Polychlorinated Biphenyls in the Collection System …...• Manmade combination of chemicals (oils...

Jon Lapsley | CDM Smith

Darrell DeWitt| CLT Water

Polychlorinated Biphenyls in the Collection System and WWTP – the Charlotte Water Experience

2015 NC AWWA WEA Spring Conference


Agenda

• History of PCBs

• Charlotte Water Contamination and Response

• Data Collection and Management

• Cleanup/Remediation Plans

• Lessons Learned

• Wrap Up/Questions

2


History of PCBs

• Manmade combination of chemicals (oils and waxes)

• Insulator/fire retardant properties

• Congeners Arocolors PCBs

• Insoluble in water, highly soluble in fats dangerous to humans

3


History of PCBs (cont)

• Human health risk -carcinogen

• 1976 – Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA): 40 CFR 761

– Governs handling and disposal of contaminated materials

• Time-intensive and costly process Illegal disposal

• Not specific to WWTPs

4


Mallard Creek WRF

5


Charlotte Water Contamination Event –Mallard Creek WRF

February 6, 2014

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Quick response diverted the discharge the Equalization Basin

7



• Response Activities – Fire Department and HazMat

• Testing confirmed PCBs and TCBs

8



• Emergency Command Center opened and staffed 24/7– Charlotte Water staff

– City of Charlotte Engineering and Property Management

– Charlotte Fire Department HazMat Unit

– EPA and NCDENR

– Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and the FBI

– City of Charlotte on call contractors and consultants

• Regular updates to the public

• Emergency Command Center closed on February 21, 2014

9



• Response Activities – Containment Efforts

10



• Collection System Sampling

12



• Powder Activated Carbon

13


Now What?

14


TSCA – Rules of the Road

• Total PCB Concentration < 3 ppb

• Total PCB Concentration > 3 ppb but < 50 ppm

• Total PCB Concentration > 50 ppm

• Liquids with Total PCB Concentration > 50 ppm

• Liquids with Total PCB Concentration > 500 ppm

15


Data Management

• Sampling protocols enacted immediately throughout the plant

• Hundreds of individual samples, thousands of parameters

16


Contamination Response Plans and Documentation

• EPA requires written decontamination plans

• Multiple areas requiring decontamination/cleanup

– Mallard Creek WRF

– Mallard Creek Stormwater Outfall No. 3

– McAlpine Creek WWMF

17


Status as of March 2015

• Stormwater Outfall No. 3 –Decontaminated and Clean

• Mallard Creek WRF

– Contaminated biosolids hauled to Emelle, Alabama Subtitle C Landfill

– Solids disposal at local Subtitle D Landfill (hoping to resume land application soon)

– RFP for service provider assistance for cleanout and decontamination

• McAlpine Creek WWMF

– Work is ongoing

18


Lessons Learned and Suggestions

• Basic training for operations staff (oily sheens, hydro carbon smells, etc.)

• SOP for contacting regulators and notifying the public

• Agreements/plans in place for contractors and third party lab testing

• Plan for isolating redundant equipment

• Maintain accessibility to outfall locations

• Work with EPA and NCDENR (TSCA is not WWTP specific)

19


Acknowledgements

• Maggie Macomber, Charlotte Water

• Jackie Jarrell, Charlotte Water

• Kim Neely, Charlotte Water

• Charlie Justice, CDM Smith

• Richard Tsang, CDM Smith

• David Wagoner, CDM Smith

• Numerous others

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Darrell DeWitt | [email protected] Lapsley, P.E. | [email protected]

Questions?

Polychlorinated Biphenyls in the Collection System …...• Manmade combination of chemicals (oils...

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