Safe Drinking Water Safe Drinking Water What’s New?What’s New?

Spring, 2008Spring, 2008

Drinking Water ProgramDrinking Water ProgramOffice of Environmental Public HealthOffice of Environmental Public Health

Public Health DivisionPublic Health Division

Oregon Department of Human ServicesOregon Department of Human Services

TopicsTopics

Drinking water and public healthDrinking water and public health Public water systemsPublic water systems State/county drinking water State/county drinking water

programprogram EPA drinking water standardsEPA drinking water standards How safe is our drinking water?How safe is our drinking water? Emerging contaminantsEmerging contaminants

Drinking Water Matters!Drinking Water Matters!

Fundamental for healthFundamental for health

Fundamental for quality of lifeFundamental for quality of life

Fundamental for the economyFundamental for the economy

Fundamental for fire protectionFundamental for fire protection

Where Do Drinking Where Do Drinking Water Contaminants Water Contaminants Come From?Come From?

Pollution of the source of supply - Pollution of the source of supply - natural and people-causednatural and people-caused

Water treatment failureWater treatment failure Water treatment chemicalsWater treatment chemicals By-products of water treatmentBy-products of water treatment Water system materials, coatingsWater system materials, coatings Pipe breaks, leaks in storage tanksPipe breaks, leaks in storage tanks Cross connectionsCross connections Plumbing materialsPlumbing materials

Protecting Drinking Protecting Drinking Water from “Source to Water from “Source to

Tap”Tap” Source water selection/protectionSource water selection/protection Water treatmentWater treatment Distribution system protectionDistribution system protection Management and operations Management and operations

competencecompetence

Drinking Water – Who’s Drinking Water – Who’s Involved?Involved? Public Water SystemsPublic Water Systems

– PROVIDE safe waterPROVIDE safe water

State/County Public Health/Partner State/County Public Health/Partner AgenciesAgencies

– ASSURE health standards are metASSURE health standards are met

US EPAUS EPA

– SET standards to protect healthSET standards to protect health

Public Water System -Ground Water Source

Public Water System -Surface Water Source

Oregon Public Water Oregon Public Water Systems Systems

3,620 total public water systems

882

346

1471

921

Community (cities, mobilehome parks)

Semi-residential (schools,employers), nontransientnoncommunity

Transient (campgrounds,parks, restaurants, motels)

Very small systems (4-14connections, 10-24 people),ORS 448

Oregon Public Water Oregon Public Water Systems by SizeSystems by Size

91% of water systems serve fewer than 500 people

7%

91%

0%1%

1% More than 100,000people (4)10,001-100,000people (50)3,301-10,000people (54)501-3,300 people(260)10-500 people(3,252)

Oregon Population Oregon Population Served by Public Water Served by Public Water SystemsSystems

54 large water systems serve 70% of population

337,000

302,000 945,000

1,332,000

305,000

More than 100,000people (4 systems)10,001-100,000people (50)3,301-10,000people (54)501-3,300 people(260)10-500 people(3,252)

Basic Health Basic Health Responsibilities of Public Responsibilities of Public Water Systems Water Systems

Take water samplesTake water samples Report test results Report test results

and treatment dataand treatment data Take action when Take action when

standards not metstandards not met Notify public when Notify public when

standards not metstandards not met Notify public when Notify public when

tests not tests not done/reporteddone/reported

Keep recordsKeep records Maintain minimum Maintain minimum

20 psi pressure20 psi pressure Prepare/submit plansPrepare/submit plans Conduct cross Conduct cross

connection programconnection program Supervision by a Supervision by a

certified operatorcertified operator Respond to user Respond to user

complaintscomplaints

State Drinking Water State Drinking Water Authorities and RulesAuthorities and Rules

ORS 448 – Water SystemsORS 448 – Water Systems OAR 333-061 – Public Water OAR 333-061 – Public Water

SystemsSystems Primacy Agreement with USEPAPrimacy Agreement with USEPA

State/County Drinking State/County Drinking Water ProgramWater Program MissionMission - Assure Oregonians safe - Assure Oregonians safe

drinking waterdrinking water GoalsGoals

– Contamination of public water Contamination of public water systems is prevented or reduced, by systems is prevented or reduced, by protecting drinking water sources protecting drinking water sources and adequately treating waterand adequately treating water

– Water system personnel have Water system personnel have knowledge, skills, and abilities to knowledge, skills, and abilities to produce safe drinking waterproduce safe drinking water

Drinking WaterDrinking Water

GoalsGoals (continued) (continued)– Public water system facilities are Public water system facilities are

adequate to reliably and continuously adequate to reliably and continuously produce safe drinking waterproduce safe drinking water

– Water users are knowledgeable about Water users are knowledgeable about safe drinking water and support their safe drinking water and support their local water supplierlocal water supplier

– All safe drinking water standards are All safe drinking water standards are fully implemented and met by water fully implemented and met by water supplierssuppliers

Drinking Water Drinking Water Advisory Committee Advisory Committee MembersMembers Large water systemsLarge water systems Pacific NW water Pacific NW water

assoc.assoc. OR Assoc. of Water OR Assoc. of Water

UtilitiesUtilities Special districtsSpecial districts CitiesCities Private-owned Private-owned

systemssystems Certified labsCertified labs Engineering firmsEngineering firms

Local health officialsLocal health officials OR Environmental OR Environmental

Health Assoc.Health Assoc. League of Women League of Women

VotersVoters Environmental Environmental

groupsgroups Plumbers/backflow Plumbers/backflow

testerstesters Water consumersWater consumers Watershed councilsWatershed councils

Federal Drinking Federal Drinking Water Authorities and Water Authorities and RulesRules US Environmental Protection AgencyUS Environmental Protection Agency Safe Drinking Water Act Safe Drinking Water Act

– 19741974– 1986 amendments1986 amendments– 1996 amendments1996 amendments

Code of Federal Regulations (40 CFR Code of Federal Regulations (40 CFR parts 141, 142, 143, 149)parts 141, 142, 143, 149)

USEPA FunctionsUSEPA Functions

Establish national drinking water standardsEstablish national drinking water standards Oversee and assist state Primacy programsOversee and assist state Primacy programs Administer grants and work plans of statesAdminister grants and work plans of states Directly oversee tribal water systemsDirectly oversee tribal water systems Directly implement federal drinking water Directly implement federal drinking water

rules until state applies for and receives rules until state applies for and receives PrimacyPrimacy

Which Contaminants Which Contaminants Does EPA Regulate?Does EPA Regulate? May have adverse effect on the health May have adverse effect on the health

of persons, andof persons, and Known or likely to occur in public Known or likely to occur in public

drinking water systems with drinking water systems with frequencies and levels of health frequencies and levels of health concern, andconcern, and

Regulation presents meaningful Regulation presents meaningful opportunity for health risk reduction opportunity for health risk reduction for persons served by public water for persons served by public water systemssystems

Setting Standards - Setting Standards - Health Effects MatterHealth Effects Matter

Acute effectsAcute effects – occur within hours or – occur within hours or days of the time that a person days of the time that a person consumes a contaminant at high consumes a contaminant at high levels. Example: acute gastrointestinal levels. Example: acute gastrointestinal illness.illness.

Chronic effectsChronic effects – occur after people – occur after people consume a contaminant at low levels consume a contaminant at low levels over many years. Examples: cancers, over many years. Examples: cancers, organ damageorgan damage

Setting Standards - Setting Standards - Exposure MattersExposure Matters

Long-term exposureLong-term exposure – same people daily – same people daily (communities, schools, workplaces):(communities, schools, workplaces):– Acute contaminants, andAcute contaminants, and– Chronic contaminantsChronic contaminants

Short-term exposureShort-term exposure – different people – different people daily (campgrounds, parks, motels, daily (campgrounds, parks, motels, restaurants):restaurants):– Acute contaminantsAcute contaminants

EPA bases drinking water exposure on 2 EPA bases drinking water exposure on 2 liters per dayliters per day

Forms of EPA Forms of EPA Drinking Water Drinking Water StandardsStandards Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG)Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) – –

no known or anticipated adverse health no known or anticipated adverse health effects, with margin of safetyeffects, with margin of safety

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL)Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) – – enforceable standard set as close as enforceable standard set as close as feasible to MCLG considering technology, feasible to MCLG considering technology, treatment, cost, field conditionstreatment, cost, field conditions

Treatment Technique (TT)Treatment Technique (TT) – in lieu of MCL – in lieu of MCL when levels can’t be measuredwhen levels can’t be measured

Action Level (AL)Action Level (AL) – triggers action by water – triggers action by water suppliersupplier

EPA Regulations, EPA Regulations, TrendsTrends 1976: 22 regulated contaminants, 20 1976: 22 regulated contaminants, 20

pages of federal rulespages of federal rules 2005: 91 regulated contaminants, 280 2005: 91 regulated contaminants, 280

pages of federal rulespages of federal rules 2008: ___ pages of federal rules2008: ___ pages of federal rules Newer rules are highly complex, Newer rules are highly complex,

“targeted risk”“targeted risk”

91 Regulated Drinking 91 Regulated Drinking Water ContaminantsWater Contaminants 7 Microbials (bacteria, viruses, 7 Microbials (bacteria, viruses,

parasites)parasites) 7 Disinfection by-products 7 Disinfection by-products

(trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids)(trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids) 16 Inorganic chemicals (arsenic, nitrate, 16 Inorganic chemicals (arsenic, nitrate,

lead)lead) 56 Organic chemicals (solvents, 56 Organic chemicals (solvents,

pesticides)pesticides) 5 Radiologic contaminants (uranium)5 Radiologic contaminants (uranium)

Newest Newest EPA Standards EPA Standards (2005-07)(2005-07)

Parasitic microorganisms Parasitic microorganisms ((CryptosporidiumCryptosporidium in source waters) in source waters)

Disinfection by-products (distribution Disinfection by-products (distribution “hot spots”)“hot spots”)

Arsenic (increased protection)Arsenic (increased protection) Groundwater (viruses)Groundwater (viruses) Lead and Copper revisions (improve Lead and Copper revisions (improve

education)education)

Setting Future EPA Setting Future EPA StandardsStandards

Contaminant Candidate ListContaminant Candidate List Unregulated Contaminant MonitoringUnregulated Contaminant Monitoring National Contaminant Occurrence National Contaminant Occurrence

DatabaseDatabase Consider five contaminants every five Consider five contaminants every five

years, regulate or notyears, regulate or not

Contaminant Contaminant Candidate List 3 - 2008Candidate List 3 - 2008 7500 contaminants evaluated7500 contaminants evaluated 104 candidate contaminants listed:104 candidate contaminants listed:

– 11 microbials – waterborne pathogens11 microbials – waterborne pathogens– 93 chemicals93 chemicals

Commercial chemicalsCommercial chemicals Biological toxinsBiological toxins PesticidesPesticides Disinfection by-productsDisinfection by-products

How Safe Is Oregon’s How Safe Is Oregon’s Drinking Water?Drinking Water?

Safer than it was!Safer than it was!

Not as safe as it should Not as safe as it should bebe

Oregon Waterborne Oregon Waterborne Disease Outbreaks Disease Outbreaks (bacteria, viruses, parasites )(bacteria, viruses, parasites )

Total Cases, 26 Outbreaks-7,000 sickened (CDC)

6

32

15

024

68

1012

1416

1970s (federal Act)

1980s (StateAct, Primacy)

1990s (federalrevolving fund)

2000s (newEPA standards)

Decades

Num

ber

of O

utbr

eaks

What’s Accomplished What’s Accomplished in Oregon?in Oregon? Getting surface water sources filtered Getting surface water sources filtered

and disinfectedand disinfected Reducing Lead and copper at the tapReducing Lead and copper at the tap Identifying and reducing inorganicsIdentifying and reducing inorganics Identifying and reducing organicsIdentifying and reducing organics

Unfiltered Water Unfiltered Water Systems Systems (1988-2004)(1988-2004)

Filtration Deadline - 1993

020406080

100120

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

Year

Num

ber

of w

ater

sys

tem

s to

fil

ter

Community Noncommunity

Lead at the Tap Lead at the Tap (1992-2005)(1992-2005)

Lead Rule Deadline - 2000

01020304050607080

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Year

Num

ber

of L

ead

Act

ion

Lev

el E

xcee

denc

es

Top 3 InorganicsTop 3 Inorganics

Contaminant Contaminant (MCL, mg/l)(MCL, mg/l)

No. of No. of detectiondetectionss

No. of water No. of water systemssystems

Low-High Low-High ConcentratioConcentration mg/ln mg/l

Nitrate (10)Nitrate (10) 20702070 436436 3-28.53-28.5

Arsenic (0.010)Arsenic (0.010) 397397 194194 0.010-0.4110.010-0.411

Fluoride (4)Fluoride (4) 2222 1515 2.4-5.92.4-5.9

Top 3 Volatile OrganicsTop 3 Volatile Organics(75 water systems with detections)(75 water systems with detections)

Contaminant (MCL, Contaminant (MCL, mg/l)mg/l)

No. of No. of detectiondetectionss

No. of No. of water water systemssystems

Low-High Low-High ConcentratioConcentration mg/ln mg/l

TetrachloroethylenTetrachloroethylene (0.005)e (0.005)

9999 2121 >0-0.0177>0-0.0177

Xylenes (10)Xylenes (10) 4040 2222 >0-1.86>0-1.86

Toluene (1)Toluene (1) 2626 2525 >0-0.0548>0-0.0548

Top 3 Synthetic Top 3 Synthetic OrganicsOrganics(53 water systems with detections)(53 water systems with detections)

Contaminant Contaminant (MCL, mg/l)(MCL, mg/l)

No. of No. of detectiondetectionss

No. of water No. of water systemssystems

Low-High Low-High ConcentratioConcentration mg/ln mg/l

Phthlalate Phthlalate (0.006)(0.006)

3939 3333 >0-0.25>0-0.25

Ethylene Ethylene Dibromide Dibromide (0.00005)(0.00005)

88 22 >0-0.0016>0-0.0016

PentachlorophePentachlorophenol (0.001)nol (0.001)

77 77 >0-0.0007>0-0.0007

Oregon Drinking Water Oregon Drinking Water Benchmark (#69)Benchmark (#69) Establish goals for safe drinking water Establish goals for safe drinking water

and track/report progress annually to and track/report progress annually to Oregon Progress Board, legislature, Oregon Progress Board, legislature, publicpublic

Two-part benchmark:Two-part benchmark:– PopulationPopulation– Water systemsWater systems

Ties directly to EPA national measures Ties directly to EPA national measures and goals, and allows state-by-state and goals, and allows state-by-state comparisonscomparisons

Benchmark - PopulationBenchmark - Population

% of Oregonians served by community water systems that meet health-based

standards throughout the year

020406080

100

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2011

goal

Perc

ent

Benchmark – Water Benchmark – Water SystemsSystems

% of Oregon community water systems that meet health-based standards

throughout the year

020406080

100

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2011

goal

Perc

ent

What Threats Remain?What Threats Remain?

Chronic diseasesChronic diseases – from long-term exposure to chemicals from long-term exposure to chemicals – increased potential as population grows?increased potential as population grows?

Smaller systemsSmaller systems – don’t reliably meet all health standards all don’t reliably meet all health standards all

the timethe time– increased potential as population grows?increased potential as population grows?

Very small systemsVery small systems– no assistance from state or local programs no assistance from state or local programs

for yearsfor years– increased potential as population grows?increased potential as population grows?

What Threats Remain?What Threats Remain?

Current standardsCurrent standards– Not yet fully implementedNot yet fully implemented

Future standardsFuture standards– Need to implementNeed to implement

Emerging contaminantsEmerging contaminants– Occurrence?Occurrence?– Significance?Significance?

Adding State/County Adding State/County Public Health Capacity Public Health Capacity (2007)(2007)

Approved current fees raised in 2006Approved current fees raised in 2006 Increased general funding,Increased general funding, Authorized sanitary survey inspection Authorized sanitary survey inspection

fee, fee, andand Established statutory Drinking Water Established statutory Drinking Water

Advisory CommitteeAdvisory Committee

The Fully Capable The Fully Capable Program Program

Adopts and implements all EPA rulesAdopts and implements all EPA rules Conducts effective and timely oversight Conducts effective and timely oversight

of all public water systems:of all public water systems:– Large and smallLarge and small– EPA and non-EPAEPA and non-EPA

Addresses and prevents significant Addresses and prevents significant noncompliancenoncompliance

Performs timely sanitary surveys and Performs timely sanitary surveys and assures deficiencies are correctedassures deficiencies are corrected

Assures timely, accurate, and complete Assures timely, accurate, and complete water system datawater system data

Capacity Building Completed Capacity Building Completed ––Setting UpSetting Up

2007-09 legislatively approved budget2007-09 legislatively approved budget Amended county/ag intergovernmental Amended county/ag intergovernmental

agreements for drinking wateragreements for drinking water Adopted sanitary survey inspection feeAdopted sanitary survey inspection fee Revised Oregon Drinking Water Revised Oregon Drinking Water

Benchmark Benchmark Received 2-year Primacy extension from Received 2-year Primacy extension from

EPA for new rulesEPA for new rules

Capacity Building Capacity Building Underway - WorkforceUnderway - Workforce

Organization revisionOrganization revision Unit manager developmental Unit manager developmental

assignmentsassignments Lead worker assignmentsLead worker assignments Recruitment – 11 new FTERecruitment – 11 new FTE Initial state/county staff training Initial state/county staff training

(April and beyond)(April and beyond)

Capacity Building Capacity Building Remaining - By July 09Remaining - By July 09

Adopt EPA rules and apply for Adopt EPA rules and apply for Primacy:Primacy:– Long-term 2 surface water treatment ruleLong-term 2 surface water treatment rule– Stage 2 disinfection by-products ruleStage 2 disinfection by-products rule– Ground water ruleGround water rule

HB 3469 (2007) – Treatment HB 3469 (2007) – Treatment technique variance ruletechnique variance rule

Remaining Drinking Water Remaining Drinking Water Concerns and Issues Concerns and Issues (2009)(2009)

Private wells (arsenic)Private wells (arsenic) Monitoring Oregon’s surface and ground Monitoring Oregon’s surface and ground

waters for potential contaminants waters for potential contaminants identified in drinking water source identified in drinking water source assessments (pilot with DEQ)assessments (pilot with DEQ)– PesticidesPesticides– PharmaceuticalsPharmaceuticals

Flooding and landslides (2007 winter Flooding and landslides (2007 winter storm)storm)

Growth and development outside urban Growth and development outside urban areasareas

Pharmaceuticals in Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water!Drinking Water!

AP survey of 62 large water providers AP survey of 62 large water providers and independent researchersand independent researchers– Pharmaceuticals in 24 systems, serving Pharmaceuticals in 24 systems, serving

~41 million people~41 million people– Antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood Antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood

stabilizers and sex hormonesstabilizers and sex hormones– Detections at very low levels (ppb-ppt)Detections at very low levels (ppb-ppt)

Most detections occur, or are at higher Most detections occur, or are at higher levels, downstream from wastewater levels, downstream from wastewater treatment plantstreatment plants

Portland Drinking Portland Drinking Water SourcesWater Sources

Pharmaceuticals and Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products Personal Care Products (PPCPs)(PPCPs)

Thousands of diverse chemical Thousands of diverse chemical compounds: used by people, pets, and compounds: used by people, pets, and livestocklivestock

Virtually constant loading into the Virtually constant loading into the environmentenvironment

Prescription drug use has increased by Prescription drug use has increased by ~12% since 2003~12% since 2003

Pharmaceuticals and Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products Personal Care Products (PPCPs)(PPCPs)

Includes prescription and over-the-Includes prescription and over-the-counter substancescounter substances– Antibiotics, steroids, synthetic Antibiotics, steroids, synthetic

hormoneshormones– Therapeutic drugs, herbal remediesTherapeutic drugs, herbal remedies– Cosmetics, fragrances, shampoos, sun Cosmetics, fragrances, shampoos, sun

screen additivesscreen additives– Veterinary drugsVeterinary drugs– Feed additives Feed additives

Source of PPCPsSource of PPCPs

Agriculture: Animal Agriculture: Animal waste, feed waste, feed supplementssupplements

Veterinary drug use, Veterinary drug use, especially antibiotics especially antibiotics and steroidsand steroids

Wastewater Wastewater Treatment Facilities Treatment Facilities

Land application of Land application of sludgesludge

PPCPs Not Fully PPCPs Not Fully Metabolized by the Metabolized by the BodyBody

Discarding unused drugs and personal care products down the toilet is a common but poor disposal method.

This drawing shows the pathway between homes and septic or municipal sewage facilities.

Disposal of Drugs -Disposal of Drugs -Federal GuidelinesFederal Guidelines•Take unused, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs out of their original containers and throw them in the trash.•Mixing prescription drugs with an undesirable substance, such as used coffee grounds or kitty litter, and putting them in impermeable, non-descript containers, such as empty cans or sealable bags, will further ensure the drugs are not diverted.•Drug take-back programs!!!!

USGS Reconnaissance USGS Reconnaissance Study 1999-2000: 139 Study 1999-2000: 139 StreamsStreams

PPCPs in 1999-2000 PPCPs in 1999-2000 Reconnaissance StudyReconnaissance Study

Surface Water Surface Water (139)(139)

Groundwater Groundwater (47)(47)

Drinking Drinking WaterWater

(74)(74)

Non-DrugsNon-Drugs 81%81% 15%15% 64%64%

AntibioticsAntibiotics 48%48% 26%26% 26%26%

PharmaceuticalsPharmaceuticals 32%32% 6%6% 23%23%

MetabolitesMetabolites 69%69% 43%43% 19%19%

DEETDEET 74%74% 35%35% 19%19%

CaffeineCaffeine 71%71% 11%11% 54%54%

Treatment Treatment EffectivenessEffectiveness

Major source is from wastewater Major source is from wastewater treatment plant effluent discharged to treatment plant effluent discharged to surface watersurface water

Surface water treatment, study evaluatedSurface water treatment, study evaluated– Conventional/Direct filtrationConventional/Direct filtration– Slow sandSlow sand– Variety of coagulants/conditionersVariety of coagulants/conditioners

Limited ability to remove these chemicalsLimited ability to remove these chemicals

Ranking of Treatment Ranking of Treatment Methods Removal of Methods Removal of PPCPsPPCPs1.1. Reverse Osmosis (RO)Reverse Osmosis (RO)2.2. NanofiltrationNanofiltration3.3. Advanced Oxidation (AOP)Advanced Oxidation (AOP)4.4. Granular Activated Carbon (GAC)Granular Activated Carbon (GAC)5.5. OzoneOzone6.6. ChlorineChlorine7.7. Micro/UltrafiltrationMicro/Ultrafiltration8.8. UVUV

Pesticides and PPCPs in Pesticides and PPCPs in Drinking WaterDrinking Water

Concentrations of many of these Concentrations of many of these chemicals are very low, in the ng to ug chemicals are very low, in the ng to ug rangerange

Generally more than one contaminant Generally more than one contaminant in any given water sourcein any given water source

Human health impacts at these low Human health impacts at these low concentrations unknown but probably concentrations unknown but probably lowlow

Studies lacking however, and possible Studies lacking however, and possible health impacts of additive or health impacts of additive or synergistic effects uncertainsynergistic effects uncertain

Pesticides and PPCPs in Pesticides and PPCPs in Drinking WaterDrinking Water

Regulation of these chemicals via the Regulation of these chemicals via the SDWA in the near future?SDWA in the near future?

Impact on aquatic organisms higher Impact on aquatic organisms higher because of constant exposurebecause of constant exposure

Conventional treatment is not an Conventional treatment is not an effective barrier for these compoundseffective barrier for these compounds

For More Information!For More Information!

971-673-0405971-673-0405

oregon.gov/dhs/ph/dwporegon.gov/dhs/ph/dwp