Proposed Nutrient Criteria for Drinking Water Lakes and Reservoirs in NY State

Proposed Nutrient Criteria for Drinking Water Lakes and Reservoirs in NY State

Cliff Callinan, P.E. & Ron Entringer, P.E.; NYSDECJohn Hassett, Ph.D., SUNY ESFJim Hyde, NYSDOH2013 NYC Watershed/Tifft Science & Technical Symposium

CWANYWEA

SDWA NYSAWWA

Presentation Overview

• Introduction

• Study & Methods

• Findings

• Conclusions-Recommendations

• Q & A319 September, 2013 Callinan - 2013 Watershed/Tifft

From: drjudywood.com

Learning Objectives• Understand linkages between nutrient

enrichment & potential human-health related impacts to potable water supplies (PWSs)

• Understand “linkages” between SDWA & CWA• Discuss potential unintended consequences that

may arise from certain operational changes targeted at addressing some of these issues

• Briefly review derivation of proposed numeric nutrient criteria (NNC) for PWS lakes and reservoirs

419 September, 2013 Callinan - 2013 Watershed/Tifft

universe-review.ca

Why the Concern w/ Nutrients & PWS?

Arsenic: cancer of bladder & kidney, as well as liver, prostate & lung

Cyanotoxins: acute toxicity (liver & nervous system), as well as possible carcinogen, also hypothetical link to ALS & other neurological disorders


DBPs: cancer of colon & liver, as well as bladder & kidney; acute reproductive

Sediments

Algae &

CyanobacteriaP

Leaves, humic & fulvic acids,WWTPs, etc

Watershed Inputs

Autochthonous

NOMAllochthonous

P As

Anoxia

O2 O2

Cyanotoxins, Taste & Odor,Filter Clogging, & Treatment Costs

Disinfection By-Products &Treatment Costs

Arsenic,Iron/Manganese & Treatment Costs

Harder to treat

Easier to treat

PWS Concerns

Cl2

Credit: Jim Hyde8

How Does this Happen ?

Allochthonous v. Autochthonous• Source Water Protection Perspective Allochthonous largely beyond our control Autochthonous amenable to control via nutrient

management (i.e., NNC)• Water Treatment Perspective Allochthonous easier to remove Autochthonous hard to remove

• Tangential/Value Added Benefits Reduce unregulated DBPs Limit cyanobacteria & toxins Limit REDOX issues (e.g., As, Fe, Mn, P, etc.)


Unintended Consequences• “Whack-a-Mole” Phenomenon

• “Chase-the-MCL” Scenario Chloramines: N-DBPs, I-DBPs ClO2 – Chlorite/Chlorate

• Algaecides (e.g., CuSo4) & Preox. Potential release CB toxins Release of DOC DBPs

• Fe & Mn Control oxidant dose DBPs

1219 September, 2013 Callinan - 2013 Watershed/TifftFrom: Sadiq et al. (2004)

“A major challenge for water suppliers is how to balance the risks from microbial pathogens and disinfection byproducts. It is important to provide protection from microbial pathogens while simultaneously minimizing health risks to the population from disinfection byproducts.”From: http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/mdbp/index.cfm

Presentation Overview• Introduction

• Study Intro. & Methods

• Findings

• Conclusions/Recommendations

• Q & A


Project Introduction & Disclaimer• Project originated in response to a USEPA RFP

related to development of nutrient criteria

• Project Goal: Establish nutrient criteria for potable waters in NY State protective of human health

• Presentation Disclaimer: Material presented is a work in progress and is not official NY State policy as yet !


Institutional Acknowledgements

NYSDEC SUNY ESF Upstate Freshwater Institute

New York State Department of Health

Morgan State University Estuarine Research Center

Several Public Water Supply Systems


Methods (THMFP & Algal Toxins)• Sampling Sampling was conducted on 21

lakes/reservoirs Monthly sampling May - October

• Laboratory Analysis Conventional Indices (P, N, Chl-a, DOC) Trihalomethane Formation Potential (THMFP) Algal Toxins (microcystin-LR,

anatoxin-a)




• Findings


• Q & A


Basic Limnology Findings

• Very good relationship observed between total phosphorus (causal variable) and chlorophyll a (response variable) - r2 ~ 0.85 Generally consistent with (NY) statewide

findings as well as other investigators Supports the hypothesis that phosphorus

controls algae growth within these systems during the growing season


Steps 1 & 2

Mean Epilimnetic Total Phosphorus vs Chlorophyll a

y = 0.6227x - 2.8074

R2 = 0.844

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

0 10 20 30 40 50

Mean Total Phosphorus (ug/l)

Mea

n C

hlor

ophy

ll a

(ug/

l)

1919 September, 2013 Callinan - 2013 Watershed/Tifftdigital-librarian.com

Disinfection By-Products Findings


Steps 1-3 & A

commons.wikimedia.org

Overview of THMFP Results

• Seasonal increases in THMFP levels were observed in most of the systems studied

• THMFP concentrations were found to increase with increasing trophic state

• Reasonably predictive relationships were observed between trophic indices and THMFP; with r2: ~ 0.6 – 0.8




Where to Draw the Line & Verification ?• THMFP is a “worst case” scenario

• How to compare THMFP results to real world TTHMs• Employ off-the-shelf, peer-reviewed model THM = f (DOC, time, dose, pH, temperature) Run 1: Verify using SMs: Observed v. Model Run 2: Use “typical” albeit conservative PWS

conditions & TTHM MCL, Solve DOCcrit.

Use DOCcrit. to solve for THMFPcrit. Use THMFPcrit. to solve for [Chl-a] threshold

• Verification: (1) Ground-truth w/ Real World Cases & (2) Corroboration from Independent Studies


Mean Epilimnetic Dissolved Organic Carbon vs THMFP

y = 85.298x - 58.557R2 = 0.8021

0

100

200

300

400

500

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Mean DOC (mg/l)

Mea

n TH

MFP

(ug/

l)

3x MCL

2x MCL


Mean Epilimnetic Chlorophyll a vs THMFP

y = 89.839Ln(x) + 69.03R2 = 0.6606

0

100

200

300

400

500

0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30

Mean Chlorophyll a (ug/l)

Mea

n TH

MFP

(ug/

l)

3x MCL

2x MCL


Ground Truth Exercises (DBPs)

• Source Water Exhibiting Substantial Increase in Algal Biomass & Apparent Response in PWS 3rd Qtr. TTHM Levels

• Source Water With Moderately Elevated Algal Biomass Levels and PWS Running Annual Average TTHM Levels


Corroborative Studies

• OECD (1982): Guidance Value [TP] < 10 ug/l• British Columbia (1986): Guidance for water supply

source water of [TP] = 10 ug/l• Arruda & Fromm (1989): Suggested [Chl-a] = 5 ug/l

threshold to meet [TTHM] = 100 ug/l• Colorado DPHE (2012): Patterned on NY’s work (w/

enhancements); Very similar endpoint: [Chl-a] = 5 ug/l applicable to Direct Use Water Supplies (DUWS).


From: anybodythere.net

earthfirstnews.files.wordpress.com

Algal Toxins Findings

www.usgs.gov

Steps 1-2, 6 & B

Initial Cyanotoxin Findings• Caveats: (1) No U.S. CB toxin criteria – defer to WHO

D.W. G.V. for MC-LR of 1 ug/l; (2) Additional NY Studies ongoing, but not yet fully analyzed

• Preliminary findings suggest nutrient thresholds for the control of cyanobacteria and associated toxins is somewhat higher than thresholds for DBPs. Findings also consistent w/ others (e.g., Downing, et al. 2001)

• Thus, it would appear that the thresholds derived for DBPs would also be protective for cyanobacteria and associated toxins.


Arsenic Findings


Steps 4-5 & C

Initial Arsenic Findings• Results indicate arsenic levels can become

elevated in hypolimnetic waters of some eutrophic lakes and reservoirs in New York during growing season

• In general, it appears that arsenic is originating from natural sources, however, its enrichment in hypolimnion is likely due to DO depletion (in part due to cultural eutrophication), and reductive release.


Eutrophic Lake (western NY): August, 2005

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

3

4

5

5.5

6

Dep

th (m

)

Arsenic (ppb)

(MCL)

Eutrophic System (western NY) August, 2005

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

0 2 4 6 8 10Dissolved Oxygen (mg/l)




• Findings


• Q & A


Summary of Take Home Messages• Nutrient enrichment of PWS waters can have

adverse impacts on drinking water quality

• The CWA & SDWA need to work in concert in order to best protect PWSs

• Operational changes to address one concern may lead to additional challenge(s)

• [Chl-a] < ~ 4-6 ug/l appear reasonably protective of PWS with respect to DBPs and algal toxins


Q & A Clifford W. Callinan, P.E.

NYSDEC625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-3502(518) [email protected]


N-Steps Web-cast (2007) http://n-steps.tetratech-ffx.com

AWWA Paper (2013)http://www.awwa.org/publications/journal-awwa/table-of-contents/issueid/36464160.aspx

AWWA Webinar 30 April, 2014

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.awwa.org/publications/journal-awwa/table-of-contents/issueid/36464160.aspx

Proposed Nutrient Criteria for Drinking Water Lakes and Reservoirs in NY State

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