WC CWF Health District Board Minutes - 03/08/2013WICHITA FALLS - WICHITA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH BOARD MINUTES
March 8, 2013
Wichita Falls- Wichita County Public Health District
1700 Third Street - Parker Conference Room
Wichita Falls, Texas
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Board Members
David Carlston, Ph.D., Chair
Scott Plowman, Vice -Chair
Kirk Harlow, Ph.D., Secretary
Clay Clark, D.V.M.
Michael Lamar, M.D.
Jane Leach, Ph.D.
MEMBERS ABSENCE EXCUSED:
Tracy Hill, D.D.S.
Lou Kreidler, R.N., B.S.N. Director of Health
Amy K. Fagan, M.P.A. Assistant Director of Health
Ahmed Mattar, M.D. Health Authority
Kevin Hugman Assistant City Manager
Dorothy Roberts -Burns Council Liaison
Ray Gonzalez County Commissioner
I. CALL TO ORDER & ABSENCES
Dr. Carlston called the Special Health Board meeting to order at 12:00 pm after a quorum of members was
attained.
At this time it was noted the excused absence of Dr. Hill.
11. INTRODUCTIONS
Health Director Lou Kreidler introduced Russell Schreiber the Public Works Director and Daniel Nix the
Utilities Operations Manager to discuss the City of Wichita Falls Water Reuse Project. The project involves
health issues therefore their desire is to obtain a recommendation of support from the Health Board.
III. WATER REUSE PROJECT DISCUSSION
Russell Schreiber thanked the Board for the opportunity to present the concept and current stage of process
on how to potentially meet or supplement the City's water supply should the drought record continue.
Wichita Falls averages 28.5 inches of rain in a normal year; 2011 at 15.5 inches below average and 2012 at
8.75 inches below aversg.Q The normal temperature typically averages 28 days over 100 degrees; 2011
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had 100 days over 100 and 2012 had 50 days over 100 degrees. Both combinations together create a
substantial decrease in water supply. The year 2011 was the worst drought ever recorded on record in the
State of Texas and the Weather Channel ranked Wichita Falls the #1 Worst Summer in the United States.
In the January media presentation Lake Arrowhead measured 12 feet below normal and since gone down
more. At the same location taken for the first time in 2009 the lake was at 66% full, in 2013 at 41% full, and
currently at 39.8% full. Water conservation was implemented in Stages 1, 2 and currently Stage 3.
Implementation of Stage 4 drought restrictions was discussed at a meeting with the Water Resource
commission for when the lakes get to a 20% combined level.
Subsequent to the 1999 drought Daniel Nix worked on drought resources of the regions surface water
sources. In 2000 it was opted to develop Lake Kemp that was brought on line in 2008 and continues to run
today. Lake Wichita is too small, salty and kept full by a diversion from Lake Kemp. Lake Ringgold today
would be $400 million to build and 30 years to construct. Review of groundwater in the region revealed no
major aquifers but a minor aquifer (Seymour aquifer) too small to support the Wichita Falls population.
In a 1999 feasibility study Wastewater Reuse was identified as a viable option that has been pursued by the
City since then two pilots have been conducted with Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
TCEQ rules have evolved within the last 12 months the City worked actively with TCEQ to establish what
the rules are to be.
The Direct Pool Reservoir (DPR) concept uses the existing facilities that would only require installation of a
64,000 linear foot pipeline between the River Road Wastewater Treatment Plant and Cypress Water
Treatment Microfiltration /Reverse Osmosis (MF /RO) plant. The plan is from the River Road Plant it moves
through the MF /RO plant then the RO permeate is blended with water from the lakes at a 50/50 ratio that is
ran through the Conventional plant and sent to the Distribution System for use. The water will be treated
three times with the second step of the MF /RO to a very high level of purity. The Wastewater Reuse
intends to extend the existing supply from the 500 million gallons being used to augment to be 500 million
gallons not taken from the lake so that the lakes source will theoretically last longer.
The wastewater effluent quality currently leaving the wastewater plant before it hits the river meets all the
regulated drinking water standards with the exceptions of Nitrate and Trihalomethanes (TTHM). Also it was
tested for numerous unregulated contaminants; pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors, personal care
products, fluoridated alkyl acids like scotch guard, teflon, and microbiological with the State very interested
in the microbiological components. It is anticipated the emergency DPR would be used to get through the
drought not as long term.
Dr. Clark asked if the DPR works and accepted why not use it as a conservative resource.
Daniel Nix replied it primarily centers around one of the microbiological contaminants that TCEQ has a
concern we are close just over the law of removal, a longer use would require more treatment barriers such
as ultraviolet radiation.
Russell Schreiber included long term projects are in review with the possibility to build another MF /RO plant
for effluent water.
Daniel Nix stated TCEQ focus on the microbiological components will require a 9.0 log removal of Viruses,
6.0 log removal of Giardia and 5.5 log removal of Cryptosporidium in addition to the normal microbiological
requirements for total and fecal coliforms.
Dr. Mattar asked the definition of wastewater that Daniel Nix answered in Wichita Falls now any waste you
would flush down a drain that enters into the collection system. Currently discussions are with TCEQ to
when the wastewater definition ends; as it enters into the wastewater treatment plant or at the end of the
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plant.
Dr. Mattar asked if there are separate pipes for the industrial wastewater from the residential
Russell Schreiber responded no but some industries do internally. An industrial pretreatment program was
established in the 80's in conjunction with the wastewater treatment. Local limits for each local industry are
established and approved through TCEQ based on how they impact the wastewater treatment plant with
tight perimeters set to what constituents can be discharged into the wastewater treatment plant. Industrial
users with significant water usage automatically enter the pretreatment program.
Daniel Nix stated the intent is to detail the pretreatment program into the preliminary engineering report
under the source water protection type program the pipeline would be classified as a source water pipeline.
The pipeline between the two plants would take the path of Holiday Creek at 64,000 linear feet be a 32 inch
black high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe with a purple stripe that indicates reuse water that is industry
standard. Down the pipeline starts the disinfection process with chloramines to receive 4 logs of the
required 8 towards Virus removal, 1.2 logs of the required 6 towards Giardia removal and no activation
credit towards Cryptosporidium removal. Once the water gets to the MF /RO plant the disinfection continues
with chloramines in the clarifier for an additional 7.7 logs of the required 8 towards Virus removal, by the
time it gets to the clarifier have all the Virus removal credit needed, 2.3 logs of the required 6 towards
Giardia and none for Cryptosporidium removal. The clarifier water moves into the Microfiltration (MF) to
receive 2 logs of the required 8 towards Virus removal, 3 logs of the required 6 towards Giardia removal and
the first Cryptosporidium removal awarded a 2 log credit, also some reduction of suspended solids basically
polishing the water up for the next step Reverse Osmosis (RO). The State has been generous to give a 0
log credit for Virus, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium even though a small molecular size opening for salt
removal they are not going to give any credit for the larger microbes. Anticipation is a reduction of Nitrates
with the RO to remove it by 80% down from 20 ppm to below the regulated 10 ppm down to 4 and reduce
the TTHM by 50% down from 106 ppm to 53 the regulated level is 80 ppm. At this point a reduction of
unregulated contaminates also the pharmaceuticals, fluoridated alkyl acids.
Dr. Leach asked if there still will be some contaminates in the water
Daniel Nix replied yes not a complete removal of all contaminates based on the molecular weight of the
pharmaceuticals and clarity of the compound. Anticipation is another 50% reduction of Nitrates from 4 ppm
to 2 ppm and TTHM from 53 ppm to 27 ppm. Disinfection with Chloramines through the conventional
treatment process receive 27.5 log credit of the required 8 towards Virus removal, 8 logs of the required 6
towards Giardia removal and no Cryptosporidium inactivation. In addition some physical removal for Micro
filters at 2 logs of the required 8 towards Virus removal, 2.5 logs of the required 6 towards Giardia removal,
and 4 logs towards Cryptosporidium removal. A continuous monitoring program is in development to
assure TCEQ should something go wrong inside the wastewater plant it would alter that wastewater effluent
quality. Triggers are in place that would shut the whole system down the same for inside the water plant
should one of the barriers be compromised especially in relation to cryptosporidium. Once the system shuts
down would have disease surveillance currently under coordination with the Health Department to use the
Epidemiology Nurse for assistance. The system would be shut down as a preventative measure for any
disease outbreak in the City until determined the system was not the cause.
Dr. Harlow asked what the health consequences are of cryptosporidium a diarrhea disease that remains
around for 4 weeks for individuals infected drinking the water.
Daniel Nix answered cryptosporidium impacts individuals with a weakened immune system as those with
HIV. It is currently present in the wastewater effluent it exists in the population with enough barriers in place
to remove it to a 5.5 log activated removal that should be a low enough level to prevent a reoccurrence of
the disease from the drinking water source.
Dr. Leach replied if the immune compromised should not be drinking the water then what about pregnant
women? Is there birth defect research from other communities that use the DPR system?
Daniel Nix responded not so much for the pregnant women. Pharmaceuticals are concerns since they are
not regulated have trouble with the level we are at so used some California information to get those
concentrations below what would cause a problem. Focus was on the primary concerns based on FDA
pharmaceutical information to get under control; TTHM can cause neural tube defects and nitrate can cause
blue baby syndrome. There are no DPR systems in the United States, never been done in the United
States.
Dr. Carlston stated from what he had read most of the time this is done the water is recycled then used for
irrigation or other sources but not drinking water.
Daniel Nix replied a lot of what it is used for now is groundwater injections to supplement their drinking
supply through the groundwater or subsidence to keep sea water out. There are a lot of those systems but
none that have gone directly into the distribution system.
Russell Schreiber stated there are two TCEQ approved systems in the State of Texas the first in Big
Springs that started operation in February and the second in Brownwood not yet built. The project here will
cost 13 million dollars that being so dependent on the weather in a drought with a delay to build it could not
be done in time. At this point the attempt is to position ourselves with the regulatory agencies so when May
and June pass normally the wettest months gives an opportunity to catch some rain in those months. As
soon as those months pass would be able to pull the trigger and start construction that would take a
minimum of 6 months and another month in a half of verification protocol testing. When the system is in
place there are 19 pages of protocol testing that has to be done continuously for 45 days once that is
passed then regulatory agencies will give the release for entrance into the distribution system. If all is met it
would approximately be 8 to 9 months after construction starts before the water would enter the distribution
system, timing is everything it takes a lot of planning. Public perception is critical that is the reason a
recommendation of support is crucial from the Health Board whom serves for the welfare of the community
it would instill to the public this is a safe supply of drinking water. We have to as Managers of the water
system and Public Works employees be positioned for the worst case scenario.
Dr. Mattar first needs to be convinced he personally would drink the water before he could recommend
support for public consumption since it is a pioneer project would need the benefits and harm. As Doctors
know the pathogens would need evidence of the safety for the public and safety provisions in the system.
Russell Schreiber replied there is documentation to be provided to the Special Task Force, Health Board,
and Doctors as well.
Dr. Harlow asked how are the contaminants levels given differ from the current levels, how now compares
with what we will have.
Daniel Nix stated what comes out of the wastewater plant meets all drinking standards. In comparison
similar to what we have now with the exceptions of the microbiological Viruses, Giardia, Cryptosporidium do
not have those coming in at the levels that they come into the wastewater plant. The wastewater plant
removes 8 -9 logs of bacteria indicators so the disinfection process works well then is backed up with 3 more
levels of disinfection in the plant. The wastewater effluent which is the source water has Cryptosporidium
and Giardia in it whereas the lake water does not. There is no indication that these barriers will shed any
pathogens. The only requirement now for Cryptosporidium in the drinking water is to remove 1.5 logs that
come into the plant. The State said they are going to take it to 5.5 logs for extra protection meaning what
comes in is a 99.999% chance it will be removed. Cryptosporidium can only be physically removed and due
to the 5.5 log can be activated with UV radiation that gives an extra 1 log removal on top of the 6 log now in
the system which adds an extra barrier. If one of the 2 filtrations should fail the whole system would be shut
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down because of the inability to receive the 5.5 log they are to be monitored continuously every 15 seconds.
Commissioner Gonzalez stated that the community would want a guarantee of the safety what about
documentation that compares the process with the current system.
Daniel Nix replied it can be supplied for the metals and organics but not for the microbial because the
system needs to run first that is what the full scale verification will provide there is no data to support that.
Everything is a risk there is a risk involved with the process as well with the current water treatment. After
review the risk of going to DPR is much lower than to let the community run out of water.
Dr. Mattar asked what are we to tell our families, neighbors, and public of the risk will it be made clear to the
immune compromised population to not drink the water.
Daniel Nix replied the cryptosporidium has been monitored for 12 months on the wastewater effluent to get
an estimate of what the loading is. Taken the maximum concentration which was 5 cists per liter then apply
the 6 log removal there will not be enough crypto in the water to cause an infectious dose.
Dr. Harlow stated in the world of business risks are taken on proof of concept so why not create a small
simulated system to run things through.
Daniel Nix replied no time due to the seriousness of the drought that is one of the reasons not going with
the UV no time to do challenge testing required to put the new system in place. Two pilots were run in 2001
and 2007 using just ultrafiltration both were successful these are in the treatment process now in place for
the emergency DPR.
Russell Schreiber stated there will not be any more in your water then what is in it now, probably less.
Dr. Lamar responded with what you have said is that you guarantee the process it will not go live until the
test are ran and meet those standards then it will be allowed.
Daniel Nix stated the 45 day verification study would have to be done for data to reveal whether or not there
is no more crypto in the water from previous data. It is not a local decision to be allowed, it would be a
TCEQ decision on whether or not to allow. A watchful eye is on Brownwood and Big Spring then Wichita
Falls would be included. The industries Water Reuse Association purpose is to advance and research the
technology that will be applied to the system they want it to be a success.
Russell Schreiber added it is not exactly like Brownwood, it would be treated at the same level as
Brownwood blended 50/50 with lake water then treated again conventionally so there would be more
safeguards. Brownwood if something should happen and you are not there to flip the switch right then the
system is contaminated. Here there would be many checks and balances throughout the system anywhere
in the process the reuse flow can be stopped immediately and be diverted before entry into the distribution
system.
Daniel Nix added there are some wide spots in the process like the clarifiers and lagoons that have several
days' worth of detention time should anything go wrong at the wastewater plant that water has sat for a day
not a instantaneously entry into the system so would have time to interrupt that supply to figure out what
went wrong.
Dr. Mattar asked about the taste and the smell of the water.
Daniel Nix answered an odor test is done on the wastewater the F1 smells musty with the reverse osmosis
being good to remove the odor. Also possibly use powdered activated carbon posts with the RO in the
lagoon to absorb some of the other odors that would also help with the pharmaceuticals.
y
Dr. Leach asked are there any filters the immune compromised could use
Daniel Nix replied he did not think there are any filters for cryptosporidium that they maybe just have to boil
the water.
Dr. Carlston questioned are there any alternatives in diverting the effluent instead of back into drinking
water but into non probable sources such as irrigation to get some benefit without a public panic.
Daniel Nix answered it is in review to be included in the secondary reservoir.
Russell Schrieber stated theoretically the City of Wichita Falls can go into the Wichita River 30 feet away
from where the water enters the river apply for the water rights treat it by conventional means then put it into
the distribution system.
Dr. Carlston asked what the benefit was of the way proposed verses the water rights since treated the
conventional way the public would not panic.
Russell Schreiber replied that it cannot get done because of the time it would be within 2 to 3 years to get a
water right it is an astronomical task. The water is to be treated three times then potentially put back into
the distribution system. The first and foremost goal is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the
drinking water system. It would not be proposed if not safe to drink the State of Texas TCEQ would not give
authorization if believed it would not be safe for the community to drink.
Daniel Nix stated a concern of the concept was what would cause short term acute problems. The nitrates
and TTHM are the only two found at levels from the wastewater plant to be a problem. In review put
treatment processes in place to lower the levels so not to be a concern. The TTHM adjustments at the
wastewater plant are better now than when the concept was proposed that steps have been taken to lower
those.
Dr. Lamar stated he felt comfortable with the accumulation for the pregnant, elderly, immune compromised
citizens.
Dr. Mattar personally felt a lot of reassurances had been heard especially that it would not go live until all
the extensive testing is done and safety is in no doubt.
Daniel Nix said one of the things they can get done is a table to compare what the wastewater plant water is
like now compared to the drinking water standards and the anticipated numbers to come out of the plant.
Dr. Harlow believes that would sell the public if they were shown and told it is close to the same of what is
gotten now.
Dr. Leach mentioned it would not hurt to do some Public Service Announcements on ways the public need
to conserve now.
Kevin Hugman said they have worked with the Public Information office commercials and advertising have
been released and more are to be created.
Dr. Mattar stated a need to meet with vendors to stock the new conservation equipment so locally available
for conservative individuals to install.
Russell Schreiber stated it can be seen at the wastewater plant that citizens are conserving
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Dr. Harlow asked if the longer range projects for water are still being planned because the evidence is
strong that it is not going to get better.
Russell Schreiber pointed out that everyone needs to understand that no matter what is done with reuse he
is confident the reuse long term project will be developed with use of all the effluent from the wastewater
plant the project at approximately 3 to 4 years away. The project will not make the city 100% drought
tolerant as the public's thought process all that's needed is freeze water in the system that there will never
be water restrictions again that is a fallacy that will never happen. There will be more water droughts and
water restrictions for the city as you develop the supply additional industries come, the City grows it is a
supply and demand.
Kevin Hugman included it also is important to note that Russell Schreiber talking about the drought
management plan it is a measured approach it is important to know to with what he showed with the
temperatures and climatic data over the past two years a very severe drought and yet we are just under
40% in our lakes so the drought management plan worked over two years of severe drought we still have
almost 40% in our lakes we are looking at the next steps now what we have to do to keep conserving and
ratchet up that conservation a lot of the people say the City did not plan or do anything that is not true we
have that and are plans are working.
Russell Schreiber stated they have to provide TCEQ with the public outreach done that the Health Board,
Health Coalition and public have been informed of the option with a presentation of what was looked at and
the safeguards put into place to assure the water is safe to drink. He requested an acceptance by the
Health Board that there are really no other options should a drought persist. The Boards support could be
with a provision the project meets all the requirements set forth by the State of Texas drinking water
standards and assurance it meets the City of Wichita Falls health safety laws.
Dr. Mattar as the Health District's Health Authority agreed to represent the Health Board on the Medical
Group committee he stated that with Doctors in the process it is assurance health wise it is a safe
proposition.
Dr. Carlston requested a motion to support development of the project under the compliance of TCEQ, City
Council support and the Medical Group committee approval on the health quality of the water with the
understanding further development is to be presented to the Health Board for discussion. The motion was
made by Dr. Lamar and seconded by Dr. Clark. Motion passed unanimously.
V. ADJOURN
Dr. Carlston requested a motion to adjourn. The motion was made by Dr. Clark and seconded by Dr. Lamar
motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 1:20 pm.
Signature
41 i. CI l C,t� lJ
Print Name
Chair of WFWC Public Health Board
Title
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