1. Radionuclide Regulations, Treatment and Affordability Anthony E. Bennett, R.S. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Water Supply Division

2. Introduction Rules Schedule Radionuclides Gross Alpha Radium 226 and 228 Uranium Gross Beta Treatment Costs

3. Rules Adoption Aug-94Aug-95Aug-96Aug-97Aug-98Aug-99Aug-00Aug-01Aug-02Aug-03Aug-04Aug-05Aug-06 Dates New MCLs LT2 DBP-2 GWR Radon CCL Determination Six Year Review LT1 Backwash Arsenic Rad-Chem Public Not Lead/Copper Unreg Cont DBP-1 IESWTR PWS Def CCR Op Cert Cap Dev-Existing Cap Dev -New SWA Sulfate PMR IMR DWSRF Rules Aug-06 May-06 Aug-05 Nov-05 Nov-03 Jun-03 Jan-03 Dec-02 Dec-01 Sep-01 Aug-01 Dec-00 Aug-00 Sep-00 Sep-99 Feb-99 Comment on EPA proposalDevelop Plans After EPA Guidance EPA Review Comments - Final Rule TNRCC Prepare and Propose RuleTNRCC Prepare Final Rule Public Water System Rule Schedule EPA Initiated Rules SDWA Ammended 1996 December 9, 2002

4. Existing Radionuclide Rules Gross Alpha 15 pCi/L Radium 226 and 228 5pCi/L Gross Beta 4 mrem/yr

5. Radionuclides (except Radon) EPA published NODA on April 21, 2000 Maintain current 5 pCi/L for Ra 226/228 Maintain current 15 pCi/L for Gross Alpha Three options for Uranium MCL at 20, 40 and 80 pCi/L December 7, 2000 final regs on radium, uranium, alpha, and beta

6. Radionuclides Schedule TCEQ Propose Rules May 2004 TCEQ Final Rules December 2004 Federal Effective Date December 2003 TCEQ Effective Date January 2004

7. Proposed Radionuclide MCLs Gross Alpha 15 pCi/l - 94 violations Radium 226 & 228 5 pCi/l - 94 violations Uranium 30 pCi/l - 23 violations Radon 300 pCi/l - 850 violations 4000 pCi/l - 50 Violations

10. Compliance Options New/Different Water Source Managing Existing Sources Developing New Sources Purchasing water Treatment

11. Treatment for Radionuclides Demineralization Ion Exchange Lime Softening

12. Demineralization Membrane process that removes a percent of most soluble inorganics Produces a “Reject” stream of concentrated contaminants

13. Ion Exchange Resin adsorption process which exchanges one cation for another Produces a “Regeneration” stream of high levels of salt and concentrated contaminants

14. Lime Softening High pH precipitation and removal process Produces a “Lime Sludge” which includes concentrated contaminants

15. No Discharge Contaminant Specific Resins Essentially an Ion Exchange process which has a long life Produces no onsite discharge or waste Resin is removed when “spent” and replaced with new media

16. Residuals Management Liquid Residuals Can Discharge to environment Must meet effluent standards (60/60/300) Discharge to Sewage Collection System Must meet effluent standards (600/600/3000) Non Commercial Class I injection well Can’t Residuals above effluent standards Commercial Class I well

17. Residuals Management Solid Residuals Can Out of State Licensed NORM Facility Can’t In State NORM Waste Facility In State Class I NORM injection well

18. Treatment Costs Capital Costs Operation and Maintenance Costs Residuals Management Costs

19. Treatment Costs Surveyed Water systems or applied models Cost Range (Per Connection ) $1 per month for managing existing sources $140 per month for small water system RO treatment New Treatment Technologies in the range of $10 to $25 per month per Connection

20. Conclusions Radionuclides are naturally Occurring in Parts of Texas Radionuclide regulations have recently been revised New Regulations will create more violations Several Compliance Options Treatment options Limited by residuals management options and costs