Operator Challenges Meeting Both Drinking Water and Wastewater Needs Vanessa Wike, P.E. Drinking Water Program Statewide Engineering Coordinator (907) Cordova St. Anchorage, AK Department of Environmental Conservation Sustained Compliance for Public Water Systems, Chapter 2 Anchorage, Alaska September 29, 2011 James MacInnis, P.E. Wastewater Program Statewide Engineering Coordinator (907) Cordova St. Anchorage, AK

Overview Engineering Oversight – Drinking Water – Wastewater Water Wastewater Unintended Impacts to Wastewater System Filter Discharges System Discharges (Disinfection, Flushing, Leaks) Water Wastewater Increased Risk of Contamination Water / Wastewater Separation Issues Cross Connection Control Drains

Drinking Water Engineering Goals -Public Health Activities -Plan Review -Inspections -Technical Assistance “At any given time, half of the world’s hospital beds are occupied by patients suffering from diseases associated with lack of access to safe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene.” (2006 United Nations Human Development Report)

Bill Smyth, EIT Oran Woolley Bill Rieth, PE Monica English x229 Joran Freeman Fairbanks Mat-Su Anchorage Vacant, PE (Lead) Chris Clark, EIT Dan Reichardt, EIT Bill Tyrell, PE Scott Forgue, PE (Lead) Katrina Ladd, EIT David Khan, PE Roy Robertson, PE (Lead) Braden Galloway, PE New Vacant, EIT 376- #### Lee Johnson, PE (Lead) Michael Jaynes, EIT Shawna Laderach, PE Johnny Mendez, PE J S A M F W ASTEWATER E NGINEERS Northern/Fairbanks Office 610 University Ave Fairbanks, AK Mat-Su Office 1700 E. Bogard Rd, Bldg B, Suite 103 Wasilla, AK Juneau Office (wastewater only) 410 Willoughby Ave., Suite 303 Juneau, AK Kenai/Southeast Office Kalifornsky Beach Rd., Ste 11 Soldotna, AK Southcentral/Anchorage Office 555 Cordova Street Anchorage, AK M AILING A DDRESSES Kenai/Southeast D RINKING W ATER E NGINEERS

Wastewater Engineering Goals - Public Health -Environment Activities -Plan Review -Permits -Technical Assistance

Drinking Water Wastewater Source Treatment & Storage Distribution Treatment & Storage Collection Discharge “At any given time, half of the world’s hospital beds are occupied by patients suffering from diseases associated with lack of access to safe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene.” (2006 United Nations Human Development Report)

Filter Operations Conventional, Direct, Green Sand Membrane Iron Oxide Media Ion Exchange (water softeners) System Discharges operations, disinfection, flushing, leaks Drinking Water Wastewater

Filter Discharges “Filter to Waste” flows Typically less concentrated contaminants, but possible sediment, sludge Conventional, Direct, Green Sand Big backwash flows periodically (15 gpm, for minutes)

Filter Backwash Pond

Filter Discharges, cont. Membrane Reject water flows constantly Chemically concentrated

Filter Discharges, cont. Iron Oxide Media Big flows periodically, may contain Arsenic Ion Exchange (water softeners) Periodic flows, usually minimal Small amounts of Calcium/Magnesium/Iron and possibly Arsenic

System Discharges Other issues : Sludge (possibly, for systems adding a coagulant) Disinfection & Flushing Leaks

Discharges to Wastewater Checklist WHERE is it going? HOW MUCH (volume) is being generated? WHAT is in the backwash water?

Discharge Requirements To Groundwater (drain field, percolation pond, etc.) – Meet Drinking Water Standards – Plan Review To Surface Water (stream, lake, ocean, etc.) – APDES Permit is required – Plan Review – Salmon Stream Restrictions

Discharge Limits Groundwater – Drinking Water Standards Surface Water – No Impairment of water body – Case-by-case basis (APDES) – Water Quality Standards, 18 AAC 70

Potential Cross Contamination Separation Distances Water Source Public Water Line Cross Connection Control Backflow Prevention Drains Drinking Water Wastewater

Potential Cross Contamination Separation Distances Water Source vs. Wastewater Public Water Lines vs. Wastewater Cross Connection Control Backflow Prevention Drains

Required Separation Distances Only 62% of the world’s population has access to improved sanitation – defined as a sanitation facility that ensures hygienic separation of human excreta from human contact. UNICEF/WHO Water System Community Sewer Line, Wastewater Holding Tank & “Other” Treatment & Disposal System (Septic Tank, Absorption Field) Community Sewer Cleanout Private Sewer Line, Private Sewer Cleanout Fuel Tank, Fuel Line Source Serving: Federally Regulated PWS 200 ‘ 100 ‘ Source Serving: State Regulated 100 ‘150 ‘75 ‘ Source Serving: Private 75 ‘ 25 ‘ Waterline 10 ‘ This is a summary. For a complete set of separation distance requirements, refer to Drinking Water Regulations 18 AAC 80, and Wastewater Regulations 18 AAC 72. If you have any questions or concerns about meeting a separation distance requirement, please contact an Drinking Water or Wastewater Engineer BEFORE construction.

Summary Protect your wastewater system Don’t poison your system (pretreatment) Protect your environment Keep inadequately treated sewage off the ground, out of groundwater and out of surface water Protect your drinking water Don’t contaminate your drinking water by connecting it to wastewater The majority of the illness in the world is caused by fecal matter. Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) 2008.

Summary Call engineering if you have questions ….

References Drinking Water Engineering: Wastewater Engineering: EPA Cross Connection Control Manual: Alaska Drinking Water Regulations: Alaska Wastewater Regulations: Alaska Water Quality Regulations:

Contacts James MacInnis 555 Cordova St. Anchorage, AK (907) Vanessa Wike 555 Cordova St. Anchorage, AK (907) DEC Drinking Wastewater Program Engineering Group DEC Drinking Water Program Engineering Group … coming soon …