Overview of Drinking Water Industry

1
Overview of Drinking Water Industry

• March 11, 2003
• Homeland Security Conference
• Seattle, WA
• Michael Cox
• 206-553-1893
• cox.michael_at_epa.gov

2
Purpose of Presentation

• Establish baseline understanding of drinking
  water industry
  
• Who is responsible for drinking water?
• What are contaminants of concern?
• How is drinking water contaminated?
• What funding is available?
• What is the profile of the industry?

3
Responsibilities

• Congress provides direction (Safe Drinking Water
  Act)
  
• EPA establishes regulations
• States run program with assistance from
  counties/health departments
  
• Public water suppliers provide water
• Associations/organizations advise/assist water
  suppliers and state program
  

4
EPA Drinking Water Standards 1975-2003
5
Drinking Water Contaminants

• Microbials - bacteria, viruses, protozoan
  parasites (E. coli, hepatitis A, Giardia)
  
• Disinfection By-products - chloroform
• Inorganic Chemicals - nitrate, arsenic
• Organic Chemicals - solvents, pesticides
• Radiological Contaminants - radon

6
Sources of Contamination

• Pollution of the source of supply - natural and
  people-caused
  
• Pipe breaks and cross connections
• Water system and plumbing materials
• Water treatment chemicals
• By-products of water treatment

7
State Revolving Fund

• Used for infrastructure development
• Nationally
• 4.4 billion provided for projects
• 2600 projects funded 1200 operating
• Pacific Northwest
• 370 million available for projects
• 230 projects funded 70 operating
• 85 loans to systems

8
Public Water Systems

• Public Water Systems (PWS) 15 connections or
  serves 25 people
  
• Community Water Systems (homes)
• Noncommunity Water Systems
• Non-Transient Non-Community (schools)
• Transient Noncommunity (rest stops)

9
Number of Systems

• Nationally
• 160,000 PWS
• 260 million people
• Pacific Northwest (AK, ID, OR, WA)
• 10,500 PWS
• (AK1600 ID 2000 OR 2700 WA 4200)
• 10.6 million
• (AK 0.6 ID 1.1 OR 3.1 WA 5.8)

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Majority of Systems Small

• National
• 82 of PWS serve
• 81 population in PWSs serving 10K people
• PNW
• 87 of PWS serve
• 68 population in PWSs serving 10K people
• Creates significant challenges

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Majority of Systems Use Groundwater

• Surface water generally more susceptible to
  contamination, especially microbial
  
• Nationally
• 91 of PWSs use groundwater
• 35 population in PWSs that use groundwater
• PNW
• 91 of PWSs use groundwater
• 46 population in PWSs that use groundwater

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Conclusion

• Shared responsibility to ensure safe water
• 94 contaminants currently regulated
• Majority of water systems are small (majority of population in large systems
  (10,000)
  
• Majority of systems use groundwater, but majority
  of people in systems using surface water