By Rich Anderson
February 2, 2009

The Mayors Water Council and the Sustainable Development Task Force held a joint meeting in Washington (DC) on January 19 to discuss sustainable water issues. Leading the discussion was Albuquerque (NM) Mayor Martin J. Chávez, Chairman of the Mayors Water Council, Santa Barbara (CA) Mayor Marty Blum, Southfield (MI) Mayor Brenda Lawrence and Oak Park (IL) Mayor David Pope, Chairs of the Sustainable Development Task Force.

United States Geological Survey (USGS) Researcher Herb Buxton presented information on PPCPs and other substances detected in public water supplies. He stated that advanced technology detects ever more minute substances in the air, soils and water. USGS is investigating a broad range of substances in water supplies from medicines to mosquito repellent. Virtually every chemical substance used in commerce can be found in water samples in trace amounts. Buxton said that looking just at pharmaceuticals and personal care products alone is only part of the story and not all of them come from industry. Some substances found are human generated, such as biogenic hormones.

According to Buxton, some common factors are emerging from a series of water sampling studies USGS has conducted. It is more likely that PPCPs, along with other chemicals, will be detected in surface waters than in groundwater. Substances that are found are at extremely low levels such as parts per billion or even smaller at the parts per trillion level. The substances are rarely found as isolated chemicals but are more likely to be found in mixtures.

Buxton stated that what is found in raw (untreated) water is often, but not always, present in smaller levels in finished (treated) drinking water, indicating that treatment technology can sometimes substantially reduce their levels before human consumption. Buxton stated that the USGS will continue to track chemicals in water supplies. The Agency plans to work closely with water suppliers to increase the knowledge base and improve the reliability of sampling and detection quality assurance and quality control protocols.

US EPA Office of Science and Technology Deputy Director Suzanne Rudzinski describes EPA activities regarding contaminants of emerging concern in water; including PPCPs, pesticides, nanomaterials, prions, and other industrial chemicals. Rudzinski said EPA is concerned, not alarmed, about a broad range of water contaminants, not just the PPCPs. She stated that the American public drinking water supply is still the safest in the World.

Rudzinski also stated that the Agency considers emerging contaminants of concern to be serious, and is improving the science-based information in order to take actions that serve the public interest. In addition to generating more information on their presence EPA is investigating source, pathways and potential risks to humans and ecosystems. EPA is also evaluating what can be done to prevent them from getting into water as well as removing them.

She described several pathways linking product use and water contamination. A direct link between consumers is the residential toilet where pharmaceuticals are excreted or flushed into the sewer system or into septic. Other pathways include: surface application of manure and biosolids; concentrated animal feeding operations and aquaculture; and, landfill leachate sent to sewer plants.

Rudzinski pointed to the value of stewardship programs. EPA suggests that consumers not use the toilet as a trash can and flush unused pharmaceuticals. Mixing unused medicines with other wastes (e.g., kitty litter) and placed in sealed containers that are disposed in well designed and operated landfills helps prevent migration to water sources. PPCP take-back programs can be effective for pollution prevention as is public awareness. Mayors are in a strategically favorable position to promote stewardship at the local level. Rudzinski stated that EPA will use their regulatory tools if sufficient information is generated to support new requirements for protection of human health and the environment.

Boulder (CO) Mayor Shaun McGrath reported on the findings of the Water Needs and Strategies for a Sustainable Future: Next Steps, a 2008 publication of the Western Governors Association (WGA- comprised of 19 states). He stated that a previous 2006 Report "…contained broad ranging recommendations to address the ever-increasing challenges associated with water management in the West" and the 2008 update describes the implementation of some of the recommendations and new ones.

McGrath pointed out that the WGA has pursued water management strategies to deal with limited supplies, growing population, competition for water and the uncertainty of climate change. The WGA values integrated water resources management as a way to create a sustainable future.

The Report addresses critical factors affecting sustainable cities. McGrath highlighted the need to integrate growth management plans in water allocation decisions. Attention should be placed on demand side planning and conservation. In addition to public education, water sustainability can be partially achieved through providing technical and financial support to watershed management groups who try to balance growth and protection of the environment.

Providing the needed infrastructure to meet water needs over time will require better planning, financial incentives and adoption of local development impact fees. The WGA Report calls for increased federal financial assistance through increased capitalization of the State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan programs and lifting the state volume cap on use of Private Activity Bonds for public water projects. Also, local water utility managers are urged to set user rates based on life-cycle costs.

CH2M HILL OMI President Elisa Speranza has been providing water management and engineering services to local government for over 20 years. She noted that mayors are particularly well-positioned to promote sustainable water systems because they can address their citizenry effectively. She stated that promoting sustainable water systems, especially when rate increases are required, is somewhat like running campaigns for elected office. It is normal, said Speranza, for mayors to explain to citizens in their communities about the triple bottom-line: environment, economy and social goals. Each of these goals impacts decisions about investment in water and sewer services and infrastructure. The drivers are: growth, urbanization, aging infrastructure, climate change, customer demands, affordability, an aging workforce about to retire while they possess the institutional knowledge concerning the physical assets and their efficient operation.

Additionally, Speranza addressed the need for integrated water resource management in a rapidly changing environment. She stated that without integrated planning local government will be prone to sub-optimal outcomes that do not adequately support achieving sustainable systems.