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Waterborne Contaminants

Waterborne Contaminants. Office of Environmental Public Health Drinking Water Section Deanna Conners, Environmental Toxicologist Pete Farrelly, Regional Engineer, EIT March 2008. Threats to water quality Chemical (e.g., metals, pesticides, petroleum) Physical (e.g., turbidity)

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Waterborne Contaminants

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  1. Waterborne Contaminants Office of Environmental Public Health Drinking Water Section Deanna Conners, Environmental Toxicologist Pete Farrelly, Regional Engineer, EIT March 2008

  2. Threats to water quality Chemical (e.g., metals, pesticides, petroleum) Physical (e.g., turbidity) Biological (e.g., pathogens, harmful algae) Safe Drinking Water Act (1974)  MCLs Priorities? Waterborne ContaminantsOverview Threats MCLs Violations Bull Run Watershed, OR

  3. Waterborne ContaminantsContaminant Priorities Water quality violations for public water systems in Oregon during July, August and September 2007. # of Violations

  4. Definition – a group of bacteria that commonly reside in the intestinal tracts of warm-blooded animals Sources Natural – wildlife feces Anthropogenic – human sewage, livestock and pet waste Health Effects – not a direct heath threat but may indicate the presence of other pathogens (e.g., salmonella, Norwalk virus) Acute gastrointestinal effects – vomiting and diarrhea Susceptible sub-populations – immunocompromised MCL = no more than 5 % positive if  40 samples per month (if < 40 samples, no more than one positive sample per month) Waterborne ContaminantsTotal Coliforms

  5. Definition – a variety of inorganic and organic chemicals that form during the reaction between drinking water disinfectants and other components of water Sources Health Effects – many are carcinogenic, chlorite causes neurodevelopmental toxicity MCLs Haloacetic acids = 0.06 mg/L Total Trihalomethanes = 0.08 mg/L Waterborne ContaminantsDisinfection Byproducts (DBPs) DBPs Bromate Chlorite Haloacetic acids Trihalomethanes Disinfectant and Reactant Ozone + Bromide Chlorine dioxide + Water Chlorine + Organic matter Chlorine + Organic matter

  6. Definition – inorganic chemical contaminant Sources Natural – nitrogen fixation Anthropogenic – sewage, animal waste and fertilizers Health Effects – methemoglobinemia Susceptible sub-population - infants MCL = 10 mg/L N O O O Waterborne ContaminantsNitrates (NO3) Red blood cells and hemoglobin

  7. Definition – inorganic chemical element; metalloid Sources Natural – erosion of natural deposits; can be high in groundwater near areas of geothermal activity Anthropogenic – fossil fuels, historically used pesticides Health Effects – skin damage - carcinogen MCL = 0.01 mg/L Waterborne ContaminantsArsenic

  8. Definition – inorganic chemical elements; metals Sources Natural – erosion of natural deposits Anthropogenic – corrosion of plumbing Health Effects Lead – neurodevelopment in children Copper – liver and kidney damage MCLs Lead = 0.015 mg/L action level Copper = 1.3 mg/L action level Waterborne ContaminantsLead and Copper

  9. Definition – a wide variety of carbon containing compounds (e.g., petroleum products, pesticides, solvents) Sources – depends on OC Health Effects – depends on OC MCL = depends on OC Waterborne ContaminantsOrganic Chemicals (OCs) If questions  OEPH Toxicologists Dr. Deanna Conners, 3-0444 Dr. Michael Holcomb, 3-0494 Dr. David Farrer, 3-0971

  10. SAMPLING of WATERBORNE CONTAMINANTS Drinking Water Section Office of Environmental Public Health March 2008

  11. Sample Handling Sample Frequency Contaminants Common Problems Presentation Issues

  12. Waterborne Disease Outbreak Causes From August 2006 Access AWWA

  13. Regulatory RequirementPROVIDE SAFE WATER! • Water System is ultimately responsible • Must report on-time • Must report in appropriate format

  14. Multiple Barrier Approach

  15. What to Sample & Where? • Raw Source Water: • Well, or • River Raw Water Coliforms Raw Turbidity Filtered Turbidity Treatment SOC VOC IOC As NO3 Rads Chlorine Residual Entry Point Distribution Coliforms DBPs Chlorine Residual Kitchen Taps Lead & Copper

  16. Violations Perspective 05-07 % 17% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10%

  17. Questions???Start Talking.

  18. Pete Farrelly Regional Engineer Portland Office 971.673.0462 peter.r.farrelly@state.or.us Deanna Connors Environmental Toxicologist Portland Office 971.673.0444 deanna.conners@state.or.us Welcome to the Office of Environmental Public Health

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