunsaker and Associates, submitted �inaccurate, incomplete and confusing� construction plans to the district but submitted more complete plans to the city that showed the recycled water pipes, the article said. The report says that William Cooper, one of the water district inspectors working on the project should have noted the inconsistency in his inspection records and asked to see plan revisions. Cooper resigned in August 2004 after he was charged with accepting one bribe and soliciting another on Chula Vista residential projects, according to the article. Resin change may control copper levels DEXTER, MI, September 6, 2007 (Water Tech) � Too much copper was found in the tap water at a local high school here, and while point-of-entry treatment efforts are helping to lower the levels, they�re still not within federal limits, according to a September 5 article in The Ann Arbor News. The most recent test results show the level of copper has dropped considerably since it was first detected in July, but it still is above the federal standard of 1.3 parts per million (ppm) at 1.9 ppm in some drinking fountains, the article said. Assistant Superintendent for Dexter Community Schools Mary Marshall said in the article that the copper leaches into the water through the action of bacteria in the system�s water softeners. Although the district thought it had solved the problem over the summer by installing a chlorine dioxide system, it did not completely resolve the issue, Marshall said in the article. The district also replaced the resin in the water softeners, Marshall said, because the bacteria that are causing the problem may have accumulated in the old resin. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Copper.
Chlorine taste and odor lingers in TX city water CORPUS CHRISTI, TX, September 7, 2007 (Water Tech) � Water here will have a chlorine taste and smell for another month as officials await the delivery of equipment that will better monitor water quality. According to a September 7 Caller-Times story, the city started using straight chlorine as a disinfectant on August 6 after the water had low disinfectant levels. Low disinfectant levels put the city on a boil-water order between July 20 and July 26 and again between August 14 and August 16. The boil-water order in August was issued after samples tested positive for E. coli. Officials thought the switch to straight chlorine disinfectant would last between 30 and 45 days, but now say it could last as long as into October. The city�s Engineering Director Angel Escobar said in the story, �Now that we�ve had that time, we want to make sure we don�t overlook anything.� Officials say the $198,000 equipment ordered will better monitor ammonia which may be the reason the disinfectant levels were so during the summer months.
Parasite is source of diarrhetic illness in seven Nevadans Cryptosporidiosis outbreaks hit four other states
LAS VEGAS, NV, September 8, 2007 (Las Vegas Review Journal) � At least seven Clark County residents have been diagnosed in recent weeks with a parasitic illness that causes diarrhea, according to the Southern Nevada Health District. The cases are enough to issue a wanting of a possible outbreak of cryptosporidiosis, also known as crypto, health officials said. The waterborne illness isn�t considered deadly and there is no known drug to treat it. However, health care providers can treat symptoms of crypto, which also include dehydration, fever, abdominal pain, and weight loss. Since Aug. 1, outbreaks have been reported in Colorado, Idaho, Iowa and Utah, health officials say. Cryptosporidiosis, a parasite, is passed in the stool of infected people and animals. People get the diarrheal illness when they swallow the parasites often found in poorly cooked food and water. The parasite is also spread person to person when an individual swallows recreational water containing the parasite such as in swimming pools, hot tubs, rivers, lakes, springs, and ponds. Symptoms usually appear one to 12 days after exposure and can last up to three weeks. Resident are being urged to practice good hygiene such as by washing hands with soap and water after using the toilet and before and after handling or eating food. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Cyst (Crypto).
$23M could solve CA city�s perchlorate problem RIALTO, CA, September 12, 2007 � This city is looking to the state for $23 million to help keep perchlorate from continuing to contaminate the drinking water, a problem that the city has been dealing with for years. The city is considering declaring the situation, in which perchlorate from former military rocket, fireworks and other explosive manufacturing facilities contaminated the groundwater, a �state of emergency.� This qualification means the city could apply for emergency funding, a September 12 DailyBulletin story said. Councilman Ed Scott said in the story, �It�s the only way we can get emergency funds from the governor. We have to do it.� On August 29, city council members met with state officials, including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger�s Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Dunmoyer, who was first to suggest the city consider calling the situation a state of emergency. The money would go toward stopping the perchlorate from continuing to contaminate the groundwater and would be spent on helping the city to determine the scope of the contamination. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Perchlorate. $23M could solve CA city�s perchlorate problem RIALTO, CA, September 12, 2007 � This city is looking to the state for $23 million to help keep perchlorate from continuing to contaminate the drinking water, a problem that the city has been dealing with for years. The city is considering declaring the situation, in which perchlorate from former military rocket, fireworks and other explosive manufacturing facilities contaminated the groundwater, a �state of emergency.� This qualification means the city could apply for emergency funding, a September 12 DailyBulletin story said. Councilman Ed Scott said in the story, �It�s the only way we can get emergency funds from the governor. We have to do it.� On August 29, city council members met with state officials, including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger�s Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Dunmoyer, who was first to suggest the city consider calling the situation a state of emergency. The money would go toward stopping the perchlorate from continuing to contaminate the groundwater and would be spent on helping the city to determine the scope of the contamination. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Perchlorate.
Parasite is source of diarrhetic illness in seven Nevadans Cryptosporidiosis outbreaks hit four other states
LAS VEGAS, NV, September 8, 2007 (Las Vegas Review Journal) � At least seven Clark County residents have been diagnosed in recent weeks with a parasitic illness that causes diarrhea, according to the Southern Nevada Health District. The cases are enough to issue a wanting of a possible outbreak of cryptosporidiosis, also known as crypto, health officials said. The waterborne illness isn�t considered deadly and there is no known drug to treat it. However, health care providers can treat symptoms of crypto, which also include dehydration, fever, abdominal pain, and weight loss. Since Aug. 1, outbreaks have been reported in Colorado, Idaho, Iowa and Utah, health officials say. Cryptosporidiosis, a parasite, is passed in the stool of infected people and animals. People get the diarrheal illness when they swallow the parasites often found in poorly cooked food and water. The parasite is also spread person to person when an individual swallows recreational water containing the parasite such as in swimming pools, hot tubs, rivers, lakes, springs, and ponds. Symptoms usually appear one to 12 days after exposure and can last up to three weeks. Resident are being urged to practice good hygiene such as by washing hands with soap and water after using the toilet and before and after handling or eating food. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Cyst (Crypto). Chlorine taste and odor lingers in TX city water CORPUS CHRISTI, TX, September 7, 2007 (Water Tech) � Water here will have a chlorine taste and smell for another month as officials await the delivery of equipment that will better monitor water quality. According to a September 7 Caller-Times story, the city started using straight chlorine as a disinfectant on August 6 after the water had low disinfectant levels. Low disinfectant levels put the city on a boil-water order between July 20 and July 26 and again between August 14 and August 16. The boil-water order in August was issued after samples tested positive for E. coli. Officials thought the switch to straight chlorine disinfectant would last between 30 and 45 days, but now say it could last as long as into October. The city�s Engineering Director Angel Escobar said in the story, �Now that we�ve had that time, we want to make sure we don�t overlook anything.� Officials say the $198,000 equipment ordered will better monitor ammonia which may be the reason the disinfectant levels were so during the summer months. Resin change may control copper levels DEXTER, MI, September 6, 2007 (Water Tech) � Too much copper was found in the tap water at a local high school here, and while point-of-entry treatment efforts are helping to lower the levels, they�re still not within federal limits, according to a September 5 article in The Ann Arbor News. The most recent test results show the level of copper has dropped considerably since it was first detected in July, but it still is above the federal standard of 1.3 parts per million (ppm) at 1.9 ppm in some drinking fountains, the article said. Assistant Superintendent for Dexter Community Schools Mary Marshall said in the article that the copper leaches into the water through the action of bacteria in the system�s water softeners. Although the district thought it had solved the problem over the summer by installing a chlorine dioxide system, it did not completely resolve the issue, Marshall said in the article. The district also replaced the resin in the water softeners, Marshall said, because the bacteria that are causing the problem may have accumulated in the old resin. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Copper. �Poor records� led to CA recycled water fiascoCHULA VISTA, CA, September 5, 2007 (Water Tech) � Mistakes made by an Otay Water District inspector and others are highlighted in a district report concerning an Eastlake-area business park that for two years received treated sewage water through pipes intended for potable water only, according to a September 5 article in The San Diego Union-Tribune. For two years, 17 businesses in the Fenton Business Center unknowingly were drinking and using treated sewage water. It was after the business park�s property manager took a sample of the water to an independent lab that the error became known. The sample showed the presence of total coliform bacteria. The district�s report, presented to the Otay board on September 5, concludes that Otay inspectors did not follow regulations or missed signs that pipes weren�t properly connected during construction of the Fenton Business Center. It also reports that the engineer on the project, Irvine, CA-based Hunsaker and Associates, submitted �inaccurate, incomplete and confusing� construction plans to the district but submitted more complete plans to the city that showed the recycled water pipes, the article said. The report says that William Cooper, one of the water district inspectors working on the project should have noted the inconsistency in his inspection records and asked to see plan revisions. Cooper resigned in August 2004 after he was charged with accepting one bribe and soliciting another on Chula Vista residential projects, according to the article. Chloramine opponents take their case to EPA PALO ALTO, CA, August 30, 2007 (Water Tech) � Residents here who say their sensitivity to the disinfectant chloramine has caused skin rashes and respiratory problems will have an opportunity to voice their concerns to US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) representatives, according to recent Mountain View Voice article. The September 5 meeting was arranged by US Rep. Anna G. Eshoo, D-CA, in response to concerns from her California constituents in Palo Alto, Mountain View and other areas served chloramine-treated drinking water from the Hetch Hetchy water system. Eshoo said in the article, �The use of chloramine as a disinfectant in public water should be guided by sound science showing that it is both safe and effective.� Denise Johnson-Kula, president of the Menlo Park, CA-based Citizens Concerned About Chloramine, said in the article that the goal of the meeting is to start a discussion with the EPA about allowing local water agencies to opt out of chloramine use � whatever the result on byproducts in tap water. In order to meet EPA disinfection byproducts rulings, some water companies are switching from the use of chlorine to chloramine. Lead risk may be high in Ontario community WINDSOR, ONTARIO, August 28, 2007 (Water Tech) � The utilities commission here is investigating the possibility of high lead levels in the drinking water of as many as 5,000 homes. John Wladarski, Windsor Utilities Commission chief operating officer, said in an August 27 article in The Windsor Star that older homes are of greatest concern because of the likelihood of lead line hookups. The commission, on order from the provincial Ministry of Environment, began its precautionary lead testing after elevated levels of lead were found in the drinking water of London, Ontario, homes. Windsor results look good so far, with just one home testing higher than the maximum allowable level for lead, the article said. Wladarski said in the article that there are 5,000 homes of concern in Windsor; however, he could not offer specifics. The commission had allocated $20 million (US $19 million) over five years to convert its 5,000 lead service lines. Residents are obligated to pay for the conversion of lines from the property line into the residence, the article said. Treated sewage water delivered to CA tapsCHULA VISTA, CA, August 22, 2007 (Water Tech) � For two years, 17 businesses in the upscale Eastlake area of this city were drinking and using treated sewage water, according to an August 22 article in The San Diego Union-Tribune. The foul-up occurred when water service pipes to the Fenton Business Center were connected to a recycled-water line, instead of to a line that supplies drinking water only. Occupants of the businesses began complaining about the water to the Otay Water District, which supplies water to residents and businesses in southeastern San Diego County. Complaints of the water�s foul taste, odor and color were met with assurances from the district that the water was safe. The business park�s property manager took a sample of the water to an independent lab. Results came back with a caution: The sample showed the presence of total coliform bacteria, the article said. Signs were posted at all businesses warning people to avoid drinking the water, and two food-related businesses were closed by order of the county Department of Environmental Health. MA city considers river for drinking supplyHAVERHILL, MA, August 22, 2007 (Water Tech) � As this city continues to grow, it is now looking to Merrimack River as a drinking water source, an August 22 Eagle-Tribune story said. Decades ago, residents refused to even eat fish from the river, which was once considered filthy from industrial waste. One resident Arlene Wiseman said in the story, �I�ve lived in Haverhill all my life and I would not swim in the Merrimack, so I would not like to drink it.� However, officials are worried the city, which is supplied by Kenoza Lake, Millvale Reservoir, Crystal Lake and Round Pond at an average of 6.5 million gallons per day for its 60,000 users, could run dry. Contamination concerns cancel CA city fireworks NOVATO, CA, August 23, 2007 (Water Tech) � Officials here have canceled the Labor Day fireworks show after perchlorate was found in Stafford Lake, a drinking water source, following last year�s show, an August 23 Marin Independent Journal story reported. Water district officials believe the perchlorate came from an unexploded shell or shell casing. The city gets about 20 percent of its drinking water from Stafford Lake while the rest comes from the Russian River. Novato City Manager Dan Keen said in the story, �We can�t have that in our water supply, so it�s a big concern for the water district. We had discussions right after the event last year and we just didn�t have the comfort level we all wanted to have to proceed.� Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Perchlorate. Indiana BP wastewater permit causes stirCHICAGO, August 13, 2007 (Water Tech) � A permit issued by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) that allows BP America�s petroleum refinery in Whiting, IN, to release more waste into Lake Michigan has citizens and officials from several states taking action, with Chicagoans leading the way, according to an August 5 article in The Indianapolis Star. BP�s new wastewater permit will allow the company to increase its discharge of ammonia and suspended solids into Lake Michigan. Lake Michigan serves as a drinking water source for many cities, including Chicago; Milwaukee, WI; Grand Rapids, MI; Green Bay, WI; and Racine, WI. Sadhu Johnston, commissioner for Chicago�s Department of the Environment, said in The Indianapolis Star article, �We get our water from Lake Michigan. We swim in its beaches, we eat fish out of the lake. We were not approached by BP or IDEM. We are a big neighbor to the north, and I would have hoped we�d have been reached out to.� Chicago official pushes for bottled water tax CHICAGO, August 13, 2007 (Water Tech) � Alderman George Cardenas wants a tax of up to 25 cents placed on every bottle of water sold here, an August 14 CBS 2 story reported. Cardenas told CBS 2, �People enjoy jogging or driving with a bottle of water. There�s a cost associated with this behavior. You have to pay for it.� He also claims the measure would dissuade people from buying bottled water and end up helping the environment. IA city faces legal action over water quality CHARITON, IA, August 10, 2007 (Water Tech) � The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will take legal action against the Chariton Water Works over its poor drinking water quality, an August 9 Des Moines Register story said. The DNR cited the city for its �failure to conduct monitoring as directed, to accurately report operational data, and to consistently apply adequate operational strategies,� according to the story. The DNR said the city also failed to keep within the maximum allowable contaminant levels of total trihalomethanes and total haloacetic acids. A boil-water order has been issued for the city after tests taken August 5 found it has low chlorine residuals, elevated bacteria and its turbidity level is three times higher than allowed. CA city's water OK, but pesky contaminants are at taps THOUSAND OAKS, CA, August 10, 2007 (Water Tech) � Recent water quality tests here revealed that the city�s supply meets all state and federal maximum allowable contaminant levels for safe drinking water, but some concerns remain, according to an August 9 article in The Thousand Oaks Acorn. The city�s water tested within maximum allowable limits for lead and copper; however, Mark Watkins, public works director, said in the article that elevated lead and copper levels were detected in water from residential taps, suggesting the contaminants were entering the water from the final stages of residential plumbing. AwwaRF releases report on endocrine disruptors DENVER, August 10, 2007 (Water Tech) � The Awwa Research Foundation (AwwaRF) announced in an August 7 press release the publication of a new report on endocrine disrupting compounds or chemicals (EDCs), as well as pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). Endocrine disruptors, which can adversely affect the body�s hormone production, are among the �emerging contaminants� gaining the attention of state and federal drinking water regulators. The report, "Removal of EDCs and Pharmaceuticals in Drinking and Reuse Treatment Processes," is available only to subscribers of AwwaRF. The release said that additional AwwaRF studies are under way to learn more about EDCs and other emerging contaminants. AwwaRF said in the release that the research will provide water utilities and regulatory agencies with information to help them understand the issues involved to protect public health. CA small system�s under fire for water qualityTAHOE CITY, CA, August 9, 2007 (Water Tech) � Officials from the California Department of Public Health have taken issue with the quality of the water from Lake Forest Water Co., a small water company owned by Rick Dewante�s Tahoe Park Water Co., according to an August 6 Sierra Sun article. Dewante, an engineer whose company has done work for the Tahoe City Public Utility District, began supplementing water supplied to the 118 Lake Forest Water Co. customers on July 31 with unfiltered Lake Tahoe water. Dewante, who also owns two other small water companies, issued an advisory to customers. He told the Sierra Sun, �As far as the advisory, it�s not a boil-water notice. It�s short of that, just an advisory. If you want to take the precautions you can boil the water.� The state Department of Public Health has deemed the unfiltered lake water unsafe to drink because of the risk of Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Some residents have complained of gastrointestinal illness. One resident, who owns 11 properties, has supplied each of her tenants with a water filter, the article said. NH folks literally turn orange from waterWINDHAM, NH, August 8, 2007 (Water Tech) � Discolored water, increased water hardness and high nitrates: These are among the complaints from Windham, NH, residents who say water quality issues can be blamed on blasting work at a new development in their neighborhood. An August 7 article in The Eagle-Tribune reported that some residents are literally turning orange from their water, and others have completed well testing that indicates a problem with water quality. Windham residents Andre and Joanne Vignos complain that orange is affecting everything their well water touches, even the couple themselves. Andre�s toes are orange after bathing with water from their private well, and Joanne�s hair turned orange. Recent sampling of the Vignos� well indicates a level of arsenic many times over the maximum contaminant level, and iron and manganese levels substantially in excess of recommended limits, the article said. CA district scrambles to meet new perchlorate rule SAN BERNARDINO, CA, August 6, 2007 (Water Tech) � A San Bernardino-area water district could end up spending as much as $30 million to comply with new state regulations that set a limit on the amount of perchlorate allowable in public drinking water, according to an August 2 article in The Press-Enterprise. Perchlorate, a chemical component of rocket fuel and some fertilizers, can have deleterious health effects when ingested, such as disrupting thyroid function. The proposed California standard, expected to take effect in the fall, allows no more than 6 parts per billion (ppb) of perchlorate in drinking water. The East Valley Water District, which provides water for 70,000 people, has 8.6 ppb perchlorate in one well and averages slightly above the new proposed limit overall, the article said. Ron Buchwald, the district�s engineer, said in the article, �It�s a huge hit, and we are scrambling. We are looking at grants from federal and state sources, and we are definitely going to have to increase our rates.� Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Perchlorate. Clinton, others want to fire up EPA over TCE WASHINGTON, August 3, 2007 (Water Tech) � Bills have been introduced in Congress that would require the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to tighten its maximum contaminant level (MCL) drinking water standard for the degreasing chemical trichloroethylene (TCE), an August 1 Newsday article reported. The current MCL for TCE is 5 parts per billion (ppb). Benjamin Grumbles, EPA�s assistant administrator for the Office of Water, was quoted in the article as saying that his agency will review the standard and new scientific information about TCE�s health risk to determine whether the standard should be adjusted as part of EPA�s regular six-year review process. A bill that would likely accelerate EPA�s review was introduced this week in the Senate by Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), and similar legislation will be introduced in the House by Reps. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) and Hilda Solis (D-CA). Clinton�s bill would require EPA to revise its health advisory on TCE within six months of the bill becoming law, and would revise the TCE standards for drinking water and vapor intrusion with 12 months. According to the article, Clinton said that �EPA has failed to protect the public from TCE in the face of stronger scientific evidence that it causes cancer, and growing exposure problems in New York and across the country.� Clinton was quoted in the article as saying that TCE has been found in more than 30 or 86 Superfund sites across New York. Bottled water: A river of money August 2, 2007 (MSN.COM) � The largest bottled-water factory in North America is on the outskirts of Hollis, Maine. In the back of the plant stretches the staging area for finished product: 24 million bottles of Poland Spring water. As far as the eye can see, there are double-stacked pallets of half-pint bottles, half-liters, liters, "aquapods" for school lunches and 2.5-gallon jugs for refrigerators. We Americans pitch 38 billion water bottles a year into landfills -- in excess of $1 billion worth of plastic. And 24% of the bottled water we buy is tap water repackaged by Coca-Cola (KO, news, msgs) and PepsiCo (PEP, news, msgs). EPA takes actions in mountain, plains states DENVER, July 27, 2007 (Water Tech) � The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 8 has issued summaries of recent actions taken in Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota and Utah regarding the safety of drinking water systems. In Wyoming, EPA issued 22 administrative orders, one emergency administrative order and settled four complaints for penalty from June 2006 through March 2007. In Montana, in which the state has primary authority over the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), EPA issued 19 notices of violation and 16 administrative orders for the period from June 2006 to March 2007. In North Dakota, EPA issued five notices of violation from June 2006 through March 2007. In Utah, the agency issued four administrative orders and settled one penalty complaint for the period from June 2006 through March 2007. Disinfection level woes plague Texas city CORPUS CHRISTI, TX, July 26, 2007 (Water Tech) � Disinfection levels in the water system here have been a cause for concern, prompting an initial boil-water alert for this South Texas city of nearly 300,000. The boil-water advisory now has been limited to two areas, Padre Island and part of Mustang Island, as city officials continue to investigate what caused lower levels of chlorine in the water system, reported the Corpus Christi Caller-Times on July 25. City officials said in a July 24 Caller-Times article that the boil-water notice was a precautionary measure. They did not find elevated levels of bacteria in the water and no illnesses have been reported. Water Superintendent Eduardo Gara�a told the newspaper that the lower chlorine levels likely were connected to lower water usage. Heavy rains have limited use of water for irrigation, and the system, which usually pumps 100 million gallons per day (mgd) during the summer now is pumping about 68 mgd, the article said. Chlorination change, RO help IL cityMACOMB, IL, July 25, 2007 (Water Tech) � The city water utility here has upgraded operations at its treatment plant to reduce turbidity and comply with the more stringent statewide regulations on trihalomethanes (THMs), a type of disinfection byproduct, according to July 25 article in The Macomb Journal. Jim Bessler, city utilities manager, reported during a July 23 city council meeting that the city has reduced incidences of state environmental violations by having a water treatment operator on duty 24 hours a day. He also said that blending reverse osmosis-treated well water with surface water has reduced instances of turbidity. Bessler also said that Macomb has achieved an 18 percent reduction in THMs by changing the point at which chlorination is applied, the article said. Disinfection level woes plague Texas city CORPUS CHRISTI, TX, July 26, 2007 (Water Tech) � Disinfection levels in the water system here have been a cause for concern, prompting an initial boil-water alert for this South Texas city of nearly 300,000. The boil-water advisory now has been limited to two areas, Padre Island and part of Mustang Island, as city officials continue to investigate what caused lower levels of chlorine in the water system, reported the Corpus Christi Caller-Times on July 25. City officials said in a July 24 Caller-Times article that the boil-water notice was a precautionary measure. They did not find elevated levels of bacteria in the water and no illnesses have been reported. Water Superintendent Eduardo Gara�a told the newspaper that the lower chlorine levels likely were connected to lower water usage. Heavy rains have limited use of water for irrigation, and the system, which usually pumps 100 million gallons per day (mgd) during the summer now is pumping about 68 mgd, the article said. Bottled water labels don�t tell the whole story Many well-known brands actually come from public water supplies By Phil Lempert July 31, 2007(MSNBC.COM) - Bottled waters may soon be getting clearer. No, I'm not talking about the clarity, or even purity, of the waters that we Americans spent $15 billion on last year. I'm talking about labeling! Water labels do have federal regulation requirements; however, it's easy to be misled. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports that about 75 percent of bottled water sold in the U.S. comes from natural underground sources, which include rivers, lakes, springs and artesian wells. And the other 25 percent? That comes from municipal sources, which is exactly the �source� of two leading brands of bottled water � Dasani (Coca-Cola) and Aquafina (PepsiCo). The FDA requires that when a community water system source is used, the label must include �from a community water system� or �from a municipal source.� However, and here's where both brands� labels can be misunderstood, if the water is distilled, deionized or uses reverse osmosis, it can be called �purified water.� And it does not have to state on its label that it is �from a community water system� or �from a municipal source.� Aquafina announced last week that it is thinking about making a change on its label. Currently, its tag line reads �Pure water pure taste� under an image of a mountain, and their Web site indicates that their proprietary filtering system purifies the water several ways. The source of the water is not named and the company admits that Aquafina's water is purified from public reservoirs. It has also not announced that the change is definitely going to be made or, if it is, by when. CA county takes steps to tackle nitrates TULARE COUNTY, CA, July 19, 2007 (Water Tech) � County officials here are ramping up their efforts to tackle nitrate contamination of public drinking water supplies. County officials estimate that at least 20 percent of the nearly 400 small public drinking water supply systems that serve 420,000 county residents are polluted by nitrates at levels that exceed the federal maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 45 parts per billion (ppb), according to a July 18 Visalia Times-Delta article. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Nitrates. Arsenic taints IN mobile home park�s wellMOUNT VERNON, IN, July 16, 2007 (Water Tech) � Arsenic has been found in an 85-foot-deep well that provides water to residents of a mobile home park here, and the county health department has advised residents against drinking the water and bathing in it, according to local reports. Recent tests by the county health department found arsenic present in the Walnut Grove Mobile Home Park�s well water, which is chlorinated and softened, at a range of 30 to 40 parts per billion (ppb), according to a July 13 Evansville Courier & Press article.
ONT agency issues warning on water pitcher-type filters LONDON, ONTARIO, July 18, 2007 (Water Tech) � The Middlesex-London Health Unit issued a warning to residents that as of July 16 all pour-through pitcher-type water filters are no longer certified by NSF International for lead reduction. Water samples recently taken from residential taps in more than 30 cities in Ontario have come back with elevated lead levels. One in four London homes failed provincial safety standards for lead content in water, according to a July 18 article in The London Free Press. The government had recommended that residents use point-of-use water treatment devices, including pitcher-type water filters, to reduce lead levels in drinking water. However, in light of a recent NSF review, the Health Unit asked residents to rely on other POU water treatment systems that are NSF-certified, such as filters attached to the tap and units installed in the plumbing system. NSF Standard 53 was revised in February 2007 to include a revised test procedure for lead reduction at pH 8.5. Richard Andrew, operations manager for NSF�s Drinking Water Treatment Units Program, told WaterTech Online�, �The revision included a test method that specified the particulate lead content of the challenge water and included a recipe to make the water. Previously, variable amounts of particulate lead could have been generated, which led to inconsistent test results. These inconsistent results occurred on the pour-through, gravity-feed products.� Andrew said when the new standard was published in February, NSF contacted all affected manufacturers of pour-through pitchers, letting them know that they had until July 15 to retest their products, or drop their lead reduction claims. Andrew said, �The result of this has been that after July 15, NSF now has no pour-through pitchers certified for lead reduction.� Lead levels in drinking water are closely watched by water supply and regulatory agencies because elevated levels in the blood can negatively impact neurological development in children. Group says toxic DBP levels are in DC waterWASHINGTON, July 18, 2007 (Water Tech) � The Environmental Working Group (EWG), an environmental advocacy group headquartered here, is recommending in its newly released report that the 1.1 million consumers of tap water treated by the Washington (DC) Aqueduct at least temporarily treat their water with point-of-use or point-of-entry systems to lower disinfection by-product (DBP) levels. According to the executive summary of the report, released July 19, �Tap water tests from May 2007 revealed toxic by-products of the chemicals used to purify Potomac River water, at levels above annual federal health limits.� The water samples were collected from 18 locations across the District of Columbia, including the US Capitol, US Environmental Protection Agency headquarters, parks, schools, and residences of pregnant women and other groups susceptible to health problems from exposures to DBPs. The samples were tested by �an accredited lab� for two types of DBPs, trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs), according to the 19-page EWG report. Almost 90 percent of the samples had THMs at levels associated in epidemiological studies with low birth weight and serious birth defects in infants. More than 40 percent of the tap water samples contained chemical by-products of water treatment above annual federal health limits. HAAs were found at their highest levels since 2001, the last year before the Washington Aqueduct modified its treatment techniques to reduce levels of THMs, which are related by-products of chlorination, the EWG reported.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maximum contaminant level for arsenic is 10 ppb. Regis Palmer, the environmental director for Walnut Grove, said in the article that the cause of the increased arsenic levels couldn�t be pinpointed immediately. Residents were given bottled water to drink, and a temporary line was established with city water for residents to have bath water. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP880 Series has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Arsenic V.
EPA orders Air Force to clean up NJ base NEW YORK, July 13, 2007 (Water Tech) � The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced in a July 13 press release that it is ordering the Air Force to study contamination at its McGuire Air Force Base and to clean up the New Hanover Township, NJ-based Air Force base. The contamination evaluation and cleanup must be completed within an EPA-ordered timeframe, according to the release. Along with the technical work that needs to be done, the Air Force has to develop a plan of work with the surrounding community to get input into the process, the EPA reported. Since 1982, when the Air Force started an environmental study of McGuire, 41 areas of the more than 3,500-acre base have been identified as having potential contamination. Contaminants ranging from PCBs, pesticides, volatile compounds, metals, petroleum and jet fuel products have been found in the soil, sediment, surface water and groundwater at the base, according to the press release. Report shows �hormone disruptors� in SF Bay OAKLAND, CA, July 13, 2007 (Water Tech) � Though a new study shows that San Francisco Bay area waters test positive for several hormone-disrupting chemicals, the American Chemistry Council (ACC), a chemical industry group, says the levels are too low to cause a substantial threat. The Environmental Working Group (EWG), an advocacy group based in Oakland and Washington, DC, released a report on July 11 based on a year-long study done in conjunction with the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD). In the study, EWG and EBMUD researchers analyzed samples of wastewater from residential, commercial and industrial sites in the San Francisco Bay area. They found that 18 of 19 wastewater samples examined contained at least one of three unregulated, widely used hormone disruptors � phthalates, bisphenol A, and triclosan; two samples contained all three substances. The hormone disruptors come from commonly used items such as beauty products, polycarbonate plastic used in many consumer goods, and antibacterial soap. DC�s �funny� water getting a fix WASHINGTON, July 11, 2007 (Water Tech) � Drinking water customers in Washington, DC, and northern Virginia recently have reported the water tastes �funny� and smells �weird,� a news report found. Officials at the Washington Aqueduct, which treats the drinking water that is supplied to the District of Columbia; Arlington, VA; and Falls Church, VA, have said that while the water is safe to drink, they're aware of the problem and began using powdered activated carbon on July 9 to treat the water for taste and odor, according to a July 11 ABC 7 report. The Potomac River, which is experiencing both low water levels and warm temperatures, is the source of the drinking water. ABC gives airtime to bottled water criticsNEW YORK, July 10, 2007 (Water Tech) � ABC�s �World News� recently featured a report that looked at the environmental costs of bottled water. The report, available online in print and video, is part of the program�s �Going Green� series. ABC News said it �crunched the numbers,� taking into account mileage and fuel requirements, and found that a 1-liter (1-quart) bottle of water imported from France to Chicago consumes about 2 ounces of oil, not including the oil used to make the plastic. �In addition, the entire process � bottling, packaging and shipping � creates pollution and greenhouse gases,� the report said. The report included interviews with Chez Panisse General Manager Michael Kossa-Rienzi on that San Francisco-based restaurant�s decision to serve only filtered tap water; Sierra Club�s Ruth Caplan on how many plastic water bottles end up in landfills (four out of five); and Allen Hershkowitz at the Natural Resources Defense Council on �the irony� of bottled water labels.
Kids told: Think before you drink bottled waterNEW YORK, July 5, 2007 (Water Tech) � Bottled water lately has been a hot media topic, and is now reaching down into news sources aimed at grade-school children. Scholastic News Online, which offers �daily news for kids,� according to its Web site, featured a �critical thinking� article entitled �Goodbye, Bottled Water?� on July 2. The article summarizes recent developments regarding bottled water, particularly San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom�s decision to ban the purchase of bottled water with public funds for city employees. The author uses that as a starting point to highlight other issues surrounding the bottles themselves, such as their production and where they go when they are empty. Laura Spanjian of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission said in the article, �We must all do our part to reduce our carbon footprint and our impact on the environment. This is really a movement. And San Francisco wants citizens and students in other cities to be leaders of a movement to change how people think about bottled water.� The article notes that Salt Lake City Mayor Ross Anderson asked its 2,500 city employees to voluntarily stop buying bottled water. Patrick Thronson, communications director for Mayor Anderson, said in the Scholastic News Online article, �We are raising awareness [about] the serious environmental issues [related] to using bottled water.� The article, which notes how many water bottles end up in landfills and not recycling centers, includes comment from the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) regarding a need for a greater push to recycle all consumer packaging.
Report: Tainted drinking water at 23 military bases WASHINGTON, June 19, 2007 (Water Tech) � In response to a push by the US House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) recently released a list of 23 military bases with contaminated groundwater, according to a June 18 Marine Corps Times article. The subcommittee is examining the extensive drinking water contamination at the Marines� Camp Lejeune, NC. Doris Bradshaw, board chair for the Military Toxics Project, an environmental watchdog group based in Lewiston, ME, said in the article that groundwater contamination at or near military bases is more widespread still, surpassing the ATSDR list of 23. ATSDR�s list of 23 bases includes Air Force and Army installations, as well as Lejeune and Marine Corps Logistics Base at Barstow, CA, which reported trichloroethylene (TCE) groundwater contamination above the federal maximum contaminant level of 5 parts per billion (ppb) at 25 ppb, according to the article. NC town �not ignoring� THMs in drinking water PITTSBORO, NC, June 14, 2007 (Water Tech) � The 2,500 residents of this North Carolina town, which has elevated levels of total trihalomethanes (THMs) in its drinking water supply that exceed federal maximum contaminant levels (MCL) for the disinfection by-product, are concerned that the town is not doing enough to resolve the problem, according to a June 13 article in The News & Observer. Over the past year, the town has sent residents several notices in the mail informing them that total THM levels in the water, which for the first quarter of 2007 was 0.118 milligrams per liter, have exceeded federal standards, which set an MCL at 0.08 milligrams per liter, the article said. Long-term exposure to THMs has been associated with certain types of cancer, such as bladder cancer. Pittsboro Utility Director John Poteat said in the article that the town has known about the problem since 2003 and is working with an engineering firm to reduce the THM levels.
Camp Lejeune water pollution, cancer link investigated WASHINGTON, June 12, 2007 (CNN.com and Water Tech) � Some 75,000 Marines and their families at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina were exposed to toxic tap water that may have caused cancer and birth defects, a federal health official testified Tuesday. Results of a new study of the base's water were released Tuesday, the same day lawmakers heard emotional testimony from families who were affected by the water, which contained 40 times the amount of toxins considered safe by today's standards. Camp Lejeune's water supply was polluted from 1957 until 1987 by TCE, a degreasing solvent, and PCE, a dry cleaning agent. The chemicals apparently came from a dry cleaning store near the base, according to the government.
SF report: Filters deliver quality at fair price SAN FRANCISCO, June 11, 2007 (Water Tech) � A June 8 CBS 5 �Consumer Watch� report, which airs locally in the San Francisco Bay Area, said that consumers can save about $142 annually by using their own water filtering system instead of buying bottled water. The report profiled a Shop Smart magazine article in which the magazine tested 31 water treatment devices to remove both contaminants and off-taste from tap water. The new magazine, set to hit the stands Aug. 1, is a sister publication of Consumer Reports magazine and also published by Consumers Union. The May issue of Consumer Reports magazine included a report on water filters, testing and reviewing 27 point-of-use and point-of-entry water treatment devices, as WaterTech Online� reported. The CBS 5 report reminded consumers to change filters on their water treatment devices and to use them for cold water only because hot water can damage and prematurely age the filter. Water district, residents disagree on chloraminesBARTLESVILLE, OK, June 11, 2007 (Water Tech) � In an effort to come into compliance with a federal ruling on disinfection by-products, the water district here will switch from using free chlorine to chloramines to disinfect its water beginning June 18 � and many of the residents here are not happy, a June 11 Examiner-Enterprise article reports. One Bartlesville resident, Gary Norris, said in the article that the use of chloramines in Bartlesville tap water will cause leaching of lead and copper and poses an array of detrimental health effects. Water Utilities Director Mike Hall, responding to residents� concerns said in the article, �There�s no doubt in my mind that it�s safe.� The city has been out of compliance with federal standards, which went into effect in 1998, that lowered the disinfection by-product levels that water utilities must meet from 100 parts per billion (ppb) to 80 ppb, the article said. Water quality concerns for one MA town BOSTON, June 11, 2007 (Water Tech) � The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA), which taps two central Massachusetts reservoirs to supply water for 50 towns, recently received word that it passed overall quality control tests in 2006 with just a couple of concerns, according to a June 11 article in The MetroWest Daily News. Water samples from the town of Framingham had high levels of lead, though the levels still were below federal maximum contaminant levels, the article said. Water and Sewer Division Director Paul Barden wrote a letter, available on the MWRA Web site and included in a mailing to town residents, that explains that the town of Framingham has started a program to replace 7 percent of the town�s remaining 114 lead service lines each year to address the problem of lead leaching into water from service pipes. Rules change: NY town must now filter its water NEWBURGH, NY, June 8, 2007 (Water Tech) � After being told earlier it didn�t have to filter its water from the Delaware Aqueduct, the state health department is now telling the town the rules have changed, a June 7 Times Herald-Record story reported. Because state and federal rules have changed, the town will now have to build a filtration plant at an estimated cost of $22 million. According to Town Engineer James Osborne, chlorine added to the aqueduct water reacts with natural organisms, creating haloacetic acids, the story said. A spokeswoman for the health department said the water is safe for now, but consumption over the long term could have negative effects. ID city wants to blend water to reduce arsenicTWIN FALLS, ID, June 6, 2007 (Water Tech) � This city�s drinking water has tested positive for arsenic, with levels as high as 18.1 parts per billion (ppb) in some samples, above the US Environmental Protection Agency�s allowable level of 10 ppb, a June 6 Times-News story said. A water quality report revealed the amounts last week, although the samples were taken in 2006. The city said it is working with the state Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to reduce the amount of arsenic. The DEQ has given the city until January of 2011 to bring arsenic levels down to 10 ppb. The city wants to blend arsenic-containing water with water from Blue Lakes Springs. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP880 Series has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Arsenic V. Lead test method in question in OntarioLONDON, ONTARIO, June 6, 2007 (Water Tech) � Just as municipalities in Ontario this week are finding out the results of lead tests taken from tap water samples, there may be a snag: Lead experts are saying that the method used to acquire the water sample provides flawed test results, according to local reports. To acquire the tap water that was tested for lead, municipalities followed the recommendation of the Ontario Environment Ministry and collected the samples after running cold water taps for five minutes. However, federal agencies Health Canada and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) say samples should be taken after water has not flowed in pipes for at least six hours to capture the highest lead levels that could come from the tap, according to a June 1 article in The London Free Press. Despite the method used to acquire the tap water samples, elevated levels of lead have been found in at least three of the more than 30 municipalities throughout Ontario that were ordered to test, and more are expected, according to a June 6 article in The London Free Press. Newsweek examines �emerging contaminants� NEW YORK, June 4, 2007 (Water Tech) � The June 4 issue of Newsweek tackles the subject of how compounds known as �emerging contaminants,� such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and antibacterial soaps, are impacting drinking water supplies nationwide. In the article, author Anne Underwood notes how new technology is making it possible for scientists to screen for traces of compounds at levels that were previously undetectable � and that scientists are finding traces of just about everything for which they are looking. Scientists are concerned with endocrine disruptors, chemical compounds that mimic hormones when they enter the body, the article said. Herb Buxton, coordinator of the US Geological Survey (USGS) Toxic Substances Hydrology Program, said in the article that endocrine disruptors, like natural hormones, �have effects at exceedingly low levels.� The author takes the view that consumers who are concerned with the quality of their drinking water should rely on water treatment devices, not bottled water, which requires large amounts of energy to transport. Underwood wrote in the article, �Consumer devices for removing contaminants include charcoal filters, tabletop water distillers and purification units that use reverse osmosis. They can all take out a wide variety of chemicals. The fish should be so lucky.�
Nitrates pose potential threat to Lake SuperiorMINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL, MN, May 31, 2007 (Water Tech) � Nitrate levels continue to rise in Lake Superior, which contains 10 percent of the Earth�s supply of surface fresh water, and push lake water closer toward being considered unsafe to drink, according to a May 31 University of Minnesota press release. Robert Sterner, professor in the College of Biological Sciences and lead author of the study, which was to be published May 31 in Geophysical Research Letters, said, �We�re still a long way from drinking water advisories based on nitrate for Lake Superior, but it�s not too early to give this situation more attention. We cannot easily or quickly reverse trends in this enormous lake.� Nitrate levels in Lake Superior now take the lake about 2.7 percent of the way toward being unsafe to drink, according to the study. Sterner and the other researchers wrote in the study that the complexity of the causes for the steady increase in nitrates makes it difficult to predict when the water could become unhealthy. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Nitrates
EPA �disappointed� in treatment plan report SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY, May 25, 2007 (Water Tech) � The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is �disappointed� with General Electric Co.�s (GE) plan to protect the Hudson River, a drinking water source for southeastern Saratoga County, when it undergoes dredging for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), according to a May 25 article in The Saratogian About 200-river miles of the Hudson River will undergo dredging for PCBs, which are considered a human carcinogen and wound up in the river from at least two GE plants. Local officials met with representatives from GE and the EPA on May 24 in Saratoga Springs to express their dissatisfaction with a report GE prepared for the EPA in which the company recommended that the towns drawing their drinking water from the Hudson River use increased amounts of carbon to filter the water during the dredging process. David King, an EPA field officer for the project who was present at the meeting, said the agency was �disappointed� with GE�s effort, the article said
Who pays for contaminating groundwater? PLAINVIEW, NY, May 24, 2007 (Water Tech) � A New York State Supreme Court trial began on May 21 in a case where 32,000 residents of Plainview are suing major oil companies Exxon, Shell and Gulf for methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) contamination of their groundwater, according to a May 22 article in The New York Times. MTBE, a potentially carcinogenic fuel additive, seeped into the ground as gasoline leaked from fuel storage tanks. In the Plainview case, MTBE is in the groundwater, but has not yet reached the wells used for drinking water supplies. The case is being carefully watched by federal judge Shira A. Scheindlin, who in 2008 will hear a consolidated case in US District Court in Manhattan of 150 lawsuits involving MTBE from 15 states, the article said. Ontario orders lead testing in 35 municipalities LONDON, ONTARIO, May 23, 2007 (Water Tech) � Last April municipalities were asked by the province's chief drinking water inspector to test residential tap water for lead, but after many failed to submit results, lead testing now is mandatory for 35 municipalities throughout Ontario, a May 23 Standard Freeholder story reported. Environment Minister Laurel Broten said in the story, �The chief drinking water [inspector] [yesterday] issued an order for 35 municipalities, a broad cross-section of municipalities � to test their water and get back to us so that we can have an understanding of the extent of this corrosion issue. I am absolutely committed to getting to the bottom of this.� Alexandria, Belleville, Brantford, Chatham, Cornwall, Kenora, Kingston, Lindsay, North Bay and Peterborough are among the communities being ordered to test for lead. An earlier WaterTechOnline� story reported that on May 17 Ontario officials met with experts to figure out why about 3,000 older homes in London, Ontario, have elevated levels of lead. Four experts were enlisted by Ontario's Environment Ministry, and the city hired a consultant to examine the water�s chemistry. Making lead testing mandatory across the province, instead of just being �recommended,� was one idea discussed at the summit. City asks if chloramine linked to �hazardous� ash
Who pays for contaminating groundwater? PLAINVIEW, NY, May 24, 2007 (Water Tech) � A New York State Supreme Court trial began on May 21 in a case where 32,000 residents of Plainview are suing major oil companies Exxon, Shell and Gulf for methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) contamination of their groundwater, according to a May 22 article in The New York Times. MTBE, a potentially carcinogenic fuel additive, seeped into the ground as gasoline leaked from fuel storage tanks. In the Plainview case, MTBE is in the groundwater, but has not yet reached the wells used for drinking water supplies. The case is being carefully watched by federal judge Shira A. Scheindlin, who in 2008 will hear a consolidated case in US District Court in Manhattan of 150 lawsuits involving MTBE from 15 states, the article said. PALO ALTO, CA, May 23, 2007 (Water Tech) � The Palo Alto wastewater treatment plant�s incinerator is producing hazardous ash, and the city council is turning its attention toward the water disinfectant chloramine as the culprit, according to a Palo Alto Weekly article published May 22 on Palo Alto Online. The ash contains too much copper to use as a soil enhancement, and it must be disposed of as hazardous waste, city staff said in the report. One councilman said that the increase in copper in the ash occurred when the San Francisco Hetch Hetchy water system, which provides water to most Bay Area residents, switched from using chlorine to chloramine to treat its water supply a few years ago. Chloramine also is being looked at in connection with an increased number of reported health problems, including skin rashes, in residents served by the water system, according to WaterTech Online� and the Palo Alto Weekly article.
City tackles copper in water to avoid court BOULDER, MT, May 1, 2007 (Water Tech) � The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is forcing this city to reduce copper levels in its drinking water to comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act, according to a May 1 Independent Record article. If Boulder fails to meet federal regulations, it could face fines of $10,000 per day, dating back to 1993, when it first found that copper levels in city drinking water exceeded the federal limit of 1.3 milligrams per liter (mg/L), according to the article. DEQ filed a suit against Boulder in 2006. Steven Shapiro, city attorney, said in the article that if the city wants to avoid a March 2008 court date, it needs to move forward with an engineering plan that pinpoints the source of the copper in the city�s water system and outlines a treatment plan. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Copper.
A US first: Bottled water outsold milk in 2006 NEW YORK, May 4, 2007 (Water Tech) � For the first time in US history, bottled water outsold milk according to Beverage Digest, which recently published US beverage sales results for 2006, a May 4 story in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Also according to the industry newsletter, bottled water came close to outselling beer as well. Average per capita consumption of bottled water went from 11 gallons per year in 1996 to 21 gallons in 2006; while milk consumption dropped about 3 gallons on average per capita, the story said. Soft drink consumption dropped by about 1.1 gallons on average per capita as well, but still outsold bottled water. Madison looks into well chlorine problems MADISON, WI, May 7, 2007 (Water Tech) � Four recent failures involving chlorination at the Madison Water Utility have prompted Mayor Dave Cieslewicz to launch an investigation into why the failures occurred and how utility employees responded to them. The first of the four chlorine failures occurred in August 2006 when a well was left untreated for six weeks. The second failure occurred at a different well in late March, when too much chlorine was pumped into the water system. In April city water in another well was inadequately treated, and on May 1 water that had too little chlorine in it was pumped for about three hours, according to a May 7 Wisconsin State Journal article. Cieslewicz said he wants to know why the Madison Water Utility, which uses chlorine to disinfect its drinking water, cannot resolve its problems. Portland, OR-area rivers fail drug test PORTLAND, OR, May 9, 2007 (Water Tech) � New research on rivers in the Portland, OR, area shows that river sediments contain trace amounts of pharmaceutical drugs, caffeine and cosmetic ingredients, supporting the theory that the chemicals, which pass through water treatment systems unaffected, are disrupting fish endocrine systems, according to a May 7 article in The Oregonian. Water treatment plants, designed before there was widespread concern that drugs and other compounds could negatively affect water bodies, are now being looked at for their contribution to the situation. Sheree Stewart, drinking water protection coordinator at the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), said in the article, �People just assumed a lot of that stuff was removed. Actually, a lot of what is in the raw water gets through.� Carbon to fight DBP in CA city�s water BAY POINT, CA, May 12, 2007 (Water Tech) � The Golden State Water Co. is planning to install granular activated carbon (GAC) filters at its water treatment plant to reduce the levels of trihalomethane in the drinking water it produces for utilities in California�s Contra Costa County, according to a May 3 CBS 5 report. The US Environmental Protection Agency standard dictates that no more than 80 parts per billion (ppb) of trihalomethane, a byproduct of the chlorine disinfection process, be present in drinking water. Dawn White, water quality engineer for the water company, said in the article that some areas served by the company exceed the federal limit, but that the overall average of trihalomethane levels taken from 12 locations throughout the service area is 71.9 ppb. The company�s plan to install GAC filters is expensive, White said in the article, and it will be phased in over time. The company is awaiting approval from the California Public Utilities Commission at its May 17 meeting on a 15 percent rate hike that will be take place over the next three years. NY legislators try for another well-testing lawALBANY, NY, May 22, 2007 (Water Tech) � Some New York state legislators are proposing that private wells across the state be tested before the sale of a house, a requirement already in effect in a few local New York communities. A bill sponsored by Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee, D-Suffern, has passed the Democratic-controlled Assembly and must still be considered by the Republican-controlled state Senate, where it is being sponsored by Sen. Thomas Morahan, R-New City, according to a recent article in The Journal News. Similar bills have failed to pass the state Senate in past legislative sessions. The county legislature in Rockland County, Jaffee�s home county, enacted a local well-testing law in 2005, over the veto of the county executive, who felt it was too burdensome on home sellers, the article said. The newspaper said 252 private wells in Rockland County had been tested by the end of April since the county�s well-testing law took effect, and about 35 percent of those failed US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) primary drinking water standards, for the most part due to bacterial contamination; another 32 percent of the tested wells failed EPA secondary guidelines for conditions such as the presence of excessive iron. DC utility to pay EPA lead fine WASHINGTON, DC, May 22, 2007 (Water Tech) � The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) will pay a $10,000 fine for reporting inaccurate lead sampling data required by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a May 22 EPA press release reported. WASA failed to comply with a 2004 Safe Drinking Water Act consent order in which WASA was to take samples of water from at least 100 high-risk homes as a result of lead service lines or lead solder-based pipes. According to the EPA, from July to December of 2005, 12 samples that were taken had to be eliminated because the homes did not meet the aforementioned criteria. The EPA said WASA submitted the samples anyway due to a data management shortfall. New contaminant 'stars' include perchlorate, PFCs ORLANDO, FL, March 29, 2007 (Water Tech) � Perchlorate, endocrine disruptors and perfluorochemicals (PFCs) are among the "emerging contaminants" gaining the attention of state and federal drinking water regulators, the Water Quality Association's (WQA) technical director told water treatment professionals at the WQA Aquatech USA convention here this week. The public and its water suppliers likely will look to the water treatment industry to develop technology to remove these contaminants, whether the treatment occurs at the municipal or point-of-use/point-of-entry level, according to WQA Technical Director Joseph Harrison. The public seeks the "peace of mind" offered by the fine-tuning of municipal waters for these often hard-to-remove contaminants, assurance that the industry can provide, he said. "We are still looked upon as the industry that's on the cutting edge of water treatment technologies," Harrison told conference attendees listening to WQA's Industry Issues Report. Harrison said perchlorate, which occurs naturally and as a man-made rocket propellant, has been released to the environment in at least 25 states, and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found it in samples taken from a number of public water systems. Although the EPA has set a reference dose upper limit of 24.5 parts per billion (ppb) for perchlorate in drinking water, several states are setting their own lower limits. For example, California is about to establish a new state maximum contaminant limit of 6 ppb; Massachusetts has established a 1.0 ppb upper limit; and New Jersey is considering setting a 5 ppb limit, according to Harrison. Anion exchange systems and biological treatment is being used in some instances to remove perchlorate, and new technologies are under development, according to Harrison. Endocrine disruptors, which can adversely affect the body's hormone production, are constituents of personal care products, pesticides, prescription drugs and other substances, and the US Geological Survey has detected these chemicals in rivers and other water supplies. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP750PlusRO is one of the few water treatment devices certified to reduce Perchlorate under Standard 58.
Quality of bottled and tap water under scrutiny DALLAS, March 29, 2007 (Water Tech) � A sports nutritionist who presented a seminar at the American College of Sports Medicine 11th Annual Health & Fitness Summit & Exposition here said that bottled water doesn't always stack up when compared with tap water, according to a March 28 Medical News Today report. Sports nutritionist Cynthia Sass, R.D., C.S.S.D., said in the report that although bottled water is perceived as a healthier, safer choice over tap water in consumer surveys, that is not necessarily true. In her presentation, Sass noted that consumers need to gather more information on bottled and tap water to make more informed choices. Sass, quoting bottled and tap water survey results from independent groups such as the National Resources Defense Council, said that both bottled and tap water may contain contaminants such as bacteria, arsenic, lead or pesticides, according to the report. EPA cites NC city for high levels of lead in water DURHAM, NC, March 29, 2007 (Water Tech) � State regulators notified city leaders here on March 27 that an excessive amount of lead in the city's drinking water fails criteria set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), according to a March 29 article in The News & Observer. Deputy City Manager Ted Voorhees said that the city's water supply does not have a serious lead problem and the that the city is considering action to appeal the citation, according to the newspaper. The EPA continues to investigate Durham, which, as reported by WaterTech Online�, recently was given a violation notice for withholding from the state drinking water test results that had revealed harmful amounts of lead. USGS finds trace chemicals in L.A.-area wells LOS ANGELES, March 30, 2007 (Water Tech) � State scientists said that they found traces of chemicals in almost all of the 35 groundwater wells they tested throughout the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys, according to a March 28 article in the Los Angeles Daily News. The state survey, part of a 10-year, $50-million study conducted by the US Geological Survey (USGS) and sponsored by the California State Water Resources Control Board, measures contaminants at very low levels � smaller than 1 part per billion, according to the article. USGS officials presented preliminary findings on the L.A. groundwater basin March 28, the article reported, noting that a USGS research hydrologist said the data is being used to characterize water quality before problems arise. Scientists who tested water from the groundwater wells found volatile organic compounds in 33 of the 35 wells tested; the most commonly detected solvent was tetrachloroethylene (PCE), according to the article. 'Emerging contaminants' make the newsNEW YORK, April 3, 2007 (Water Tech) � An article published in the April 3 edition of The New York Times, carried on international news sources, details the threat emerging contaminants pose as well as the dilemma it is causing environmental officials. As WaterTech Online� recently reported, emerging contaminants, including constituents of personal care products, prescription drugs, pesticides and other substances, are showing up in rivers and other water supplies and some of them, called endocrine disruptors, can adversely affect the body's hormone production. The Times article reports that US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) researchers have found traces of pharmaceutical and personal care products almost everywhere � including groundwater and surface waters � they have looked for them, and researchers are noting that the volume of emerging contaminants into the environment is increasing. Researchers are torn on how to address the problem due to its magnitude and potential cost, as well as their view that there are no definitive conclusions yet over how the emerging contaminants are impacting both humans and resources, the article said. TX city exceeds federal limit for arsenicSAN BENITO, TX, April 6, 2007 (Water Tech) � The Military Highway Water Supply Corp., which supplies water to about 8,500 customers in Cameron County, recently notified many of its customers that tests indicate arsenic levels in the water exceed the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limit, according to an April 5 KRGV-TV story. The EPA maximum contaminant level for arsenic in water is 10 parts per billion (ppb); the water utility's supply tested at 11 ppb, according to the report. Residents expressed concern because the utility company supplies water to four local schools, and the water is used for irrigating local farms and hydrating local livestock, according to the report. US drank 9.5 percent more bottled water in '06 ALEXANDRIA, VA, April 10, 2007 (Water Tech) � Bottled water consumption in the US hit 8.25 billion gallons in 2006, 9.5 percent more than the amount consumed in 2005, according to a report released by the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) and the Beverage Marketing Corp. (BMC), a April 9 IBWA press release reported. Wholesale sales of bottled water were about $11 billion for last year, which is 8.5 percent more than the previous year, according to the press release. IBWA said 2006 annual per capita consumption of bottled water in the US increased by over 2 gallons, from 25.4 gallons in 2005 to 27.6 gallons last year. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP880 Series has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Arsenic V. Think that finding a good, high-quality dog food is important? LAS VEGAS, NV, March/April, 2007 (The Vegas Dog) � All of the beneficial ingredients that go into dog food will not help your dog if it is not drinking enough fresh clean water. Water is the body's most important nutrient. Adult dogs' bodies are 60% water, and a puppy's is 84% water. Dogs can lose all of their fat and half of their protein without adversely affecting their health, but a loss of 10 % of their water can cause significant problems. Dog owners should place as much attention on the quality of the water their dog drinks as they do on the ingredients that go into the best dog foods; not all water is the same. The criteria for clean drinking water for dogs is similar to the criteria for drinking water for people. Dogs should have access to fresh clean water at all times. This is even more important than giving it the best dog foods on the market. Dogs need three times more water than they do food every day. They need even more water if it is extremely hot, if the dog is lactating or if the dog is exercising more than normal. Healthy food and water choices for your pet will be the difference between a happy healthy long life or health challenges and an early departure...just like people. Arsenic in water linked to miscarriages, SIDsBALTIMORE, March 15, 2007 (Water Tech) � New research shows that arsenic-tainted drinking water increases the risk of fetal loss among pregnant women and contributes to infant death during the first year, according to a study published in the Advanced Access online version of the American Journal of Epidemiology. The authors of the study gathered data from more than 29,000 pregnancies; results for the first time demonstrate a significant correspondence between arsenic and ill effects on fetus and infant health, according to the study, which has been accepted for publication in American Journal of Epidemiology but has not yet been paginated for publication. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP880 Series has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53, to reduce Arsenic V.
Too much THM in WV city's water � for 5 years SALEM, WV, March 15, 2007 (Water Tech) � This city's water treatment plant dispensed water with excessive trihalomethanes (THM) to residents and may have done so for five years, a March 14 WBOY-TV story reported Letters sent to residents said, "Some people � may experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous system, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer," according to the story. The letter also said the plant is outdated and cannot meet its requirements without upgrades, the story reported. The water tested at 112.9 micrograms per liter (parts per billion) of THM and the average should be about 80 micrograms per liter, the story said.
Town divided on how to remove perchlorate HILLS, IA, February 12, 2007 (Water Tech) � About 100 residents met recently to try to come up with a way to rid their drinking water of perchlorate, but homeowners cannot agree on how to do it, a February 8 Iowa City Press-Citizen story reported. Plans for a community public water system � requiring all 260 homes and businesses to stop using their private wells � upset some residents, who questioned why their wells had to stop being used if the perchlorate was only contaminating 11 percent of the 260 wells in use, the story said. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has given the city until 2010 to come up with some sort of solution. Perchlorate was discovered in the groundwater in 2001, and for two years, the EPA supplied bottled water and provided reverse osmosis systems to the 30 households affected, the article said. If the current plan for a city-wide system is approved, it will cost the city about $2.48 million in development and construction costs, according to the story. Multi-Pure Commentary: Multi-Pure�s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Perchlorate.
Please Note: iwaterdrops is intended to be an informational and educational news bulletin for Multi-Pure Independent Distributors. The news articles included are excerpted from the publications shown. The contamination problems and health effects reported occurred in the community or region identified in the article. Please check your local newspapers and magazines for stories about pollutants and water treatment problems in your own community.
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