HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - June 6, 1990 PH (4)Last week, the City sent out the attached letter to all water customers which
outlined the dilemma that Lodi has with DBCP. The City also held a press
conference on Wednesday, N* 23, 1990, related to the same subject.
The proposed public hearing will satisfy the requirement of our amended water
supply permit and will provide the public with an opportunity to comment.
r�L
4ack Ronsko
i Works Director
JLR/mt
Attachments
cc: Water/Wastewater Superintendent
California Department of Health Services, Dave Zuccaro
California Department of Health Services, Bert Ellsworth
APPROVED:
CDBCP3/TXTW.02M
FILE Y0.
May 30, 1990
Report Prepared By
Sanitary Engineer
Report Approved By:
Albert L. Ellsworth, Chief Northern California
Region
STATE a' uufoaMA-+eAcTH AM wef N ;►c�cr .
.,The application.from the City: of 'Lodi (hereinafter city) for ; -an
amended nater supply permit for System No. 39-004, dated March 12,
1990, has been considered by the State Department of Health
Services. Enclosed is a copy of an Engineerinq.,Report, dated March
21, 1990, prepared by the Office of Drinking'; Water regarding the
application.
It is the rindinc of the Statp Deeartment of Health Rpr"yi cps that
the water system will be unable to meet California Code of
Regulations (CCR) , Section 64444.5, Maximum ° Contaminant Levels
(MCL's) , Table 5(c) 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP), on a
continuous basis. Peak demandperiods will require the City to use
wells that contain DBCP above its MCL. This finding is based on
the enclosed report. The City is hereby granted an amended
domestic water supply permit allowing the use of well sources which
may exceed the MCL for DBCP, subject to the following conditions:
1. All water consumers being served by the City water system
which exceeds the MCL for DBCP shall be notified of such fact
in accordance with Section 64463, Chapter 15, Title 22, CCR.
2. The City shall use DBCP contaminated wells only to meet peak
demand periods as defined by minimum water system pressure
set points, starting with those wells which have the lowest
concentration of DBCP. Wells with the highest concentration
of DBCP shall be the first to be taken off-line as demand
permits. In no case shall the City of Lodi return to service
any well which has a DBCP concentration of greater than 2.0
ug/l as required under Section 64445.1 (b) 5, Chapter 15,
Title 22, CCR.
3. The City shall meet the following DBCP abatement schedule:
a) By June 1, 1990, the City shall determine the average DBCP
concentration in the parts of the distribution system that
have the potential of receiving concentrations of DBCP
above its MCL. This data shall be submitted to the
Department by June 15, 1990.
6. The City shall not meet increased system water demands caused
by the additicn of new subdivisions (those not having an
approved tentative map) to the system by increasing its use
of DBCP contaminated sources. All new sources added t o
accommodate growth shall comply with all primary and
secondary standards set forth in sections 64421 through
64445.2, inclusive and sections 64471 through 64475,
inclusive, of Chapter 15, T i t 1 e 22, CCR. New
industrial/commercial development that incorporates 1 o w water
use may be allowed and w i 11 be considered on a case by case
basis.
This permit adds to and amends the existing permit granted to the
City of Lodi on October 29, 1985.
A. L. Ellsworth, P.E. , Chief
Northern California Region
Office of Drinking Water
Enclosure
cc: San Jaoquin Co. Health Dept.
Dear Water Customer:
PUBLIMORKS DEPARTMENT
WATER DIVISION
(209) 333-6740
May 21.1990
The City of Lodi issending youthis letter under the direction of the California Department of Health Services.
Office of Drinking Water, to bring to your attention certain action being taken by the Department of Health
Services with respect to drinking water standards. '
The California Department of Health Services has adopted new drinking water limits for
Dibromochloropropane (DBCP). - This organic chemical was once a Ipopular pesticide used in and around
Lodi by area farmers. In California, DBCP use was banned in 1977. The Department has determined that
DBCP may be healthconcernat certain le%�els of exposure.
Chemicals such as DBCP that cause cancer in laboratory animals, such as rats and mice when exposed to
very high doses over their lifetimes, may increase the risk of cancer to humans exposed to trace amounts
over long periods of time. Although this possibility is debated by leading scientists, the Department of
Health Services on July 28.1989 set a new d ri n ki ngwater I i m it of 0.0002 parts per million (ppm) for DBCP.
To help you visualize the new limit, 0.0002 ppm is equal to 1 drop in approximately 66,000 gallons of water.
If you drank 2 quarts of water a day, itwould take more than 360years to drink 66,000 gallons.
The theoretical cancer hazard of drinking 2 quarts per day of Lodi's water containing DBCP at its highest
possible level isvery small and is, in fact, 3times lessthan the cancer hazardof eating a serving of peanut
timer per day, 40 times less than the cancer hazard of eating 2 slices of bread per day and 280 times less
than the cancer hazard of drinking 1 glass of wine per day! The cancer hazard of these common food items is
not regulated bythe Government.
Priorto July 28. 1989. all of Lodi's wells metthe California Departmentaf Health Services standard of 0.001
ppm. As a result of the State's new, more stringent DBCP standard, 12 of Lodi's 23 wells are now out of
comptiance. To satisfy Lodi's peak warm weather water demands, it will be necessary to use all of the
existingwells before treatment faci I iti es can be installed.
The City of Lodi is working toward a solution to this dilemma. To protect your heath and continue to meet
fire protection needs, the City of Lodi has obtained approval from the California Department d' Health
Services to use wells containing DBCP during peak water demands until they can be brought into
compliance. A compliance ptan, which will include abandoning somewells, well site treatment facilities, and
installation of new wells, has been sent to the State for approval.
The estimated initial construction cost to meet this new DBCP limit is between $6,000,000 and $7,000,000.
Lodi is seeking a low-interest loan to help finance this construction; however. the ultimate full cost must be
paid byyou, thewater customer in Lodi.
In the meantime. you may consider your water safe to drink. The City will keep you informed on a regular
basis of progress made to resolve this issue.
If you have any questions regard ingthis letter, the water quality standards. or our service, please contact the
officeof the Water/Wastewater Superintendent at 333-6740.
Jack L. Ronsko
Public Works Director
public meeting t"onforsnthepublic�of hey
Dibromochloropropafi6i(DSCP) dilemma within 'theYir system
aiid 'provide<an .opportunity _ for additional. comment. "T2us
public meeting will be as provided for in Section 6061 of.the
Government Code.
All interested persons are invited to present their views and
comments on .this matter. -Written statements may be filed with City ='
Clerk any time prior to the meeting scheduled herein; ` and - 'oral
statements may be made at said meeting.
By Order of the Lodi City Council:
Alice M. Reimche
City Clerk
Dated: June 6, 1990
Approved as to form:
----e &J tq,6VMz
Bobby W. McNatt
City Attorney
Note: Please make this our usual bordered add
w tAWN
PETITION
n
C
M: CITY OF LODT COUNCILMEMBERS
a
IE: WATER SAFETY
WITHIN RECENT lnIM0, THE ATTENTION GRABBING NEWS STORY HAS BEEN; THE COUNCIL'S ,
DECISION TO BAN CIGARETTE SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES. WHILE THE,EFFECTS_OF SECOND HAND
340EM ARE NOT TO BE DEBATED$,THERE IS ANOTHER. ISSUE THAT; SHOULD BE.DEEMED MORE'URGENT ,,.
AND HEALTH DAMAGING. : :THAT: ISSUE IS THE SAFETY .OF, OUR WATER." RECENTLY A; NOTIFICATION = WAS ..
SENT BY THE CITY TO HOMEOWNERS, WHICH DEFINED THE CURRENT. HEALTH ,STANDARDS OF THE VATER
IN 12 OF LODI'S WELLS. THE WATER IN. THESE WELLS IS.. CONTAMINATED WITH`DBCP,'A-KNOWN
CARCINOGEN. THIS WATER IS CURRENTLY BEING SENT INTO THE HOMES' OF LODI DURING PEAK HOURS.
THESE PEAK HOURS ARE ALSO; THE MOST LIKELY TIMES FOR A`FAMILY TO BE PREPARING -AND 'EATING
A MEAL. THIS, UNLIKE SECOND HAND. SMOKE WHICH TO A>DEGREE, . CAN BE AVOIDED,- IS I COMING:_,
DIRECTLY INTO THE HOME AND BEING USED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. THIS;IS OUTRAGEOUS I: EVEN
GIVEN T.XE MINUTE PPP (PART PER MILLION) OF DBCP IN THESE WELLS;'"LODIANS SHOULD NOT HAVE
TO FEAR THAT OUR WATER COULD POSSIBLY BE THE MOST HEALTH' DAMAGING SUBSTANCE WITH 'WHICH
VE COME INTO CONTACT.
WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, IN LIEU OF ATTENDING THE JUNE 20, 1990, SESSION ON THIS ISSUE
ARE ASKING FOR A RAPID SOLUTION TO THIS LATEST HEALTH HAZARD WHICH VSE ARE IN CONTACT
WITH EVERYDAY, IN AND OUT OF OUR HCI. VIE ARE ASKING THAT THE SAFETY OF LODI'S WATER
NOT BE COMPROMISED IN ANYWAY, NOR FOR ANY POLITICAL, OR SELr-VALUING REASONS, BUT FOR
THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. WE ARE ASKING THAT ALL OF IMI'S EXISTING WELLS BE
BROUGHT INTO CMEMIANCE WITH THE CALIFORNIA STATE LAW WITHIN A TIMELY MANNER
NAME ADDRESS PHONE—NUMBER
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OBCP may be a health concern at certain levels cf exposure.
Chemicalssuc:i as DBCP that rause cancer in taboratory animals, such as rats and mice when exposed to
very high doses over their lifetimes,may increase the risk ofcancer to humans exposed to trace amounts
over lore periods of time. Although this possibility is debated by leading scientists, the Department of
Health Services on July 28, 1989 set a new drinkingwater limit cf 0.0002 parts per million (ppm) for DBCP. =-
To help you visualize the new limit, 0.0002 ppm is equal to 1 drop in approximately 66,000 gallons cf water.
if you drank 2 quarts of water a day, it would take more than 360 years to drink 66.000 gallons.
The theoretical cancer hazard cf drinking 2 quarts per day of Lodi's water containing DBCP at its highest
possible level is very small and is, in fact,3 times less than the cancer hazard of eating a serving cf peanut
butter per day, 40 times less than the cancer hazard cf eating 2 slices cf bread per day and 280 times less
than the cancer hazard of drinking 1 glass cf wine per day! The cancer hazard of these common food items is
not regulated by the Govemment.
Prior to July 28. 1989, all ofLodi's wells met the California Department cf Health Services standard of o. o01
ppm. As a result of the State's new, more stringent DBCP standard, 12 cf Lodi's 23 wells are now out cf
compliance. To satisfy Lodi's peak warm weather water demands, it will be necessary to use a I cf the
existing wells beforetreatment facilities can be installed.
The City of Lodi is working toward a solution to this dilemma. To, protect your heath and continue to meet
fire protection needs, the City cf Lodi has obtained approval from the California Department of Health
Services to use wells containing DBCP during peak water demands until they can be brought into
compliance. A compliance plan, which will include abandoning some wells, well site treatment facilities,and
installation cf new wells, has been sent to the State for approval.
The estimated initial construction cost to meet this neve DBCP limit is between $6,000.000 and $7,000,000.
Lodi is seeking a low-interest loan to help finance this construction; however, the ultimate full cost must be
paid by you, the water customer in Lodi
in the meantime, you may consider your water safp to drink. The City will keep you informed on a regular
basis of progress made to resolve this issue.
If you have any questions regarding this letter, the water quality standards, or our service, please contact the
office cf the Water/Wastewater Superintendentat 333-6740.
Jack I-. Ronsko
Public Works Director