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The Safe Drinking Water Program in Oregon

Learn about the goals, organization, and implementation of the Safe Drinking Water Program in Oregon. Find information about public water systems, EPA regulations, and the importance of safe drinking water for health and the economy.

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The Safe Drinking Water Program in Oregon

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  1. The Safe Drinking Water Program in Oregon Spring, 2008 Drinking Water Program Office of Environmental Public Health Public Health Division Oregon Department of Human Services

  2. Topics • Organization/Mission/Goals • Drinking water and public health • Public water systems • State/county drinking water program • EPA drinking water program • How safe is our drinking water? • Implementing the fully capable state/county program

  3. State Organization • Department of Human Services • Public Health Division • Office of Environmental Public Health • Drinking Water Program • Work Units • Partners

  4. Department Mission Helping People to Become: • Independent • Healthy • Safe

  5. Department Goals • People are healthy • People are living as independently as possible • People are safe • People are able to support themselves and their families

  6. Department Core Values • Integrity • Stewardship • Responsibility • Respect • Professionalism

  7. Department Facts • Created in 1971 • 9,400 staff • 5 Divisions • 250 programs • $12 B biennial budget • Director – Dr. Bruce Goldberg

  8. Divisions • Children, Adults, and Families • Addictions and Mental Health • Public Health • Medical Assistance • Seniors and People with Disabilities

  9. Public Health Division Mission: Protect and promote the health of all the people of Oregon: • Protect individuals and communities against the spread of disease, injuries, and environmental hazards • Promote and encourage healthy behaviors • Respond to disasters and assist communities in recovery • Assure the quality and accessibility of health services

  10. Division Facts • Created in 1971 from State Board of Health • Headed by State Public Health Director and State Health Officer • 600 staff • Local health department partners • 8 Division Offices

  11. Division Facts • 40% of DHS programs • $464M biennial budget (4% of DHS budget) • 70% federal funds • 19% other funds • 11% general funds

  12. Division Offices • Public Health Director – Mike Skeels • Public Health Laboratory – Mike Skeels • Family Health – Katherine Bradley • Community Health and Health Planning – Grant Higginson • Environmental Public Health – Gail Shibley • Disease Prevention and Epidemiology – Mel Kohn • Communications – Bonnie Widerburg • Multicultural Health – James Mason

  13. Environmental Public Health • Mission - Assure statewide control of environmental hazards • 120 staff • 4 programs • 30 major program functions • $24M budget for 2007-09 • 57% federal funds • 24% other funds (fees) • 19% state general funds

  14. Environmental Public Health Programs • OEPH Administrator – Gail Shibley • Exec Assistant – Britt Duba • Program Support Manager – Jeff Carlson • Office Manager – Tara Robinson • Drinking Water – Dave Leland • Toxicology, Assessment and Tracking – Jae Douglas • Food, Pool, Lodging – Eric Pippert • Radiation Protection – Terry Lindsey

  15. Drinking Water • Mission - Assure Oregonians safe drinking water • Goals • Contamination of public water systems is prevented or reduced, by protecting drinking water sources and adequately treating water • Water system personnel have knowledge, skills, and abilities to produce safe drinking water

  16. Drinking Water • Goals (continued) • Public water system facilities are adequate to reliably and continuously produce safe drinking water • Water users are knowledgeable about safe drinking water and support their local water supplier • All safe drinking water standards are fully implemented and met by water suppliers

  17. Drinking Water Matters! • Fundamental for health • Fundamental for quality of life • Fundamental for the economy • Fundamental for fire protection

  18. Where Do Drinking Water Contaminants Come From? • Pollution of the source of supply - natural and people-caused • Water treatment failure • Water treatment chemicals • By-products of water treatment • Water system materials, coatings • Pipe breaks, leaks in storage tanks • Cross connections • Plumbing materials

  19. Protecting Drinking Water from “Source to Tap” • Source water selection/protection • Water treatment • Distribution system protection • Management and operations competence

  20. Drinking Water Roles • Public Water Systems • PROVIDE safe water • State/County Public Health/Partner Agencies • ASSURE health standards are met • US EPA • SET standards to protect health

  21. Public Water System State Definition • A system for the provision of water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances, serving: • at least 4 service connections, or • water to public or commercial premises used by at least 10 individuals daily at least 60 days each year

  22. Public Water System Federal Definition • A system for the provision of water to the public of water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances, if such system has at least 15 service connections or regularly serves at least 25 individuals.

  23. Public Water System Federal Definition • Such system includes: • Any collection, treatment, storage, and distribution facilities under control of the operator of such system and used primarily in connection with such system, and • any collection or pretreatment storage facilities not under such control which are used primarily in connection with such system

  24. Public Water System - Ground Water Source

  25. Public Water System - Surface Water Source

  26. Oregon Public Water Systems

  27. Oregon Public Water Systems by Size

  28. Oregon Population Served by Public Water Systems

  29. State Drinking Water Authorities and Rules • ORS 448 – Water Systems • OAR 333-061 – Public Water Systems • Primacy Agreement with USEPA

  30. Take water samples Report test results and treatment data Take action when standards not met Notify public when standards not met Notify public when tests not done/reported Keep records Maintain minimum 20 psi pressure Prepare/submit plans Conduct cross connection program Supervision by a certified operator Respond to user complaints Basic Health Responsibilities of Public Water Systems

  31. Drinking Water Program History • 1970s – Community waterborne disease outbreaks in Oregon, 26 state positions, OAR 333-42 Domestic Water Supply Systems • 1974 – federal Safe Drinking Water Act • 1977 – Legislature declines Primacy for EPA program, phases out state program. EPA staffs Oregon office. • 1977-81 – Outbreaks continue • 1981 – Oregon Drinking Water Quality Act passed, 11 new state staff, county contracts established, drinking water advisory committee started, MOU with EPA

  32. Drinking Water Program History • 1983 – 4 more staff, regional offices • 1984 – First issue, PIPELINE newsletter • 1986 – Oregon Primacy, 9 more staff • 1987 – Mandatory operator certification • 1991 – OR Safe Drinking Water Funding Program established, but not funded • 1997 – EPA Safe Drinking Water Revolving Fund established in Oregon • 1999 – Drinking water website

  33. Drinking Water Program History • 2001 – Mandatory certification of small water system operators • 2004 – Oregon environmental lab accreditation established • 2007 – Public health capacity obtained for fully capable state/county program, 11 new staff and more county funding • 2007-09 – Implementation!

  34. State/County Drinking Water Program Functions • Sanitary survey inspections • Regulatory assistance and training • Compliance assurance • Emergency response planning • Investigation and response on contamination incidents • Non-EPA public systems

  35. State Program Functions • Drinking water revolving loan fund • Data management • Technical, managerial, financial capacity development • Backflow prevention • Coordination with other agencies • Technical assistance

  36. State Program Functions • Enforcement • Operator certification • Source water assessment and protection • Plan review • Lab certification • Public outreach and education

  37. State Program Functions • Private wells • Stakeholder participation • Security • Natural disaster response • Special studies and projects? • State public health standards?

  38. Drinking Water Program Facts • 36 current staff, plus 11 new positions for 07-09 • Partner agreements: • Local health departments and OR Agriculture Dept. (oversee water systems) • OR Economic and Community Development Dept. (manage revolving loan fund) • OR Dept. of Environmental Quality (protect drinking water sources) • $15 M biennial program budget (07-09)

  39. Drinking Water Organization • Work units • Technical Services Region 1- Chris Hughes • Technical Services Region 2 – Karen Kelley • Data Management, Compliance and Enforcement – Joe Carlson • Protection, Planning and Certification – Ron Hall • Partners • Counties • Agencies • Contractors • Stakeholders

  40. Role of Managers in DHS • Plan and achieve results • Communicate • Serve customers • Manage resources • Foster teamwork • Exert leadership • Be culturally competent • Manage people

  41. Role of Lead Workers • Orient new employees • Assign and reassign tasks • Give direction on procedures • Transmit established performance standards • Review work • Informal assessments of employee performance to supervisor

  42. Drinking Water Advisory Committee • Formed in 1981 by Division Director • Authorized by legislature in 2007 (SB 156) • Purpose – advise and assist DHS on policies related to protection, safety, and regulation of public drinking water in Oregon • 15 members appointed by State Public Health Officer • 3-year terms • Meets quarterly

  43. Large water systems Pacific NW water assoc. OR Assoc. of Water Utilities Special districts Cities Private-owned systems Certified labs Engineering firms Local health officials Environmental Health Assoc. League of Women Voters Environmental groups Plumbers/backflow testers Water consumers Watershed councils Drinking Water Advisory Committee Members

  44. Drinking Water Advisory Committee Accomplishments • Program goals and objectives • Implementation of drinking water revolving fund • Review of rule proposals • Legislative and budget guidance and support

  45. Drinking Water Program Funding (07-09) • Federal funds (grants from EPA) • Primacy • Revolving loan fund (4 set-asides, 31% max) • Counterterrorism • Operator certification/training • State general funds (legislature) • Other funds (fees) • Plan review • Operator certification • Backflow prevention • Sanitary survey inspections

  46. 2007-09 Program Revenue by Fund Type ($15M)

  47. 2007-09 Program Revenue by Fund Source ($15M)

  48. 2007-09 Program Expenditures by Type ($15M)

  49. Safe Drinking Water Loans to Communities • $138 M to 79 communities since 1996 • $8.5 M per year for capital projects • 20% state match (by OECDD) • Annual use plan (by PHD) • Projects prioritized by public health need (by PHD) • Options for disadvantaged communities

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