Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
April 22, 2008
4. Water Quality -
Garlic spill suit settled for $60,000 -
San Francisco Chronicle
DWP flexing its muscle to stop invader's spread -
The Inyo Register
Health versus cost: Water disinfection debated -
City pushes creek-cleaning pledge -
Auburn Journal
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Garlic spill suit settled for $60,000
San Francisco Chronicle – 4/21/08
By Meredith May, staff writer
One of
The company, Christopher Ranch, agreed to pay $60,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by the
"When raw garlic comes into contact with large bodies of water it forms hydrogen sulfide, which takes oxygen out of water, suffocating the fish," said Ken Rosenblatt, who prosecuted the case.
Several hundred suckerfish and at least nine federally protected steelhead salmon died when the garlic spilled into Carnadero Creek in February 2007. The garlic apparently fell off delivery trucks and was swept into a parking lot storm drain that is supposed to be opened only in the event of catastrophic flooding, Rosenblatt said.
Typically, errant garlic is sent into a pit and pumped into an evaporation pond so the garlic can dry and compost back into the soil.
But someone left the guillotine-style gate open on the flood pipe, which empties into the creek. A local naturalist who monitors the creek daily noticed a milky white sheen and lots of belly-up fish Feb. 3, 2007.
In response to the spill, Christopher Ranch spent $250,000 upgrading its storm water drainage system, which was nearly 50 years old.
The $60,000 fine will be put into fish and game preservation funds maintained by
The garlic spill cleared up on its own, Rosenblatt said, but sent a clear warning that water and garlic don't mix.#
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/22/BAV4109CM0.DTL&hw=gilroy&sn=001&sc=1000
DWP flexing its muscle to stop invader's spread
The Inyo Register – 4/19/08
By Ken Koerner, staff writer
Seeking to prevent the contamination of Eastern Sierra waters by small aquatic organisms is turning out to be a huge undertaking ahead of this season’s fishing opener.
Determined to do all they can to prevent the spread of invasive Zebra and Quagga mussels into the waters of
Native to the Caspian Sea and
Since the release of these invaders into the Great Lakes via trans-oceanic ships some 20 years ago, they have spread widely across the eastern United States, including the entire length of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers – and more recently have invaded western waters, too.
The mandatory boat inspections now being instituted for
Nationally, it’s estimated that mitigation measures related to the mussels’ presence in water systems have already cost more than $7 billion in the eastern
Since
“It is critical that we take proactive steps to protect Crowley Lake from the spread of invasive mussels while allowing the public to enjoy fishing and other recreational opportunities on Crowley,” LADWP Chief Executive Officer and General Manager David Nahai said. “We know that thousands of people enjoy
In an effort to limit that potential “inconvenience to boaters,” while also protecting
“We’re working with Crowley Lake Fish Camp in order to have as many inspectors available as possible to limit delays and inconvenience at Crowley,” LADWP Land and Resource Manager Clarence Martin said, “and we’ve also made arrangements to offer pre-opener boat inspections at our Bishop office on Monday and Tuesday (April 21-22) from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. and at the Bishop Von’s parking lot on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (April 23-25) from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. each of those days.”
LADWP will employ a two-stage process with each boat and owner. First will be a “Boat Use Survey” to determine where and when a boat has been recently used. Step Two will be the physical inspection of the vessel to verify no mussels “have hitched a ride.”
The estimated time required for the inspection process will vary depending upon the type of boat and its history. Boat owners should expect spending a minimum of 20 minutes to twice that long, depending on their particular vessel, according to Martin. Currently, there is no fee charged for the inspections.
Hoping to alert as many past users of
“The best approach a boat owner can take ahead of getting an inspection,” said Martin, “is to make certain their boat and trailer is absolutely dry and clean – and that means no standing water in the bilge, holding tanks or wherever. If a boat is brought for inspection and it isn’t dry, it will be immediately rejected until such time as it is.”
Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, Mussel Outreach and Education Coordinator Bill Zook, led the inspection training workshops held at the Tri-County Fairgrounds this week.
“I’ve done more than 30 of these training workshops around the western
Beyond the pre-opener schedule, boat inspections will also be available at the Bishop LADWP office throughout the fishing season, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Inspection of boats will also be offered during the fishing season at
For more information about boat inspections, contact the LADWP at (760) 872-1104, or visit the Web site at www.LADWP.com/mussels.
http://www.inyoregister.com/content/view/95572/27/
Health versus cost: Water disinfection debated
By ALISHA SEMCHUCK
While those who favor the use of the chemical compound to cleanse drinking water consider it a safe and effective method of reducing certain contaminants in the water supply if properly monitored, those opposed raise health and environmental concerns and the financial burden involved.
Approximately 35 people from water agencies across eastern
"If you're taking AVEK water, that's going to affect your system, too," said Jesse Dhaliwal, a senior sanitary engineer with the state public health agency. He explained the chloramine disinfection process and its ramifications to the water retailers who purchase surface water from AVEK, a wholesaler.
Dhaliwal described chloramine as a product of the combination of chlorine, ammonia and water. The amount of each component in the mix determine whether monochloramine, dichloramine or trichloramine is formed.
Monochloramine is "the preferred form used for disinfection," Dhaliwal said.
To create the proper balance, he said, the ratio should be five parts of chlorine to one part of ammonia. "The ratio is critical," he said.
"You want to keep just enough ammonia in (the water) to prevent the formation (of trihalomethanes)," AVEK engineer Mike Flood said. The ammonia in the water keeps the chlorine from reacting with organics, decaying plant matter found in water flowing out of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and into the California Aqueduct, from which the water wholesaler draws its surface water.
Interaction between chlorine and the organics creates the trihalomethanes, contaminants linked in some studies to increased risk of certain cancers.
The local water wholesaler chose to switch from chlorine disinfection to chloramine to comply with orders by the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce the level of trihalomethanes in drinking water, Dhaliwal said.
Robert Scherer, a director with the Rosamond Community Services District, said his agency would have preferred that the wholesaler use granular activated carbon along with chlorine to enhance the disinfection process, the approach taken by the Palmdale Water District.
Flood told Scherer that AVEK questioned its customers - agricultural clients as well as municipal and industrial users that include the Quartz Hill Water District and Los Angeles County Waterworks District 40 - and the survey indicated the majority wanted the wholesaler to keep "the cost as low as possible."
He said chloramine was a less expensive choice than the method decided on by the Palmdale district.
When Scherer asked which customers agreed to chloramine water treatments, Flood said U.S. Borax and Boron Community Services District didn't voice any objections, while Edwards Air Force Base wanted the "lowest cost alternative."
While there are benefits to chloramine use, the compound has certain drawbacks, Dhaliwal acknowledged.
First, it carries potential adverse effects on special water users.
People on dialysis must modify the equipment used for their medical treatments to filter out the chloramine since chloramine entering the bloodstream has proved fatal in some cases. People with fish tanks must make similar modifications to their filtration systems.
Some experts contend that ammonia is neutralized in the digestive system when people drink water and doesn't have that deadly impact.
Other drawbacks Dhaliwal mentioned included chloramine incompatibility with certain metals such as zinc, copper and brass and a potential for nitrification.
Flood said nitrification occurs "when you lose your chlorine residual." He explained that chlorine residual is the amount of chlorine that remains in disinfected water.
With that residual gone or severely reduced, the ammonia is available to "feed bacteria and nitrification occurs," he said.
Nitrification can form nitrites, which in turn can form nitrates, degrading drinking water, Dhaliwal said, so close monitoring of chlorinated water is crucial to avoid complications.
"That's what (Metropolitan Water Districts of
"Get a monitoring plan in place to head off any problems," Flood said.
"That's the message Jesse was trying to get across."
In the long run, the monitoring will be similar in nature to "what operators have already been doing," Flood said.
But in the early stages of the conversion, it will involve more work until operators become acquainted with the process, he added.
Despite the most stringent monitoring efforts, some water purveyors worry about potential health risks.
Kathleen Spoor, vice president of the Rosamond Community Services District board, said 80% of the children living in the
Spoor said she met with a
Once AVEK completes its conversion to chloramine, Spoor said she "will not eat in
However, Flood and Dhaliwal said the situation comes down to knowledge and proper management of treated water.
"Public outreach is working for us. The message is getting out initially to doctors and pet stores," Flood said.
AVEK's switch to chloramine is expected sometime in late winter or early spring of 2009. The agency has said it will alert the general public at least a couple of months prior to the changeover.
One issue the water wholesaler can't solve is the cost for its customers to convert their systems. Most of the municipal and industrial water agencies and mutual water companies that purchase AVEK groundwater blend that water with groundwater pumped from wells.
The Quartz Hill Water District and Waterworks District 40 currently disinfect the well water with chlorine, but are prepared to change that process to become compatible with the water wholesaler's process.
Not so for the Rosamond Community Services District, Scherer said.
"It's going to cost RCSD a minimum of $1.5 million (to convert) our tanks and our wells. The cost is prohibitive."#
http://www.avpress.com/n/19/0419_s10.hts
City pushes creek-cleaning pledge
Auburn Journal - 4/22/08
By Jenna Nielsen Journal Staff Writer
Auburn businesses can pitch in this Earth Day by making a pledge that will leave a lasting impression on the environment for years to come.
As part of the Healthy Auburn Waters campaign, launched by the city of
“As Earth Day approaches, we want to remind
Businesses are being asked to reduce pollutants being poured down the sink and into storm drains, collect fats, oils and grease in containers and properly dispose of hazardous waste.
Businesses that take the pledge will be presented with a Public Service Award and will receive window stickers with the campaign logo.
The businesses will also be listed on the Healthy Auburn Waters Web site, with a link to their Web pages.
Emerald Green Janitorial Service, Inc. was one of the first businesses to sign up to take the pledge.
Rodney Spangler, the service’s marketing manager, said the business already makes a conscious effort to use environmentally friendly and biodegradable products.
“We have always been aware and never dump our water down outside drains,” Spangler said. “It is not any more cost-effective, but it is about being smart, basically. And environmentally aware.”
The Auburn Chamber of Commerce was the first organization to sign on and is also helping spread the word to its members.
“It is important for community business owners to take positive steps to reinforce the significance we should all place on our environment,” said Bruce Cosgrove, chief executive office of the chamber. “At the Chamber of Commerce we are proud to join with the City of
The city is also reaching out to children as it does every spring with classroom visits and creek walks.
“We teach children how sensitive the creeks are by taking them on a walk of the area and encouraging them to not litter because of how pollutants can harm wildlife,” said Megan Siren, city recycling coordinator.
Creek walks for this spring will take place on May 22 and 23.
City officials hope the efforts of the campaign will put an end to hazardous waste entering local waterways and sewage systems, which increases processing costs and can cause substantial damage to aquatic life.
“It is the right thing to do for our pocket book, for Mother Nature and for future generations,”
http://www.auburnjournal.com/detail/82132.html
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