Drinking Water Services Program UpdateWater+Program+Regulatory+Upd… · concerns (Kaiser poll...

Drinking Water ServicesProgram Update

Dave Emme, Manager

August 2018

(Enter) DEPARTMENT (ALL CAPS)(Enter) Division or Office (Mixed Case)

PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISIONDrinking Water Services

Outline

• Public Attitudes—How do people think we’re doing?• Safe Drinking Water—How are we really doing?• Challenges going forward

2


Public AttitudesHow do people think we’re doing?

3


Public Trust in Government

• Only 2 in 10 Americans trust the federal government to do what is right most of the time.

• Trust in State and local governments is higher.

4


Public Attitudes about Drinking Water

• 61% of Americans worry a great deal about pollutants in drinking water. (Gallup poll)

• Americans top three health concerns (Kaiser poll 2016):– Cancer– Heroin abuse– Contaminated Drinking water

5



70% of Americans polled followed the Flint crisis. Half think it indicates a more widespread problem.

--AP Poll 2016

6



• Bottled water sales in 2016 exceeded soda for first time

• Compared to tap water:– 2,000 times more expensive – Less stringently regulated– Generates waste and

greenhouse gases

7

Source: https://geology.com/articles/bottled-water.shtml



“Tap water? You’re drinking toilet water with birth control drugs in them,” he said. “Chloramine, and on top of that they’re putting in fluoride. Call me a conspiracy theorist, but it’s a mind-control drug that has no benefit to our dental health.”

--Christopher Sanborn, aka MukhandeSingh, founder of Live Water. Sells for $6-9/gal. NY Times Dec 29, 2017

8



• 74% of US population served by CWS adjust for fluoride.

• 22% of Oregon population served by CWS adjust for fluoride.

• 43 Oregon Community Water Systems adjust for fluoride.

9



Public concern (outrage) over lead in schools and day care facilities remains high.

10



Drinking water concerns are intensely local and personal.

11



Public outrage over delayed notification

12


Part 1. Summary

• Public concern is high

• Public confidence has been damaged

• Public expectations tending toward zero risk

13


Safe Drinking WaterHow are we really doing?

14


Drinking Water and Infectious Disease

15

Dr. Snow’s Map London Cholera outbreak,1854


Drinking Water Treatment

“Drinking water disinfection and treatment -- one of the greatest public health achievements of the 20thCentury.” CDC

16

Crude death rate* for infectious diseases - United States, 1900-1996 Per 100,000.



• In 1900, in some cities, 30% of infants died in their first year.

• Reduced infant mortality by 90%, mostly due to treatment and sanitation.

17

Source: CDC MMWR 10/01/99



• U.S. Life expectancy 78.8 in 2015, up from 47.3 in 1900.

• Worldwide 71.4 in 2015, up from 34 in 1913.

18


Drinking Water Regulation

19

Safe Drinking Water Act• Enacted Dec 16, 1974,

reauthorized in 1986, 1996

• National Standards or Treatment Techniques.

• Enforced by States with EPA oversight.

• Operator Certification.• Funding through SRF.• Public Information.


U.S. Waterborne Outbreaks

In U.S. 2013-14:• 42 outbreaks

– 57% Legionella– 19% Parasites– 10% Chemicals or

algal toxins

• 13 deaths, all due to Legionella

20


Oregon Waterborne Outbreaks

Last outbreaks, 2013-14: • Crypto, Baker City;• Legionella

21

15

6

3 3 2

0

5

10

15

20

1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s

Num

ber o

f Out

brea

ks

Oregon waterborne disease outbreaks (CDC)


22

80

85

90

95

100

Per

cen

tPercent of community water systems that meet

health-based standards throughout the year

Oregon USA


Small system compliance in OR

• Reduced number of Priority Non-compliers by 78%, mostly small systems

23


Reducing exposure to Lead

• 1985 OR prohibition of lead in plumbing

• 117 systems in OR with corrosion control

• Staff reviewed LCR compliance at 17 large systems in 2017

• Portland optimized by LHRP• Portland schedule to

improve CCTx by 2022

24


Reducing exposure to Lead in Schools

• Governor directed Early Learning Division to adopt rules for Child Care centers

– Initial monitoring by Sept 30, 2018

– EPA 3Ts with 15 ppb Action Level

– Sampling every 6 yrs

• OR Dept of Ed working on similar rules for K-12, as required by SB1062

25


Percent of Oregon children tested with blood lead level >= 5 ug/dl 2010-2016

26

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Oregon Multnomah Co.


Portland Crypto Variance Revocation

• Variance from Treatment for Crypto issued 2012.

• Revocation Order issued May 19, 2017.

• City decides on filtration over UV treatment.

• Bilateral Compliance Agreement Dec 18, 2017– Pilot study by Nov 2020– Construction plans by Oct

2022– Treatment operational by

Sept 2027

27


Salem Cyanotoxins

28

Advisory issued based on this data

Advisory lifted

Advisory reissued

Advisory lifted


Part 2. Summary

• History of progress in preventing disease and death

• Regulation is imperfect, but it works– Improved compliance with health based standards– Continued focus on reducing lead exposure– Major improvements planned for Portland

• Overall, our drinking water has never been safer.

29


Challenges Ahead

30


Federal Landscape—Eroded funding

• EPA’s budget and grants to States flat for many years.

• 67% of program operating revenue from Federal grants.

31

$0

$2,000,000,000

$4,000,000,000

$6,000,000,000

$8,000,000,000

$10,000,000,000

$12,000,000,000


32

Drinking Water Program 2011 (48 FTEs)DAVE LELAND

PEM F Pos.#0000957 X7010

Diane WeisAS 1

Pos.#0000977 C0107

Carol MalkaOS 2

Pos.#1000692 C0104

VacantRA 2

Pos.#0000168 C1116

VacantRA 3

Pos.#0000509 C1117

Paul CymbalaRA 3

Pos.#0000902 C1117

Bradley DanielsCS 3

Pos.#0000661 C5248

Charles MichaelCS 3

Pos.#0001141 C5248

VacantRA 1

Pos.#0000962 C1115

Janet BrockRA 1

Pos.#1003664 C1115

Roberta LindgrenRA 1

Pos.#0000903 C1115

Angela WahlquistRA 3

Pos.#1003665 C1117

Michelle Van KleeckCS 3

Pos.#0000662 C5248

Joe CarlsonPEM D

Pos.#0000958 X7006

Marsha FoxAS 1 (.5 FTE)

Pos.#0000717 C0107

Lee KeyesAS 1

Pos.#0000328 C0107

VacantNRS 3

Pos.#0000669 C8503

Michael PerryPA 2

Pos.#0001168 C0861

Tom MitchellEHS 3

Pos.#0000891 C3819

Dottie ReynoldsCS 2

Pos.#0000082 C5247

Adam DeSemplePA 2

Pos.#1003879 C0861

Debra LambethEE 3

Pos.#0000484 C3412

Anthony FieldsPEM D

Pos.#0000669 C8503


Pos.#0000717 C0107

Gregg BairdNRS 3

Pos.#1003667 C8503

VacantEE 3

Pos.#0000976 C3411

Evan HofeldEE 3

Pos.#0000670 C3412

Peter FarrellyEE 3

Pos.#1003668 C3411

Carrie GentryEE 3

Pos.#0000976 C3411

Carolyn ClemensOS 2 (.5 FTE)

Pos.#0000664 C0104

James NusralaEE 3

Pos.#1003660 C3412

Amy A WordNRS 3

Pos.#1003662 C8503

Michelle ByrdNRS 3

Pos.#0001139 C8503

Fred KalishEE 3

Pos.#1003668 C3412

Bill GossEE 3

Pos.#0000162 C3412

Kari SalisPEM D

Pos.#0000317 X7006Region 1

Betsy ParryNRS 3

Pos.#1003661 C8503

Shawn StevensonNRS 3

Pos.#0000663 C8503

Drue EdneyOS 2

Pos.#0001010 C0104

Russ KazmierczakNRS 3

Pos.#1002421 C8503

VacantNRS 4

Pos.#0001140 C8503

Tom PatteeNRS 5

Pos.#0000046 C8505

VacantNRS 3

Pos.#1002415 C8503

Daniel HoughNRS 3

Pos.#1003663 C8503

Jay MacPhersonEE 3

Pos.#1003658 C3412

Scott CurryEE 3

Pos.#0000483 C3412

Casey LyonNRS 3

Pos.#0000925 C3819

Karen KelleyPEM D

Pos.#0000163 X7006Region 2

32


Drinking Water Program 2017 (34 FTEs)DAVE LELAND

PEM F Pos.#0000957 X7010

Diane WeisAS 1

Pos.#0000977 C0107

Carol MalkaOS 2

Pos.#1000692 C0104

VacantRA 2

Pos.#0000168 C1116

VacantRA 3

Pos.#0000509 C1117

Paul CymbalaRA 3

Pos.#0000902 C1117

Bradley DanielsCS 3

Pos.#0000661 C5248

Charles MichaelCS 3

Pos.#0001141 C5248

VacantRA 1

Pos.#0000962 C1115

Janet BrockRA 1

Pos.#1003664 C1115

Roberta LindgrenRA 1

Pos.#0000903 C1115

Angela WahlquistRA 3

Pos.#1003665 C1117

Michelle Van KleeckCS 3

Pos.#0000662 C5248

Joe CarlsonPEM D

Pos.#0000958 X7006


Pos.#0000717 C0107

Lee KeyesAS 1

Pos.#0000328 C0107

VacantNRS 3

Pos.#0000669 C8503

Michael PerryPA 2

Pos.#0001168 C0861

Tom MitchellEHS 3

Pos.#0000891 C3819

Dottie ReynoldsCS 2

Pos.#0000082 C5247

Adam DeSemplePA 2

Pos.#1003879 C0861

Debra LambethEE 3

Pos.#0000484 C3412

Anthony FieldsPEM D

Pos.#0000669 C8503


Pos.#0000717 C0107

Gregg BairdNRS 3

Pos.#1003667 C8503

VacantEE 3

Pos.#0000976 C3411

Evan HofeldEE 3

Pos.#0000670 C3412

Peter FarrellyEE 3

Pos.#1003668 C3411

Carrie GentryEE 3

Pos.#0000976 C3411

Carolyn ClemensOS 2 (.5 FTE)

Pos.#0000664 C0104

James NusralaEE 3

Pos.#1003660 C3412

Amy A WordNRS 3

Pos.#1003662 C8503

Michelle ByrdNRS 3

Pos.#0001139 C8503

Fred KalishEE 3

Pos.#1003668 C3412

Bill GossEE 3

Pos.#0000162 C3412

Kari SalisPEM D

Pos.#0000317 X7006Region 1

Betsy ParryNRS 3

Pos.#1003661 C8503

Shawn StevensonNRS 3

Pos.#0000663 C8503

Drue EdneyOS 2

Pos.#0001010 C0104

Russ KazmierczakNRS 3

Pos.#1002421 C8503

VacantNRS 4

Pos.#0001140 C8503

Tom PatteeNRS 5

Pos.#0000046 C8505

VacantNRS 3

Pos.#1002415 C8503

Daniel HoughNRS 3

Pos.#1003663 C8503

Jay MacPhersonEE 3

Pos.#1003658 C3412

Scott CurryEE 3

Pos.#0000483 C3412

Casey LyonNRS 3

Pos.#0000925 C3819

Karen KelleyPEM D

Pos.#0000163 X7006Region 2

10


Impacts of reduced staffing

• Unable to regulate Non-EPA systems.

• Data entry backlogs• Compliance schedules

overdue• Limited capacity for:

– Tech review – Emergency preparedness

planning– Program planning and process

improvement

34


Getting ready for Cascadia

• Rule effective January 2018. Applies to PWSs subject to Master Plan (>300 conn.) and in High to Moderate risk zones.– Seismic risk assessment to evaluate

backbone system to serve critical community needs.

– Mitigation plan to identify projects to upgrade the backbone system over a 50 yr period.

• Support for needed infrastructure financing will be a challenge.

35


Next Generation of Operators

Operator Certification Reforms:• Rule changes this fall:

– Restore Op In Training– Eliminate need for “original”

docs– Prorated fees

• Administrative changes:– Combine Op Cert/Backflow in

one unit– Give credit for “related

experience” at Level I– Streamline reciprocity process

36


Developing a Standard:• Health risk reduction and cost

analysis.• MCL Goal, health based,

unenforceable.• MCL, as close to MCLG as

feasible, cost/benefit, enforced.• Treatment technique when

MCL is not feasible.• Review every 6 years.

37

Deciding whether a new Standard is needed:• Unregulated Contaminant

Monitoring• Contaminant Candidate List. • Every 5 yrs evaluate at least 5

contaminants. 3 Criteria:– Health risk– Occurrence– Risk Reduction

Responding to Unregulated Contaminants

Process of developing MCLs is very rigorous


38


Chart1

1976

1979

1987

1989

1991

1992

1995

1998

2000

2001

2002

2006

2007

2013

Year

Year

No. of regulated contaminants

22

23

31

35

62

84

83

90

91

91

91

94

94

94

Sheet1

No of MCLsYear

197622

197923

198731

198935

199162

199284

199583

199890

200091

200191

200291

200694

200794

201394


Responding to Unregulated Contaminants• MCLs based on evaluation of

cost vs benefit in risk reduction.

• EPA has published Health Advisory Levels for some contaminants lacking MCLs.

• HALs only consider potential health impacts, not cost, and are unenforceable.

• Should we treat HALs as de facto MCLs?

39


With Cyanotoxins we did adopt HALs as standards:• Temp Rules as of July 1.• PWS with surface water

sources susceptible to HABs• Surveillance monitoring of raw

water biweekly• Increased frequency with

detections• Public notice if in finished

water• Advisory if exceeds HALs

40



Part 3. Summary

• Drinking Water program facing resource constraints.

• Growing need for infrastructure investment, seismic planning.

• Need to remove barriers for Operators entering the field or State.

• Dealing with unregulated contaminants is a thorny issue.

41


Conclusions

• Public confidence has been damaged by Flint and local events.

• Drinking water is safer than its ever been.

• Need to be transparent to earn public trust.

• Need to invest in resources to meet future challenges.

42


Working together to keep drinking water safe for all Oregonians.

[email protected]

43

Drinking Water Services�Program UpdateOutlinePublic AttitudesPublic Trust in GovernmentPublic Attitudes about Drinking WaterPublic Attitudes about Drinking WaterPublic Attitudes about Drinking WaterPublic Attitudes about Drinking WaterPublic Attitudes about Drinking WaterPublic Attitudes about Drinking WaterPublic Attitudes about Drinking WaterPublic Attitudes about Drinking WaterPart 1. SummarySafe Drinking WaterDrinking Water and Infectious DiseaseDrinking Water TreatmentDrinking Water TreatmentDrinking Water TreatmentDrinking Water Regulation U.S. Waterborne OutbreaksOregon Waterborne Outbreaks Small system compliance in ORReducing exposure to LeadReducing exposure to Lead in SchoolsPercent of Oregon children tested with blood lead level >= 5 ug/dl 2010-2016Portland Crypto Variance RevocationSalem CyanotoxinsPart 2. SummaryChallenges AheadFederal Landscape—Eroded fundingSlide Number 32Slide Number 33Impacts of reduced staffingGetting ready for CascadiaNext Generation of Operators Slide Number 38Responding to Unregulated ContaminantsResponding to Unregulated ContaminantsPart 3. SummaryConclusions

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