Pittsboro Water Quality Task Force –FINAL REPORT– October 2020 BACKGROUND In November 2019, the Town of Pittsboro’s Board of Commissioners approved the creation of an advisory Task Force named the Pittsboro Water Quality Task Force (PWQTF). As detailed in [Appendix A], the PWQTF was charged with the following mission: To assist the Board of Commissioners in its assessment of unregulated contaminates in Haw River and the appropriate response thereto. The Board directed the PWQTF to address the following concerns regarding the Town’s water supply: 1. Help focus attention on specific issues and problems anticipated as a result of the presence of the unregulated contaminates, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and 1,4-dioxane in the Town’s drinking water source. 2. Evaluate alternative supply sources of drinking water for the Town while considering the future needs of the Town, including review of the existing studies by the Jordan Lake Partnership for a Western Intake and the Chatham County Master Utilities Plan. 3. Consider recommendations for the protection of vulnerable populations, such as public schools and entities caring for the elderly and infirmed within the Town. The varied backgrounds of each Task Force member offered an extensive level of experience in science, education, environmental advocacy, and policy development toward accomplishment of the Task Force mission. PWQTF members met twelve times between February and October 2020. During that period, the Task Force enlisted a wide range of experts to solicit data on water quality findings, and background on water resources management decisions. Presentations, data, and discussions offered by these professionals included material related to the characteristics of emerging contaminants, results of pollutant tracing and monitoring, information on how the pollutants affect human health, discussions on parallel programs and water quality enhancement efforts regionally, and Chatham Park’s water reclamation facility and reuse projections. Science and industry professionals who contributed to the Task Force findings included: Dr. Linda Birnbaum, Toxicologist, NIEHS (retired) Dr. Detlef Knappe, Environmental Engineer for NC State Dr. Heather Stapleton, Environmental Chemist for Duke University Mr. Mick Noland, Chief Water Officer for Fayetteville Public Works Chris Blice, Chatham County School Operations Officer Mr. Tim Baldwin and Mr. Josh Powell, treatment engineers from the Chatham Park Decentralized Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) 16-Oct-20 1 Pittsboro Water Quality Task Force SUMMARY This Report will reference the term “emerging contaminants” in reference to 1,4-dioxane [Appendix B] and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) [Appendix C]. The Task Force extensively assessed immediate, short-term, and long-term options available to the Town of Pittsboro. PWQTF recommends the following three areas of action to the Pittsboro Board of Commissioners: I. Develop an Emerging Contaminants Mitigation and Response Plan in coordination with upstream and downstream municipalities. II. Assess the Town’s long-term water resources management options using a strategic decision matrix and cost-benefit analysis. III. Educate Town water users about Emerging Contaminants through a public awareness program, and provide short-term options to reduce exposure. AREAS OF ACTION The following areas of action lay out the immediate, short-term, and long-term actions needed to address the detrimental health risks presented by emerging contaminants in the Town’s drinking water supply. I. Develop an Emerging Contaminants Mitigation and Response Plan in coordination with upstream and downstream municipalities. The most effective means to address emerging contamination in the Town’s water supply is to stop the contamination at the source. There are multiple known sources of contamination stemming from within the municipalities of Reidsville, Burlington, and Greensboro. The PWQTF recommends that the Town Mayor, Manager, and Public Utilities Director immediately contact their upstream peers in Reidsville, Burlington, and Greensboro about the Town’s concerns with their wastewater discharges. This alert should serve to establish regular communication and meetings with each of the town’s mayors, town managers, and wastewater treatment facility managers. This will establish a baseline of communication in order to halt contaminating discharges into the Haw River from three municipalities known to be causing contamination. To stop contamination at the source, these three municipalities must get involved with local industrial discharge customers. We have attached [Appendix D] for all necessary contact information. The PWQTF also recommends immediate coalition-building with downstream Cape Fear River governments, whose citizens are also impacted by the contamination within the Haw River water. In the near future, we could be sending reverse osmosis waste downstream, via the surface water, and our downstream users have a right to know. Regular communication and meetings should be established between the Pittsboro Town government and the Cape Fear governments. 16-Oct-20 2 Pittsboro Water Quality Task Force Forming a strong coalition will also serve to build a much larger voice for state government to hear the demands of the people—toward the end goal of establishing regulatory guidelines for PFAS and 1,4-dioxane, which do not currently exist. As a result of pressure from state water advocacy groups and town governments, Attorney General Josh Stein has recently launched an investigation into PFAS discharges throughout the state. Thus far, the Task Force has engaged in commenting and reviewing changes to permits through the Special Order by Consent for Greensboro. [Appendix E] provides a list of coalition-building contact information. The PWQTF recommends a local representative be designated to participate and provide a voice on the 1,4-dioxane stakeholder conference call that is hosted on a quarterly basis by Kim Nimmer, Emerging Compounds Coordinator for Division of Water Resources. These calls allow stakeholders from municipalities, state agencies, academic researchers, and community groups to discuss ongoing research, issues, and potential solutions to 1,4-dioxane contamination issues across the Cape Fear Basin. In addition, Pittsboro town government should become involved with the already-organized Upper, Middle and Lower Cape Fear River Basin Associations to form the backbone of their coalition [Appendix F]. The PWQTF—if extended—would help assist with all applicable communication by drafting letters and setting regular meetings between the Town and upstream and downstream governments. The PWQTF notes that, after the departure of the Town Engineer in early 2020, the Town has not had staff to manage such efforts. II. Assess the Town’s long-term water resources management options using a strategic decision matrix and cost-benefit analysis. It was beyond the scope and expertise of the PWQTF to develop an engineering report or a cost-benefit analysis to evaluate the town’s options for water infrastructure. However, the group reviewed existing reports and offers summary and recommendations. Documents and reports reviewed by PWQTF are summarized as follows: Jordan Lake Western Intake [Appendix G and Appendix H] Pittsboro is a member of the Triangle Water Partnership (TWP), formerly known as Jordan Lake Partnerships. Pittsboro is one of four partner members—along with Durham, Chatham County, and OWASA—that plan to draw water from the western side of Jordan Lake. All forecasts share a common element: they start with a regional raw water intake and pumping station that is built on a site owned by OWASA, near Vista Point. No prior analysis has been conducted for alternative sites nor for Pittsboro having independent access to an intake. In the analysis, the raw water intake is sized for the needs of all four partners, with cost based on their percentage of water needed. This path was chosen based on early discussions with NC Division of Water Resources (DWR) and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). These bodies are likely to approve only one more publicly owned water supply intake on the Lake— which would require regional cooperation. The total anticipated costs for the raw water intake, pump station, and regional Water Treatment Plant for Phase 1—with a maximum day capacity of 33 mgd (million gallons per 16-Oct-20 3 Pittsboro Water Quality Task Force Report day)—was $243.3 million in 2014. Pittsboro’s contribution was $29.5 million, for a withdrawal average of 2 mgd. No cost analysis has been done for Pittsboro to pursue an independent intake or to initiate the process independently, but it would not likely be approved. Increasing financial investment into this partnership would not expedite the process at this point as the lead agency for the Western Intake has always been Durham, which funded the initial engineering design costs. The current goal is to have a regional intake operating by 2031. PWQTF recommends that Pittsboro remain engaged in pursuing the Western Jordan Intake and explore strategies to expedite the process. The Western Intake offers the benefits of regional collaboration, advanced drinking water treatment, and a more protected water supply. However, this is a long-term solution. While it should be pursued, it will not adequately and urgently address the immediate emerging contamination problem. 2020 Chatham County Water and Wastewater Utility Master Plan [Appendix