WSNTG Annual Conference September 2007 Water Services National Training Group 11 th Annual Conference 6 th September 2007

WSNTG Annual Conference September 2007 Drinking Water – 2007 Regs & Crypto Risk Management Oliver Fogarty Senior Adviser DEHLG

Outline of Presentation PROTECTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH  Background to DW Regulations  ECJ Judgment & Ireland’s Response to Date  New Regulations & Summary of Key Changes  Crypto Risk Management

Background to Regulations  Surface Water Directive 75/440/EEC  S.I. No. 294 of 1989  Drinking Water Directive 80/778/EEC  S.I. No. 81 of 1988  S.I. No. 177 of 2000  S.I. No. 259 of 2003  Drinking Water Directive 98/83/EC  S.I. No. 439 of 2000

ECJ Proceedings & Decision Case No C-316/00 that Ireland failed:  In respect of 850 public WSS (T & F Coli)  In respect of > 810 GWSS (T & F Coli)  In respect of transposition vis a vis GWSS THREAT OF FINES

Response to ECJ PROTECTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH  Section 83 of Local Gov Act  Reduces 88 Sanitary Auth. to 34 City & County Councils  Further amendment of S.I. No. 439 of 2000  Water Services Act (passed May 07)  Streamlines water services legislation  Annual WSIP with record funding

EXPENDITURE

Response to ECJ  Pilot Source Protection Plan  Manual on TS for single houses (EPA)  REPS and Good Farming Practice  Nitrates Directive/Action Programme  WFD  Drinking Water National Monitoring  NRWMC

Response to ECJ  Implementation of DBO  Quality Assurance Scheme (GW)  Training & Development (WSNTG)  Ongoing reporting to Cion  Revised Regulations / Urgent

New Regulations PROTECTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH  S.I. No. 106 of 2007  08 th March 2007, WSP5/07  Incorporated most modifications  S.I. 278 of 2007  12 th June 2007, WSP6/07, WSP7/07  Indictable offences, revised Fluoride standard

S.I. 278 of General  European Communities (Drinking Water) (No. 2) Regulations 2007  WSP 7/07 (summary)  WSP8/07 (letter to group schemes)  Largely replicates original 2000 Regs  Implementation WG  DEHLG, EPA, CCMA, NFGWSS, NRWMC, WSNTG  Guidance from EPA

Key Changes – Supervision  EPA supervises sanitary authority supplies  Sanitary authority supervises all other supplies  Supervisory authority to carry out periodic audits  Supervisory authority – powers of direct intervention – cost recovery

Key Changes – Offences  Failure to comply with directions  Failure to inform SA of incidents  Failure to maintain records  Failure to inform consumers of incidents  Failure to maintain internal plumbing (where water supplied to public) in safe condition  Summary and Indictable offences

Key Changes – Supervision PROTECTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH  Water Suppliers must comply  Intervention (where public health risk) will be subject to agreement with HSE  Maintain register  Keep data on monitoring and make available to public (may be electronic)

Key Changes – Monitoring  Sanitary (Water Services) Authority monitors all supplies  Monitoring programmes subject to approval of EPA  EPA has enforcement powers in respect of monitoring

Key Changes – Water Suppliers  Must inform consumer  WS must maintain records of incidents and general operations and make available to supervisory authority

Key Changes – Remedial Action PROTECTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH  Investigation  Discovery of non-compliance  Remedial Action  Timelines

WSNTG Annual Conference September 2007 Drinking Water – 2007 Regs & Crypto Risk Management Oliver Fogarty Senior Adviser DEHLG

Crypto – Background  Circular Letter L7/98  Protection of Drinking Water Supplies against contamination from Crypto  Guidelines on reducing risk  Review action plans and training programmes  Good prevention measures  Ensure good liaison with Health Boards and EPA

Crypto – Risk Assessment  Crypto (Scottish Water) Directions 2003  NDSC 2004 & EPA Handbook on DW Regs, Implementation for Sanitary Authorities  Quantitative scoring system to determine if high, moderate or low risk  Directions specify frequency of sampling for raw (catchment risk score + Q)  Directions specify frequency of sampling for treated (catchment risk score +treatment risk score + Q)

Risk Assessment - Model  Quantitative Assessment  The degree of exposure to oocysts  Agricultural practices  Sewage inputs  Water source type  River and intake management  Water treatment  Treatment works monitoring  Performance and operational factors

Risk Assessment - Model  Score = N x 0.4 x log 10 (population)  Range  Very High > 100  High 76 – 100  Moderate 50 – 75  Low < 50

Crypto Incidents  Incidents linked to Water Supply  Mullingar  Ennis  Carlow  Roscommon  Portlaw  Galway  Clonmel

Risk Reduction

Risk Reduction – Treatment Short Term  Operate plant at its optimum design level  Avoid overloading plant  Avoid bypassing  Deal with UFW & leaks

Risk Reduction – Treatment Short Term  Avoid surges in filter operation  Never restart without backwashing  Allow filters to “ripen”  Avoid recycling of backwash when risk is high  Evaluate value of coagulant aids  Install turbidity monitors on each filter

Generic Monitors

Risk Reduction – Treatment Short Term  Ensure coagulant (dose, brand, type etc) are optimal  Optimise pH for coagulation  Evaluate use of flocculant aids  Ensure adequate mixing  Check sludge bleeds regularly  Minimise sludge blanket disturbance by flow variation or wind effects  Backwash filters as frequently as possible

Risk Reduction – Treatment Short Term  Ensure adequate depth of media  If possible run filters to waste on start up  Strive for lowest possible levels of turbidity  Monitor filter headloss  For rapid filters consider use of polyelectrolyte as conditioner  Do not use backwash or process water without special treatment. Flush mains regularly  Inspect and clean reservoirs – repair defects

Risk Reduction – Catchment Medium to Long Term  Catchment management plans – grazing (monthly inspections)  Nitrates Action programme  REPS  WFD  Management of slaughtering/meat processing plants upstream  EPA guidance for single houses  Ensure integrity of Borehole linings

Risk Reduction – Conclusion  Treatment Plant  Catchment  Low Cost

WSNTG Annual Conference September 2007 Water Services National Training Group 11 th Annual Conference 6 th September 2007