3/5/2020 Mixture of natural streamflow and wastewater for Blanco River General threats to water quality and human Blanco WWTP outfall health from proposed municipal Final Permit request to discharge 1.6 mgd wastewater discharges by the City of Natural flow at WWTP Wimberley Blanco varies from near 0 to billions of gpd. 25% of Therefore, if permit time, flow here less request approved, total than 1.6 mgd flow in river downstream IH from WWTP dominated 35 by (at least half) effluent 25% of time. By Raymond Slade, Jr, Current permit 225,000 gpd. Permit request Certified Professional Hydrologist would increase outfall 600 percent which would https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ nwis/uv?site_no=08171000 likely increase health threat and algae. Little if any vegetation in typical Hill Country stream channels and almost every stream is dry on occasion. Therefore dilution and uptake of WWTP nutrients limited. Blanco River below Barton Creek below Lost Blanco WWTP Creek effluent irrigation 1
3/5/2020 Major water-quality threats from wastewater TCEQ sponsors USGS study of water quality for Tx discharge due to missing or lax rules Hill Country streams receiving effluent discharges • Study done 12 years ago and 16 streams sampled 1. Permits do not address many pollutants in wastewater 2. Wastewater quality limits are too lax • Total N values for streams with wastewater 5 times greater than 3. Permits issued despite evidence that the discharge would threaten streams without wastewater downstream waters • Total P in streams with wastewater 183 times greater than 4. Improper water-quality monitoring of wastewater to assure streams without wastewater compliance 5. Lack of monitoring of receiving surfacewater or groundwater for • Median total nitrogen value for samples from wastewater streams 6 times greater than level causing eutrophication contamination from wastewater 6. No limit on phosphate levels in non-laundry detergents • Median total phosphorus value for samples from wastewater 7. Lack of effective TCEQ management of wastewater facilities streams 48 times greater than level causing eutrophication https://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2007/5195/ Compliance and enforcement for municipal wastewater Blanco WWTP compliance discharge permits within the Texas Hill Country • The permitted discharge for the 48 facilities totals about 303 million gallons per day--9 times greater than the mean flow from Barton Springs. • 31 of the 48 facilities were non compliant as of September 22, 2018. • During the past 3 years, the facilities in New Braunfels, Kyle and Pflugerville had the most number of effluent violations with 129, 50 and 36 respectively. 2018 FY 2019FY • About 1/3 of the facilities (15 0f 48) had only one on-site inspection during the past 5 years. • During the past 3 years, the 48 facilities had 411 violations, an average of 8.6 violations per facility. • Despite 411 violations in the past 3 years, only 38 formal enforcement actions were issued during the past 5 years. Significant noncompliance every quarter. Data not reported http://www.hillcountryalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/TRDES_TCEQPermitViolations_Slade_2018.pdf 2
3/5/2020 3 E. Coli. bacteria immediately downstream from Total suspended solids during low-flow conditions on the Blanco Blanco WWTP outfall River immediately downstream from the Blanco WWTP outfall All water-quality data from TCEQ sampling site 12668 All water-quality data from TCEQ sampling site 12668 10% of samples exceed EPA limit Based on trend line, EPA recommended limit for Best fit linear trend TSS values have recreational waters (126): indicates 75% increase more than tripled 4% illness at this level from 1997-2018 since 1997 Best fit linear trend Year https://www80.tceq.texas.gov/SwqmisWeb/public/crpweb.faces https://www80.tceq.texas.gov/SwqmisWeb/public/crpweb.faces Blanco Wells within 1/2 mile of the Blanco Wells within 1/2 mile of the River downstream from WWTP could Blanco River in lower part of received effluent from the river. Blanco River area USGS streamflow studies show 9 mgd lost in Blanco R. channel from Chimney Valley Road to San Marcos Water wells in https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2002/ofr02-068/ upper part of Blanco River area Wells within 1/2 Wimberley mile of river shown in green Within 1/2 mile of river from WWTP to San Marcos are at least 200 water-supply wells including 13 public water-supply wells Public Water Supply Number of wells LSR WSC 1 John Knox Ranch Camp 1 El Rancho CIMA 3 San Marcos Cedar Oak Mesa WSC 2 Wimberley 4 Granite Creek WSC 2 https://www2.twdb.texas.gov/apps/waterdataint eractive/GroundwaterDataViewer/?map=desal 3
3/5/2020 Emerging contaminants Google search of “EDC’s in wastewater” identified 614,000 hits • Wastewater discharges contain many pharmaceuticals, personal care products, surfactants, various industrial additives, and numerous organic chemicals identified as Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs). • U.S. Geological Survey studies downstream from 10 wastewater treatment plants documented 78 EDCs in wastewater discharges, of which 37 are prevalent in most such discharges. https://toxics.usgs.gov/highlights/whatsin.html http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usgsstaffpub/66 2 Unused drugs often disposed by flushing Large portion of many drugs not metabolized thus are excreted Emerging contaminants not removed by conventional WWTP or WTP. However, technology exists for removal. Stream or reservoir 4
3/5/2020 What EDCs Influence? Emerging contaminants (cont.) • Some EDCs detected in wastewater represent estrogenic pesticides and pharmaceuticals, which operate through estrogen • Endocrine Systems Produce: receptors in their target cells--their effects are additive. – hormones – chemicals • Therefore, a minimally safe exposure level does not exist because – messengers any dose adds to natural estrogens already present. • Regulates: • Wastewater contaminated water supplies will produce continued exposure and cumulative levels of estrogenic hormonal – mood – growth & development chemicals in humans. – tissue function – metabolism – sexual function – reproductive processes Greater concern to fetuses and newborn babies because they Source: University of Maryland Medical Center https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405665016300361 are the most vulnerable. http://www.awra.org/impact/issues/0705impact.pdf https://www.epa.gov/endocrine-disruption Supplemental information that could be used Links to additional information follow this slide to answer questions Questions? 5
3/5/2020 E. Coli bacteria in the Blanco River Trends in total suspended solids in the Blanco immediately upstream from Wimberley River immediately upstream from Wimberley All water-quality data from 399 and Linear trend documents TCEQ sampling site 12663 All water-quality data from values to have increased 126 TCEQ sampling site 12663 58% since 2003 Site is about xx miles upstream from mouth of EPA recommended Cypress creek limit for recreational waters (126): 4% illness Xx of yy samples exceed 126 cfu/100 at this level mL—value recommended by EPA as max level for bodily contact water. At this level 4% of people in contact with Best fit water became ill. https://www.epa.gov/sites/prod linear trend uction/files/2015- 10/documents/rwqc2012.pdf https://www80.tceq.texas.gov/SwqmisWeb/public/crpweb.faces 6
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