Chloramination, Lewiston & Auburn s First Year

Transcription

1 Chloramination, Lewiston & Auburn s First Year June 8 & 15, 2010 Mary Jane Dillingham Water Quality Manager Auburn Water District & Lewiston Water Division

2 Background Auburn Water District 1 st DBP violation HAA5 4 th Qtr 2002 RAA = 65 ppb, 3 more quarters over 60 ppb for RAA Notified customers 11/17/03 Switching to chloramines December 10, 2003 Lewiston Water Division 1 st DBP violation HAA5 1 st Qtr 2006 RAA = 62 ppb, already chloraminating March 1, 2006 switched to chloramines as primary disinfectant

3 Preparing for Chloramines Violation notices - included information about what was being planned to remediate the high HAA5 Trustees and Councilors informed at regular meetings Gave the office staff, who were in contact with the public, information to be able to help the public understand Gave the crews information including operator training and handouts for reference Got the Media involved Critical Customers - Contacted (phone and letters) the Kidney Centers, Aquarium Supply Stores, Hospitals, Veterinarians, Industrial Users, Restaurants, Home Dialysis patients

4 Media Headlines Water Problem Not Acute February 16, 2003 Editorial Define Actual Threat Sunday, February 16, The average customer doesn t know what haloacetic acids are, what maximum contaminant levels are or how the district controls disinfections by-products. However, they know what cancer is. Drinking water system considered March 20, 2003 District discusses clearing water contamination April 16, 2003 Water District gives contract to Topsham company May 23, 2003 District unveils plans for water treatment facility August 2003 Higher quality water: New treatment method sprurs new precautions November 24, 2003

5 The Reaction to the Violation Notices Public was alarmed mostly at the required language parts Some rumors that the other system was also out of compliance Rumors that the water was not drinkable

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7 Important Information for Aquarium/ Pond Owners From the Auburn Water District Auburn Water District will begin using chloramines, in addition to chlorine, to disinfect the water it produces. The result will be a higher quality of drinking water. Here are some important things aquarium and pond owners need to know. Unlike chlorine, chloramines cannot be removed from water by boiling or by letting an open container of water stand to dissipate chlorine gas. It can only be neutralized or removed with specific treatment methods. Inexpensive products for removing chloramines for fish and amphibian tanks are readily available at pet and aquarium supply stores. How are fish, amphibians, and reptiles affected by chloramines? Chloraminated water passes through gills, directly entering the fish, amphibian, and reptile bloodstream. Chloramine must be removed as it binds to iron in red blood cell hemoglobin, causing reduced cell capacity to carry oxygen. However, chloraminated water is safe for people and animals to drink as it is neutralized by the digestive process. It is also safe to cook with, bathe in, and for other general uses. How does ammonia affect fish? Ammonia is also released when chloramines are chemically removed. Ammonia can be harmful to fish, even though fish produce some ammonia as a natural byproduct. Although ammonia levels may be tolerable in individual tanks or ponds, commercial products are available to remove excess ammonia. Also, biological filters, natural zeolites, and ph control methods are useful in reducing the toxic effects of ammonia. Are both saltwater fish and fresh water fish affected by chloramines? Yes. Chloramine is toxic to both fresh and salt water fish. Drinking water used with artificial sea salts for makeup water in salt water fish tanks must have the ammonia and chlorine removed first. Are Koi fish affected by chloramines like other fish? Yes. Koi are susceptible to being harmed by chloramines as any other fish. -over-

8 If only a small amount of water is added to an aquarium or pond to make up for evaporation, do chloramines still need to be removed? This will depend on the amount of water added in relation to the size of the aquarium or pond, and the time period in which it is added. An alternative is to monitor for a total chlorine residual in the aquarium or pond while adding the chloraminated water. Chloramine residuals in water used to keep fish should be kept below 0.1 mg/l. Total chlorine test kits are available from pet stores, pool supply stores, and chemical supply houses. Chloramine should ideally be removed from water before being added to a pond. Here is a guideline suggested by the San Diego Koi Club. -If less than one percent of the total water volume of your system is replaced at any one time, the pond should absorb new chloraminated water with little to no impact on fish. -If one to ten percent of pond water volume is replaced, sodium thiosulfate and a biological filter effectively remove chloramines. -If more than ten percent pond water volume is replaced, an ammonia binder is needed. Won t letting water sit for a few days remove chloramines from tanks or pond water? No. Unlike chlorine, which disappears when water sits for a few days, chloramines may take weeks to disappear. If you don t want to use a dechloraminating chemical, the next best solution is to install a granular activated carbon filter and allow sufficient contact time between the water and filter. Will reverse osmosis plant membranes remove all of the chloramine for aquarium use? Most membranes will not reject chlorine or chloramine. In fact, both chlorine and chloramine are damaging in most (but not all) membranes and they are typically removed prior to processing water through reverse osmosis membranes. For information regarding your specific equipment, you should consult the manufacturer of your reverse osmosis membranes and experts in the medical field with respect to your process. How much of a de-chloraminated agent or what type of granular-activated carbon filters should be used? Check the product label for specific instructions or ask your pet supplier. Who Can I Contact at the Auburn er District? Please call Normand R. Lamie, General Manager or Mary Jane Dillingham, Water Quality Manager if you have other questions. Our telephone # is

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10 Important Information for Kidney Dialysis Patients From the Auburn Water District Beginning in October 2003, Auburn Water District will begin using chloramines, in addition to chlorine, to disinfect the water it produces. The result will be a higher quality of drinking water. Here are some important things kidney dialysis patients need to know. What does this mean to you as a kidney dialysis patient? You may need to change the way water is pre-treated for dialysis. Depending on the method of chlorine removal your dialysis machine uses now some modifications may be necessary. Drinking chloraminated water is safe. Chloramines are harmful only when they directly enter the bloodstream through the dialysis process. Why do kidney dialysis patients need to take special precautions? In the dialysis process, the compounds in water come in contact with the blood across a permeable membrane. Chloramines in that water would be harmful, just as chlorine is harmful and must be removed from water used in kidney dialysis machines. There are two ways to do that: either by adding ascorbic acid or by using a granular-activated carbon treatment. Medical centers that perform dialysis are responsible for preparing the water that enters the dialysis machines. Is it safe for kidney dialysis patients to drink water containing chloramines? Yes. Because the digestive process metabolizes chloramines before they reach the bloodstream, everyone can drink chloraminated water. Even kidney dialysis patients can drink, cook, and bathe in chloraminated water. What should people with home dialysis machines do to remove chloramines? You should first check with your dialysis physician, who will probably recommend the proper type of water treatment. Often, home dialysis service companies can make the needed modifications, but you should check with your physician to be certain. Will reverse osmosis plant membranes remove all of the chloramine for kidney dialysis use? Most membranes will not reject chlorine or chloramine. In, fact, both chlorine and chloramine are damaging in most (but not all) membranes and they are typically removed prior to processing water through reverse osmosis membranes. For information regarding your specific equipment, you should consult the manufacturer of your reverse osmosis membranes and experts in the medical field with respect to your process. Does the Lewiston Auburn Kidney Center know about this change? Yes, the Kidney Center has been notified. If you have specific questions about your dialysis, please call your doctor or your dialysis center. Who can I contact at the Auburn Water District for more information? Please call Normand R. Lamie, General Manager or Mary Jane Dillingham, Water Quality Manager if you have other questions. Our telephone # is

11 The Switch Plan & Organize the events Pick a day, reservoirs lowered, SCADA ready, ammonia on (dry run), hydrant flushing, staffing phones & script, other internal communications, notify emergency services Prepare system maps with water age and hydrant locations Organize teams and instruct Communication systems - radio, cell phone Prepare teams with materials chlorine kits, data collection sheets and pencils, list of locations and order of flushing, cell phones and/or radio Ammonia ON Begin flushing and collecting data Use up stored water Address questions from the public

12 TEAM 1 - RANDY / DAVE - LOW SYSTEM NEW AUBURN HYDRANT ORDER LOCATION HYDRANT # 1 MILLER ST 2 DUNN AT RIVERSIDE 3 BROAD AT 9TH 4 BOLSTER AT COOK 5 IPSWICH 6 PAUL AT JORDAN 7 7TH AT TRUMAN 8 RIVERSIDE DR 2ND TO LAST

13 DATE TIME LOCATION HYDRAN T # Cl2 FREE Cl2 TOTAL COMMENTS INITIALS 12/11/ :30 Miller St ATF 11:40 Dunn ATF 13:05 2nd last ATF 14:18 Philomar ATF 14:30 Chasse ATF 15:36 N. River ATF 15:56 No Ave # ATF 16:07 Burger King ATF 16:41 Bradman ATF 17:01 N. Bradman ATF 17:15 Stetson Needs to be pumped ATF 12/12/ :05 Dead River ATF 12/12/ :21 Auburn Housing ATF

14 Issues and Opportunites System failures injector, inline monitoring, off gassing, chemical reporting and emergency response planning Positive Total coliform at first customers Spring and Fall flushing of small water mains 6 and smaller, dead ends Gasket decay Timely and frequent storage tank turnover to prevent nitrification Water Quality Monitoring NDMA, Storage tanks, Nitrification Customers with Carbon filtration Public concerns

15 DATE TIME LOCATION CL2 TOT PH TEMP HPC NITRATE N mg/l NITRITE N mg/l NH3 mg/l DO 3/27/ Hardscrabbl e Tank /1 <.1 < R2A 3/27/ Hardscrabbl e Res /1 <.1 < /27/ Goff Hill Tank /3 <.1 < /28/ Court St Deli /1 <.1 < /28/ Auburn Fiber/Casca des /3 <.1 < /28/ AWD-EOP /2 <.1 < /28/ Delecto Bros /2 <.1 < /28/ Rainbow Bicycle /7 < /28/ Washington St. Irving /1 <.1 < /28/ Morrison & Sylvester /3 *

16 Chloramine/Chlorine Switches AWD LWD December 2003 began chloramination March 2006 began chloramination Shut off Ammonia feed: Shut off Ammonia feed: August 12, 2005 to August 29, 2005 July 19, 2007 to August 1, 2007 August 21, 2009 to September 2, 2009 August 28, 2008 to September 5, 2008 August 21, 2009 to September 2, 2009

17 Lew iston - Quarterly HAA5 Results ( ) HAA5 Qtr Avg HAA5 - RAA

18 Auburn - Quarterly HAA5 Results ( ) HAA5 Qtr Avg HAA5 RAA

19 Auburn Water 2010

20 Lewiston Water 2010 CT CL2 Chlorine LWD SYS CL2 LAKE CL2 Linear (SYS CL2) Day of Year 2010 PPM Chlorine (Free or Total)

21 Questions?