Chloramination, Lewiston & Auburn’s First Year June 8 & 15, 2010 Mary Jane Dillingham Water Quality Manager Auburn Water District & Lewiston Water Division Background • Auburn Water District • Lewiston Water Division 1st 1st DBP violation DBP violation HAA5 1st Qtr HAA5 4th Qtr 2002 2006 RAA = 62 ppb, already RAA = 65 ppb, 3 chloraminating more quarters over • March 1, 2006 switched to 60 ppb for RAA chloramines as primary • Notified customers disinfectant 11/17/03 – Switching to chloramines December 10, 2003 Preparing for Chloramines • Violation notices - included information about what was being planned to remediate the high HAA5 • Trustees and Councilors informed at regular meetings • Gave the office staff, who were in contact with the public, information to be able to help the public understand • Gave the crews information including operator training and handouts for reference • Got the Media involved • Critical Customers - Contacted (phone and letters) the Kidney Centers, Aquarium Supply Stores, Hospitals, Veterinarians, Industrial Users, Restaurants, Home Dialysis patients Media Headlines • Water Problem ‘Not Acute’ – February 16, 2003 • Editorial – Define Actual Threat – Sunday, February 16, 2003. “The average customer doesn’t know what haloacetic acids are, what maximum contaminant levels are or how the district controls disinfections by-products. However, they know what cancer is.” • Drinking water system considered – March 20, 2003 • District discusses clearing water contamination – April 16, 2003 • Water District gives contract to Topsham company – May 23, 2003 • District unveils plans for water treatment facility – August 2003 • Higher quality water: New treatment method sprurs new precautions –November 24, 2003 The Reaction to the Violation Notices • Public was alarmed mostly at the required language parts • Some rumors that the other system was also out of compliance • Rumors that the water was not drinkable Important Information for Aquarium/ Pond Owners From the Auburn Water District Auburn Water District will begin using chloramines, in addition to chlorine, to disinfect the water it produces. The result will be a higher quality of drinking water. Here are some important things aquarium and pond owners need to know. Unlike chlorine, chloramines cannot be removed from water by boiling or by letting an open container of water stand to dissipate chlorine gas. It can only be neutralized or removed with specific treatment methods. Inexpensive products for removing chloramines for fish and amphibian tanks are readily available at pet and aquarium supply stores. •How are fish, amphibians, and reptiles affected by chloramines? Chloraminated water passes through gills, directly entering the fish, amphibian, and reptile bloodstream. Chloramine must be removed as it binds to iron in red blood cell hemoglobin, causing reduced cell capacity to carry oxygen. However, chloraminated water is safe for people and animals to drink as it is neutralized by the digestive process. It is also safe to cook with, bathe in, and for other general uses. •How does ammonia affect fish? Ammonia is also released when chloramines are chemically removed. Ammonia can be harmful to fish, even though fish produce some ammonia as a natural byproduct. Although ammonia levels may be tolerable in individual tanks or ponds, commercial products are available to remove excess ammonia. Also, biological filters, natural zeolites, and pH control methods are useful in reducing the toxic effects of ammonia. •Are both saltwater fish and fresh water fish affected by chloramines? Yes. Chloramine is toxic to both fresh and salt water fish. Drinking water used with artificial sea salts for makeup water in salt water fish tanks must have the ammonia and chlorine removed first. •Are Koi fish affected by chloramines like other fish? Yes. Koi are susceptible to being harmed by chloramines as any other fish. -over- •If only a small amount of water is added to an aquarium or pond to make up for evaporation, do chloramines still need to be removed? This will depend on the amount of water added in relation to the size of the aquarium or pond, and the time period in which it is added. An alternative is to monitor for a total chlorine residual in the aquarium or pond while adding the chloraminated water. Chloramine residuals in water used to keep fish should be kept below 0.1 mg/L. Total chlorine test kits are available from pet stores, pool supply stores, and chemical supply houses. Chloramine should ideally be removed from water before being added to a pond. Here is a guideline suggested by the San Diego Koi Club. -If less than one percent of the total water volume of your system is replaced at any one time, the pond should absorb new chloraminated water with little to no impact on fish. -If one to ten percent of pond water volume is replaced, sodium thiosulfate and a biological filter effectively remove chloramines. -If more than ten percent pond water volume is replaced, an ammonia binder is needed. •Won’t letting water sit for a few days remove chloramines from tanks or pond water? No. Unlike chlorine, which disappears when water sits for a few days, chloramines may take weeks to disappear. If you don’t want to use a dechloraminating chemical, the next best solution is to install a granular activated carbon filter and allow sufficient contact time between the water and filter. •Will reverse osmosis plant membranes remove all of the chloramine for aquarium use? Most membranes will not reject chlorine or chloramine. In fact, both chlorine and chloramine are damaging in most (but not all) membranes and they are typically removed prior to processing water through reverse osmosis membranes. For information regarding your specific equipment, you should consult the manufacturer of your reverse osmosis membranes and experts in the medical field with respect to your process. •How much of a de-chloraminated agent or what type of granular-activated carbon filters should be used? Check the product label for specific instructions or ask your pet supplier. Who Can I Contact at the Auburn er District? Please call Normand R. Lamie, General Manager or Mary Jane Dillingham, Water Quality Manager if you have other questions. Our telephone # is 207-784-6469. Important Information for Kidney Dialysis Patients From the Auburn Water District Beginning in October 2003, Auburn Water District will begin using chloramines, in addition to chlorine, to disinfect the water it produces. The result will be a higher quality of drinking water. Here are some important things kidney dialysis patients need to know. •What does this mean to you as a kidney dialysis patient? You may need to change the way water is pre-treated for dialysis. Depending on the method of chlorine removal your dialysis machine uses now some modifications may be necessary. Drinking chloraminated water is safe. Chloramines are harmful only when they directly enter the bloodstream through the dialysis process. •Why do kidney dialysis patients need to take special precautions? In the dialysis process, the compounds in water come in contact with the blood across a permeable membrane. Chloramines in that water would be harmful, just as chlorine is harmful and must be removed from water used in kidney dialysis machines. There are two ways to do that: either by adding ascorbic acid or by using a granular-activated carbon treatment. Medical centers that perform dialysis are responsible for preparing the water that enters the dialysis machines. •Is it safe for kidney dialysis patients to drink water containing chloramines? Yes. Because the digestive process metabolizes chloramines before they reach the bloodstream, everyone can drink chloraminated water. Even kidney dialysis patients can drink, cook, and bathe in chloraminated water. •What should people with home dialysis machines do to remove chloramines? You should first check with your dialysis physician, who will probably recommend the proper type of water treatment. Often, home dialysis service companies can make the needed modifications, but you should check with your physician to be certain. •Will reverse osmosis plant membranes remove all of the chloramine for kidney dialysis use? Most membranes will not reject chlorine or chloramine. In, fact, both chlorine and chloramine are damaging in most (but not all) membranes and they are typically removed prior to processing water through reverse osmosis membranes. For information regarding your specific equipment, you should consult the manufacturer of your reverse osmosis membranes and experts in the medical field with respect to your process. •Does the Lewiston Auburn Kidney Center know about this change? Yes, the Kidney Center has been notified. If you have specific questions about your dialysis, please call your doctor or your dialysis center. •Who can I contact at the Auburn Water District for more information? Please call Normand R. Lamie, General Manager or Mary Jane Dillingham, Water Quality Manager if you have other questions. Our telephone # is 207-784-6469. The Switch • Plan & Organize the events – Pick a day, reservoirs lowered, SCADA ready, ammonia on (dry run), hydrant flushing, staffing phones & script, other internal communications, notify emergency services • Prepare system maps with water age and hydrant locations • Organize teams and instruct • Communication systems - radio, cell phone • Prepare teams with materials chlorine kits, data collection sheets and pencils, list of locations and order of flushing, cell phones and/or radio • Ammonia ON • Begin flushing and collecting data • Use up stored water • Address questions from the public TEAM 1 - RANDY / DAVE - LOW SYSTEM NEW AUBURN HYDRANT ORDER LOCATION HYDRANT # 1 MILLER ST 2 DUNN AT RIVERSIDE 3 BROAD AT 9TH 4 BOLSTER AT COOK 5 IPSWICH 6 PAUL AT JORDAN 7 7TH AT TRUMAN 8 RIVERSIDE DR 2ND TO LAST HYDRAN DATE TIME LOCATION T # Cl2 FREE Cl2 TOTAL COMMENTS INITIALS 12/11/2003 10:30 Miller St 2846 0.3 1.4 ATF 11:40 Riverside @ Dunn 0.3 1.3 ATF 13:05 Riverside @ 2nd last 0.15 1.3 ATF 14:18 Washington @ Philomar 0.3 2.1 ATF 14:30 Washington @ Chasse 0.3 1.5 ATF 15:36 Center @ N.