This week's NEWS

U.S. court invalidates Calgon UV patent. Manganese link to health effects in question as Wisconsin city continues flushing. New research reports focus on how water treatment residuals may help with phosphorus problems and early warning for taste and odor problems. UK drinking water regulator issues annual report. To record is divine, to alter is obscene: New Hampshire system blows the whistle.  Massachusetts well owners think perchlorate is a blast!

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Federal Updates

• Correction to USEPA's Stage 2 DBP rule (Federal Register, June 29)
  Commentary: How do you measure chlorine residual? Let us count the ways...

State Updates

• Alaska proposes to make its regs conform to EPA rules + CPE and CTA requirements
• Connecticut H₂Operator June newsletter discusses WEAR, FOG, and storage facility inspection (PDF file, 588 K)
• Ohio gets USEPA's tentative approval for a number of fed-conforming regs, including Stage 1DBPR and IESWTR

Flooding

• Pennsylvania treatment plant shut down as precaution during flooding (Allentown Morning Call, June 28)
• Nitrate levels high in Ohio's Maumee River after storms (Ohio EPA news release, June 29)
• Pennsylvania DEP provides info on disinfecting private wells after flooding (PA DEP news release, June 28) (And does Pennsylvania ever have a lot of private wells!)

Water Treatment

• Calgon's patent on use of UV for disinfecting drinking water invalidated by U.S. court in New Jersey (Trading Markets, July 3); Calgon will appeal ruling (Pittsburgh Business Times, July 3)
• Research report on use of water treatment residuals to reduce soil phosphorus... and help control algae (AWWA Product)
• California city completes $35-million water treatment plant upgrade (Sacramento Bee, July 2)
• Louisville, KY, looks at alternatives to train transport of liquid/gas chlorine (Louisville Courier Journal, July 2)

Aesthetics

• New research: "Early Warning and Management of Surface Water Taste-and-Odor Events" (AWWA Product)
• What gives water that "taste"? (Ventura County Star, July 2)

Water Violations

• New Hampshire town fires its senior water operator for altering water quality reports and submitting false data to state (Portsmouth Herald, June 30)
  Commentary: It should be noted that it was Exeter (founded by a minister in the 1600s and home of the GOP) itself that recognized there was a problem, investigated and identified it, and reported to the state. It does not appear that any exceedances of water quality standards were covered up.

Radiological

• Blending to meet radium MCL in Bridgeton, NJ, worked... for awhile; now expensive IX treatment may be needed (Atlantic City Press, June 29)

Arsenic

• Idaho Senator seeks EPA appropriations bill amendment to suspend compliance and penalties for arsenic (and DBPs) for smaller systems (Los Angeles Times, June 29; free registration required), but some small New Mexico systems move ahead with funding-assisted treatment (KOBTV, July 3)
• Unexpected high arsenic results render blending as "the solution" to Arizona city's arsenic problem; back on the treatment road (Prescott Daily News, July 4); arsenic readings vary widely in well tests (Prescott Daily Courier, July 4)

Water Quality Reports

• Kansas City, MO, gets thumbs up (Kansas City Star, June 28) for its 2005 CCR (PDF file, 274 K) and its water quality
• Chicago's 2005 water quality report (PDF file, 1.38 MB)
  Commentary: The Windy City shows off with gorgeous views and lots of information, including how to get your own rain barrel this summer. The water quality data is crisp and clear.
• USEPA's CCR website is updated

Lead and Copper Rule

• About 75% of North Carolina water systems miss state deadline (Winston-Salem Journal, July 2); state reminds water systems to turn in their lead and copper sample siting plan (PDF file, 298 K)
  Commentary: A recent lead-poisoning incident has heightened the state's review of utilities' selection of sample sites. There has been confusion about the definition of Tier One sites, complicated by when the state banned use of lead solder.

Manganese

• Good news on Madison, WI's manganese retesting (Wisconsin State Journal, June 30), but there continues to be debate about the possible link between manganese in drinking water and health effects (Wisconsin State Journal, July 2)

Perchlorate

• Fingers pointed at blasting as source of perchlorate in private wells in Massachusetts (Acton Beacon, June 29)

NEWS CONTINUES BELOW

Malcolm Pirnie UV Disinfection for Water and Wastewater Treatment Systems With finalization of the Long-Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2ESWTR), ultraviolet (UV) disinfection can be one of the most cost-effective treatment methods to ensure continued regulatory compliance. To help you decide if UV disinfection is right for your water system, Malcolm Pirnie, Inc., can provide assistance throughout the design process, from technology evaluation to construction and startup assistance. Because of our long-time involvement with regulatory agencies, Malcolm Pirnie offers in-depth understanding and expertise in research projects, regulatory compliance, and design of UV disinfection facilities for drinking water and wastewater facilities. We recognize that resources are limited and can help you find alternative sources of funding, the right equipment procurement strategy, and innovative approaches for retrofitting or upgrading existing facilities. For more information, visit our website to meet the UV disinfection experts: Christine Cotton and Sam Jeyanayagam.

MTBE

• Health alert lifted in New York county as followup MTBE results are okay (New York Newsday, June 29); the district's notice... Meanwhile, the state begins looking for the source of MTBE among numerous gas stations in the area (New York Newsday, June 29); water district reviews its public notification procedures (New York Newsday, June 30)

Health Research

• Montana study assesses human body burden of heavy metals in areas where metals are found in water (Billings Gazette, June 29)

Water on Airplanes

• Health Canada cautions immuno-compromised air travelers about water quality on aircraft

Fluoridation

• Fluoride debate spills over to West Florida communities (Palm Beach Post, June 27)
• Australian research shows "Water Fluoridation Still A Cost-effective Preventive Measure" (Medical News Today, July 3)

Desalination

• Institute report: Desalination plants in California are premature, and the press reports: Desalinated water possibilities get increasing interest (Contra Costa Times, June 28) but may be too expensive (Monterey County Herald, June 28)

PFOA

• Lawsuits challenge safety of Dupont's Teflon (Delaware News Journal, June 25) (Note: This is not directly related to drinking water!)
• USEPA scientists: PFOA is a likely cancer risk! Surprise – Dupont doesn't think so. (Columbus Dispatch, July 2)

Water Reuse

• Australian official admits state's drinking water is part recycled water (Sydney Morning Herald, July 2); Queensland microbiologist urges attitude shift on recycled water (ABC News, July 2)
• The July Water Reuse News

PCE

• Ohio area is focus of investigation into smaller PCE-leak sources (Dayton Daily News, July3)

Private Wells

• Legislative committees approve requirement that North Carolina counties test wells (Wilmington Star News, June 30)
• South Dakota offers free nitrate testing at a number of locations

International

• UK Drinking Water Inspectorate issues comprehensive Annual Report 2005; media reactions: Water aesthetics a significant concern (Yorkshire Post, June 28); tap water as healthy and far cheaper than bottled water (Telegraph, June 28) 
  Commentary: The DWI report is excellent and gives the public a good overview of the state of drinking water in the UK. But why did the Chief Inspector choose to end his introductory statement on the report (PDF file, 137 K; see page 7) with two almost indecipherable photos purporting to show water problems in public buildings? Is there a prize if you can identify what is shown?
• Vietnam pledges support to deal with arsenic (Vietnam News Agency, July 2)

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