House Hearing Discusses Water System Stress

By Patrick Crow

State water programs are over stressed, witnesses have told a hearing of the US House of Representatives.

Before Congress adjourned, the Health and the Environment Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on the implementation of the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments and funding of state drinking water programs.

Rep. Michael Bilirakis (R-Fla.), the subcommittee chairman, released a General Accounting Office study on the available federal resources for state programs, how much states have spent for implementation, and how future funding levels could impact the ability of states to implement drinking water programs.

He noted that under the Safe Drinking Water Act, states have primary enforcement responsibility for drinking water programs. They provide inspections, technical assistance, monitoring, and training programs for water systems— as well as allocating state revolving fund grants for water improvements.

"One of the more notable findings of the GAO report, however, is the fact that 75 percent of state drinking water programs believe that they have inadequate staffing — and over 90 percent project that these staffing deficiencies will continue into the future.

"While the GAO report cites many factors for these shortfalls, it remains clear that the safety of our drinking water supply is as dependent on people as it is on drinking water facilities and infrastructure.

"The GAO report indicates that there may be structural reasons why states have not taken full advantage of funding 'set-asides' provided in the 1996 Amendments. These include a desire not to divert funds from necessary infrastructure improvement. In effect, states may not want to 'rob Peter to pay Paul.'"

Bilirakis said if such understaffing continues, it could eventually lead to more compliance problems and a larger enforcement workload. He noted that the burden on the st ates will increase substantially in the next few years as they administer new Environmental Protection Agency regulations for arsenic, radon, disinfection byproduct rules, standards for previously unregulated contaminants, and possible revision of over 80 existing drinking water regulations.

"We must ensure that this burden does not overwhelm a system that is apparently already taxed by existing obligations."

Project XL To TargetLead In Columbus Water

EPA is funding a program to improve protection of children at risk of lead poisoning from the Columbus, Ohio, drinking water supply.

Under a Project XL agreement with the Columbus Division of Water, EPA will provide $300,000/year for 15 years to the Columbus Health Department's Lead Safe Columbus program.

The funds will help provide free blood screening, testing for children under age 6 living in homes having tap water lead excesses, an extensive public education effort, and grants to help deal with lead hazards in low and moderate income homes.

The water agency proposed the program as part of EPA's Project XL. It allows communities to demonstrate their own strategies for achieving environmental and health improvement goals.

EPA said federal and state environmental agencies are allowing the Columbus Division of Water flexibility from Safe Drinking Water Act regulations.

Requirements for testing and replacement of leaded water lines are being suspended for 3 years on the condition that the city take additional steps to reduce risks from lead in drinking water.

Associations Praise Water Conservation Report

The Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies and the American Water Works Association have praised a recent GAO report which applauded water conservation.

The report examined data from 16 drinking water systems and concluded that low flow plumbing fixtures will save the systems up to $231 million by 2020. By then, it said water consumption could be reduced up to 9 percent and wastewater flow to treatment plans 13 percent.

Diane VanDe Hei, AMWA executive director, said, "This report comes at a time when water suppliers are facing a $13 billion gap between current spending and what is needed each year for the next 20.

"Water conservation measures — such as low-flow plumbing fixtures — are one of the tools we need to close that gap. We can't afford to lose national water-efficiency standards."

Jack Hoffbuhr, AWWA executive director, said, "Easing the pressure on our water supplies eases the pressure on the budgets of water utilities and the pocketbooks of ratepayers. The GAO study confirms the benefits of conserving water for everyone."

GAO is a congressional watchdog agency. Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-N.Y.), Water Resources and Environment subcommittee chairman, and Rep. Bilirakis requested the study.

Boehlert said, "Low flow toilets (using no more than 1.6 gallons per flush) can significantly reduce water consumption, wastewater treatment costs, and adverse impacts to the rivers, lakes, and streams that ultimately receive what communities send down their toilets and through their treatment plants."

AWWA said the GAO report corroborates the findings of a report produced last year by the American Water Works Research Foundation which estimated that the average American household could reduce its water consumption by 30 percent by implementing conservation measures.

Operators Honored

EPA has honored 39 municipalities, industries, and others for innovative technological achievements in wastewater treatment and pollution abatement programs.

The agency is recognizing projects or programs in operations and maintenance, beneficial use of biosolids, pretreatment, storm water management, and combined sewer overflow controls.

The Clean Water Act authorizes the National Wastewater Management Excellence Awards program. At the nomination of state water pollution control agencies, EPA regional offices make recommendations to headquarters for the awards.

Programs comply with applicable water quality requirements and have a satisfactory environmental record.

Winners of Wastewater Management Excellence Awards were, for operations and maintenance: San Jose/Santa Clara WWTP in San Jose, Calif.; Plum Creek Wastewater Authority, Plant No. 1, Castle Rock, Colo.; Village of Sherman WWTP, Sherman, N.Y.; Lowell Regional Wastewater Utility, Lowell, Mass.; Cape May Regional WWTF, Cape May Point, N.J.; Dodge City WWTF, Dodge City, Kan.; Vienna Land Application Systems, Vienna, Ga.; City of Waldo WWTF, Waldo, Fla.

Receiving awards for Beneficial Use of Biosolids were: Merco Joint Venture, Limited Liability Co.; City of New York Department of Environmental Protection; Sierra Blanca, Texas; Texas Tech University; Lexington Regional WWTP Compost Facility, Lexington, N.C., International/Poland Research Project, coordinated by EPA Region III; City of Wyoming Clean Water Plant, Wyoming, Mich.

Pretreatment Awards: Greeley, Colo.; Metro Wastewater Reclamation District, Denver, Colo.; Fort Worth, Texas.

Storm Water Management Awards: Brevard County Surface Water Improvement Viera, Fla.; Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, Southerly Wastewater Treatment Center Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan.

Combined Sewer Overflow Control Award: CSO Abatement Program, Saco, Me.