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Contemporary Issues in Drinking Water and Wastewater A Quick Guide for Public Officials

Contemporary Issues in Drinking Water and Wastewater A Quick Guide for Public Officials. By Gerald R. Iwan Ph.D. Director, National Environmental Services Center. Why ME ? Director, National Environmental Services Center Academic- Marine, Biology, Fisheries, Ecology, PH

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Contemporary Issues in Drinking Water and Wastewater A Quick Guide for Public Officials

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  1. Contemporary Issues in Drinking Water and Wastewater A Quick Guide for Public Officials By Gerald R. Iwan Ph.D. Director, National Environmental Services Center

  2. Why ME ? • Director, National Environmental Services Center • Academic- Marine, Biology, Fisheries, Ecology, PH • Private Industry- Industrial/Field Toxicology • Municipal Government- NYC Drinking Water • State Government – Ct. Dept. of Public Health • DHS- State’s Representative to GCC • EPA – SWC, Decentralized MOU, Security Gerald Iwan Ph.D. Executive Director, NESC

  3. Leonardo described water as "the vehicle of nature" ("vetturale di natura"), “ Water is indispensable to humans, animals and plants, yet it can also be the instrument of their destruction. Its power is irresistible.”

  4. Plato: (327-437 BC) “The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men” Sextus Julius Frontinus: ( 40-103 AD) “…the duties of water commissioner, an office which concerns not merely the convenience but also the health and even the safety of the City, and which has always been administered by the most eminent men of our State.”

  5. Community Drinking Water and Wastewater Emerging Issues Overriding Societal Considerations: Nationally, we are facing a variety of competing priorities: • Economy (Health Care, Social Security) • Energy (Costs, Alternatives, Efficiencies ) • Workforce(Aging, Interest, Replacement ) • Climate Change (Green, Costs, Location ) • Urbanization vs. Suburbanization(Infrastructure ) • Open Space (Smart Growth, Development ) • Water Allocation/Conservation(Rates, Recreation ) • Security (Costs, Regulations, Attitudes ) • Education(Costs, Focus, Competition)

  6. Community Drinking Water and Wastewater Emerging Issues Community Issues: On the local level concerns are more pragmatic ,related to: • Limited Revenues • Competition for Resources • Attracting / Retaining Skilled Labor • Economic Development Pressure • Ageing Infrastructure, Space, NIMBY • Compliance Issues • Increasing Costs “ It’s all about the money…”

  7. Community Drinking Water and Waste Water Emerging Issues Water and Waste Issues: Specific to Water, State and Local Government is Faced with: • Cost and Complexity Of Compliance ( New Regulations! ) • Increasing O&M Costs (Energy costs !) • Shrinking Workforce With Skills/Training (Boomers!) • Community Growth Pattern Shifts and Demands (Housing !) • Aging Infrastructure, Space, Economic Development Needs • Security, Business Plans, Continuity Of Operations Planning, Mutual Aid, WARNS, Pandemics (Military Conflicts!) • Stimulus Projects ( Deferred costs! O and M) • Public Trust And Confidence, To Compete Priorities “It’s all about the money…”

  8. Top Topics Sustainability Policy • http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/sustain/ • Better Management of Water and Wastewater Utilities, • Rates that Reflect the Full Cost Pricing of Services, • Efficient Water Use, and • Watershed Approachesto Protection. EPA Strategy to Protect America’s Waters “…restore and maintain the Chemical, physical and biological integrity of our Nation’s waters.” • Develop a Baseline • Increase protection • Restore Waters • Reduce Source Pollution • Watershed Resiliency and revitalize Communities

  9. Globalization, Change in the World Order ? Energy Technology Experience Educational Exchange Research Community Engagement Recycling Waste management Shale Gas Meeting Delegates from Poland with WVU Research Faculty

  10. http://forms.erepublic.com/forms/EV-0582 • Green government market • Plans and projects underway • Green building • Energy efficiency • Transportation • Economic development and job creation

  11. U.S. Raises Global Gas Resource Estimates by 40%

  12. Controversial 'Fracking' Comes Under Increased Scrutiny in US • Natural gas extracted from shale is playing an increasingly large role in meeting our nation's energy demand. Some analysts expect shale gas to supply nearly half of the natural gas used in North America by 2020. The Marcellus Shale, an enormous sedimentary rock formation which includes West Virginia, the Pennsylvania and New York sides of the Delaware River as well as a small corner of northwestern New Jersey, is a target for drilling. • Fracking injects millions of gallons of water, sand and chemicals at high pressure down wells (often bored horizontally for greatest effect) to shatter the shale and extract the natural gas. Approximately 90 percent of all new natural gas wells use fracking. It takes about 4 million gallons of water to frack one well. In West Virginia, where the U.S. Department of Energy projects 20,000 wells by the early 2020s, that’s 80 billion of gallons of water from small streams. • 65 commonly used fracking chemicals are hazardous, including formaldehyde, ammonium chloride, acetic anhydride, methanol, and hydrochloric acid

  13. Carbon Sequestration • develop technologies to capture, separate, and store carbon dioxide (CO2) in order to reduce green-house gas emissions without adversely influencing energy use or hindering economic growth. Carbon sequestration technologies capture and store CO2 that would otherwise reside in the atmosphere for long periods of time. • Worldwide CO2 emissions from human activity have increased from an insignificant level two centuries ago to annual emissions of more than 33 billion tons today. The U.S. Energy Information Administration predicts that, if no action is taken, the United States will emit approximately 6,850 million metric tons (7,550 million tons) of CO2 per year by 2030, increasing 2005 emission levels by more than 14 percent.

  14. Green. . .Green. . .Green. . .

  15. So… What do I need to Know? • Social History • Economic History • Public Health • Engineering • Science • Laws and Regulations • Risk Communication • Priorities • Contacts What Don’t I Know ? Where Do I Go for Help?

  16. How to Look Real Smart (Not that you really aren’t already!)Check these resources  • Assoc. of State Drinking Water Administrators www.asdwa.org • American Water Works Association www.awwa.org • USEPA www.epa.gov • Service Providers such as NESC www.nesc.wvu.edu • Local Health Departments Call Your State Drinking Water Administrator for One Stop Shopping and for Your Wastewater Connection !

  17. State Regulatory Positions Reflect Contemporary National Concerns • ARRA priority creates resource constraints, will cost more $. • New rule implementation costs $ • Capacity Development for small systems has long term $ benefits. • SWP partnering and land use $. • Climate change $ and water quantity /growth considerations. • Regulatory programs remain $ underfunded with $ impacts to other state priorities . • New issues of Sustainability and Energy and “Green” Public health protection is first ? HealthEconomy

  18. Be On Good terms with your Health and Environmental Agencies, Because…….

  19. Important web references • http://water.epa.gov/drink/index.cfm • Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water • http://water.epa.gov/aboutow/owm/index.cfm • Office of Wastewater Management • http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/Home.html • USDA Rural Development (Rural Development Rural Utility Services) • http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/LP_EconDevHome.html • Community and Economic Assistance Programs • http://www.dep.wv.gov/WWE/regulations/Pages/default.aspx • WV DEP, Water and Waste • http://www.wvdhhr.org/oehs/ • WV DHHR, Office of Environmental Health Services • www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html • USDA Loan rates • www.nesc.wvu.edu(800) 624-8301 or (304) 293-4191 • National Environmental Services Center, WVU

  20. So, What are the Issues that I can Expect to Hear About ? • Drinking Water Safety • Wastewater Discharge • Drinking Water Quantity • Competition for Water • State/ Local Jurisdiction • Security • Source Water Protection • Infrastructure • Water/Sewage Rates Photo by DAVE GATLEY/FEMA News Photo Private Issues vs. Public Issues When it strikes Home !

  21. “Is My Water Safe To Drink?...Define “Safe”! Safe Drinking Water Act 1974 • Regulations on Risk and Occurrence • MCL’s /MCLG’s and BAT’s • Voluntary vs. Involuntary Risk • Public Notification and CCR’s • Annual Violation Reports • Rules: SRF, SWAP, Pb/CU,GWP, OP Cert, Rads, etc. • “Primacy” means that Primary Enforcement is relegated to States via PWSS Grant process “Enforceable Standards” for PWS

  22. So What About Sewage? Clean Water Act 1970 • NPDES, SPDES and TMDL’s • Municipal WTP’s vs. sub surface discharge • State vs. local control • Non-point sources • All but 2 States (CT and RI) permit discharges to drinking water sources Drinking Water = Clean Wastewater ? Think about it !

  23. Concept of Integration Keep in Mind: • Drinking water and wastewater issues are interrelated ,and for efficiencies and economies should not be viewed as independent of each other. • Community resilience is interdependent with a resilient water infrastructure. • Partnering is essential to capitalize on limited resources and to develop and deliver cost effective contemporary solutions.

  24. Water Quantity (Allocation) Enough for All? Define “ALL” State Jurisdiction..so far but water is a “finite resource” <0.1 % avail., hold the ice because…. • Supplies have ADD problem • Overdevelopment woes • Life style choices can hurt us • Private wells …your problem • Water restrictions vs. rights Cultural/Legal Dilemma

  25. Drought, A Political “Water Hazard” • There’s a drought somewhere • Planning/ infrastructure issue • Drought Response Plan/teams • Economic costs are great and.. • So is the human resource cost • Check utility and Agency prep. • Check on stake holder groups (industry, lawn care, car wash, golf courses, hospitals, media, environmental groups, Ag,etc.) Photo by Scott Bauer, www.ars.usda.gov • It’s not your fault, or is it?Communicate !

  26. State vs. Local Jurisdictions or All Politics Are Loco(al) • Public Health Code sets authority for LHD’s historical home rule. • Water is a Sanitary Practice item. • State provides some LHD assistance, no funding ..usually. • Cost of necessary repairs is a cause of constituent complaint. • Private well contamination and neighbor feuds are a no win. • Town meetings help with facts. Private wells and septic are local

  27. All Hazards Response…Criticality of Water and Wastewater Resilience • Preparedness, response ,recovery has replaced gates ,guards, bullets. • Resilient infrastructure key KI/CR. • Water and wastewater are one of the 18 sectors under the NIPP. • EPA is the Sector Specific Agency. • Presidential Directives,HSPD 5+7 set the criteria for mutual aid. • GCC and SSC produced SSP’s and States implement ERP’s consistent with them through ICS at the EOC. • COOP is critical for the Economy Alphabet Soup, Just Know the Basics !

  28. Pandemic Flu and You!....Achoo! ….refers to a worldwide epidemic involving the spread of a flu virus like H1N1 (Swine Flu) to which few, if any, human beings have previously been exposed. Because of this, a pandemic flu has the potential to cause increased levels of serious illness and death in a very short period of time. The current outbreak in various parts of the world is of concern to health officials because it could lead to an influenza pandemic. http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1FLU/

  29. What to Do About the Flu… Besides Wash My Hands To prepare for a pandemic, governors and state officials must consider not only how to manage the outbreak itself, but also how to maintain critical operations during the outbreak.

  30. While state and local government officials can provide leadership and resources, they cannot provide all of the services required to contain a pandemic outbreak. An effective and comprehensive response to a pandemic with limited medical intervention will require unprecedented coordination and collaboration between a wide range of government and nongovernmental actors…and this requires “resilience”.

  31. SERRI Resilience Definition Resilience: a community or region’scapability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from significant multi-hazard threats with minimum damage to public safety and health, the economy, and national security. • Prevents and mitigates cascading failures, often characteristic of critical infrastructure impacts • Minimizes disruption to life and economies.

  32. Resiliencerecognizes that: reliance on another asset or sector for functionality of certain assets is a dependence and if two assets depend on one another, they are interdependent.

  33. Water Sector Interdependencies SCADA Co-Location Repair/Maintenance Customer Service Repair/maintenance Delivery Electric Power Transportation Op. Center Operations Treatment Chemicals Co-Location Pump/Lift Stations Treatment Facilities Construction Fuel Supply Water Transport to Ops. Center Co-Location Sludge Treatment Natural Gas Health Biological Efficiency Petroleum Liquid Co-Location Telecommunications Back-up Generation Fuel Fuel for Maintenance /Repair Customer Service SCADA Co-Location Operations/Maintenance Repair

  34. WV WARN

  35. WARN Status National Capital Region WARN State Agreement Pending Steering Committee Leadership Team Workshop * AL, AZ, MA, NH, NV - Signed or draft agreement does not directly include private utilities.

  36. National Source Water Protection, www.protectdrinkingwater.org

  37. Watersheds, and Property Rights…Take It Away • “Multiple Barrier Approach” • Historical Sanitary Concerns • No Federal Regulations • Chlorine and “Crypto” • SWTR, Exemption –NYC • SWAP delineated risks • Significant Implementation • NIMBY and Property Rights “Multiple Barrier Approach” To What or to Who ?

  38. What You Don’t See Is What You Get Point Sources are not Non Point Sources of Pollution such as: • Septic Systems, • Storm Water Runoff, • Agricultural and Residential Chemicals, • Atmospheric Deposition,(Rads.) • Erosion and Infiltration …… …which present additional challenges in control. Chesapeake Bay Watershed Get The Point?

  39. USEPA PerspectiveWastewater and Drinking Water MOU Partners for Decentralized Wastewater Management

  40. Concept of Integration Keep in Mind: • Drinking water and waste water issues are interrelated ,and for efficiencies and economies should not be viewed as independent of each other • Community resilience is interdependent with a resilient water infrastructure. • Partnering is essential to capitalize on limited resources and to develop and deliver cost effective contemporary solutions.

  41. Hidden Assets Our Infrastructure • State Revolving Loan Funds (SRF)($1Billion/year) • CWA loans and grants to municipalities • SDWA loans not grants to municipal and investor owned • Ranking of Applicants • Not cost effective • Not customer friendly • Vehicle for the ARRA $ May not be used for growth

  42. Rates, Paying the Piper • Utilities are businesses and need reserves, regardless • Rate payers resist increases, want service, seek champions • “Unfair rate” perception can lead to loss of office • Rates have to address needs and yet be fair…what is “fair”? • Special services should carry more burden, do they? • Municipal “tax” vs., direct billing, which is better for who ? • National Association of Water Companies(NAWC) is http://www.nawc.org stock market savvy…That’s OK!? • Public Utility Control, authority and philosophy combined • Infrastructure crisis is due to unreal priorities and neglect Informed Consent = The Cost of Water

  43. Last Words…for now anyway ! • Acknowledge the work environment • Accept integration of ideas and partners • Know who to call… and call! • Make balanced decisions for the future Gerald Iwan Ph.D. Executive Director, NESC

  44. Supporting Resources Available from NESC Available online for free download at: www.nesc.wvu.edu/ecommerce/index.php • DWCDMG108DL Your Water: Your Decision – A tool for community leaders committed to safe drinking water • DWCDGN82DL Outreach Resource Guide • DWCDGN83DL Resources for Resilience: Helping Your Community Deal with the Unexpected • DWCDPE349DL The Maryland Homework Program–Beyond Recycling • DWCDMG99DL Nonpoint Source Outreach Toolbox • DWCDOM127DL Tech Brief Package Available to order from NESC • DWCDTR18 Operator Basics Training Series

  45. National Environmental Services Center West Virginia UniversityPO Box 6064, Morgantown, WV  26506-6064 Phone:  (800) 624-8301 Email: info@mail.nesc.wvu.edu Web:  www.nesc.wvu.edu

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