Environmental Impacts of Non-Treatment Discharges From Drinking Water Utilities

266 Pages·2007·4.61 MB·English

Environmental Impacts of
Non-Treatment Discharges
From Drinking Water Utilities
Subject Area:
Environmental Leadership

Environmental Impacts of
Non-Treatment Discharges
From Drinking Water Utilities
©2007 AwwaRF. All Rights Reserved.
About the Awwa Research Foundation
The Awwa Research Foundation (AwwaRF) is a member-supported, international, nonprofit organization
that sponsors research to enable water utilities, public health agencies, and other professionals to provide
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©2007 AwwaRF. All Rights Reserved.
Environmental Impacts of
Non-Treatment Discharges
From Drinking Water Utilities
Prepared by:
Ramesh Narasimhan and Harish Arora
Narasimhan Consulting Services Inc.
3660 N. 3rd Street, Phoenix, AZ 85012
Jointly sponsored by:
Awwa Research Foundation
6666 West Quincy Avenue, Denver, CO 80235-3098
and
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, DC 20460
Published by:
©2007 AwwaRF. All Rights Reserved.
DISCLAIMER
This study was jointly funded by the Awwa Research Foundation (AwwaRF), and the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (USEPA) under Cooperative Agreement No. R82967901. AwwaRF and USEPA assume
no responsibility for the content of the research study reported in this publication or for the opinions or
statements of fact expressed in the report. The mention of trade names for commercial products does not
represent or imply the approval or endorsement of AwwaRF or USEPA. This report is presented solely for
informational purposes.
Copyright © 2007
by Awwa Research Foundation
All Rights Reserved
Printed in the U.S.A.
©2007 AwwaRF. All Rights Reserved.
CONTENTS
LIST OF TABLES.................................................................................................................... ix
LIST OF FIGURES.................................................................................................................. xi
FOREWORD............................................................................................................................ xiii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS........................................................................................................ xv
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...................................................................................................... xvii
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION............................................................................................ 1
Preface........................................................................................................................... 1
Background................................................................................................................... 1
Water System Operational Considerations .................................................................. 2
Summary of Research Approach ................................................................................. 2
Objectives..................................................................................................................... 2
Report Organization...................................................................................................... 3
CHAPTER 2: REGULATORY REVIEW .............................................................................. 5
Introduction................................................................................................................... 5
Regulatory Framework................................................................................................. 5
Water Quality Standards............................................................................................... 6
Future Regulatory Considerations................................................................................ 7
Regulatory Information Synopsis................................................................................. 7
Regulatory Survey........................................................................................................ 9
CHAPTER 3: CURRENT UTILITY PRACTICES................................................................ 11
Utility Survey................................................................................................................ 11
Monitoring and Reporting Requirements..................................................................... 11
Planned Discharges........................................................................................... 11
Emergency and Unplanned Discharges............................................................ 12
Reporting Requirements .................................................................................. 12
Concerns With Water Quality Standards Compliance...................................... 12
Monitoring Parameters...................................................................................... 12
Typical Monitoring Frequencies....................................................................... 12
Types of BMPs Used ....................................................................................... 13
Discharge to MS4 Systems............................................................................... 13
Frequency of Discharges and Their Regulation................................................ 13
Regional Considerations............................................................................................... 14
Pacific Northwest.............................................................................................. 14
Far West............................................................................................................ 14
Southwest.......................................................................................................... 15
South................................................................................................................. 15
Southeast .......................................................................................................... 15
v
©2007 AwwaRF. All Rights Reserved.
North................................................................................................................. 15
Midwest............................................................................................................. 15
Northeast........................................................................................................... 16
Key Issues From Utility Workshop.................................................................. 16
CHAPTER 4: UTILITY CASE STUDIES.............................................................................. 19
Introduction................................................................................................................... 19
Field Testing Program .................................................................................................. 19
Characterization of NTDs at Each Case Study Utility.................................................. 22
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California......................................... 22
Portland Water Bureau ..................................................................................... 24
City of Phoenix, Arizona ................................................................................. 27
District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority............................................ 29
Contra Costa Water District.............................................................................. 31
Golden State Water Company.......................................................................... 32
Arizona American Water Company.................................................................. 34
Toxicity Test Results.................................................................................................... 35
Summary of Findings.................................................................................................... 36
Disinfection Water............................................................................................ 36
Hydrant Flushing.............................................................................................. 36
Reservoir/Tank Overflows................................................................................ 37
Tank Drains....................................................................................................... 37
Well Pumpouts.................................................................................................. 37
CHAPTER 5: BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR NON-TREATMENT
DISCHARGES................................................................................................................... 39
Introduction................................................................................................................... 39
NTD Prevention and Minimization BMPs................................................................... 39
Treatment BMPs........................................................................................................... 39
Dechlorination of NTDs................................................................................... 40
Dechlorination of Superchlorinated NTDs....................................................... 40
Dechlorination of NTDs With Normal Levels of Disinfectant......................... 41
Dechlorination Devices..................................................................................... 41
Sediment Removal and Management........................................................................... 42
Temporary Erosion Control BMPs................................................................... 42
Permanent Erosion Control BMPs.................................................................... 43
Comparison of Temporary and Permanent Erosion Protection Measures........ 43
Implement, Inspect, and Maintain Pollution Controls...................................... 43
Erosion Control BMPs for Non-Facility Specific Discharges ......................... 44
Remedial Repair Measures for Eroded Areas .................................................. 44
Water Storage Tank and Reservoir BMPs.................................................................... 45
Overflow BMPs................................................................................................ 45
Drainage and Maintenance BMPs.................................................................... 45
Routine Inspections .......................................................................................... 46
General Well Pumpout BMPs ...................................................................................... 46
Preventive Maintenance.................................................................................... 46
General BMPs for Well Pumpouts................................................................... 46
vi
©2007 AwwaRF. All Rights Reserved.
Summary of Recommended BMPs............................................................................... 49
Summary of Reference Documents.............................................................................. 49
Guidance Manual for Disposal of Chlorinated Water...................................... 49
Guidelines for Development of BMP Manual for Drinkin g
Water System Releases............................................................................... 52
Additional Publications..................................................................................... 53
CHAPTER 6: GUIDANCE FOR UTILITIES AND REGULATORY AGENCIES.............. 55
Introduction................................................................................................................... 55
Environmental Impacts of NTDs.................................................................................. 55
Development of an Overall Permitting Strategy........................................................... 55
Disposal Priority for NTDs........................................................................................... 56
Discharge Priority............................................................................................. 56
Sanitary Sewer ................................................................................................. 56
Storm Sewer ..................................................................................................... 57
Waters of the U.S. ............................................................................................ 57
Regional Issues............................................................................................................. 57
Discharge Management Procedures for Flushing Activities........................................ 58
Planning ........................................................................................................... 58
Notification ...................................................................................................... 59
Flushing Procedures.......................................................................................... 59
Discharge Management ................................................................................... 59
Discharge Management Procedures for Water Main Breaks........................................ 61
Incident Log...................................................................................................... 61
Notification ...................................................................................................... 61
Discharge Management.................................................................................... 62
Discharge Management Procedures for Water Main Repairs....................................... 63
Repair Planning ................................................................................................ 63
Notification ...................................................................................................... 63
Repair Procedures ............................................................................................ 63
Repair Testing .................................................................................................. 63
Disinfection ...................................................................................................... 64
Discharge Management ................................................................................... 64
Discharge Management Procedures for Well Pumpouts and Maintenanc e
Activities................................................................................................................. 65
Planning ........................................................................................................... 65
Notification ...................................................................................................... 65
Discharge Procedures ....................................................................................... 65
Discharge Management ................................................................................... 66
Discharge Management Procedures for Reservoir/Tank Drains and Maintenanc e
Activities................................................................................................................. 68
Planning ........................................................................................................... 68
Notification ...................................................................................................... 68
Discharge Procedures ....................................................................................... 68
Discharge Management ................................................................................... 69
vii
©2007 AwwaRF. All Rights Reserved.
Discharge Management Procedures for Tank Overflows and Relief Valv e
Releases................................................................................................................... 70
Planning............................................................................................................ 70
Incident Log...................................................................................................... 71
Notification ...................................................................................................... 71
Discharge Management.................................................................................... 72
Discharge Management Procedures for Hydrostatic Testing and Disinfectio n
Waters..................................................................................................................... 73
Planning ........................................................................................................... 73
Notification....................................................................................................... 73
Hydrostatic Testing and Disinfection Procedures ............................................ 73
Discharge Management ................................................................................... 74
Discharge Management Procedures for Contaminated Water Disposal....................... 75
Notification....................................................................................................... 76
Discharge Management.................................................................................... 76
Recommendations for Monitoring and Reporting ....................................................... 77
Recommended Training Programs............................................................................... 78
REFERENCES......................................................................................................................... 81
ABBREVIATIONS.................................................................................................................. 83
APPENDICES A–K (ON CD-ROM PACKAGED WITH THE PRINTED REPORT)
APPENDIX A: STATE AND REGIONAL NTD PERMITTING CRITERI A
AND AGENCY CONTACT LIST..................................................................................... A-1
APPENDIX B: STATE REGULATORY SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE.............................. B-1
APPENDIX C: STATE REGULATORY SURVEY RESPONSES........................................ C-1
APPENDIX D: UTILITY QUESTIONNAIRE........................................................................ D-1
APPENDIX E: UTILITY RESPONSES.................................................................................. E-1
APPENDIX F: SUMMARY OF STAKEHOLDER WORKSHOPS....................................... F-1
APPENDIX G: HISTORICAL WATER QUALITY DATA SUMMARIES.......................... G-1
APPENDIX H: NTD CASE STUDY MONITORING RESULTS ......................................... H-1
APPENDIX I: COMPARISON OF NTD DATA ACROSS WATER SYSTEMS.................. I-1
APPENDIX J: TOXICITY TESTING RESULTS................................................................... J-1
APPENDIX K: DESCRIPTION OF BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES......................... K-1
viii
©2007 AwwaRF. All Rights Reserved.