Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
November 26, 2007
4. Water Quality
CONTAMINATION:
Panel questions failure to study tainted water; A House committee says an agency lapsed by not assessing health damage from solvent pollution in Southern California aquifers - Los Angeles Times
Water deficit plagues city, but not the L.A. River; Wastewater from two Valley plants keeps the levels high and creates an unlikely habitat for thousands of shorebirds - Los Angeles Times
Rialto declares a water emergency; The city hopes to get state funding to help clean up and halt chemical contamination of its drinking water supply - Los Angeles Times
CLEANUP:
Time for feds' help?; Rialto mulls assistance with toxin cleanup - Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Editorial: Pollutants cloud local landmark -
SEWER ORDINANCE:
New sewer ordinance set to go before Lakeport Council in January 2008 - Lake County Record Bee
CONTAMINATION:
Panel questions failure to study tainted water; A House committee says an agency lapsed by not assessing health damage from solvent pollution in Southern
By Ralph Vartabedian, staff writer
A House committee is demanding to know why federal regulators failed to assess potential public health damage from extremely high levels of a toxic industrial solvent found in
Trichloroethylene, widely used in the defense industry, was discovered in aquifers under the
A letter sent today to the chief of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry by the House Energy and Commerce Committee said the agency failed to conduct the recommended health evaluations in communities across the nation, an apparent lapse that went unnoticed for more than a decade.
"We are concerned that the agency has failed to complete or act on health recommendations and studies," Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), ranking member of the committee, wrote to Julie Louise Gerberding, administrator for the agency.
Trichloroethylene, or TCE, is classified as a carcinogen by
By the early 1990s, the California Department of Health, working jointly with federal authorities, recommended that a health assessment be conducted to measure whether past contamination had significantly affected the health of residents, according to a series of documents unearthed by the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Barton's staff believes that an exhaustive health review could alert residents who might have been contaminated to get annual health screening and that early medical intervention could save significant numbers of lives.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in
"The most important recommendation was to minimize exposure, to make sure people had safe water," said agency spokeswoman Dagny Olivares. "Because exposures were reduced or eliminated as the contamination was found, [the agency] felt that public health was being protected."
Any retrospective examination of health damage would be difficult, she said. Barton's office, however, said the toxic-substances agency is conducting a multiyear program to assess the health of veterans who served at
If the agency can do that for the Marines and their families in
Olivares said that at
The site reviews and recommendations found by Barton's staff are dated from 1992 and 1993. They say that "people were probably exposed to . . . contaminated ground water before 1980" and recognized "the public health need to evaluate possible past exposure" in the case of the San Fernando Valley. Another site review for the
TCE has been enveloped in growing controversy over the last few years as evidence mounts that it causes cancer. It is the most widespread water contaminant in the nation, affecting hundreds of military bases, aerospace centers, government laboratories and general industrial sites.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency abandoned in 2003 a draft health risk assessment that found that the chemical was many times more carcinogenic than earlier thought.
The matter was sent to the National Research Council for an exhaustive review. Last year it issued a 379-page report that found increasing evidence that TCE does cause cancer and advised the EPA to complete its earlier health risk assessment.
Dr. David M. Ozonoff, a Boston University TCE expert, has long argued that federal regulators were not properly recognizing the cancer risk of TCE. But Ozonoff said he was far from certain that it would be possible to conduct a broad epidemiological study in
"It would be pretty hard, logistically," Ozonoff said. "You would have to go back and create a list of a million people and then find them and then follow their health for 10 years. It would be incredibly difficult and costly."
Another major question is whether screening and early medical intervention could save lives, he added. TCE is associated with kidney cancer, leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which are difficult to detect early, he said. Still,
More than 30 square miles of the
The contaminated aquifer supplies water for about 1 million residents, though it now meets the federal limit of 5 parts per billion. A cleanup over the last 20 years has cost more than $120 million and will continue for decades. The operation pumps and filters 37 million gallons of polluted water at
The
Much of the pollution was traced to the former Lockheed Martin facilities in
Water deficit plagues city, but not the
By Deborah Schoch, staff writer
This is the driest year on record in
The source of this water: the bountiful wastewater of a parched city.
Most
Although recycled water can be used for irrigation and to replenish underground aquifers, there are no pipes to transport it to far-off parks and golf courses.
The city uses the recycled water for only 1% of its irrigation needs. The vast majority from two Valley plants ends up in the river.
Homeowners with lush, overwatered lawns and squeaky-clean cars feed the flow. So do emerald-green golf courses fed with drinkable rather than recycled water.
Experts estimate that in addition to recycled water, about 32% of the river's flow is fed by urban runoff and 4% is natural groundwater.
With so much water, the river's lower reaches in
"It's one of the most important bird stopovers in
This scenario comes at a time of water restrictions in some cities and admonishments to
Meteorologists are predicting a La Niña winter, which typically means scant rainfall in
To the east, an eight-year drought is racking the
The snowpack last week was 3% of normal for this time of year in the
"We're bone dry right now," Durfee said.
Last week, the Metropolitan Water District announced that it would buy large amounts of water from
But neither drought nor rationing will reduce the water supply to the
The Tillman plant produces 56,000 acre-feet of water annually. Large amounts of water are measured by acre-feet, or the amount of water needed to cover an acre to a depth of 1 foot. One acre-foot is enough to serve two homes for a year.
One acre-foot of that water is used to irrigate the nearby Woodley Golf Course in Van Nuys. An additional 27,000 acre-feet is used to irrigate the plant's Japanese gardens and replenish
"It's high-quality water. We could use some more customers," said plant manager Hiddo Netto.
By 2013, the city hopes to use 5,149 more acre-feet of Tillman water on four more golf courses and for other uses. The city has 10 miles of pipeline that it laid for a $55-million project that would have used Tillman water to replenish underground aquifers in the Valley. The plan died amid residents' opposition.
As the wastewater river passes under the 105 Freeway, forces of nature take over and birds start swooping down.
Bird watchers gather along the banks in
"A truly unique (yet nearly entirely un-natural) site, this 7-mile stretch of concrete channel . . . is one of the most important shorebird stopover sites in Southern California," according to "Important Bird Areas of California," a book published by Audubon California.
Peregrine falcons and white-tailed kites feed there all year. Cinnamon teal, northern pintail and other waterfowl pass through in autumn to forage near the
They appear to flourish in recycled water and runoff. Some black-necked stilts even nest in the river, on little islands of vegetation.
"We don't see any obvious negative impacts on the birds. The young stilts seem to have the right number of legs and eyes," said Kimball L. Garrett, ornithology collections manager at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.
Even if
"No way am I saying that the concrete
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-river25nov25,0,4033475,full.story?coll=la-tot-callocal
By Jason Pesick, staff writer
The council, concerned about how to continue cleaning industrial chemicals out of city water while simultaneously providing water to just under half the city's residents, made a dramatic move Tuesday by declaring a state of emergency.
The action may free up state money and other resources to stop an underground plume of a harmful chemical, called perchlorate, from contaminating more water.
A six-mile-long plume of perchlorate continues to move through the city's drinking water supply from industrial sites on the city's north end.
So far, state regulatory agencies and the city have not been able to compel most of the suspected polluters to clean up the perchlorate.
Perchlorate can affect thyroid hormone levels in women, which may affect metabolism and neurological development in their children.
City officials hope Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will agree with the council, declare a state of emergency as well and provide assistance to the city.
The council's decision doesn't gain much traction without Schwarzenegger's support, so the city's next lobbying move is to get the governor on board.
"A chronic local condition has evolved into an acute emergency, and it is now beyond the city's water department to continue to provide a safe, affordable, and reliable water supply," City Administrator Henry Garcia wrote in the original declaration ratified by the council Tuesday.
A number of factors have come together to cause the emergency, officials say, including a regional drought, restrictions on water imports from Northern California and, most notably, water contamination in the Rialto basin.
The city water department and surrounding water agencies have spent millions of dollars cleaning the perchlorate out of local drinking-water supplies.
Dan Dunmoyer, Schwarzenegger's deputy chief of staff, first suggested the city consider declaring a state of emergency in late August.
Since then, the city delayed taking any action, in part because of skepticism in
http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_7530215
By Susannah Rosenblatt, staff writer
The City Council voted on the declaration Tuesday in an attempt to secure state funding to halt the spread of industrial perchlorate in city groundwater. The growing, six-mile-long chemical plume in the north end of the
"It's time now that somebody heard us and helped us," said Mayor Grace Vargas. "We need to protect our citizens."
The declaration criticizes state and local regulatory agencies for failing to aggressively enforce cleanup efforts, and warns that
Although the city says its safeguards prevent residents from drinking polluted water, the plume grows about 20 inches a day and poses a growing threat to nearby communities such as
The wet winter of several years ago caused the levels of perchlorate in water samples to spike, said Rialto Mayor Pro Tem Winnie Hanson. About half a dozen wells are affected by contamination, said Councilman Ed Scott.
In addition, Hanson said, drought conditions and water shortages in Northern California have increased pressure on
"It is now beyond the city's water department to continue to provide a safe, affordable and reliable water supply," states the city declaration, which cautions that
"It's really jeopardizing our growth," Scott said.
The city has spent an estimated $20 million over several years on cleanup efforts and legal fees in an ongoing lawsuit against several corporations that it blames for causing the pollution at a 160-acre site, Hanson said.
More than 40 companies are alleged to be involved in the contamination, including Goodrich Corp., Pyro Spectaculars and Black & Decker. The cleanup could cost as much as $300 million.
Perchlorate, used in rocket fuel, batteries and fireworks, can interfere with thyroid function and produce birth defects.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-rialto24nov24,1,5455618.story?coll=la-headlines-california
CLEANUP:
Time for feds' help?;
By Jason Pesick, staff writer
A swath of northern
After years of holding back the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
City Councilman Ed Scott, a member of the city's perchlorate subcommittee, said state agencies have failed the city in its effort to clean up underground plumes of a toxic chemical called perchlorate.
Wayne Praskins, a Superfund project manager, may attend a Dec. 4 City Council meeting to discuss with council members the bells and whistles of how EPA's Superfund program works, according to Scott.
Scott said he will ask the council to vote on asking Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office to request that the 160-acre site in northern
Superfund is a federal government program that has been around for decades. Billions have been spent to clean up hazardous waste sites.
The 160-acre industrial site is part of an area where a number of parties are accused of using perchlorate and contaminating the city's water supply.
Perchlorate, a chemical used to produce explosives, can interfere with the thyroid gland.
Praskins, who works out of
While receptive to coming, he said in an interview that he was unaware of the timing.
The earliest he thought the EPA would be able to add the site to the Superfund list, known as the National Priorities List, is this spring. He was doubtful that he could push for a spring listing.
Praskins said that the EPA could begin its clean-up orders to suspected polluters before then.
"Our ability to try to get additional work done at this site ... can occur whether or not the site has been added to the Superfund list," Praskins said.
The EPA official said he was unsure what area could be classified for cleanup under Superfund. The options include the 160-acre site or a bigger swath of land in north
"It's an option," he said.
The perchlorate was first discovered in 1997, but Rialto officials have vehemently resisted letting the EPA lead the cleanup even though surrounding water agencies also dealing with the same contamination have asked for the EPA's help.
Editorial: Pollutants cloud local landmark
THERE seems to be a lack of enthusiasm from the city of
We hope we are wrong, but there appeared to be more excitement generated about the City Council's three-week trip through Mexico and its five-day stay near Disney World, all part of last year's globe-trotting extravaganza that cost $68,258 in travel and meeting expenses.
While staff from
Whatever way the situation gets resolved, the residents of South El Monte, Rosemead, Montebello, El Monte, Whittier, etc., who fish in Legg Lake should enjoy a clean environment - and the cities around that facility have a role in making that happen.
As it stands now, the city of
We recognize that cities are an easy target for cleaning up what's called "non-point" pollution sources. This stuff comes from a wide array of sources, from people tossing cigarette butts out of car windows, fertilizer flowing from over-watered lawns and dog feces from irresponsible pet owners. In addition to plastic bags, bottles, cans and other bulk trash, a list of common ingredients in storm drain run-off taken from a report of what flows down the
"pathogens, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides ... waste oils, solvents, lubricants, grease."
This is serious stuff. While cities have balked at the price tag and the regional board's strict guidelines, they need to get over their objections and get to work on solutions. Too often, cities are more invested in landing the next strip mall or car dealer than in improving existing resources.
Instead of seeing it as a burden,
The city of
We'd like to see
SEWER ORDINANCE:
New sewer ordinance set to go before Lakeport Council in January 2008
By Elizabeth Wilson, staff writer
LAKEPORT - A new ordinance that will bring stricter sewer regulations for businesses and residences in Lakeport will likely go before city council in January. Utilities Superintendent Mark Brannigan held the second of three workshops Wednesday informing business owners, real estate agents and the general public about the changes for the future.
Real estate agents are concerned that the ordinance will require homeowners to test their pipes before escrow closes and potentially replace them if they are too old, too worn, have cracks or other problems.
Among the new requirements, restaurants and businesses that pour grease down drains must invest in grease traps, which usually run about $200 to $300, Brannigan said. Fast food chains have trapped grease for years, using industrial traps that likely cost more than $1,000, he added. Grease is corrosive to the underground sewer pipes and can cause clogs.
Travis Engstrom, an advisor for the city of
The fats, oils and grease program, also known as FOG, are part of federal requirements spurred by ever increasing deterioration and lack of pipeline capacity.
Another requirement of the new ordinance will be for home owners to test their own private lateral pipes those pipes on private property that connect to the city owned pipes. If the pipes are OK, they can receive a certificate of soundness that lasts 10 years. When a home is being sold, pipes must be tested, and if they have problems, must be replaced.
"The overwhelming majority of laterals will pass the test," Brannigan said. Engstrom added, "In my experience testing the city portion of the lateral with smoke testing (where smoke is poured into the pipes which then rises through sidewalks, grass, and earth in places where there are cracks in the pipes) there have been three or four homes with problems in the area from Fifth to Seventh streets and West to Main streets."
The new regulations are available on the city's Web site, www.cityoflakeport.com. The due date for the plans is Nov. 2, 2009.
While some cities have regulataions of 15 pages, some are as long as 1,000. The city of
"It's in the county, but that system was actually scrapped for Lakeport," Engstom said.
A problem for Lakeport and for many cities is overflow. Called inflow and infiltration, it is a tricky balance for a lakeside city to allow only so much water to pour into pipes without the sewer system overflowing with lake and rain water.
In 2006, an overflow of water in Lakeport's sewer system occurred resulting in sewage that was being spread on fields near the Hopland Grade making its way into creeks and subsequently into
With Lakeport's high water table, when there is a pipe that has cracks or holes in it due to age or FOG corrosion, lake and ground water is sucked straight in to the system.
Lakeport for many years has "needlessly processed millions of gallons of lake and rain water that cause overflows," according to Brannigan.
"The city didn't get a monetary fine for the cease and desist order, but the changes it required cost the city nearly $3 million dollars. More than eight million gallons of lake water came from only a half-dozen clean-outs, because those were under the lake. The water was flowing directly into the system, we suck it in faster than we can deal with it." #
http://www.record-bee.com//ci_7546943?IADID=Search-www.record-bee.com-www.record-bee.com
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