United States
Environmental Protection
Aaencv
EPA/600/R-20/328 | September 2020 | www.epa.gov/research
Technical Support Summary
Water I nfrastructure Division
FISCAL YEAR 2019
Office of Research and Development
Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response/ Water Infrastructure Division
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EPA/600/R-20/328
September 2020
Technical Support Summary
Water Infrastructure Division
Fiscal Year 2019
by
Christy Muhlen
Physical Scientist
Office of Research and Development
Cincinnati, OH 45268
Lisa Voutsikakis
Technical Writer
Associated Universities (ORAU)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Cincinnati, OH, 45268
Regan Murray
Division Director
Office of Research and Development
Cincinnati, OH, 45268
Jennifer Tully
Physical Scientist
Office of Research and Development
Cincinnati, OH 45268
Water Infrastructure Division
Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response
Cincinnati, OH 45268
Oak Ridge
Contractor to the
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Disclaimer Statement
The information in this report has been reviewed in accordance with the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency's policy and approved for publication. The views expressed in this article are those of the
authors and do not necessarily represent the views or the policies of EPA. Any mention of trade names,
manufacturers, or products does not imply an endorsement by the U.S. Government or EPA; EPA and
its employees do not endorse any commercial products, services, or enterprises.
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Contents
Disclaimer Statement ii
Figures 4
Acronyms and Abbreviations 5
1.0 Technical Support Summary, Water Infrastructure Division, FY2019 6
1.1 Water Infrastructure Division 6
2.0 Technical Assistance Highlights 10
2.1 Corrosion Control for Lead Technical Support 10
2.1.1 Corrosion Control Technical Support Case Study - Newark, New Jersey. 10
2.2 Microbial Contaminants Technical Support 11
2.2.1 Microbial Contaminants Technical Support Case Study - Ghana, Africa .. 11
2.3 PFAS Technical Support 12
2.3.1 PFAS Technical Support Case Study - Wilmington, North Carolina 12
2.4 Harmful Algal Blooms Technical Support 13
2.4.1 HABs Technical Support Case Study - Tours and Training 13
2.5 Small Drinking Water Systems Technical Support 14
2.5.1 Small Systems Technical Support Case Study- Region 6 Workshop 14
2.5.2 Small Systems Technical Support Case Study - Small System Workshop 15
2.6 Emergency Response Technical Support 17
2.6.1 Emergency Response Technical Support Case Study - Mexico Beach,
Florida 17
2.6.2 Emergency Response Technical Support Case Study - Flint, Michigan.... 17
2.6.3 Emergency Response Technical Support Case Study - Puerto Rico 18
2.7 Laboratory Methods Technical Support 19
2.7.1 Laboratory Methods Case Study - Training 19
2.8 Water Models, Tools, and Database Technical Support 20
2.8.1 EPANET 20
2.8.2 Drinking Water Treatability Database 20
2.8.3 Storm Water Management Model 21
2.8.4 National Stormwater Calculator 21
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Figures
Figure 1. FY2019 Technical support provided by WID, stratified by type of assistance
provided.
6
Figure 2. FY2019 Technical support provided by WID, locations helped across the World and
in the United States.
7
Figure 3. FY2019 Technical support provided by WID, showing hours spent on type of
technical support topics.
8
Figure 4. FY2019 Technical support provided by WID, stratified by type of requestor.
9
Figure 5. WID researchers (a) sampling in a house and (b) performing ultra-filtration in the City
of Newark, New Jersey.
10
Figure 6. WID researchers training Ghana Water Company Limited.
11
Figure 7. The opening session of the Small System Challenges and Solution Workshop
hosted by WID staff.
15
Figure 8. Pilot-scale corrosion control pipe rigs used for the hands-on training session during
the Small Systems Workshop.
16
Figure 9. Members of the Recovery and Resiliency Partnership review design concepts during
the federal, state and city implementation planning session.
17
Figure 10. Apeadero water system damage.
18
Figure 11. EPANET output for drinking water.
20
Figure 12. Storm Water Management Model output.
21
Figure 13. Portion of the Huntington green infrastructure feasibility design.
21
4
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Acronyms and Abbreviations
¦"¦¦¦ tctwiamfi
ASDWA Association of State Drinking Water Administrators
BSA Bovine Serum Albumin
CCL Contaminant Candidate List
CEC Contaminants of Emerging Concern
CESER Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response
CFPUA Cape Fear Public Utility Authority
DOEE Department of Energy and Environment
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
ESF Experimental Streams Facility
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
FY Fiscal Year
GAC Granular Activated Carbon
GI Green Infrastructure
GWCL Ghana Water Company Limited
HABs Harmful Algal Blooms
IX Ion Exchange
LCR Lead and Copper Rule
MST Microbial Source Tracking Method
OGWDW Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water
ORD Office of Research and Development
OW Office of Water
Pb Lead
PFAS Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid
PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
POU Point of Use
RO Reverse Osmosis
SSWR Safe and Sustainable Water Resources
SWMM Storm Water Management Model
SWC Stormwater Calculator
TBD Treatability Database
US United States
US AID United States Agency for International Development
UV Ultraviolet
WID Water Infrastructure Division
WNTR Water Network Tool for Resilience
immMn 3
limi v, Cmwdince
¦ Inusw,*. '-jum iii
5
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1.0
Technical Support Summary
Water Infrastructure Division, FY2019
1.1 Water Infrastructure Division
The United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Center for Environmental Solutions and
Emergency Response (CESER), Water Infrastructure Division (WID) is located in Cincinnati, Ohio and
conducts customer-driven research, provides scientific leadership on national-scale problems, and works
with communities, water utilities, states, and other national and Regional EPA Offices to solve water
quality issues. In this context, water infrastructure includes drinking water treatment plants, distribution
systems, storage tanks, premise plumbing, wastewater collection systems, stormwater systems, green
infrastructure and water reuse treatment systems.
WID's research program addresses treatment strategies for drinking water contaminants such as
cyanotoxins, disinfection byproducts, inorganic contaminants, pathogens such as Legionella, and
chemicals of emerging concern such as polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). WID researchers develop
analytical methods for detection of chemicals on EPA's Contaminant Candidate List (CCL), supporting
the development of the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. To address legacy contaminants like
lead (Pb), WID performs extensive research on corrosion control strategies and analyzes drinking water
pipe scales to improve methods to reduce lead and copper exposure.
Figure 1. FY2019 Technical support provided by WID, stratified by type of assistance provided.
Laboratory Methods 20
Technical Representative
120
Specific Question 91
6
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W1D serves a critical role in providing technical assistance to communities and state agencies across the
United States. WID's technical support provides recipients with scientific information and insight,
delivering high quality science for use in formulating risk management decisions, regulation or other
policy actions, assistance in modeling applications, technical training on laboratory methods and other
techniques, design and planning, and informational tours of laboratory facilities (Figure 1).
In addition, VVID provides technical support concerning research in the areas of storrnwater management
and water reuse to improve best practices. Hydraulic and water quality modeling for drinking water and
stormwater management is also an important aspect of WID's research portfolio, including the
maintenance and application of models like EPANET, Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) and
the National Stormwater Calculator (SWC).
The research conducted in WID supports the regulatory and nonregulatory scientific needs of EPA,
water utilities, and state, local, territorial and tribal agencies in their implementation of the Safe
Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act, along with other legislative and policy mandates.
The division supports EPA's broader efforts to protect the environment and human health. In FY2019,
EPA WID recorded 354 technical requests from 39 states, all 10 Regional Offices, and 15 different
nations (Figure 2). In addition, many more requests were addressed with a phone call or within a short
amount of time but were not included in this figure.
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Figure 2. FY2019 Technical support provided by WTD, locations helped across the World and in the
United States.
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The majority of the 354 technical requests were related to corrosion control for Pb (n = 87), microbial
contaminants (n = 69), modeling assistance (n = 56), harmful algal blooms (HABs) (n = 54), and PFAS
(n = 19). Emergency response, laboratory methods, training, webinars and workshops are some of the
other types of technical support related efforts offered by WID during FY2019. Figure 3 represents the
hours spent on specific technical support requests.
Microbiological
Laboratory Methods
Small Systems
Modeling Assistance
Nutrients
Harmful algal blooms
Treatment
Corrosion
Lead (Pb)
Green Infrastructure
Emergency Response
Legionella
Chemicals
Other
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
Biosolids
Biological
Vunerable Populations
Figure 3. FY2019 Technical support provided by WID, showing hours spent on type of technical
support topics.
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Throughout FY2019, WID provided resources for critical water-related requests to environmental
protection groups, environmental consulting firms, academic institutions, international entities, EPA
Regional Offices, US cities and states, as well as other US federal agencies. Figure 4 shows the breakout
of the number of requests per type of requestor.
Homeowner 9
Other Government Office 21
„ ... _ / -US City or Community 44
Consulting Firm 33-
Figure 4. FY2019 Technical support provided by WID, stratified by type of requestor.
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2.0
Technical Assistance Highlights
2.1 Corrosion Control for Lead Technical Support
Drinking water Pb contamination is one of the most pressing challenges affecting public health in
communities with aging water infrastructure. Changes to source water and water treatment can have
adverse effects that result in pipe corrosion issues. Lead in drinking water poses significant health risks,
especially to small children.
As part of the Federal Lead Action Plan to Reduce Childhood Lead Exposures and Associated Health
Impacts, WID conducts extensive research on strategies to reduce Pb in drinking water. WID research
focuses on corrosion control treatment, exposure assessment and modeling tools, source characterization
and assessment, and sampling and monitoring approaches. One aspect of source characterization and
assessment is analyzing drinking water pipe scales with state-of-the-art analytical instrumentation. WID
researchers provided many forms of technical support to minimize Pb release, including, but not limited
to, providing expert advice, analyzing pipe or water samples, sharing data, offering training, and serving
on committees.
2.1.1 Corrosion Control Technical Support Case Study - Newark, New Jersey
During FY2019, the city of Newark, New Jersey which supplies approximately 280,000 residents with
drinking water, experienced high levels of Pb that exceeded the Lead Action Level of EPA's Lead and
Copper Rule (LCR). The City and their consultant requested assistance for Pb service line pipe scale
characterization. Five pipe scales were analyzed in FY2019 and sequential water samples were
collected. The water quality and mineralogical results suggested that the corrosion control treatment was
not functioning as well as expected, and that Pb
could be being released as particulate into the
water, given the specific water chemistry in
Newark.
Based on that finding, water was sampled from an
additional four homes known to have elevated
water Pb levels (Figure 5). The analysis, including
water chemistry analyses, particle fractionation
analyses, and electron microscopy imaging,
showed that while the water samples contained
low concentrations of soluble Pb, there were high
concentrations of Pb(II)-orthophosphate
nanoparticles. These results are being used by the
city of Newark to inform a long-term corrosion
control strategy to reduce Pb in drinking water.
Figure 5. WID researchers (a) sampling in a house
and (b) performing ultra-filtration in the city of
Newark, New Jersey.
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2.2 Microbial Contaminants Technical Support
Microbial contaminants such as pathogenic viruses, bacteria, protozoa and cyanobacteria toxins in
treated drinking water can adversely affect public health, causing short-term and long-term health
effects. WID conducted extensive research on microbial pathogens including assessing treatment
technologies for the removal of pathogens, developing innovative new treatment strategies, evaluating
the occurrence of pathogens in the built environment (including hospitals, homes, and large buildings),
and assessing the risks of exposure to contaminants from drinking water, wastewater, stormwater and
water reuse systems. WID researchers provided many forms of technical support related to microbial
contaminants including providing expert advice, sharing data, offering training, and more
2.2.1 Microbial Contaminants Technical Support Case Study - Ghana, Africa
During FY2019, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the African
Ministers' Council on Water requested WID's participation in the 7th Africa Water Week Conference
held in Libreville, Gabon. The theme of the conference was entitled "Toward Achieving Water Security
and Safely Managed Sanitation for Africa." During the conference, WID co-presented with Ghana
Water Company Limited (GWCL) on the EPA/USAID project, Drinking Water Laboratory Capacity
Program in Ghana: Protecting Public Health Through a Documented Quality System. This program,
Figure 6. WID researchers training Ghana Water Company Limited
established in 2014, aims to promote improved management and delivery of urban potable drinking
water in national and regional government institutions, communities and lab facilities. WID has worked
closely with the GWCL laboratory to help increase their capabilities, specifically developing water
sampling protocols, water analysis standard operating procedures, and quality assurance plans (Figure
6). GWCL operates 57 surface water systems and 38 borehole systems in Ghana. This project sparked a
new focus for water quality across the country, including the development of a Quality Assurance
Manual, which will improve water quality for over 500,000 consumers. This manual is now used as a
model for other labs in the region. Ghana has already used this knowledge to mentor labs in Nigeria.
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2.3 PFAS Technical Support
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of human-made chemicals that are persistent in
water and can lead to adverse human health effects when consumed. PFAS has been manufactured and
used in a variety of industries around the globe since the 1940s. Drinking water can be a source of
exposure in communities when these PFAS materials leach into the groundwater, runoff into the
environment, or are directly dumped into surface water.
WID conducts extensive research on PFAS in drinking water including evaluating conventional
treatment technologies for the removal of PFAS, developing innovative new treatment and incineration
approaches, publishing cost and treatment data in the Drinking Water Treatability Database, and
developing models to predict costs and treatment system performance for different PFAS contaminants.
WID researchers provide many forms of technical support related to PFAS, such as providing expert
advice, analyzing samples, sharing data, modeling treatment performance, offering training, and more.
PFAS are a group of human-made
chemicals that can lead to adverse human
health effects including developmental
effects in infants, development of certain
cancers, liver defects, thyroid defects, and
other health conditions.
2,3.1 PFAS Technical Support Case Study- Wilmington, North Carolina
The Cape Fear River supplies drinking water to over 120,000 people and became contaminated with
high levels of PFAS when a major facility di scharged PFAS waste material into the river. The discharge
point was located upstream of Cape Fear Public Utility Authority's (CFPUA) source water intake.
During FY2019, WID was asked to give assistance to CFPUA as they designed a new treatment plant
that would effectively remove PFAS and protect their customers. EPA researchers engaged with the
utility during the pilot and planning phase of the CFPUA PFAS treatment study. CFPUA provided pilot
data that WED researchers used to model full-scale performance based on their planning specifications.
Model results were shared with CFPUA to help them understand how granular activated carbon (GAC)
would perform for PFAS removal. WID evaluated the treatment and determined that the proposed
facility would be effective at removing PFAS from the water.
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2.4 Harmful Algal Blooms Technical Support
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a major environmental problem in all 50 states, producing toxins
hazardous to humans, animals and the environment. WID conducts research on treatment technologies
to remove algal toxins from drinking water, and monitoring technologies to provide early detection of
blooms.
WID has supported states, local government, academia, water utilities, communities, individuals and
EPA Regional Offices to gain a better understanding of HABs and how to prevent and treat these
contaminants in drinking water. WID's HAB technical support efforts are classified under four
categories: responding to HABs-related questions, HABs expert technical representation, webinars and
informational tours.
HABs are composed of cyanobacteria which
produce toxins that are harmful to human
health. Exposure to cyanotoxin may have
adverse health effects which can range from
mild skin conditions to serious illness or in
rare circumstances, death.
2.4.1 HABs Technical Support Case Study- Tours and Training
EPA's Experimental Streams Facility (ESF) is one of only a handful of research facilities in the United
States designed to conduct small stream research. Researchers led more than two dozen tours through
the facility providing attendees with educational insights into aquatic ecology, a critical component in
the understanding of the development and prevention of HABs. Attendees included members of the
Ohio River Basin Consortium for Science and Education, Ohio River Basin Alliance, college students
from local universities studying a wide variety of water-related courses and EPA Regional Office staff
In addition to tours, WID prepared and delivered HABs-related presentations and training to audiences,
including Region 3 supported Mid-Atlantic Association of Aquatic Biologists Annual Meeting, East
Fork Watershed Cooperative, Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission, and the National
Environmental Health Association. WID researchers were dedicated members to a variety of FIABs
focus groups, transferring HABs strategies and tools to external drinking water stakeholders, and
training EPA Regional staff on nutrient analyzers and algal identification processes.
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2.5 Small Drinking Water Systems Technical Support
At the end of FY2019, there were 145,839 active public water systems in the United States. Of these,
97% are small systems, meaning they serve 10,000 or fewer people. Many of these systems face some
challenges in achieving and maintaining system sustainability. Challenges include lack of expertise to
operate and maintain systems; lack of financial resources; aging infrastructure; limited options for
residual disposal; and state primacy agencies with limited resources to support a large number of small
systems.
WID conducts research on treatment technologies, costs, and best practices to support small drinking
water systems around the nation. In addition, WID researchers provide many forms of technical support
geared toward small systems, including, but not limited to, providing expert advice, analyzing samples,
sharing data, offering training, and assisting with pilot scale implementation.
2.5.1 Small Systems Technical Support Case Study- Region 6 Workshop
The first Regional Small Drinking Water Systems Workshop was held in EPA Region 6 in May
2019. The workshop was a collaboration between WID, EPA's Office of Ground Water and Drinking
Water (OGWDW), the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA), Region 6 States
of Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arkansas, the Southwest Environmental Finance
Center and the National Rural Water Association.
The workshop was designed to focus on technical aspects of
drinking water quality issues faced by small drinking water
systems in Region 6. Primary topics were; understanding
compliance issues faced by small drinking water systems,
addressing technical challenges through ideas and information
exchange and finally providing a forum for networking.
A total of 129 participants were in attendance including 38
state representatives, 33 small water utility operators
(including from small rural water systems and tribal nations),
14 rural water association employees, 12 private sector
consultants, 2 ASDWA members, 1 Southwest Environmental
Finance Center staff member, 1 Texas American Water Works Association member and 28 EPA
employees.
WID researchers gave technical presentations focusing on aspects of drinking water quality issues faced
by small systems in Region 6. The workshop agenda covered topics such as basic water chemistry in
relation to disinfection residuals and chloramination, corrosion control, naturally occurring ammonia in
ground water, strategies for reducing disinfection byproducts, tools for achieving simultaneous
compliance, best management practices for small systems, storage tank best management practices,
implementing 3Ts in small systems and outreach and training opportunities. The speakers included
technical leads from WID and OGWDW, State engineers, a representative from the Sac and Fox Nation
of Oklahoma and the director of the Southwest Environmental Finance Center.
Region 6 serves 5 states
and 66 tribes
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2.5.2 Small Systems Technical Support Case Study - Small System Workshop
WID organizes an annual small systems workshop, providing free, in-depth information and training on
various solutions and strategies for handling small drinking water system challenges. The 16th annual
conference was held in September 2019 with over 400 participants from 47 states, 3 other countries, 4
US tribes, 9 EPA Regional Offices, and 6 different federal agencies.
The workshop is a collaboration between EPA's OR 13, EPA's Office of Water (OW), and the ASDWA.
State personnel responsible for drinking water regulations compliance and treatment technologies
permitting to system owners and operators, local and tribal government personnel, academics, design
engineers, technical assistance providers, and consultants were in attendance (Figure 7).
Figure 7. The opening session of the Small System Challenges and Solution Workshop
hosted by WID staff.
Agenda for the 16th Annual EPA Drinking Water Workshop
WID researchers provided technical presentations during the workshop on a variety of drinking water
topics including:
> Pb Pipe Scale analysis for Solving Pb > Cost of Nitrate and Perchlorate Removal
Corrosion Issues Disinfectant Penetration into Biofilm
> PFAS Treatment and Sediment
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Breakout focus groups including WID staff as experts were provided and designed to engage attendees
in facilitated discussions with fellow participants to highlight challenges, tools, solutions, and gaps in
resources or research in:
—» Approval/Permitting of Novel
Technologies
> Disinfection Byproducts
—» Analytics and Laboratory Issues
-> PFAS
—» Legionella and Water Quality
—» Iron and Manganese Issues and
Concerns
> Pb in Schools
> Developing Partnerships and
Collaborations
108 attendees participated in hands-on training opportunities provided by WID researchers. Trainings
were offered on five major groups of drinking water topics.
> Setting up Bench/Pilot Scale Studies
Cost-Effectively
—»¦ Evaluation of Inactivation at Drinking
Water Treatment Plants
—> Models and Tools Demos
> Fundamental Principles of Ultraviolet
(UV) Disinfection
—> Understanding Drinking Water UV
Validation Reports
Figure 8. Pilot-scale corrosion control pipe
rigs used for the hands-on training session
during the Small Systems Workshop.
The workshop offered, "Setting up Bench/Pilot
Scale Studies Cost Effectively," a hands-on
training that discussed approaches to design,
construct, and operate a variety of drinking
water treatment bench/pilot-scale studies —
specifically, jar tests, pilot-scale filtration
systems, conventional treatment systems,
corrosion control pipe rigs, batch adsorption and
ion exchange tests, and membrane evaluations.
Bench-and pilot-scale units were available
during the training session for attendees to
experience firsthand (Figure 8).
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2.6 Emergency Response Technical Support
When natural disasters, industrial spills, or other types of environmental emergencies occur, WID
researchers are often called on to offer technical support. In FY2019, WID technically supported
emergency response efforts by giving expert advice, analyzing samples, sharing data, modeling
assistance, training, and more.
2.6.1 Emergency Response Technical Support Case Study - Mexico Beach, Florida
Hurricane Michael devasted Florida when it touched down on Mexico Beach, Florida, as a Category 5
storm in October 2018. Over $25 billion in damages occurred in the United States due to this
hurricane—the most severe storm Florida's panhandle has ever experienced.
From June 2019 through December 2019, WID supported EPA Region 4 in assisting the city of Mexico
Beach, Florida with developing and administering a community design workshop (Figure 9). The
workshop supported the post hurricane recovery of Mexico Beach, Florida focusing on areas of green
stormwater infrastructure, green-space, and pedestrian trail systems. Researchers attended stakeholder
focus group sessions with community
businesses and homeowners, local, state,
and federal agencies (city of Mexico Beach,
Florida Department of Environmental
Protection, Regional Metropolitan Planning
Organization, Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA), National
Park Service, Federal Highway
Administration, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, and EPA Region 4).
WID also assisted with gathering
stakeholder feedback on the proposed
concept designs for the city, including
documenting next steps for seeking funding
from multiple sources for implementing the
concept designs. WID reviewed the draft
project report, before submittal of the final
report to the City.
2.6.2 Emergency Response Technical Support Case Study - Flint, Michigan
WID has been providing technical support to the city of Flint, Michigan, the state and the EPA Region
since the Flint Water contamination incident of 2015. In FY2019, WID staff continued this support as
members of the EPA Flint, Michigan Enforcement Team for the 1431 Order against the city of Flint and
the State of Michigan. Activities included reviewing documents, analyzing data, sharing data, collecting
measurements/generating data, providing or presenting technical information and assisting in model or
method development, as needed, to implement a Pb in drinking water reduction plan for the city of Flint.
Figure 9. Members of the Recovery and Resiliency
Partnership review design concepts during the federal, state
and city implementation planning session.
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2.6.3 Emergency Response Technical Support Case Study - Puerto Rico
Hurricane Maria made landfall on the southeastern side of Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017, causing
extensive damage to the country's water treatment and distribution systems (Figure 10). This was
exceptionally debilitating for the more than 200 small water systems sewing between 100 and 500
people in remote mountainous areas. WID researchers traveled to Puerto Rico, twice in 2019, to assist
communities in supplying clean drinking water to their residents.
The first trip was made in February 2019, to the remote area of Apeadero, Puerto Rico, to replace the
batteries in solar panels used to power their drinking water treatment system. Many of these small
community drinking water systems cannot afford the electrical costs associated with the transfer,
treatment and distribution of drinking water
To avoid these costs, many systems have
instead broken drinking water compliance
laws, abandoning their groundwater source to
drink unfiltered surface water, creating severe
public health risks. As a preventative measure,
once WID researchers replaced the solar panel
batteries they built a protective enclosure to
secure the batteries against future storm
damage ensuring a continuous supply of
power to the small system facilities.
WID researchers traveled again to Puerto Rico
in August 2019 to retrofit a water treatment
system in the Barrios, or neighborhood, of
Mulas Jagual. A reservoir situated on the top
of a mountain supplies drinking water to this mountainside community. The source water is gravity fed
into an EPA installed, small drinking water treatment system before being distributed to residents. As a
result of frequent heavy rainfall events, sediment had overloaded the filters, causing the inability of the
filtration system to remove drinking water contaminants.
The WID field team removed and cleaned the filters, then reworked the filtration system to prevent the
filters from being clogged with large amounts of sediment in the future. WID staff also installed a
turbidimeter, actuated ball valves, and increased the backwashing capabilities for this water system - all
powered by solar panels. These updates provided a more robust filtration system that can now withstand
heavy rainfall events caused by storms like Hurricane Maria.
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2.7 Laboratory Methods Technical Support
W1D researchers are instmmental in the development of sensitive, selective and rugged standardized
methods for chemicals on the EPA Office of Water's Contaminant Candidate List (CCL), as well as
contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) list. These methods or method improvements have been
developed for chemicals in drinking water and ambient water. Standardized methods are used in support
of the Safe Drinking Water Act regulatory requirements, implementation of the Unregulated
Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 6-year review of the Groundwater Rule and the Drinking Water
Standards, and the Clean Water Act.
WID researchers provide technical support to EPA Regions, states, and commercial, academic and
government laboratories for more than 15 EPA drinking water and ambient water methods. Methods for
PFAS substances (Methods 537 and 537.1) and cyanotoxins (Method 544) in drinking water, are
examples of methods with a high volume of technical assistance requests; as these methods are currently
used by many laboratories.
Typically, assistance is in the form of troubleshooting, guidance on flexibility versus deviations in
procedural steps, and reviewing data or standard operating procedures. WID staff also participate as
method instructors every year in the Office of Water's Drinking Water Laboratory Certification Course.
This course trains professionals, nominated by EPA Regions, to certify laboratories to analyze chemicals
and microbes in drinking water using EPA drinking water methods.
2.7.1 Laboratory Methods Case Study- Training
Method 1696, a Microbial Source Tracking Method (MST), was developed by EPA to characterize
human sources of fecal pollution in waters. Identifying trends in human fecal contamination provides
information to support water quality management decisions and helps determine actionable outcomes
that can potentially improve public health protection.
Two bacteria groups, coliforms and fecal
streptococci, are used as indicators of possible
sewage contamination. The presence of these
bacteria signifies the possible presence of
pathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria, viruses
and protozoans that also live in human
digestive systems.
WID researchers provided hands-on training for Method 1696 to the Michigan Department of
Environment Quality, Region 3, Region 2 and Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) in
FY2019. This training involved filtering water samples, preparing reagents, referencing material
primers, probes, bovine serum albumin (BSA), DNA extractions, setting up and running qPCR assays,
and conducting data analysis.
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2.8 Water Models, Tools, and Database Technical Support
WID develops, maintains and updates a variety of models, software tools, and databases which are
available to the public for free. These products and their associated user manuals and training materials
are used by engineers, community planners, scientists, students, and consultants across the globe to
address water quality issues. WID conducts research applying these tools to solve water quality
problems in water infrastructure systems and provides many forms of technical support related to
models, tools and databases including expert advice, training, modeling results and more.
2.8.1 EPANET
EPANET is a software application used
throughout the world to model drinking
water distribution systems (Figure 11). It
was developed as a tool for understanding
the movement and fate of drinking water
constituents within distribution systems
and can be used for many different types
of applications.
Figure 11. EPANET output for drinking water.
Today, engineers and consultants use
EPANET to design and size new water
infrastructure, retrofit existing aging
infrastructure, optimize operations of tanks and
pumps, reduce energy usage, investigate water quality problems, and prepare for emergencies. It can
also be used to model contamination threats and evaluate resilience to security threats or natural
disasters.
During FY2019, EPANET had over 50,000 downloads from the EPA website. WID researchers helped
to answer user questions on installing EPANET, applied EPANET to solve problems at local water
systems, added new features to address user needs, and collaborated with external, open-source
developers.
2.8.2 Drinking Water Treatability Database
EPA's Drinking Water Treatability Database (TDB) provides referenced information from thousands of
literature sources on the control of contaminants in drinking water. Information is publicly available for
over 70 regulated and unregulated contaminants and more than 30 treatment processes.
The database is designed for use by utilities, first responders during environmental emergencies,
consultants and technical assistance providers, treatment process designers, regulators and researchers.
In March 2019, EPA updated and enhanced the TDB with information on GAC, Ion Exchange (IX) and
Reverse Osmosis (RO) treatment of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
(PFOS) and other PFAS compounds.
This update provided the public with the latest research on ways to treat PFAS compounds in drinking
water. WID researchers provided technical support related to the TDB by answering user questions,
adding new data to address user needs, and providing training on using the database.
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2.8.3 Storm Water Management Model
EPA's Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) is used
throughout the world for planning, analysis, and design
related to stormwater runoff, combined and sanitary sewers,
and other drainage systems (Figure 12). It can be used to
evaluate gray water infrastructure stormwater control
strategies, such as pipes and storm drains, and is a useful tool
for creating cost-effective green/gray hybrid stormwater
control solutions. SWMM was developed to help support
local, state, and national stormwater management objectives
to reduce runoff through infiltration and retention and reduce
discharges that cause impairment of waterbodies. During
FY2019, SWMM software had over 34,000 downloads
world-wide.
2.8.4 National Stormwater Calculator
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Figure 12. Storm Water Management
Model output.
EPA's National Stormwater Calculator (SWC) is a green infrastructure (GI) planning software
application, that estimates the annual amount of rainwater, stormwater runoff, and project costs from
any site in the US. The SWC is designed to be used by anyone interested in reducing stormwater runoff
from a property using GI, including site developers, landscape architects, urban planners, and
homeowners. In FY2019, the SWC provided significant support to EPA Region 3 to develop 10-20%
feasibility GI designs for Huntington, West Virginia and Seaford, Delaware (Figure 13). The SWC
webpage received over 24,000 visits during FY2019 and the application had 1,600 downloads.
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Figure 13. Portion of the Huntington green infrastructure
feasibility design.
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oEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Research and
Development (8101R)
Washington, DC 20460
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use
$300
PRESORTED
STANDARD POSTAGE
& FEES PAID EPA
PERMIT NO. G-35
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