United States Office of Research and Development EPA 600/8-79-020 Environmental Protection Office of Water and Waste Management March 1979 Agency Washington DC 20460 vEPA Drinking Water Research Strategy 1978 - 1980 ------- March 1979 DRINKING WATER RESEARCH STRATEGY 1978 - 1980 OFFICE OF RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OF WATER AND WASTE MANAGEMENT U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ------- PREFACE Beginning in 1977, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) undertook a comprehensive review of its research planning and management and reported its findings to the Congress, submitting The Planning and Management of Research and Development in June, 1978. To address some of the problems identified, a pilot project was initiated to examine the feasibility of planning research and development programs by committees representing the Agency's primary organizational elements. This project was the first attempt with- in EPA at a major joint planning effort between its research, re- gulatory, and operational components. Research Committees were formed to plan programs in five areas—drinking water, industrial wastewater, pesticides, mobile source air pollution, and particu- late air pollution. Each committee was co-chaired by the Office of Research and Development (ORD) and the appropriate, corresponding regulatory organization—the Office of Water and Waste Management; the Office of Air, Noise and Radiation; or the Office of Toxic Substances. This document describes the research and development strategy developed by the Drinking Water Research Committee. The strategy reflects the current perspectives .of EPA's research needs and research capabilities. The document will serve as the basis for detailed planning in those ORD laboratories implementing research on drinking water. To be properly responsive to evolving regula- tory priorities and emerging scientific findings, however, the strategy will be subject to at least one annual revision, in concert with EPA's planning and budgeting cycle. Assistant Administrate r for Water and Waste Manaj ement ------- TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT 1 INTRODUCTION 3 RESEARCH PLAN 7 Organics 7 Inorganics Including Asbestos 18 Microbiological Contaminants 28 Groundwater 38 SUMMARY OF RESOURCE DISTRIBUTION 42 ------- ABSTRACT The Drinking Water Research Strategy represents a collaborative effort among several Offices of EPA including Research and Development, Drinking Water, and the Regions to develop a research plan which will help develop information to support present and future regulations for the safety of drinking water. The strategy contains general descriptions of both short and long termed research for organic and inorganic chemicals, microbiolog- ical contaminants, radionuclides, and for the protection of ground water supplies* There is a discussion of analytical, health effects and treatment studies planned including the distribution of resources for FY-79 and 80. In response to the needs of the Office of Drinking Water, in the Office of Water and Waste Management, this strategy addresses the following specific categories where research is required: 1. The development of the efficacy of various disinfectants and the health effects of their end and byproducts. 2. The determination of acute and chronic health effects of various chemical (organic and inorganic), microbiological and radiological contaminants in drinking water. 3. The design and conduct of epidemiological studies, including the the development of data, to evaluate health effects of contaminants. 4. The development of new and improved analytical procedures and their verification for surface and ground water contaminants presently in regulations and those under consideration. 5. The development of new analytical indicators for organic contmi- nants, such as organic chlorine and rapid methods for microorganisms. 6. The development of more efficient and efficacious treatment techniques for removing contaminants including particulates from water serving community and noncommunity supplies. 7. The development of a treatment criteria, source water quality stan- dards and analytical capability to support development of Agency policy on direct potable wastewater reuse. 8. The development of detection and monitoring methodology and treat- ment technology for pipe corrosion control. ------- 9. The conduct of large-scale experimental treatment technology projects for organics control. 10. The development of criteria for the land application of wastes in order to specifically protect present and future underground sources of drinking water. 11. The development of health effects information for water treatment additives. 12. The development of design, performance, and operational criteria for small system and home treatment units. 13. The development of emergency response procedures and data file. 14. The development of quality assurance and quality control programs to support the implementation of the regulatory program* 15. The continued evaluation of efforts for radionuclide removal from drinking water. Research work has been in progress in many of these categories for several years. This document describes how EPA's research program plans to respond to meet these current and future needs of the Office of Drinking Water in a timely manner. The research plan is divided into four major categories: organics, inorganics (including asbestos), microbiologic contaminants and ground water protection. The plan addresses the research to be undertaken to determine the occurrence, the health effects, monitoring requirements, control of treat- ment by-products, and the effectiveness of treatment techniques. Past and planned allocation of research resources are attached showing both in-house and extramural levels-of-effort assigned to each contaminant category. ------- DRINKING WATER RESEARCH STRATEGY INTRODUCTION . The Environmental Protection Agency has an interest- and responsibility in preserving the quality of water throughout the water cycle. Legislative Acts have been passed in recent years directing the Agency to develop programs to control water pollution and set National Drinking Water Regulations. Various EPA organizations or Program Offices have been assigned specific Acts to implement and thus a certain portion of the water cycle problems are handled by each Office. In the case of the Safe Drinking Water Act (P.L. 93-523) the Office of Drinking Water (ODW) in the office of Water and Waste Management is responsible for developing a Program Strategy that will help implement this Act which is confined to the safety of Public Water Systems. Another office is implementing the other major water oriented Act, P.L. 92-500, pertaining to water pollution control. There is much similarity and chance for overlap in the research programs associated with these two Acts, but the Agency has appointed a Research Committee with members from the operating and research offices to minimize possible overlaps and gaps in research. The Safe Drinking Water Act is reasonably specific in the responsibility given to the Agency, so a "step-by-step" strategy has been developed to explain the scheduling of future activities. One necessary major element of this strategy includes doing research to improve the scientific and technical basis for National Drinking Water Regulations (Maximum Contaminant levels (MCL's)) and Regualtions to protect the quality of ground water. This issue has been reviewed by a non-government advisory committee formed ------- to update the 1962 U.S. Public Health Service Drinking Water Standards, an ad hoc group of the Agency's Science Advisory Board and the Nationsl Drink- ing Water Advisory Council. These groups and others from within the Agency Operating and Research Offices determined that research was necessary to help answer the following primary questions: 1. What substances occur in drinking water supplies in a sufficient number of locations to warrant regulation? 2. What are the effects of these substances on human health? 3. What analytical procedures should be used to monitor water to assure that the Revised Primary Drinking Water Regulations are met? 4. Because some of these substances are formed during transport, storage, treatment and distribution, what changes in treatment practices are required to minimize the formation of these compounds in water delivered at the consumer's tap? 5. What treatment technology must be applied to reduce contaminant levels to the concentrations specified in the regulations? Although broad and general, these questions are the ones the Agency has decided to focus on to develop a defensible basis.for standards. In fact, these same questions apply if wastewater is being considered as a water source for drinking. Inherent in all this research is a quality assurance effort that helps certify laboratories and create valid data. In support of Part C, P.L. 93-523, Protection of Underground Sources of Drinking Water, a separate research plan has been developed for ground water and will be discussed later in this document. The process for prioritizing of work areas involves mainly the Office of Drinking Water from whence there has been an interpretation of the Safe Drinking Water Act and the target dates therein. They are also most aware of shortcomings iu cxi.5i.iug Inlurmation and the principal problems referred to them from the Regions, the National Drinking Water Advisory Council, and the National Academy of Sciences. The research staff, however, makes a major ------- input to the selecting of priorities because of their experience on feasibility of analytical measurements, the time it takes to conduct health effects and engineering experiments, and cost of creating additional research data. The consequence of this evaluation was to attempt a balanced research program that had elements of short- and long-range health effects studies, as well as efforts to improve analytic methods and treatment techniques* For FY79 (See Table 4), this means approximately 41 percent of the 18 million dollar budget will go to Health Effects projects (many of which are done jointly with Department of Health, Education and Welfare), 37 percent to treatment, 11 percent to analytical improvement, and 11 percent to ground water management• The largest area of ignorance is with the measurement, long-range potential harmful effects and treatment of trace organics, so approximately 43 percent of the funds will be directed toward that problem. The second highest priority is the relationship of inorganic quality and asbestos fibers on health, so a large effort will be made in this area, too. This is especially true regarding the difference in the incidence of cardiovas- cular disease for those consumers that drink hard, instead of soft water. Microbiological contaminant occurrence, monitoring, effects and control remain a relatively high public health priority because outbreaks of waterborne disease still occur in the United States, especially in poorly operated distribution systems. The distribution systems in general need more study to understand and control corrosion. Finding cost-effective treatment units to remove most any of these contaminants from small water supplies that are in noncompliance is also an aspect that needs greater » attention. ------- Work has been in progress in these areas for several years, but the plans discussed within this docuemt will attempt, with the limited resources available, to respond to the current and future needs of the Office of Drink- ing Water and the Regions in a timely manner. They will be in general terms and will parallel the five primary questions that need answers in each major contaminant category. Further details regarding specific projects are avail- able from the five EPA Laboratory Directors having some responsibility for water research or the Drinking Water Research Coordinator. Written quarterly reports are sent to all interested operating and research staff, but some oral communication also is conducted almost daily with officials in the field and at headquarters. ------- Research Plan A. Organics • 1. Occurrence OFFICE OF DRINKING WATER AND REGIONAL NEEDS Occurrence data in finished drinking water - continuing Variance guidance for organic regulations - January 1979 ORD RESPONSE Determining the location, concentration and the .frequency of occurrence of contaminants of toxicological significance in drinking water is a necessary first step for evaluating their health effects and treatment requirements.. Consequently major surveys of water quality have been, and are still being conducted to help establish the extent of the problems. Several surveys including sampling from over 100 locations (National Organics Monitoring Survey) indicated the presence "of some trace organics in most drinking waters, especially chloroform in those that are chlorinated. Seasonal samples have been taken at 113 locations and an analysis has been made for about 20 specific organic compounds that were selected because they were reported as having been i • found in some source or treated waters, they have a known or suspected toxicological. importance, and they can be analytically quantified. The companion general indicators were selected as possible surrogates that may simplify future monitoring for compliance if a relationship can be found between one of these and several of the principal specific contaminants that occur frequently in significant concentration. The first three phases of this survey, conducted jointly by ODW, the Regions, and ORD within EPA, was in 1977 and the principal findings released by the Administrator in January 1978. Additional extensive analyses have been made on organic reverse osmosis (RO) concentrates from a few representative treated drinking waters, so the list of organics found in all waters analyzed now contains nearly 700 compounds. ------- '["no most recent survey, conducted in eight locations, was an attempt to ap a new purging technique developed in Switzerland to determine an organic profile in raw and finished waters. In addition to this technique the other analyses made were: trihalomethane and associated compounds by "conventional" purge-and- trap, total organic carbon (TOC) , non-purgeable carbon adsorbable organic halogen (NPCAOX), and polynuclear'aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). These past surveys, plus those currently going 'on should satisfy the ODW needs. As needed future surveys will be conducted by both ORD and ODW after joint consultation. For example, the "National Screening Program for Organics" is currently (1978) being sponsored by ODW and will attempt to measure a wide variety of organics in some 400 finished waters. The completion of the "Master Analytical Scheme" (see below) in FY 1980 will allow even broader based surveys to seek the occurrence of hitherto unanalyzable organic compounds. A continuing project will annually compile and publish (and also make available in computerized information systems) all reliable information generated throughout the world on the occurrence of trace organics in drinking water. The first copy of this Distribution Register of Organic Pollutants (Water DROP) will be published in 1979. 2. Health Effects OFFICE OF DRINKING WATER AND REGIONAL NEEDS Organic MCL's for key compounds (frequently occurring carcinogens identified by NAS) FY 1979 MCL for surrogates (e.g. organic halogen (OX)) FY 1979 Health effects of disinfectants and disinfection by-products Direct and indirect additives Detailed epidemiological studies ORD RESPONSE As the results from the previously mentioned and continuing surveys show which contaminants occur in treated drinking water, the literature on the toxicity of the most prevalent materials will be reexamined, and, if necessary data are 8 ------- lackin;;, selected toxicological studies will be conducted. Acceptable daily intakes (ADI) will be developed for additional compounds to supplement the National Academy of Sciences (N'AS) report. Other intakes will be reviewed to allow for establishing maximum contaminant levels (MCL's) from the ADI's by the FY 1979 target date. •Additionally, within FY78 and FY79, the anticipated output of the organics program of the Health Effects Research Laboratory (HERL) will consist of preliminary data on the mutagenic and carcinogenic activity of organic mixtures from tap water. Completed cpidemiological studies give only tentative suggestions to support reducing organic exposure. In addition, most available data are drawn from onetime measurements, and coverage of water supplies is not extensive. Specific well planned studies starting from cancer cases in communities with high rates are now being conducted and should be completed by FY79 and 80. The drinking water quality will be defined by botli a chemical analysis and bioassay screening test. Health risk assessment of these epidcmiological, chemical survey, and bioassay data can provide guideline limits for several chemicals. Even the nearly 700 compounds identified so far represent only a small fraction of the organic chemicals in drinking water. Consequently, efforts are being made to develop bioassay procedures that are indicative of specific health effects risks that may be used for drinking water monitoring. Test systems that currently exist (e.g., Ames test) may lack the necessary sensitivity to work with unconcentrated waters and have questionable quantitative and qualitative relation- ships to human health risk. Nevertheless, serious consideration must be given to new or modified methods to characterize the hazards associated with drinking water supplies. If such methods can be developed, standardized and practically applied, they may be substituted for detailed chemical analyses that would arise from establishing MCL's on individual compounds. ------- Statistical analyses of data collected may provide estimates of the possible occurrence of hazardous concentrations of specific chemicals in relation to concentrations of some general organic parameter such as organic halogen by November 1979, just past the target date. Chemicals added for treatment purposes (direct additives) and chemicals arising from the distribution system of public water supplies (indirect additives) have been neglected areas in the past. HERL is currently working with the ODW in designing protocols for the testing required as a prerequisite to approval of their use in drinking water. Research is currently underway or planned or both to define hazards associated with chemicals that have been generally accepted in the past (e.g., polyphosphates, alternate disinfectants, and organic tin stabilizers of PVC pipe) . Reaction products of chlorination-and proposed alternate disinfectants will be bioassayed by both in vitro and in vivo techniques. Long-term studies will be conducted on the effects of disinfectants and supplemented with epidemiological studies when possible by calendar year 1979. Such studies should provide data useful in assessing alternate disinfection practices as called for by ODW. In the meantime, other research groups, particularly within the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, will continue studies on hundreds of organic compounds many of which have been found in water or food. EPA maintains a ciost: liaison with these groups by having a representative serve on an Interagency lexicological Review Committee. Thus National Institutes of Health (NIH) planners . C t.'T> A ' ,. 1- 3. Monitoring Requirements OFFICE OF DRINKING WATER AND REGIONAL NEEDS The analytic needs submitted were in two categories, one related to existing and proposed organic regulations and the other to longer range requirements. These Needs and which laboratory is working on them are listed below. 10 ------- ORGANIC REGULATION FUTURE 1) Total Organic Carbon (completed) 2) GAC Criteria 1 compounds (EMSL) 3) Trihalomethanes (EMSL) 4) Appendix A Compounds (62) (EMSL) 5) Disinfectant Residuals a) Ozone (EMSL) b) Chlorine Dioxide (Athens) c) Chloramincs (Athens) d) Chlorine (EMSL) e) Iodine 6) Pesticides (6) (EMSL) 1) Non-GC able compounds* (Athens) a) Disinfectant By-Products b) GAC By-products c) Occurrence 2) Identification of GC able Compounds by non-MS* (Athens) a) Disinfection By-Products b) GAC By-Products c) Occurrence 3) Organic halogen group parameter (OX) (DWRD, EMSL, Athens) 4) Organic nitrogen group parameter (ON) 5) Specific Compounds (Athens) 6) Frequently occurring Carcinogens (EMSL) •7) Bioassay (HERL) * Particularly those that occur frequently. ORD RESPONSE Analytical procedures will be needed in two categories depending on how a Regulation is written. Research is being conducted to improve the methods for these two needs: (1) Monitoring Techniques for All Aspects of a Regulation Methods write-ups have been provided for total organic carbon and trihalomethanes. Extramural studies involving two grants should lead to improvements in the measure- ment of volatile organics by purge/trap and the liquid-liquid extraction techniques in FY79. Researcli studies have begun on the GAC Criteria 1 compounds with goals of minimum detection limits (MDLs) of 0.5 to 1.0 Mg/1. A status report on methodology for 62 Appendix "A" compounds has been provided to ODW. These methodology studies, 11 ------- involving methods validation, will be completed in FY79. Methods references or writeups or both for chlorine dioxide and chlbramines will be available October 1979; methodology currently approved for chlorine, involving the use of DPD color- imetric test kits, will be critically reviewed concurrently. Interim methods for the measurement of the pesticides required in the NIPDW Regulations are available and upper acceptance limits for these contaminants will be established in early FY79. (2) Monitoring Techniques for Specific Organics Found to be Widely Distributed and of Health significance. Instrumental methodology research will continue on improved techniques for the measurement of total organic chlorine and total organic halogen, and for the measurement of organics in drinking water by an automated low cost GC/MS system. These extramural studies are scheduled for completion in FYs 79 and 80. Methods research will also be continued on the carcinogens cited in the Federal Register as recommendation by the NAS that occur frequently; validated methods should be avail- able in FY79. A protocol, referred to as the Master Analytical Scheme, will be developed to permit qualitative and semiquantitative analysis of all organic compounds in drinking water that will pass through a gas chromatograph (GC able). The scheme, which can be usud for comprehensive surveys, will be available in Aptii 13SO. Con- current with the completion of the Master Analytical Scheme will be a report on the cost effectiveness of various alternatives for establishing the occurrence of organics in drinking water through chemical analysis. 12 ------- Reports will be published in April 1980 and April 1981 summarizing the development of techniques to identify and measure non-gas chromatographable organics in drinking water. These compounds are currently ignored as individual components. Also currently ignored are compounds that cannot be identified from their mass spectra alone. Other techniques for identification of such compounds will be evaluated, with the results and identification of the compounds studied being reported in August-1979. Results of investigations to improve surrogate methods for "total organic chlorine" and "total organic nitrogen" will be reported in late 1979. Preliminary assessment will also be made in late 1.979 of the feasibility of attempting to •ir.iprove methods to measure disinfection residuals. 4. Control of By-Products from Treatment OFFICE OF DRINKING WATER AND REGIONAL NEEDS Trihalomcthane and treatment requirement amendments - November 1978 Disinfection with chloramincs By-products from GAG - September 1978 Treatment of water plant sludges ORD RESPONSE The various analytic surveys have demonstrated that certain organic compounds persist through rivers, reservoirs, treatment, and distribution systems, while others are formed during water treatment and occur on a widespread basis. Pilot plant activities have provided data on the ability of changes in disinfection (ozone, chlorine dioxide, or chloramines or change in chlorination practice)and other changes in treatment practices to reduce considerably certain chlorination by-products. This work is currently studying the four trihalomethanes that have been shown to occur widely where chlorination is practiced and are carcinogenic compounds or 13 ------- are of potential carcinogonicity and therefore arc in the proposed organic Regulation. In addition to these smaller scale pilot plant studies, several extramural large-scale pilot plant and full-plant scale research projects began in FY77. These projects will help reinforce the findings already available and shed light on the fate of various organics, not only in treatment, but throughout the entire system — raw water reservoir to tap. In summary, although all the daca will not be available by the ODW need date of November 1978, sufficient information will be available to prepare a Treatment Manual for the Control of Trihalomethanes. An Interim Guide has already been written, June 1976. This Manual will help the EPA Regional Offices, the State Regulatory Offices, and utilities with high trihalomethane concentrations obtain compliance with the proposed regulation for trihalomethanes. Treatment of water plant sludge is not currently being researched by the Wastewater Research Division, MERL, Cincinnati, but they maintain a repository of information from past studies to be used for guidance. 5. Treatment to Reduce Organic Contaminants OFFICE OF DRINKING 'WATER AND REGIONAL NEEDS i Control technology regarding removal of organics by using biological activated carbon Full-scale demonstration projects to remove organic chemicals from drinking wat« Emergency response treatment data Update cost periodically GRD RESPONSE The lack of unequivocal health effects data related to organic contaminants in drinking water will not relieve the Agency's responsibility to act in a prudent manner to prescribe treatment when a reasonable doubt exists and monitoring is not practical. Environmental contaminants have already been identified in specific locations that pose questions related to their potential health effects. Field- ------- .scale research projects in conjunction with utilities, and local and State governments,, will be conducted to study the capability of certain treatment proces.ses to remove environmental contaminants within reasonable economic limits. Although Regulations are only proposed at this time, the results of these studies are necessary to show what the existing technology will accomplish under actual operating conditions. The contaminants will be selected for study based on the existing data collected in the various surveys and in consultation with ODW. This list will be expanded to fclude additional compounds that may be discovered in additional surveys as candidates for future control. Extra-mural research, bench, pilot and full scale, is underway at this time, awards were made during 1976, 1977 and 1978. Unit processes such as coagulation, granu.l;ir activated carbon beds, powdered activated carbon, macroreticular resins, ozonation, aeration, ozonation/ultraviolet (0-/UV), and chlorine dioxide are being studied. Emphasis will be placed on_large scale experimental applications of control technology in support of the proposed Regulation for organic chemicals. Preliminary data on the ability to remove specific environmental contaminants of concern have been generated. Additional work will refine this type of information. In all cases, a careful evaluation will'be made on the effect of disinfection alternatives. Pilot scale studies of ozone enhanced granular activated carbon adsorption (BAG) have been started in Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Miami and .••••• Shreveport to determine treatment efficiency as well as the determination of any undesirable side-effects. Reprogramming of $0.5 million from ODW and $1.0M within ORD will allow another major plant-scale evaluation to be made of GAC, plus reactivation starting in 1979. Two to three years will be needed to determine design criteria and total costs. An Interim Guide developed from the on-going projects was published in January 1978 to support the Agency's proposed Treatment Regulation using granular activated carbon adsorption. A Manual for the Control of Synthetic Organic Contaminants will be prepared if the proposed Regulation is promulgated. Extensive extra-mural research is being conducted to determine the cost of ------- organic removal unit processes. The development and periodic updating of these unit costs will help the ODW assess the national impact of any proposed regulation. In-house capability is being developed that will allow the collection of activated carbon treatability data for a wide variety of organic compounds. The compounds for test will be selected in conjunction wich ODW. In addition, technical assistance regarding pilot granular activated carbon column studies will be given jointly with ODW to help utilities determine the type of carbon and contactor system that would be most cost-effective for their water and location. 6. Wastewater Reuse OFFICE OF DRINKING WATER AND REGIONAL"NEEDS Safety of Waste Water Reuse Water Reuse Treatment Efficiency and Reliability ORD RESPONSE This research program will evaluate the potential health effects associated with reuse of highly treated municipal wastewater for potable purposes, with the ultimate objective being to develop the data base to set criteria for such use. As bioassay techniques are developed in conventional drinking water research, they can then be applied to the reuse situation. A coordinated effort will be conducted with EPA's Wastewatcr Research Division, MERL, Cincinnati, in order to evaluate treatment efficiency and cost in conjunction with the health effects program. Over the next 5 to 10 years a new 1—mgd system will be constructed and operated at Denver, Colorado to help implement a scale-up of previous studies and provide feed stock from the final effluent for life-time animal feeding experiments as well as other short-term bioassays. The emphasis will be on testing organic residues. Resource Distribution for Qrgnnics A major portion of the drinking water resources are assigned to this category of organics. Table 1 simply shows that most of the research effort is in the health effects and treatment areas. At present, there is no intent to make sudden changes in personnel or money assignments in FY79 or 80. Approximately $577K of the health effort and $324K of analytic improvement budgets are devoted to long-range or exploratory studies. On the other hand, the treatment and quality. assurance projects are considered to be in direct support of regulatory needs. A special .-illottment of funds ($8 million) for reuse studies was made by Congress and these have been assigned to the Wactevatar Research Division of the Municipal Environmental Research Laboratory in Cincinnati for management purposes. Health and water treatment experts of EPA will help in the planning and review of any reuse project designed to investigate making potable water from wastewnter. Seve'n million dollars will be given to Denver to help with their $21,000,000 reuse project, and one million will be used to help a variety of other re-use projects " in the United States. 16 ------- Table 1. RESEARCH RESOURCES ORCANICS AND DISINFECTION BY-PRODUCTS Athens (Occurrence & Monitoring) EMSL (Monitoring) HERL (Occurrence FY-78 Extra- In-Housc Mural W-Y $K $K 1 30 468 0 0 200 25 1,000 1,774 & Health Effects) -. • MERL (By-product & Treatment) Reuse Total 17 510 2,450 43 1,540 4,892 Total $K 498 200 2,774 2,960 6,432 FY-79 In-House W-Y $K 2 60 0 0 20 800 2 17 '510 4 39 1,370 8, Extra- Mural $K 312 200 ,841 ,777 130 Total $K 372 200 3,641 5,287 9,500 FY-80 (Estimate) In-House W-Y $R 2 60 0 0 20 900 17 510 - ' 56 . 1,470 Extra- Mural $K 235 200 2,840 3,232 1,000 7,507 Total $K 295 200 3,640** 3,742 1,000 8,877** Note: The $425K planned for the research on the Health Effects of renovated wastewater reuse could be considered to be largely devoted to organic problems, although it is not included in this table for organics. Additionally, $7,000,000 will be given to Denver Water Department to help them with'their $21,000,000 wastewater reuse, 1 mgd pilot plant; and $1,000,000 will support a few other reuse projects at other locations. *These figures contain $1.5M reprogrammed to supplement large-scale treatment plant evaluations. "'^'Approximately $5M will be added to this Health Effects work in FY-80 through a special Public Health Initiative. ------- B. Inorganics Including Asbestos 1. Occurrence OFFICE OF DRINKING WATER AND REGIONAL NEEDS The Office of Drinking Water (ODW) has expressed a need for data on the occurrence of plutoniura, radon, radium 228 and metals from corrosive water in drinking water. In addition, the National Drinking Water Requirements call for a comprehensive review of a number of inorganic MCL's, including fluoride, nitrates, selenium, lead, cadmium, arsenic, sodium in FY 1979 and national secondary regulations for corrosion and hardness by January 1979. ORD RESPONSES Analysis has been made of water supplied to Interstate Carriers for many years. Recently substances beyond those in the 1962 PHS Standards or current EPA Primary Regulations such as socium and lithium hav ebeen measured. Additionally, 82 inorganic constituents have been determined in tap water from 35 areas of the U.S. chosen to be representative of the U.S. population and surveys have been conducted in areas where corrosive drinking water is distributed. A mobile laboratory will be stationed in various utility distribution systems that have mixing problems to monitor for gradual or sudden changes in 16 different parameters. Although these projects are of a continuing nature, significant progress will be made by October 1978, and thus some guidance can be given to ODW about possible needs for inclusion of more constituents in the Regulations or what the cost to comply will be for current as well as proposed MCL's. Existing 18 ------- data on the occurrence of radionuclides other than those for which standards have been set will be gathered and supplemented by surveys to determine the occurrence of plutonium, radon, and radium 228 in drinking water to provide ODW with guidance about the possible needs for inclusion of these radionuclides in the Regulations. 2. Health Effects OFFICE OF DRINKING WATER AND REGIONAL NEEDS The Office of Drinking Water Operating Plan calls for a variance guidance for fluorides in September 1978, the administrators recommended MCL's for lead, arsenic, asbestos, cadmium, and selenium in August 1978, national secondary drinking water regulations for corrosion and hardness in January 1979, comprehensive revised primary drinking water regulations for fluoride, nitrates, selenium, lead, cadmium, arsenic, and sodium in FY 1979, revision of radionuclides and assessment of cardiovascular disease. In addition, ODW has expressed needs for health effects data on molybdenium, uranium, chromium (6) versus chromium (3), studies to evaluate the relative contributions of each contaminant from the various environmental exposure to total human body burden, studies to determine mechanisms of action along the dose response curve for each contaminant investigated, and additional information concerning the antagonistic and synergistic effects of combinations of waterborne contaminants. ORD RESPONSES Current and continuing epidemiology studies are being conducted, with the cooperation of other Federal Agencies, to establish the relationship of cardiovascular disease (particularly hypertension of 4200 individuals in 35 areas) and drinking water quality including sodium and 35 other parameters. A 19 ------- preliminary report will be available in 1978. Additional epidemiological studies are underway to relate cardiovascular disease, especially hypertension, to drinking water constituents such as barium, cadmium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, lithium, iron, lead, zinc, 'and copper. The impact of various combinations and concentrations of calcium, magnesium, lead, cadmium, and sodium in water on the development of cardiovascular disease is also being studied in experimental animals. The bioavailability of metals such as selenium, lead, and cadmium in hard and soft waters and foods are being compared. Epidemiologic studies on the relationship between hard and soft water and urolithiasis are also in progress. These are all long-term studies which will be completed in the next several years but some data will be available in FY 1979. Intake and human body burden are being determined for corrosion products in drinking water as well as arsenic and selenium. The epidemiology studies of arsenic and selenium will include health effects parameters. Preliminary reports on barium, arsenic, and selenium will be available by July 1978, but most work will take another year or two to complete. Toxicological studies are being conducted on lead to determine whether central nervous system development is delayed at blood lead levels in the normal human range. The effects of organotin compounds used as stabilizers in NSF approved PVC pipe are being investigated and the effects of molybdenum on exoerimental animals and humans are being studied in relationshio to gout. A 20 ------- report reviewing the possibility of recommending a drinking water standard for molybdenum should be completed by December 1978. The relationship of abnormal physiological behavior and water quality is also being studied with constituents such as cadmium, lead, chromium, selenium, and manganese included. Additional studies on nitrates in'drinking water are being conducted to determine the relationship of various cancers to nitrate concentration and to determine if methemoglobinemia still occurs in high nitrate areas of the U. S. These should be completed in FY 79. Asbestos animal feeding studies to determine if asbestos is a carcinogen when ingested have been jointly designed with Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and started in 1977. EPA will sponsor about 10 percent of this contract research. Considerable time and effort went into selecting the research objectives and test protocol so that both industry and regulatory officials were satisfied. This work will, however, still take 3 to 4 years to complete, so some small, short-time animal experiments are also being sponsored to develop some insight as to the consequence of fiber length and mechanism of asbestos as a co-carcinogen. Tritium tagged fibers will also be used to understand the extent of adsorption and distribution in rats. Several epidemiological studies are being conducted to determine if asbestos from natural erosion, mining operations, and asbestos-cement pipe is a contributing factor in increased cancer rates. Preliminary results were available in 1977 from Connecticut where exposures are low (less than 1 million fibers per liter) and the final 21 ------- report will be completed in 1978. Reports from California and Florida where exposures are in the 1-10 million fibers per liter range will be available in early 1979. Updated reports on Duluth and new data from the Pacific Northwest where exposures reach 100 million fibers per liter will be available in 1980. Cell line testing of asbestos fibers used in the feeding study and other experiments will provide some insight into the mechanism of action and carcinogenic potential.' A cooperative study with the National Institute of Dental Health is now underway to determine if increased fluoride levels from other environmental sources has significantly affected fluoride intake to warrant a revision of the current fluoride standard. Dental mottling will be studied and results are expected in approximately two years. One epidemiologic study of drinking water and cancer will include radionuclide. data, however, this may not be sufficient to determine if a revision for radionuclide regulations is necessary. Additional studies,must be carried out on specific radionuclides, and it is expected that other agencies or groups within EPA that have this expertise will conduct these studies. All of these studies will aid in improving the basis for a factor of safety associated with any standard which in turn will help point out the treatment research studies that should be conducted to minimize the cost for implementing the Regulations. 22 ------- 3. Monitoring Requirements OFFICE OF DRINKING WATER AND REGIONAL NEEDS ODW and the REgions expressed a need for research in the analytical area including sample collection, precision, accuracy and methodology. WhSnever standards are set appropriate research on sample collection, shipping and methodology should be done. ORD RESPONSES Methods are available for measuring the inorganic constituents in the Interim Primary Regulations, but many of these can be improved upon as to cost or ease of use. Multi-element analysis, for example, is one approach that will help Central Laboratories to handle many more samples in a given time. Some of the methods being studied include spark source mass spectrometry, inductively couple plasma emission spectrometry, and instrumental neutron activation analysis.. Within FY79 EMSL will provide precision, accuracy and sensitivity data for the methods for analyzing the inorganics in the Interim Primary Drinking Water Regulations. Efforts are also being made to improve sample collection, shipping, storage, and preparation for asbestos fiber counting. Although a committee review and decision was made in July 1976 to accept a certain method for fiber counting with the electron microscope, work will continue to improve the ease, accuracy, and expense of rapid screening methods as well as electron microscopy. 4. Control of By-Products From Treatment OFFICE OF DRINKING WATER AND REGIONAL NEEDS ODW expressed a need to understand and control the treatment of water so as to minimize the deterioration of quality during distribution to the consumer's tap. Lead and asbestos fibers from pipes are of particular concern. 23 ------- ORD RESPONSES Many chemicals are involved in reducing the concentration of inorganics of particulates such as asbestos. Careful review is being made as to shift in valence state or organic coraplexing with inorganic ions during treatment so we do not create a new problem while trying to solve the original one. Polymers used to improve coagulation or filtration is one example being investigated. Still another example is the reduction of radium, iron, manganese, and calcium by zeolite softening, which in turn increases the concentration of undesirable sodium. Sulfates are frequently added during treatment and many processes such as ion-exchange or reverse osmosis create concentrated residues that have been ignored in the past, as far as a water treatment cost. All of these possibili- ties are now being considered as an integral part of any treatment system designed to help meet regulations economically and not cause other adverse environmental impact. 5. Treatment to Reduce Inorganic Contaminants OFFICE OF DRINKING WATER AND REGIONAL NEEDS ODW requested that a cost effective method be developed to remove several inorganic contaminants from drinking water, so as to enable small water systems to meet the regulation; The more troublesome ones are nitrate, arsenic, fluoride, radium and selenium. There is also a continuing need to understand and control corrosion byproducts by applying appropriate chemicals and treatment before distribution. ORD RESPONSES Bench- and pilot-scale studies are in progress or have been con- cluded on the following inorganic contaminants: arsenic, cadmium. chromium, barium, selenium, lead, mercury, and nitrate-nitrogen. The 24 ------- thrust of these studies is to determine the effectiveness of conven- tional water treatment unit processes alum and iron coagulation, lime, and excess lime softening, powdered and granular activated carbon and ion-exchange—on the removal of these contaminants. While no one unit process is effective for removing all contaminants, good success has been obtained with one unit process or another for each of the con- taminants studied with the exception of the oxidized form of selenium which is poorly removed by any unit process thus far studied. Future work will attempt to focus on treatment technology that small water utilities could use, especially to reduce fluoride, arsenic, nitrate, and selenium. These studies will not be completed in 1978, but they should have progressed far enough to help support a revised treatment manual for certain inorganics. Field testing and cost analysis are still a necessary part of future work that will be reported after full- scale evaluation. In addition, research has started to determine if the degree and type of treatment can be managed well enough to prevent deterioration of inorganic quality during distribution and storage. This pertains to asbestos-cement and plastic pipe as well as metal pipes. Reports are out on the issue of vinyl chloride migrating from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe and work is continuing on A/C pipe and metal pipes such as lead and galvanized iron. One pilot-scale research project on asbestos removal is complete. The extra-mural research conducted in Duluth, Minnesota during the late winter and early spring of 1975 demonstrated the effectiveness of 25 ------- multiple media granular filtration for the removal of amosite-type asbestos fibers provided that the proper combination of coagulants and polyelectrolytes were used ahead of the filters. 'A demonstration grant was awarded to Duluth to verify these findings on a full-plant scale test and continue the research attempting to demonstrate even more effective removal particularly of the chrysotile-type fibers. The plant went into operation early in 1977. In addition, Seattle, Washington has a research grant to study fiber removal in an area where the fibers are almost exclusively chrysotile rather than the majority being in the amphibole class as was the case in Duluth. It has already been demon- strated that zeolite exchange, reverse osmosis, and conventional treat- ment are successful in removing some radionuclides such as radium. ODW expressed a need for evaluation of the health trade-off of removing radium with a treatment technique that will increase sodium levels in drinking water. This issue can be addressed as additional health ef- fects data are accumulated for sodium. Resource Distribution (see Table 2) In FY-78, approximately 30 percent of the total funds were devoted to this category of inorganics and asbescos with about 65 percent of the inorganic portion assigned to health effects. There are-no long range exploratory projects in the treatment and quality assurance areas. How- ever, 23 percent of total funds involve exploratory studi.es in i.he health and analytic improvement area. 26 ------- Table 2. RESEARCH RESOURCES INORGANIC CONTAMINANTS INCLUDING ASBESTOS Location HERL-Cinti. (Occurrence and Health Effects) MERL-Cinti. (Treatment and Distribution) Athens (Occurrence and Monitoring) Total FY-78 Extra- In-House Mural W-Y $K $K 19 760 2,215 25 750 768 1 30 300 45 1,540 3,283 Total $K 2,975 1,518 330 4,823 FY-79 In-House W-Y $K 15 600 17 480 1 30 33 1,110 Extra- Mural Total $K $K 1,750 2,350 699 1,179 415 445 (7Y-80 (Estimate) In-House W-Y $K 14 560 13 510 1 30 2,864 3,974 28 1,100 1 Extra- Mural Total $K $K 1,790 2,350 1,025 1,535 390 520 3,305 4,405 Note: Cost analysis studies are also performed for all contaminants including inorganics, but they are not included in this table. ------- C. Microbiological Contaminants OFFICE OF DRINKING WATER AND REGIONAL NEEDS The proposed regulations for the Control of Organic Chemical Contami- nants in Drinking Water address several issues that could have a direct effect on the microbiological quality of drinking water. These include a) the use of modified water treatment techniques including-activated carbon and changing the point of disinfection, b) the use of alternate disinfectants to chlorine such as chlorine dioxide, ozone, and chloramines, c) application of the standard plate count as a means of evaluating changes in the sanitary quality of water, and d) how all of these factors might be integrated to effect the overall quality of water. Based upon these issues, short term research needs have been identified by the Office of Drinking Water and are being addressed in this research strategy document. The needs include a health risk evaluation of proposed treatment modifications to minimize organic content in water, the microbial impact of alternative treatment methods to control organics, choice of disinfectant, standard plate count as an indicator of water quality, and the significance of microbial toxins. This research should be accomplished within six months to one year. Increased longer termed emphasis should be placed upon the environmental factors, control through treatment, and identification of etiological agents in waterborne outbreaks cf gastroenteritis. ORD RESPONSE 1. Occurrence Limited surveys conducted by the Agency, using the best avail- able analytic procedures, have not recovered virus from water adequately treated for drinking and cooking purposes. They have, however, shown that 28 ------- viruses are present at water plant intakes. A report on the variation in viral numbers with seasons and on the ratio of coliform to virus in source and in finished water will be available in 1979. Pending the development of pilot' plants for the direct production of drinking water from wastewater, studies will be initiated with the most sensitive methods available to determine the presence of pathogenic microorganisms in these waters. A two year project is being conducted to evaluate (in various geographical locations) animal survey and filtration methods of identifying water systems which contain Giardia cysts in the raw or treated water. This study will be completed in 1980. Raw and treated waters from several sites are being investigated for the occurrence of Yersinia. The potential for drinking water to transmit drug resistant coliforms will be examined through surveys of water supplies for these organisms. Surveys are being made of distribution systems where biologic growths may cause accelerated corrosion. Another field study involves investiga- tion of the effectiveness of disinfection in cross-connection control. Initial reports from grantees on these projects and from in-house work will be available in 1979. The measurement of endotoxin activity correlated with microbial and chemical parameters in distribution systems, especially those with open finished water reservoirs, is being investigated. Endotoxins from algae will be biochemically characterized and compared with bacterial endotoxins. The research project, which is to be completed in 1979, should yield relationships describing limits for endotoxin activity and methods of control. 29 ------- 2. Health Effects Waterborne outbreaks of infectious diseases are investigated in cooperation with the Center for Disease Control with the objective of identifying the etiological agents in water, determining the route of entry and recommending corrective action to prevent reoccurrence. Results of these investigations arc periodically reported in established CDC publi- cations, ORD Quarterly Reports as well as the open scientific literature. Improved surveillance and reporting of outbreaks can be achieved through application of an existing State program grant mechanism promulgated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. A pilot program, which includes assignment of an investigative team to a State, is under consideration for 1979 to inves- tigate consumer complaints, monitor bacteriological quality, and conduct epidemiological studies. The pilot program may also include in-depth surveillance of water quality and disease in community water systems that are granted a variance from the turbidity MCL. Clinical cases of yersiniosis are being epidemiologically investigated to determine the significance of drinking water in transmission of the causative organism. A finaL report will be available in 1980. Pending development of suitable methodology, the occurrence and health effects of enterotoxigenic E. coli in drinking water will be determined. Speciation of organisms present in drinking water will be effected in order to deter- mine the non-pathogen vs. pathogen populations and the potential risk to health of these organisms. The number of viral particles required to product an infection is an important factor in evaluating the waterborne viral health risk. Studies are ongoing in human and animal models to determine the minimum dose of virus needed to produce infection. Final reports on two studies will be available in 1979. 30 ------- 3. Monitoring Requirements The concept of using indicator organisms instead of measuring for several or nearly all pathogens in water is frequently challenged, so considerable effort is being directed to evaluate the efficacy of the coli- form test. Exploratory research on a surrogate indicator for viruses in water is needed. Several projects are on-going to determine under what field conditions interfering organisms or turbidity can prevent coliform growth and the significance that stressed organisms and regrowth potential have for water supply. A low cost, simple methodology for turbidity monitoring should be developed. Others are concerned with rapid bacterial change during shipment of samples to the laboratory. A report on bacterial quality changes during sample aging will be available in 1980. Research is needed to develop a bacteriological sampling frequency model that is more responsive to. types of treatment and distribution system geometry. Several sampling frequency models will be available by FY-80 for field testing. The concept of a sample "presence-absence" test for coliforms in potable water needs to be evaluated as an alternative to quantitative coliform measurements. Additional research is required to investigate the analysis.of large sample volumes (500 ml, one liter or greater) for coliforms and to evaluate the effect of statistical variation in coliform counting procedures upon the MCL from 0 and 5. An interim report will be available within two years after funding. The standard plate count procedure will be evaluated as a complement to the coliform test. If and when chlorine or disinfectant residuals are accepted as a substitute for some coliform determinations, field studies will be necessary to evaluate this alternative. Alternative indicators (acidfast bacteria and yeast) of disinfection efficiency that parallel viral resistance are being explored through extramural research. A report on a 31 ------- feasibility study of these special indicators was completed in July 1978. The regrowth potential of acid fast bacteria in water treatment, storage, and distribution will be investigated in a field and laboratory study scheduled for 1980 initiation. A better test for fecal contamination is necessary- for ground waters that are not disinfected. Other bacterial criteria, including fecal coli- form, fecal streptococcus, and standard plate count, are being explored and the rural water supply survey will be studied closely for clues. The national statistical assessment of rural water conditions will be completed in 1978 and analysis of data for further studies will be completed in 1979. Since excessive densities of non-coliform organisms in finished water frequently interfere with coliforra detection by standard methods media, research must be directed towards development of an improved, more selective medium for total coliform analysis. An interim report on medium development is scheduled for 1981. A quicker .response for bacterial results has been a long-standing, high priority goal which is receiving continued research attention. Two in-house approaches to rapid detection methods will be com- pleted in 1978. The quality assurance of microbiological methods is a continuing research oriented program to support enforcement and monitoring requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act. These activities include development of the EPA microbiological methods manual, creation of a laboratory certification guide, production of reference samples for evaluation by 1980, and preparation of a collaborative testing protocol for coliform procedures to be available by 1981. An ongoing equivalency testing program for alternate procedures, supplies and equipment will be carried out. 32 ------- A standardized method for the recovery of viruses from drinking water has been included in the 14th edition of Standard Methods for the Examina- tion of Water and Wastewater. Significant limitations in the method are recognized and studies, are being conducted in an effort to improve the efficiency, sensitivity, and viral spectrum of the recovery procedures. . Interim reports of ongoing efforts will be available in 1979. Major limitations of virus recovery procedures include the absence of a cell culture system for isolating the viral agents of infectious hepatitis and acute iirfectious, nonbacterial gastroenteritis. Studies are being conducted in an effort to develop such cell systems as well as other methods that will determine the presence of these disease agents in clinical specimens or water samples. Interim reports of the results of these studies will be available in 1979. Methods for the concentration, detection, and identification of Giardia cysts in water are a high priority research activity that has been the basis for a tentative standard method to be included in the 15th edition of Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. A final report on the evaluation of this procedure is due in 1979. The suitability of yeasts as as a surrogate indicator for Giardia is being investigated in studies with drinking water samples and wild animal fecal samples. 4. Control of By-Products from Treatment Use of GAG filtration as a treatment technique for reduction of organic chemicals may contribute to proliferation of microorganisms and microbial by-products. Deep bed carbon filters (6 ft.) are being monitored for identification of microbial populations, toxins and for toxicological evaluation. In addition, filters are being dosed with anatoxins of known 33 ------- toxic algal cultures to determine treatment efficacy. This short-term anticipatory research should indicate whether additional study is necessary. Studies are also being done on household water treatment devices to identify and characterize changes and persistance in microbial populations. 5. Treatment to Reduce Microbiological Contaminants The effects of virus aggregation on disinfection by chlorine and factors which influence virus aggregation -are being investigated. An EPA final report on a project completed in December 1976 as well as several subsequent publications on this subject in the technical literature are available. The final report on the current project will be available in November 1979. This report will also include the results of further study on the chlorine resistance of polioviruses that have been isolated from drink- ing water supply and found by others to possess a high degree of chlorine resistance. A final report on another study of differences in chlorine resistance of enteroviruses will be available in August 1978. Another project on disinfection resistance of naturally occurring enteroviruses will be com- pleted in October 1978. Disinfection studies on infectious hepatitis A virus are being initiated in July 1978, and an interim report will be avail- able in FY-79. Disinfection research on Yersinia enterocolitica amd gastro- enteritis virus(es) also will be initiated in FY-79. Extramural research is being conducted to evaluate UV, ozone, and chlorine as disinfectants for small water systems. A final report on one field study will be available in August 1978. A field evaluation of disinfection efficacy and microbiological quality at package treatment plants using chlorine and chlorine dioxide will begin in 1979. In 1978, a study will be initiated to determine the efficacy of short term free 34 ------- residual chlorine and chlorine dioxide will begin in 1979. In 1978, a study will be initiated to determine the efficacy of short term free residual chlorine followed by chloramine for disinfection with reduced trihalomethane formation. A field study of alternative disinfectants and other unit processes using source water of barely acceptable bacteriological quality also is in progress to fully evaluate the extremes of viral and bacterial pollution that may be encountered. This project will be completed in December 1978. An interim report is available to guide ODW regarding the effectiveness of chlorine dioxide and ozone as well as the usual unit processes. In addition to the alternative disinfectants currently being studied, others, including iodine, bromine, silver, ionizing radiation, and natural U.V. radiation, are being considered for further research but specific projects have not yet been delineated. Success in development of Giardia excystation methodology has made it possible to conduct cyst disinfection studies on this organism. These studies will be initiated in August 1978 and preliminary information will be available in FY-79. Pilot plant filtration studies on Giardia cysts should be completed by December 1978. Laboratory and field studies on cyst removal by other water treatment processes were initiated in June 1978. Disinfection research related to the turbidity MCL involving chlorine, chlorine dioxide, and ozone is in progress. These studies are planned for completion by December 1978, and an additional project involving chloramines will be initiated in August 1978. The distribution system residual aspects and coliform test problems related to the turbidity MCL are being studied through a series of field studies in various geographical areas at locations where such problems are likely to occur. Although the results of several of these studies will be availabe in 1978, a realistic date for fulfilling program requirements is December 1979. 35 ------- Resource Distribution (See Table 3) In FY-78, about 12 percent of the total funds were assigned to microbiological projects. Somewhat over a half of the $1,930 was spent on treatment and analytic improvement, but the health effects resources were greatly augmented by funds from the water pollution contro-1 research programs because of the similar needs. A majority of the funds support extra-mural projects. The personnel assignments have been the same for several years and will remain so in the near future. About 17 percent of the $1,930- is spent on long-range exploratory work, essentially all in the health effects area. 36 ------- Table 3. RESEARCH RESOURCES MICROBIOLOGICAL CONTAMINANTS HERL (Occurrence and Health Effects) MERL-DWRD (Monitoring and Treatment) Total FY-78 Extra- In-House Mural Total W-Y $K $K $K 15 600 150 750 12 360 820 1,180 27 960 970 1,930 FY-79 Extra- In-House Mural Total W-Y $K $K $K 12 480 420 900 12 . 360 820 1,180 24 840 1,340 2,080 FY-80 Extra- In-House Mural Total W-Y $K $K $K 13 520 380 900 12 360 820 1,180 25 880 1,200 2,080 ------- D. Groundwater Research Plan Approximately 50 percent of the population of the U.S. depends on underground sources for their drinking water. This constitutes a reliance on ground water by 80 percent of all public water supply systems and over 95 percent of all rural domestic supplies. The need for protecting this valuable source of drinking water is clear. However, for much of the country only episodic information is available on the extent of ground-water contamination. Ground water contamination comes in many forms and from many sources. The severity of contamination from these sources varies from source to source and from State to State. There is at the present time only limited infqnXpation on which to rank these sources of contamination in order of importance, evaluate their relative adverse impact on human health, or in many instances to define feasible pollution prevention and control techniques. It is against this background that EPA must publish sole source aquifer guidelines, promulgate underground injection control regulation, describe means for the States to assume primacy for the underground injection program, and devise a ground-water protection program. IN October 1977 a groundwater research plan was sent to the program • offices (including Office of Solid Waste Management), the Science Advisory Board, and other groups. The plan described results to be expected at different resource levels. At the present level with a program staff of 9 and approximately $1.5 million, the research program would»joW»centrate on problem .identification and assessment; methods applicable to a number of pollutant sources. With the increase in program staff of 5 per year over 3 years for a total of 24 and an increase of $2.8 million (the option chosen), the research program would develop scientific and engineering guidelines on which to base source control criteria. 38 ------- 1. PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION In 1971 work was begun to assess the Nation's ground-water pollution problems. Since that time, five reports have been completed in which ground-water availability, use, and background quality are described for areas comprising 34 States. In addition, the significant pollution problems are discussed and placed in priority for each area and suggestions are offered as to how these problems might be addressed. Some problems indigenous to one area were found to be nonexistent in others, but several sources of ground-water contamination are dominant at a high or moderate degree of severity in each area studied. In all, 19 discrete sources of ground-water contamination have been identified. 2. ASSESSMENT METHODS In order to provide background information, past as well as future, milestones are listed. The research plan, "in terms of milestones, for the development of sampling and analysis methods follows: Sampling and Analysis Methods Sampling Equipment for Groundwater April 1969 Investigations Measuring Subsurface Spring Flows with Dec. 1969 Radiotracers Ground-Water Reclamation by Selective Feb. 1970 Pumping Ground-Water Monitoring to Verify Water Dec. 1972 Quality Objectives Subsurface Biological Activity in Sept. 1973 Relation to Ground-Water Pollution Investigation of a Technique to Identify Dec. 1977 Sources of Nitrate in Ground Water 39 ------- Handbook on Sampling Procedures for Ground Water Bio-Organic Indicators of Ground-Water Pollution The research plan, in terms of milestones, to develop transformation evaluation methods follows: Transport and Transformation Evaluation Methods Fate of DDT and Nitrate in Groundwater Movement of DDT and Nitrates During Groundwater Recharge Study of Reutilization of Wastewater Recharge with Infiltration Basins Nitrate in the Unsaturated Zone Under Agricultural Lands Groundwater Monitoring to Verify Water Quality Objectives Subsurface Biological Activity in Relation to Groundwater Pollution Organic Compounds Entering Groundwater from a Landfill Evaluation of Existing Groundwater Basin Management Models Procedure for Evaluation of Potential Groundwater Contamination by Hazardous Chemicals Develop and Test Barriers to Leachate Movement (MERL-Solid and Hazardous Wastes Rssssrch Div.) Migration and Attenuation of Leachate Pollutants Through Soils (MERL-Solid and Hazardous Wastes Res. Div.) Pressure Increases Resulting from Well Injection Oct. 1978 April 1980 transport and Sept. 1968 Oct. 1969 March 1972 April 1972 Dec. 1972 Sept. 1973 Sept. 1974 Dec. 1977 April 1978 Sept. 1978 Sept. 1979 Sept. 1979 40 ------- SCIENTIFIC AND ENGINEERING BASIS FOR RECOMMENDED SOURCE CONTROL CRITERIA WITH AN INCREASE IN PROGRAM STAFF OF 5 PER YEAR FOR A TOTAL OF 24 AND AN INCREASE IN FUNDS OF $2.8 MILLION FOLLOWS: Recommended Source Control Criteria 1. Septic Tanks 2. Petroleum Exploration and Development 3. Landfills and Dumps 4. Agricultural Practices 5. Pit, Ponds, and Lagoons 6. Natural Leaching 7. Land Application of Waste 8. Artificial Recharge 9. Water Well Construction 10. Ground Water Development 11. Waste Piles and Stock Piles' 12. Mining - Western 13. Mining - Eastern 14. Accidental Spills 15. Drainage Wells and Sumps 16. Surface Water 17. Highway Salting 18. Disposal Wells 19. Air Pollution Oct. 1977 June 1982 Aug. 1983 Aug. 1983 Nov. 1980 No Criteria Dec. 1979 Oct. 1979 Sept. 1979 No Criteria No Criteria Dec. 1978 No Criteria July 1983 No Criteria No Criteria DOT Dec. 1979 No Criteria It is believed that natural leaching is outside the range of reasonable and economical control criteria. Surface water and air pollution are considered the responsibility of others in that they are diffuse sources and would cease to be ground water problems if their sources of contamination were controlled. Eastern mining is considered to be beyond the anticipated 41 ------- resources of this program is that past research in coal mining suggests that controls to prevent groundwater pollution are not feasible. Criteria for groundwater development, waste piles and stock piles, storage tanks and transmission lines, and drainage wells and sumps would be postponed until after 1984. The anticipatory research portion of the groundwater budget ($500K and 4 positions) planned for FY79 will concentrate on the area of microbiology, soil science, sampling and inorganic geochemistry. Summary of Resource Distribution The Table 4 shows the distribution of resources as to extra- and intra-mural projects and principal areas in which ORD is structured to operate — health effects (Health Effects Research Laboratory in Cincinnati), treatment (Municipal Environmental Research Laboratory, Drinking Water Research Division, Cincinnati) ground water management (Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory, Ada, Oklahoma) and improvement of identification and measurement (Environmental Research Laboratory - Athens and Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory - Cincinnati). Health effects will receive about 40 percent of the funds. Except for groundwater activities, the current plan is to carry out FY79 and FY80 plans with approximately the same size staff that was available in FY77 and 78. There are also 18 positions assigned to drinking water research laboratories (MERL and HERL) by ODW to perform technical assistance for the Regions and Headquarters. This arrangement plus the presence of a ODW Technical Support Staff in Cincinnati makes it possible to conduct surveys or quick process evaluations as needs may arise in the field. 42 ------- Approximately 28 percent ($1,944 K) of the Health Effects resources ($6,888 K ) and 67 percent of the analytic activities are assigned to long-range or exploratory research. Virtually all the quality assurance and treatment improvement projects are designed to respond directly to the immediate needs of the Operating Program. Thus by adding in $500K exploratory work from ground water there is a total of about 16 percent of the $15.6M budget devoted to long range studies. In addition to the drinking water research budget, $0.72M is allocated from ORD for the development of a National quality assurance program. The goal of this effort is to ensure that all potable water monitoring data are sufficiently accurate, precise, and reliable to meet Agency needs at reasonable cost. To achieve this goal the quality assurance must: standardize, validate, and approve measurement methods for official use; develop and distribute reference samples and quality control guidelines and procedures; conduct interlaboratory performance tests; develop minimum acceptance criteria and procedures for the on-site evaluation of laboratories; conduct on-site evaluations of radiochemistry laboratories; and train and certify EPA Regional on-site evaluation teams. These activities and outputs directly support implementation of the National Interim Primary Drinking Water Regulations. Late in the planning period for FY79, Congress allotted $8M for wastewater renovation studies. The Wastewater Research Division of MERL-Cincinnati will manage this program so it is only footnoted in Table 4, which is designed to cover the normal drinking water research activities. 43 ------- TABLE 4. SUMMARY OF PAST AND PLANNED RESEARCH RESOURCES FOR IMPLEMENTING SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT FY78, 79, 80 FY-78 Laboratory or Study Area W-Y Health Effects (HERL-Cint.) Organics 1.9 Inorganics and Asbestosl9 Microbiology 15 Alternate Disir.fect. 6 Re-Use 1 Public Health Initiative - Sub-Total 58 Treatment & Systems Management Organics 17 Particulates (lurb., Asbestos, etc.) 5 Inorganic 10 Distribution 10 Economic Analysis 6 Microbiology 12 Re-Use Sub-Total 60 FY-79 In-House $K 760 760 600 240 40 2,400 Extra- Mural $K 814 2,215 150 960 385 4,524 Total $K 1,574 2,975 750 1,200 425 - 6,924 W-Y 15 15 12 5 1 48 Extra- In-House Mural $K $K 600 600 480 200 40 1,920 1551 1,750 420 1,290 385 5,396 Total $K 2,151 2,350 900 1,490 425* - 7,316 FY-80 (Estimate) Extra- In-House Mural W-Y $K $K 14 14 13 6 1 6 54 560 560 520 240 40 240 2,160 1,590 1,790 380 1,250 385 4,686 10,081 Total $K 2,150 2,350 900 1,490 425 4,926 12,241 (MERL-DWRD) 510 150 300 300 180 360 1,800 2,450 138 450 180 475 820 4,513 2,960 288 750 480 655 1,180 6,313 17 3 5 8 5 12 50 510 90 150 240 150 360 1,500 3,277** 249 165 285 355 820 _* 5,151 3,787** 339 315 525 505 1,180 6,651 17 1 5 8 4 12 0 47 510 30 150 240 120 360 . 0 1,410 3,232 200 620 205 200 820 1,000 6,277 3,742 230 770 445 320 1,180 1,000 7,687 Monitoring & Analytic Development ERL-Athens 2 EMSL-Cinti. 0 Quality Assurance 8 Groundwater Quality ERL-Ada 9 Headquarters-Management Research Total 136 60 0 240 270 4,770 740 200 592 1,230 11,799 800 200 832 . 1,500 16,569 2 0 16 14 2 . 132 60 0 480 420 60 4,440 740 200 510 1,580 — 13,577 800 200 990 2,000 60 18,017 3 0 9 15 3 131 90 0 270 450 85 4,585 710 200 455 1,451 19,114 830 200 725 1,901 85 23,669 *In addition to this base of $425, $8 million has been allocated to Water Quality (Wastewater Research Division—MERL) i. help various wastawater systems to construct and/or operate large pilot plants, so as to study the health effects of renovated wast=water. **§0.5 million additional funds were reprogrammed from ODW to supplement treatment studies for removal of trace organics. 40ne additional million dollars was also reprogrammed within ORD to expand these studies. These are noc shown in sub-totals. * ' "* "*• March 1979 ------- Membership for the Drinking Water Research Committee 1979 Mr. Gordon G. Robeck, Chairman Coordinator, EPA Drinking Water Research Cincinnati, Ohio Mr. Victor Kimm Deputy Assistant Administrator Office of Drinking Water Washington, D.C. Mr. Ed Hockman Groundwater Protection Branch Office of Drinking Water Washington, D.C. Mr. Tom Belk Groundwater Protection Branch Offfice of Drinking Water Washington, D.C. Dr. Joseph Cotruvo Criteria and Standards Division Office of Drinking Water Washington, D.C. Dr. Arnold Kuzmack Office of Program Development and Evaluation Washington, D.C. Mr. Patrick Tobin Office of Drinking Water Washington, D.C. Mr. Donald Maddox Regional Representative Water Supply Branch, Reg. V Chicago, Illinois Mr. William Rosenberg Office of Planning and Management Washington, D.C. Mr. Alvaro Yamhure Office of Enforcement Washington, D.C. Dr. Thomas Murphy Depty. Assist. Admn. for Air, Land & Water Use ORD Ms. Kathleen Conway Health Effects Division, ORD, OHEE Washington, D.C. Mr..Thomas Stanley Office of Monitoring & Technical Support/ORD Washington, D.C. Mr. William Donaldson Environmental Research Laboratory Athens, Georgia Mr. Jack Keeley Chairman, Sub-committee for Groundwater Robert S. Kerr Env. Research Lab Ada, Oklahoma Mr. William Galegar, Director Robert S. Kerr Env. Research Lab. Ada, Oklahoma Ms. Jeanie Loving Research Committee Coordinator Office of Research Program Management/ORD Washington, D.C. Mr. Larry Gray, Alternate Chairman Office of Air, Land & Water Use/ORD Washington, D.C. Mr. Leland McCabe Health Effects Research Lab/ORD Cincinnati, Ohio Dr. Richard Bull Health Effects Research Lab/ORD Cincinnati, Ohio Mr. Edwin E. Geldreich, Sub-Committee Chairman for Microbiology Drinking Water Research Division Cincinnati, Ohio Dr. James M. Symons, Sub-Committee Chairman for Organic Contaminants Drinking Water Research Division Cincinnati, Ohio ------- Mr. Thomas Padden Waste Management Div/ORD Washington, D.C. Mr. Gunther Craun, Sub-Committee Chairman for Inorganic Contaminants Health Effects Research Lab. Cincinnati, Ohio Mr. Robert Booth Environmental Monitoring & Support Lab. Cincinnati, Ohio ------- TECHNICAL REPORT DATA /Please read Instructions on tin: reverse before completing 1. REPORT NO. 600/8-79-020 2. 3. RECIPIENT'S ACCESSION NO. 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5. REPORT DATE Marrh 1Q7Q Drinking-Water Research Strategy 6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE 7. AUTHOR(S) Office of Research and Development Office of Water and Waste Management 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NO. 9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS Office of Research and Development Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 10. PROGRAM ELEMENT NO. 11. CONTRACT/GRANT NO. 12. SPONSORING AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS Office of Research and Development Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 13. TYPE OF REPORT AND PERIOD COVERED Planning 1978-1QKO 14. SPONSORING AGENCY CODE EPA - 600/00 15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES 16. ABSTRACT This document outlines a broad strategy for research on drinking water, representir the consensus of a Research Committee composed of representatives from EPA's research, regulatory program, enforcement and Regional offices. The Drinking Water Research Committee is one of five committees established as a pilot project to explore the plan- ning of research and development activities in a committee process. The pilot project addressed the major regulatory program areas: drinking water; industrial wastewater; pesticides; mobile source air pollution; and inhalable particulate pollution. This document is a product of the pilot project. The document outlines areas where research and development are needed to help fulfill EPA's mission. It describes activities whic are being or will be undertaken by the Office of Research and Development to meet those needs. The program is presented in terms of organic contaminants, inorganic contamin- ants, microbiologicals, and.groundwater protection. Research such as that on health effects or treatment technology is covered under these four categories. The strategy will serve as a major basis for detailed planning accomplished each year as part of EPA's planning and budgeting process. To be responsive to emerging Agency priorities and research results, this and the other committee documents will be revised at least annually. 17. KEY WORDS AND DOCUMENT ANALYSIS DESCRIPTORS b.lDENTIFIERS/OPEN ENDED TERMS COSATi Field/Group Drinking Water (DE) Drinking Water Research Planning Drinking Water Health Effects Drinking Water Treatment Technology Ground Water Projection 13B 18. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT Release to public 19. SECURITY CLASS (This Report/ Unclassified 21. NO. OF PAGES 20. SECURITY CLASS /This page/ Unclassified 22. PRICE EPA Form 2220-1 (9-73) ------- INSTRUCTIONS 1. REPORT NUMBER In.sert the EPA report number as it appears on the cover of the publication. 2. LEAVE BLANK 3. RECIPIENTS ACCESSION NUMBER Reserved for use by each report recipient. 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE Title should indicate clearly and briefly the subject coverage of the report, and be displayed prominently. Set subtitle, if used, in smaller type or otherwise subordinate it to main title. When a report is prepared in more than one volume, repeat the primary title, add volume number and include subtitle for the specific title. 5. REPORT DATE Each report shall carry a date indicating at least month and year. Indicate the basis on which it was selected (e.g., datf of issue, date of approval, dale of preparation, etc.). 6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE Leave blank. 7. AUTHOR(S) Give name(s) in conventional order (John R. Doe. J. Robert Doe, etc.). List author's affiliation if it differs from the performing organi- zation. 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER Insert if performing organization wishes to assign this number. 9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS Give name, street, city, state, and ZIP code. List no more than two levels of an organizational hirearchy. 10. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER Use the program element number under which the report was prepared. Subordinate numbers may be included in parentheses. .. 11. CONTRACT/GRANT NUMBER Insert contract or grant number under which report was prepared. 12. SPONSORING AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS Include ZIP code. 13. TYPE OF REPORT AND PERIOD COVERED Indicate interim final, etc., and if applicable, dates covered. 14. SPONSORING AGENCY CODE Leave blank. 15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES Enter information not included elsewhere but useful, such as: Prepared in cooperation with. Translation of. Presented at conference of, To be published in. Supersedes, Supplements, etc. 16. ABSTRACT Include a brief (200 words or less) factual summary of the most significant information contained in the report. If the report contains a significant bibliography or literature survey, mention it here. 17. KEY WORDS AND DOCUMENT ANALYSIS (a) DESCRIPTORS - Select from the Thesaurus of Engineering and Scientific Terms the proper authorized terms that identify the major concept of the research and are sufficiently specific and precise to be used as index entries for cataloging. (b) IDENTIFIERS AND OPEN-ENDED TERMS - Use identifiers for project names, code names, equipment designators, etc. Use open- ended terms written in descriptor form for those subjects for which no descriptor exists. (c) COS ATI FIELD GROUP - Field and group assignments are to be taken from the 1965 COS ATI Subject Category List. Since the ma- jority of documents are multidisciplinary in nature, the Primary Field/Group assignment(s) will be specific discipline, area of human endeavor, or type of physical object. The application(s) will be cross-referenced with secondary Field/Group assignments that will follow the primary posting(s). 18. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT Denote releasability to the public or limitation for reasons other than security for example "Release Unlimited." Cite any availability to the public, with address and price. 19. & 20. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION DO NOT submit classified reports to the National Technical Information service. 21. NUMBER OF PAGES Insert the total number of pages, including this one and unnumbered pages, but exclude distribution list, if any. 22. PRICE Insert the price set by the National Technical Information Service or the Government Printing Office, if known. EPA Form 2220-1 (9-73) (R»v«r«») ------- |