Water Quality Update HIST ORY, RU LES, A ND WAT ER SYST EM - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

HIST ORY, RU LES, A ND WAT ER SYST EM RESPONSE

Water Quality Update

Health Effects of Lead

Lead serves no useful purpose in the human body, and its presence can lead to toxic effects.

 In children, lead exposure can result in:

 Behavior problems  Learning disabilities  Problems with physical development

 Adults exposed to lead may experience:

 Neurological problems  Kidney problems  Hypertension  Reproductive issues

How Does Lead Get Into Drinking Water?

When pipes or fixtures containing lead corrode, such as when water has high acidity or low mineral content, lead can enter the drinking water.

 Most common problems:

 Brass or chrome-plated brass faucets  Pipes and fixtures with lead solder

 Houses built before 1986 are more likely to have lead

pipes, fixtures, and solder.

Regulation History

June 1986 SDWA Amendments Signed 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act August 1988 Deadline to meet lead ban June 1991 Original LCR promulgated August 1996 SDWA Amendments signed August 1998 Deadline to meet new “lead free” definition January 2000 LCR Minor Revisions promulgated October 2007 LCR Short Term Revisions promulgated January 2011 Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act signed December 2013 Community Fire Safety Act signed January 2014 Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act takes effect 2017 LCR Long Term Revisions (projected)

Flint, Michigan Lead Crisis

 Water Source Change From Lake Huron to Flint River

 Surface water source – constant environmental impact  Flint River water contains a concentration of chloride ion that is 9 times greater

than Lake Huron

 Water Treatment

 No corrosion control treatment was added to the water from the Flint River

 Infrastructure

 About half of the service lines leading to the homes in Flint were constructed of lead

 Regulation

 The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality incorrectly interpreted the

Lead and Copper Rule

 MDEQ and MDHHS waited to involve EPA and resisted returning to the Detroit

water system

 Management

 The decision to change water supply was made to save $5 M  Water quality complaints began soon after the water supply change

Differences Between Flint and Tallahassee

 Tallahassee Water Source

 Floridan Aquifer  Groundwater source, not subject to runoff or surface water

intrusion

 Naturally non-corrosive

 pH of 7.2-7.6  Consistent temperature of 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit  Average hardness of 156 mg/l  Average chlorides of 6 ppm (secondary standard = 250 ppm)

 Water Treatment

 Source, system, and home sampling results indicated that

treatment for corrosion control is not necessary.

City of Tallahassee Corrosivity Analysis

LSI Corrosion / Scale Forming Potential

• 4

Severe Corrosion

• 3

Moderate Corrosion

• 2

Moderate Corrosion

• 1

Mild Corrosion

• 0.5

None-Mild Corrosion Near Balanced 0.5 Faint Scale 1 Mild Scale 2 Mild-Moderate Scale 3 Moderate Scale 4 Severe Scale

Differences Between Flint and Tallahassee

 Infrastructure

 In advance of the LCR in 1991, the City identified lead piping and lead home

service lines and removed them.

 Regulation

 Required monitoring – triennial tap sampling at 50 homes/businesses  Compliance inspections annually and Sanitary Surveys every 3-5 years  Water quality monitoring and reporting  Most recent lead sampling indicated that lead is not an issue in the COT water

system

 Management

 Budgeting – supported by the Water Master Plan (nearly $50 M approved)  Aging infrastructure replacement program  Master Plan (downtown area pipe replacement)  Galvanized and older pipe replacement program  Government “in the sunshine”  AWWA “Best Tasting Drinking Water”

Setting the Standard for Excellence

 2014 FDEP Sanitary Survey

“Again this year, as in the last several years, notice was taken as to the sense of ownership and pride among the operating staff…”

 Voted “Best Tasting Drinking Water” by

 2008 – Regional and State-wide Winner  2015 – Regional and State-wide Winner  2016 – Regional and State-wide Winner