Colorado Radionuclide Abatement and Disposal Strategy (CO-RADS)

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Colorado Radionuclide Abatement and Disposal
Strategy(CO-RADS)

• A compliance assistance project
• sponsored by
• Water Quality Control Division
• Colorado Dept. of Public Health and Environment

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Outline

• Radionuclides 101
• MCLs and EPA Risk Assessment
• CO-RADS Project Background
• CO-RADS Project Details
• Discussion / Brainstorming Session

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Radionuclides What Are They and How Are They
Formed?

• Occur naturally as trace elements in rocks/soils
  due to radioactive decay of uranium and thorium
• As radioactive atoms release or emit energy,
  decay occurs and the radioactive atom transforms
  into a new atom
• Emission Types
• Alpha particles (2 protons and 2 neutrons bound
  together)
• Beta particles (electron)
• Gamma rays (light ray)
• Notable products of uranium and thorium decay
• Radon-222
• Radium-226 and -228
• Uranium-238 and -234
• Most commonly found in groundwater
• Manmade radionuclides not a concern in Colorado

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Simplified Decay Series
Thorium-232 decay series (radium series)
Uranium-235 decay series (radium series)
Uranium-238 decay series (radium series)
Uranium-238
Thorium-232
Uranium-235
Radium-228
Thorium-231
Uranium-234
Thorium-230
Thorium-228
Radium-223
Radium-226
Radium-224
Radon-219
Radon-222
Radon-220
Lead-207
Lead-208
Lead-206
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Radionuclide Primary Drinking Water Maximum
Contaminant Levels
Contaminant Current MCL MCLG Drinking Water Health Effects Sources Best Available Technology (BAT)
Combined Radium 226 and 228 5 pCi/L Zero Bone Cancer Naturally occurring Ion exchange Lime softening Reverse osmosis
Uranium 30 ug/L Zero Kidney toxicity, Bladder cancer Naturally occurring Coagulation/filtration Anion exchange Lime softening Reverse osmosis
Adjust gross alpha emitters 15 pCi/L Zero Cancer Naturally occurring and manmade Reverse osmosis
Gross beta and photon emitters 4 mrem/yr Zero Cancer Naturally occurring and manmade Ion exchange Reverse osmosis
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Risk Assessment

• Maximum Contaminant Levels based on lifetime
  increased cancer risk of approx. 1 in 10,000
• Lifetime consumption 2 Liters/day for 70 years
• Linear No Threshold dose-response model

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Project Background Historical Perspective

• Rule applies to all Community Water Systems
• Gross alpha and radium standard effective 1976
• Uranium Standard and revised radium monitoring
  effective in 2003

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Project Background Historical Perspective

• 36 systems currently in violation
• 20 open enforcement orders
• Treatment options are available
• Waste disposal is complex and expensive
• Worker safety and licensing may be required
• Limited guidance previously available

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CO-STAR
Colorado Water Systems with Radionuclide
Violations
Map of Colorado Counties                        
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                       
Map of Colorado Counties                        
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                       
Map of Colorado Counties                        
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                                                  
                       
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(No Transcript)
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CO-RADS Participants not in Violation
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Project BackgroundRecent Efforts

• In Feb 2007, the Department issued
• Interim Policy and Guidance Pending Rulemaking
  for Control and Disposition of Technologically
  Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive
  Materials in Colorado
• TENORM Manual for short, available at
• http//www.cdphe.state.co.us/wq/DrinkingWater/pdf
  /TENORM/FinalPDFMaster.pdf
• Division has gained more resources
• and is in a position to assist
• Radionuclide compliance is a high priority for
  new resource allocation

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Project Background

• CDPHE launched CO-RADS in 2007

• Colorado Radionuclide Abatement and Disposal
  Strategy

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Project Background

• CO-RADS Overview
• Phase 1 Identify Affected Systems
• Phase 2 Source Water Characterization
• Phase 3 Treatment and Waste Disposal
  Evaluations
• Phase 4 Financial and Compliance Assistance
• Phase 5 Implementation Assistance
• Target completion date December 31, 2009

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Project OverviewBasic Approach

• Project is designed to find practical solutions
  for radionuclide violations
• Sponsored by the Water Quality Control Division
• Funding will come primarily from Federal dollars
• Participation is optional
• and at no cost to systems

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Phase 1 Identify Potential Participants
Participant Recruitment

• Internal Data Review
• Identify systems affected by radionuclides
• Contact systems
• Host local meetings
• Recruit systems
• 33 systems are participating

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Phase 1 Identify Potential Participants Service
Procurement

• Later phases will use contracted services
• Contractor selection
• WQCD posted a Request for Proposal
• 5 bids received
• Selected firm
• Malcolm Pirnie in conjunction with
• Colorado School of Mines
• Contract was approved August 24, 2007

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Phase 2 Source Water Sampling Water System
Source Sampling

• Sampling was performed at each system to provide
  data for engineering evaluations
• Sampling plan was developed by Malcolm Pirnie in
  conjunction with WQCD
• Sampling will include
• Radionuclides
• Other constituents affecting treatment
• Fe, Mn, pH, Alk, Ca, TDS, SO4, etc.
• Source water variability

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Phase 2 Source Water Sampling Onsite
Evaluations

• Additional information gathered while onsite
• Solicited input from the system
• Records and data review
• User demands and well production capacities
• Growth trends
• Financial status and user rates
• Current system infrastructure and condition
• Information will be used to develop engineering
  reports for each system

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Phase 3 Engineering Evaluations Phase 3
Overview

• Desktop Treatment Evaluations
• Waste Handling and Disposal Options
• Pilot Studies
• Interim Measures Investigation
• Residuals Management Plan Template
• Final report to systems

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Phase 3 Engineering Evaluations Treatment
Evaluations

• System specific evaluations will be performed for
  all participating systems
• Desktop analysis
• Will be based upon raw water data and onsite
  information collected in Phase 2
• Will be done with input from the Divisions
  Engineering Section

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Phase 3 Engineering Evaluations Treatment
Evaluations

• Options that will be evaluated
• Non-treatment (new source, blending, etc.)
• Ion exchange
• Reverse osmosis
• POU/POE
• Proprietary systems, to extent possible (WRT,
  Virotec)
• Other innovative technologies (lime softening,
  HMO, barium co-precipitation etc.)

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Phase 3 Engineering Evaluations Waste Handling
and Disposal Evaluations

• Theoretical prediction of wastes
• Intermediate processing of waste
• Review of disposal options and receiving
  facilities
• Identification of licensing requirements
• Design recommendations
• General cost information

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Phase 3 Engineering Evaluations Waste Handling
and Disposal Evaluations

• Waste handling falls under many jurisdictions
• Requires coordination with multiple agencies
• Engineering Section
• Wastewater Permits Section
• Solid Waste Unit
• Radiation Management Unit
• Laboratory Services Division

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Phase 3 Engineering Evaluations Pilot Studies

• Representative source waters have been selected
  for bench and pilot studies
• Will be performed by the School of Mines
• Finished water and waste content will be compared
  to theoretical predictions
• Information will be used to support treatment
  designs

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Phase 3 Engineering Evaluations Interim
Measures Investigation

• Evaluation of potential interim measures
• Public education
• Bottled water recommendation
• Water system providing bottled water
• Point-of-use devices
• WQCD working on policy regarding required interim
  measures based on radionuclide levels and time to
  achieve compliance
• Arkansas Valley Conduit Project

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Phase 3 Engineering Evaluations Final Report

• Individual report for each system
• Will contain design information
• Analysis of alternatives
• Recommended compliance options
• Preliminary design criteria
• Capital cost estimates
• Life cycle cost estimates including capital,
  operating, and disposal costs
• Will be developed to satisfy PER requirements for
  State Revolving Fund Loans

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Phase 4 Compliance Assistance Financial
Planning

• Identify funding options
• WQCD Capacity Coaches
• Assistance preparing grant and loan applications
• Challenges associated with funding privately
  owned water systems

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Phase 4 Compliance Assistance Capacity
Development

• Capacity Capabilities
• Increase technical, managerial, and financial
  capabilities of systems
• Operator training
• Development of SOPs
• Updating/revising water rate structures
• O M (including waste disposal) budgeting
• Encourage regionalization efforts

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Phase 4 Compliance Assistance Public Outreach

• Public support will be critical to the success of
  a systems project
• Department workgroup established
• Multi agency effort
• Water Quality Control Division
• Office of Local Liaison
• Comprehensive Cancer Prevention Program
• Disease Control and Environmental Epidemiology
• Evaluate cancer occurrence and other health
  statistics in affected areas
• Begin to develop public outreach campaign

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Phase 4 Compliance Assistance Public Outreach

• Opportunity for additional partnerships and
  collaboration with local health agencies
• Developing appropriate message
• Disseminating information to the public
• Other possibilities?
• WQCD hopes to develop a relationship with CDEH
  and other local health agency organizations to
  help accomplish mutual goals
• Dissemination of information
• Improved public and environmental health

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Phase 5 Implementation Phase 5 Overview

• Division will provide technical assistance to
  help systems select an appropriate compliance
  option
• Funding application and plans and specification
  reviews
• Operator certification compliance

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Project OverviewProject Timeline
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CO-RADS Project Credits

• Rads Systems of Concern Team
• Jon DeBoer
• Jon Erickson
• Glenn Bodnar
• Ron Falco
• Cathy Heald
• Dave Knope
• Paul Kosik
• Jeff Lawrence
• Jackie Whelan
• Carolyn Schachterle
• Sharon Williams

• Additional Support
• Tom Armitage
• Gene Bissett
• Donna Davis
• Jorge Delgado
• Heather Drissel
• Phil Egidi
• Faith Erickson
• James Grice
• Charles Johnson
• Brad Simons
• Joey Talbott
• Steve Tarlton

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Discussion / Brainstorm
Jon Erickson Drinking Water Engineer, Water
Quality Control Division, CDPHE 4300 Cherry
Creek Drive South, B2 Denver, CO 80246 Phone
303-692-3593 Email jon.erickson_at_state.co.us