Designing An Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program For Copper How An Hour In The Library Can Save You A Week In The Lab Kelly D. Moran TDC Environmental

Planning for TMDLs Developing a cost-effective compliance strategy for urban runoff programs facing pollutant-specific TMDLs requires information about pollutant sources and feasible control measures Developing a cost-effective compliance strategy for urban runoff programs facing pollutant-specific TMDLs requires information about pollutant sources and feasible control measures Without this information, treating stormwater from existing development appears to be the only compliance option Without this information, treating stormwater from existing development appears to be the only compliance option

Pollutant Sources: Traditional Approach POTWs POTWs Creeks/ rivers Creeks/ rivers Sediments Sediments Air deposition Air deposition

Pollutant Sources: New Approach Find the pollutant in the watershed Find the pollutant in the watershed Find how it is released to surface water Find how it is released to surface water Creates opportunities: Creates opportunities: –Eliminate source –Control at source

Don’t Start with Sampling Monitoring isn’t the greatest way to identify stormwater pollutant sources Monitoring isn’t the greatest way to identify stormwater pollutant sources –Need too many samples –Most variation due to weather, not sources Working up a stream rarely works Working up a stream rarely works –Many sources present everywhere Start withtheliterature Start with the literature

Top Data Sources “Gray literature”—reports done by other agencies “Gray literature”—reports done by other agencies –Ask your network – questions to listservers –Web search Scientific literature Scientific literature –Best search approach: online databases at university science/engineering libraries Don’t fall for common wisdom (e.g., PCBs are NOT all from transformers) Don’t fall for common wisdom (e.g., PCBs are NOT all from transformers)

General Approach Try to do a mass balance Try to do a mass balance –Compare total load to source estimates –Estimate total load from monitoring, AB 1429 studies, and even models Avoid land use based estimates Avoid land use based estimates –These won’t help identify control measures Select approach to match data quality Select approach to match data quality –Classify sources as large or small –Numeric estimates not always possible

Copper Uses Plumbing pipe Plumbing pipe Heat exchangers, radiators Heat exchangers, radiators Industrial catalysts and electrodes Industrial catalysts and electrodes Jewelry and other decorations Jewelry and other decorations Utensils such as pots and pans Utensils such as pots and pans Coins Coins Fertilizer Fertilizer Roofs, gutters, flashing, and other architectural elements Roofs, gutters, flashing, and other architectural elements Motor vehicle components like bearings, bushings, gears, and wiring Motor vehicle components like bearings, bushings, gears, and wiring Pesticide (algaecide, fungicide, wood preservative, bactericide) Pesticide (algaecide, fungicide, wood preservative, bactericide) Batteries Batteries Blue coloring for consumer products Blue coloring for consumer products Semiconductor manufacture Semiconductor manufacture

Urban Runoff and Shoreline Activity Copper Sources Vehicle brake pads Vehicle brake pads Architectural copper Architectural copper Industrial copper use Industrial copper use Copper air emissions Copper air emissions Copper pesticides (including algaecides) Copper pesticides (including algaecides) Marine antifouling coatings Marine antifouling coatings Soil erosion Soil erosion Copper in domestic water Copper in domestic water Vehicle fluid leaks and dumping Vehicle fluid leaks and dumping

Copper Release Estimates 1.Estimate release to watershed 2.Estimate wash off fraction Cu release = Watershed release x wash off fraction

Architectural Copper Corroded copper washed off in runoff Corroded copper washed off in runoff Annual Cu Release rates in literature (grams/sq. meter/year) Annual Cu Release rates in literature (grams/sq. meter/year) Since release rates based on stormwater measurements—assumed 100% wash off Since release rates based on stormwater measurements—assumed 100% wash off Cu release = Cu roof area TOTAL x Annual Cu Release Rate Cu roof area LU = Acres LU x Roof Coverage LU x Cu Roof % LU

Vehicle Brake Pads Many brake pads contain copper Many brake pads contain copper Wear debris released to air & roads Wear debris released to air & roads Wear and Cu content in literature Wear and Cu content in literature BPP wash off estimates (15%-24%) BPP wash off estimates (15%-24%) –SFEI estimates typical urban Cu wash off fraction is 32% Cu Release = N vehicles x % wear x Cu vehicle Cu Release = N vehicles x % wear x Cu vehicle

Copper Pesticides Many copper pesticides: Many copper pesticides: –Landscaping fungicides –Wood preservatives –Algaecides –Marine antifouling paint Pesticide use releases copper Pesticide use releases copper DPR databases DPR databases –Products –Sales (statewide) –Reported use (by county)

Estimating Urban Pesticide Use Cu release = Reported urban use + Unreported use Unreported Use = Statewide sales – Reported use DPR pesticide use reports (by county) DPR pesticide use reports (by county) Can pick out urban uses from reports Can pick out urban uses from reports Many uses not reported: remaining use must be estimated Many uses not reported: remaining use must be estimated Generally scale use estimates on a per capita basis Generally scale use estimates on a per capita basis Adjust for pesticide copper content Adjust for pesticide copper content

Pesticide Wash Off Used wash off data from literature: Used wash off data from literature: –On soils: generally 0.5% to 1% –Wood preservatives: about 8% Had to roughly estimate: Had to roughly estimate: –Algaecides: Lagoons: 100% Lagoons: 100% Pools, spas, fountains: 5% Pools, spas, fountains: 5% Reservoirs: no release to urban runoff except via domestic water flows Reservoirs: no release to urban runoff except via domestic water flows

Marine Coatings Copper biocide in boat paint Copper biocide in boat paint Passive leaching primary source Passive leaching primary source San Diego studies estimated annual release per average 12.2 meter long boat (grams/year/boat) San Diego studies estimated annual release per average 12.2 meter long boat (grams/year/boat) Release directly to water—no wash off adjustment needed Release directly to water—no wash off adjustment needed Cu Release = # Boats x Annual Cu Release Rate

Cu Sources in Urban Runoff (Lb Cu/Year) Copper Source Load Uncertainty Vehicle brake pads (no estimate yet for most)10,000 + ?H Architectural copper4,500M-H Industrial copper use3,300M Soil erosion7,000M Copper in domestic water flows to storm drains3,000M-H Vehicle fluid leaks and dumping600M-H Copper pesticides ,000H Deposition of copper air emissions (brakes?)8,800L-M Total of identified sourcesAbout 50,000H Total estimated urban stormwater load (SFEI)90,000M

Cu Shoreline Activity Sources (Lb Cu/Year) Copper Source Load Uncertainty Marine antifouling coatings20,000M-H Copper pesticides (algaecides in shoreline lagoons) <2,000H Total of identified sourcesAbout 20,000H Total estimated shoreline load (none found)Not estimated

Control Measure Data Sources Most information in “gray” literature Most information in “gray” literature Treatment measures are studied— alternatives are often not studied Treatment measures are studied— alternatives are often not studied –Many alternatives eliminate the pollutant –Often cost, community acceptance, freedom of choice are main issues Local demonstration projects valuable Local demonstration projects valuable –Beware: studying can cost more than implementing

Evaluating Control Measures Control at source usually most effective, cheapest Control at source usually most effective, cheapest Alternatives usually better than BMPs Alternatives usually better than BMPs Considerations: Considerations: –What does it cost? Who pays? –How much management is needed? –Does community accept alternatives? –Voluntary or mandatory?

Control Measures: Urban Runoff and Shoreline Copper Copper SourceFeasible Control Measures Marine antifouling coatings  None at this time; pilot project recommended Vehicle brake pads  Brake Pad Partnership Architectural copper  Limit installation/require controls on runoff  Collect wastewater from cleaning and treatment Copper pesticides  Aquatic pesticides permit program  Prevent Cu wood preservative use where releases likely  Regulate pool, spa, fountain discharges (if load warrants it) Industrial copper use  Industrial stormwater permit program Copper air emissions  None at this time; sources need to be identified Soil erosion  Construction stormwater permit; hydromodification plan Copper in domestic water  None at this time (other than public outreach) Vehicle fluid leaks and dumping  None necessary (other than public outreach)

Acknowledgements Technical Assistance: Technical Assistance: –Ruby Pap, BCDC –Joan Edwards and Karen McDowell, SFEP –Brake Pad Partnership Steering Committee and Advisors –Thomas Barron –Nan Singhasemanon, DPR –Leigh Johnson, UC Cooperative Extension –Brandt Grotte –Geoff Siemering, SFEI –Geoff Brosseau, BASMAA –Arleen Feng, Alameda Countywide Clean Water Program –Richard Looker, SF Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board Funding: Clean Estuary Partnership Funding: Clean Estuary Partnership –San Francisco Bay area urban runoff programs –San Francisco Bay area wastewater treatment plants