Roane County Joint Information Center
Kingston Ash Release
Press Release Number 008, 02 Jan 2009
Additional Water Sample Results Indicate Municipal Drinking Water Continues to be Safe
New EPA Data Released for TVA Kingston Fly Ash Release
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
and Tennessee Valley Authority continue to be involved in sampling activities. All results from each
agency have consistently indicated that municipal drinking water supplies are safe. Each agency is
using certified labs for analysis, including EPA's facility in Athens, Georgia, the state of Tennessee lab
in Nashville and independent certified labs in Maryville and Mt. Juliet. An overview of each agency's
most recent data follows.
TDEC Data Update
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has received additional water sample
results for both treated drinking water and untreated river water collected at the Kingston and Rockwood
water treatment plants. All treated drinking water results are well within drinking water standards,
indicating both municipal water supplies are safe.
The sample of untreated river water collected on Dec. 24 had an aluminum concentration slightly above
the secondary drinking water standard of 0.20 milligrams/Liter. Aluminum is naturally occurring in clay
and this value would be reduced by the treatment process. Secondary drinking water standards are non-
enforceable guidelines regulating contaminants in treated drinking water that may cause cosmetic or
aesthetic effects.
Additional results from both Kingston and Rockwood collected on Dec. 31 also indicate that all treated
drinking water results are well within both primary and secondary drinking water standards. All
untreated water collected also met the drinking water standards for metals prior to treatment.
The department is also sampling private drinking water wells in a four mile radius of the site. So far,
samples have been collected from approximately 40 private properties. Residents in this area whose
would like their well tested may call 865-717-4006.
All results from Department of Environment and Conservation sampling are posted on the department's
Web site at www.tn.gov/environment. The site will continue to be updated with new results as they
come in. The Web site also now contains some historical data obtained from TVA on ash sampling
from the years 1990, 1992, 1995 and 2005.
EPA Data Update
EPA has preliminary data for the fly ash samples collected on the undisturbed portion of the fly ash
dredge cell as well as the disturbed portion of fly ash material. Residents are not currently in direct
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exposure to this material found at elevated levels, and therefore are not subject to a direct health threat
from the fly ash material being measured onsite.
Ash samples from the roadway adjacent to the fly ash dredge cell were also taken. This preliminary data
shows that some arsenic levels detected exceed EPA residential removal action levels at 40 mg/kg, but
are still well below EPA industrial removal action levels at 177 mg/kg. TVA has taken full
responsibility for cleanup and engaged the necessary resources to ensure the fly ash material will be
cleaned up appropriately under state and federal oversight.
EPA conducted municipal water intake sampling at the Kingston, Cumberland and Rockwood facilities.
Preliminary data indicate that no elevated levels of contaminants were found in the municipal water
intake.
EPA also conducted testing of four private drinking water wells along Swan Pond Road in the impacted
area on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008. Preliminary data indicates that no elevated level of contaminants were
found in the four private drinking water wells sampled.
Surface water and sediment sampling data from Dec. 23, 2008 was posted on Jan. 2, 2009 and is the
same data that was earlier reported stating that an elevated level of arsenic was found in the Emory
River. This data also indicated that an elevated level of arsenic was found in one sediment sample taken
on the Emory River. There have been no indications, to date, showing that drinking water has been
affected by the fly ash material. The advice issued earlier from the Joint Information Center on potential
health effects from exposure to the fly ash material addressed the issue of these elevated levels of
arsenic found on Dec. 23, 2008.
EPA sample results are being posted as they become available at
http://www.epaosc.org/doc list.asp?siteid=4642.
TVA Data Update
TVA has received data from a number of locations for Dec. 22, 23, 26 and 29. Results indicate that raw
water samples taken at the city of Kingston Water Treatment Plant are within standards for treated
drinking water for metal contaminants.
At the Kingston power plant site, water samples taken on Dec. 22 at the release area in the Emory River
contained high amounts of suspended material following the ash release. Repeat testing on Dec. 23, 26
and 29 at the power plant site showed amounts of suspended material is trending downwards. The levels
for metals met state requirements for protection offish and aquatic life or were below lab detection
limits. Results from other sites sampled on the Clinch and Tennessee River portions of Watts Bar
Reservoir show metal contaminants at levels that meet requirements for safe drinking water or were
below detection limits.
These sample results can be found at www.tva.com. Both total metals and dissolved metals are reported
for the samples. Dissolved metals reflect only the metals that have dissolved within the water column.
JIC Schedule
The Joint Information Center will operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 8 a.m. to 6
p.m. on Monday, Jan. 5. There will be a media briefing at the Joint Information Center on Monday, Jan.
5 at 11 a.m.
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