Stuart F. Bruny, P.E. ORSANCO Commissioner - Ohio Water Environment
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Stuart F. Bruny, P.E. ORSANCO Commissioner
Established 1948
Authorized by Congress
Eight signatory States (IL, IN, NY, KY, OH, PA, VA,
WV)
“Pledge cooperation” to abate interstate water
pollution in Ohio River valley compact district
Created ORSANCO to coordinate and implement
3/state (gubernatorial appointments); 3 federal
(Presidential appointments)
State EPA director ex-officio
One federal is EPA Regional Administrator
Budget: $2.5 million from states & USEPA
Staff – 23
981 Miles from Pittsburgh to 38 power generating
Cairo plants
Drinking water source for 5
million people (33 intakes)
120+ species of fish; rich in
mussels
230 million tons of cargo
transported annually; 20
locks and dams
Recreational water resource
Regulatory – establish Ohio River Pollution
Control Standards
Monitoring (lots of it) & assessment
Spill Detection/Response (monitoring,
communications)
Clean Water Act/Safe Drinking Water Act
implementation coordination (TMDLs, NPDES,
etc…)
Applied research (pharmaceuticals, mercury)
Public Involvement programs (volunteer
monitoring, River Sweep, mobile aquarium)
Referred to as 305(b) report
ORSANCO completes for Ohio River.
Recommendation for states’ 303(d) Lists of
waters requiring TMDLs.
Based on ORSANCO monitoring data.
2012 Impairments
◦ All 981 miles impaired for PCBs and dioxin based on
historical high volume water quality data.
◦ 630 miles impaired for contact recreational use based on
exceedances of E. coli &/or fecal coliform criteria.
◦ Recent previous assessments have temperature and
dissolved oxygen impairments in lower river.
Commission initiated study to characterize total
dissolved solids (TDS) and its primary
constituents in the Ohio River and selected
tributaries.
Weekly sampling conducted at 11 Ohio River
sites and on 5 tributaries for a suite of
parameters.
Sampling effort ran for 1 year (Dec 2011 – Dec
2012).
Data assessment is ongoing.
Final report to be completed June 2013.
Dissolved Solids Analytes Supplemental Parameters
1. Sodium 6. Chloride pH
2. Potassium 7. Sulfate Conductivity
3. Magnesium 8. Bromide Temperature
4. Calcium 9. Fluoride Stream flow
5. Lithium Coordinate THM
sampling when possible
10. Bicarbonate
11. Total Dissolved Solids
Highest levels
observed during
low-flow period in
TDS
Standard Aug/Sept.
500 mg/L
Levels on the Ohio
River did not
approach the 500
mg/L standard
(max observed 368
mg/L)
TDS was higher on
tributaries,
particularly the Big
Sandy and
Muskingum RiversORSANCO and Water Resources
Mission (per Compact) has been
focused on water quality
Growing importance of integrating
quality and quantity management
Droughts and shortages…not just a
“west of the Mississippi” issue
anymore
2009 Strategic Planning Workshop
◦ Outcome: ORSANCO should become more
“holistic” in its services to the states Committee Role:
◦ To study, discuss and evaluate water resources issues of
concern or interest to the Commission and basin states
◦ Provides a forum for states and federal agencies to discuss
water resources issues (meets 3 times annually)
◦ Current membership includes:
States Federal
Indiana Kentucky Tennessee Valley Authority
New York Ohio US Army Corps of Engineers
Pennsylvania Tennessee US Geological Survey
Virginia West Virginia
◦ Committee must be financially self-supporting Effort funded by private foundation grants
Initial focus to complete three water resource
characterization studies
1. Water resources inventory and characterization
Characterize current water resources issues (i.e. water use, inter-
basin transfers, climate change, E-flows)
2. Examination of laws and regulations
Comparison of existing state and federal rules/regs governing
water resources
3. Evaluation of Commission role in water resources
management
Define appropriate role for Commission and develop funding
mechanism for future WR activities
Timeline
◦ Reports #1 and #2 to be completed 2013
◦ Report #3 to be completed 2014 Methyl Mercury fish tissue data was collected
in hybrid striped bass samples.
40% of samples exceeded ORSANCO’s MeHg
fish tissue criterion of 0.3 mg/kg.
Hybrid striped bass considered “worst case”
scenario.
ORSANCO’s Technical Committee decided
river would remain “unassessed” until fish
tissue data from other commonly consumed
species was collected and evaluated.
Some states have listed Ohio River for
mercury impairments. OEPA does not include
Ohio River in any listings. ORSANCO prohibition on mixing zones for
bioaccumulative chemicals of concern
(mercury).
Effectively will require discharges to meet
0.012 ug/L for total mercury at end of pipe.
PPG requested and received a variance from
this prohibition.
Ironton has requested a variance from
ORSANCO – has already received variance
from OEPA.
ORSANCO is developing formal variance
procedure.Objective: •Project at Hannibal L&D in area of mercury discharge variance request by PPG Inc. Natrium, WV mile 120 •A single site-specific bioaccumulation factor for methyl Hg •Calculated from direct measurement of methyl mercury in water and methyl mercury in tissue
12 Equal Discharge Increment (EDI)
composite water samples (1 year/Monthly)
◦ Analysis for total and methyl mercury, filtered and
unfiltered
◦ Known methylation factors: DOC, D SO4,
Chlorophyll-a
12 composite fish tissue analyses:
◦ 4 TL4 composites
◦ 4 TL3 composites
◦ 4 TL2 composites
4 sediment samplesObjectives:
Create inventory of FGD systems and ash ponds
on the Ohio River (FGD type, installation date,
discharge location).
Characterize total and methyl mercury discharges
from FGD systems.
Data will be used in conjunction with mercury
trend analyses to investigate potential impacts
from these discharges. Four sample events (quarterly) at four
coal-fired power generation facilities
Three sample locations per facility:
◦ Upstream baseline or raw inflow
◦ FGD wastewater post treatment
◦ Fly/bottom ash pond final discharge
Analytical parameters to be monitored:
•Filtered total Hg •Bromide
•Unfiltered total Hg •Dissolved Organic Carbon
•Filtered methyl Hg •Dissolved Sulfate
•Unfiltered methyl Hg •Total Dissolved Solids
•Selenium •pH/Specific Conductance 2012 revisions of bacteria criteria for protection
of recreational use.
◦ Fecal coliform criteria removed.
◦ Numeric E. coli criteria revised as follows:
◦ 130 cfu/100mL as 90-day geometric mean.
Previously 30-day.
◦ 240 cfu/100mL in more than 25% of samples.
Previously single sample max.
Max. Temperature criterion of 110 deg F added
for protection of human health from body
contact exposure. USEPA Region 5 is completing a bacteria TMDL for
the entire Ohio River.
About 2/3 of the river is listed as impaired.
ORSANCO has been involved:
◦ Monitoring to generate data to support the modeling effort.
◦ Provide technical expertise on the Ohio River.
◦ Collection of other necessary data.
Army Corps of Engineers HEC-RAS model being
utilized.
There will be a continued public involvement
process (one set of meetings held in 2009).
See ORSANCO’s website for additional info. Fish Community 1957-present
Macroinvertebrate Community 1964-present
Fish Tissue Contaminants 1970-present
Supplemental Data Collections
◦ Mussel Community 2012
◦ Periphyton Community 2007-2012
◦ Water & Sediment Chemistry 2007-present
Mobile Aquarium Displays ~2001-present Lockchamber Rotenone 1957-2005
◦ Long term trends analysis
Night-time Boat Electrofishing 1990-present
◦ Aquatic Life Use Assessments [305(b)]
Uses Modified Ohio River Fish Index (mORFIn)
◦ Probabilistic Pool Surveys (15 sites/pool)
◦ 18 Riverwide Fixed Stations (sampled annually since 2004)
Benthic Trawling 2006-2008
◦ Exploration as supplement to EF Collected at electrofishing sites
Methods
◦ Rockbaskets 1964-1971
◦ Hester-Dendy (HD) 1968-present
Shallow (2-3’ of water) & Deep (10’)
◦ D-Frame Net Kicks (Kicks) 2004-present
Recently developed multi-metric index
◦ Uses combination of Deep HD & Kicks
Draft numeric index has been developed and will
be evaluated over the next couple years.
Initial results seem to compare reasonably with
fish surveys. Objectives:
◦ Monitor contaminants levels & track trends
◦ Provide information to states to support fish
consumption advisories (www.orsanco.org/fca)
◦ Provide information for 305(b) assessment of Fish
Consumption Use
Analytes
◦ PCBs
◦ Mercury (total & methyl) & other metals
◦ DDTs, Chlordanes, and other pesticides
◦ PBDEs, PFCs, Dioxins, etc on occasion
Fish tissue contaminants of concern include
PCBs and mercury Mussel Community 2012
◦ Initial explorations for use as bio-indicators
Periphyton Community 2007-2012
◦ Draft diatom multi-metric index recently completed
Water & Sediment Chemistry 2007-present
◦ Used to create condition gradients for biotic data
* All collected at electrofishing zones 2200 Gallon Mobile Aquarium
Set-up at various events along river
◦ Approximately 10-12 events April-October
Filled at event with
water & fish
◦ Generally 20-30 species In May 1977, the Commission voted to expand it’s
monitoring capabilities to include volatile organics (VOC’s), in
response to an ongoing Carbon Tetrachloride release into
Kanawha River that February.
◦ 6 downstream water utilities were unprotected and vulnerable with no
ability to detect volatile organics routinely; water quality was
compromised and communities were served contaminated water for
over a week.
ODS is designed to be a Spills Detection Network.
Samples collected from Ohio River at 14 drinking water
utilities (one on Kanawha River).
At least 1 source water sample is analyzed per day from each
site.
◦ In 2012, nearly 4,200 VOC samples were collected from ODS
locations and analyzed.
Less than 2% of the time, reportable detections found–(that’s a good thing!)
◦ Most common detections are Chloroform, (THM’s), Benzene,
1,1-Dichloroethylene, and TCE. Continued partnerships with water utilities, the
Water Users Advisory Committee (WUAC), and
industry has kept ODS operational for 34 years.
◦ In kind services provided by ODS host sites over the past
two years totals over $1.4M.
Operational and maintenance costs are estimated
to be over $200,000 annually when renovation is
completed. Methylene Chloride 1,3 Dichlorobenzene 1,1 Dichloroethylene 1,4 Dichlorobenzene 1,1 Dichloroethane 1,2 Dichlorobenzene Chloroform 1,1,1 Trichloroethane Acrylonitrile Carbon Tetrachloride 1,2 Dichloroethane Benzene trans-1,2 Dichloroethylene Trichloroethylene cis-1,3 Dichloropropene 1,2 Dichloropropane trans-1,3 Dichloropopene Dichlorobromomethane Hexachloro-1,3-butadiene Toluene 1,1, 2,2 Tetrachloroethane Tetrachloroethylene 1,1,2 Trichloroethane Dibromochloromethane Trichlorofluoromethane Ethylbenzene Napthalene Chlorobenzene Styrene (co-elutes with o,p xylenes) Bromoform
ODS MONITORING LOCATIONS
Water Utility
Early 90’s technology
GC/MS technology CMS5000 process GC In 2008-2010 ORSANCO was able to obtain
$4.4 Mil in funding to support a network wide
renovation and upgrade. The Renovation will
allow the ODS to:
◦ Use automated sample injection to increase
frequency of analysis to 4-6 times daily
◦ Reduce analysis time
◦ Increase number of VOC’s that can be identified
◦ Increase number of monitoring sites
◦ Involve and educate public with interactive website Project began with Electric Project Partners
Power Research Institute ◦ Electric Power Research Institute
2008 feasibility study. ◦ American Electric Power
◦ Power plants compliance cost ◦ Duke Energy
ranged from $20-180 per lb ◦ Hoosier Energy
of nitrogen ◦ Tennessee Valley Authority
◦ American Farmland Trust
◦ Typical farmer BMP cost $2-4 ◦ Ohio Farm Bureau Federation
per lb ◦ ORSANCO
Project funding to date ◦ Hunton & Williams
from project partners and ◦ Kieser & Associates
grants: $5 Million ◦ US EPA
◦
Advisory groups from
USDA
Power Industry, Agriculture,
WWTP’s, Environmental
Groups.
◦ WWTP advisory group from
NACWA An option for compliance with permit limits.
A permitted source of nutrients with a high
compliance cost pays a non-point source
with a lower reduction cost to install nutrient
best management practices.
Non-point source reductions must be new.Full Scale Program 38 Power plants 230,000 Farmers Thousands of WWTP Millions of Pounds of Nutrients
Pilot phase will test out procedures developed
for the program
Pilot Trading Plan signed by Ohio EPA,
Indiana DEP, Kentucky DEP August 9, 2012
$100,000 will be spent on BMP’s in each
State.
◦ Projects are currently being scoped
◦ Installation of BMP’s this spring/summer
◦ First credits for sale in September 2013
Project will go full scale in 2015. Problem:
◦ Nutrients are one of the most common causes of
impairments to water in the U.S.
◦ USEPA has directed all States to develop numeric
nutrient criteria
Objective:
◦ Collect a long term dataset for development of numeric
nutrient criteria.
◦ Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)
Some algae cause taste and odor problems with drinking
water. These issues have become more common on the
Ohio River.
Some algae can produce toxins which are harmful to humans
and animals. Parameters: total 7locations
phosphorus, West View, PA ORM5
nitrate/nitrite, TKN, Wheeling , WV ORM87
ammonia,
phytoplankton algae Huntington, WV
identification, ORM306
chlorophyll a. Northern KY
Frequency: 2/month. ORM463
12 months/year for Louisville, KY
nutrients. 9 ORM600
months/year for algae. Evansville, IN
ORM792
Paducah, KY
ORM936 EPA has mandated that states develop numeric
nutrients criteria.
Criteria development for the main stem of the Ohio
River began in 2002.
Development of numeric criteria have proved to be a
difficult task.
There are not obvious cause-effect relationships
between concentrations of nutrients and impairments
caused by nutrients.
There are occasional algae blooms and drinking water
taste & odor problems that are associated with
nutrients.
Continuing to look at other indicators such as
changes in macroinvertebrate communities resulting
from nutrients.
Unknown as to when numeric criteria may be
proposed.You can also read
