Water Pollution Control Planning: Issues with Aging

InfrastructureDecember 7, 2015

Tabitha Proffitt, Jacqueline Tkac, and David Reck

Pollution Control Planning

Overview:● Introduction

● Understanding the Problem

● Public Health Issues

● Case Studies

● Strategies for Improvement

IntroductionThe importance of safe drinking

water to the nation’s public health

and economic welfare is undisputed.

About 54,000 community drinking

water systems provide drinking water

to more than 250 million Americans.

(AWWA, 2011)

The ProblemCauses

Aging water infrastructure is a public

health problem

● Drinking water infrastructure

is coming to the end of its

useful life with components in

some areas being over 100

years old

● Service disruption

● Loss of revenue due to water

loss

● Regulatory compliance

● Damage to property

Effects

Increase in the number of water main

breaks and repairs in distribution

systems, which has been identified as a

trend relevant to the deterioration of

water quality.

● Potential relationship between

waterborne disease outbreaks

and main breaks

● Affordability concern for

infrastructure repairs

Strategies

Detailed assessments of current

infrastructure quality

Strengthening research and

development

Reform state programs and funding

Increase Federal Assistance in funding

repairs and research

Understanding the Causes of Aging Infrastructure: An issue of Public Health

In the United States and around

the Globe:

Issues caused by aging

infrastructure:

● Increase in number of water

main breaks and repairs in

distribution systems

● Relationship between

waterborne disease outbreaks

and main breaks

In the United States○ In the U.S., the total length of water distribution pipes is estimated to be 980,000

miles and composed of both old and new materials (Van Abel, 2014). ○ These pipes range from cast iron pipes installed in the late 19th century to ductile

iron pipes and plastic pipes installed in the 1970s to present. Due to the lifespans of these materials it is anticipated that most water distribution systems will reach the end of their lifetimes within the next 30 years (Van Abel, 2014).

○ We lose 6 billion gallons a day from faulty pipes■ The American Water Works Association estimates that 36 states can face

serious water shortages in as little as 5 years.

26%of the distribution pipes in the United States are unlined and in poor condition.

Drinking Water ContaminantsLead● can enter drinking water from corrosive pipes and plumbing fixtures● can cause brain damage in infants and children

Other Contaminants:● Pathogens● Trihalomethanes and Haloacetic acids● Arsenic● Radon● Perchlorate● Other carcinogens and toxic chemicals

Waterborne Health ImpactsFrom 1991-1992, 207 waterborne disease outbreaks that

caused 433,946 illnesses were reported (Selvakumar, 2012).

Due to underreporting, this number is

probably higher.

Water Distribution System Deficiencies

Waterborne disease outbreaks for all water systems due to distribution deficiencies

ranged from less than 20% from 1971 to 1990 to 25% from 1991 to 2000. This number

jumped to over 50% from 2001 to 2002, and was around 12% from 2009-2010

(Selvakumar, 2012).

Aging Infrastructure: Costs

The Replacement Era

AWWA, 2008.

Case Study: California

Los Angeles

The Problem: Aging Infrastructure

Statistics● Average Age of L.A.’s Water Pipes: 58 years old ● ⅕ of the city’s water pipes were installed before 1931● 5% have reached or passed their expected useful life

● 8% are approaching the end of their usefulness

● Since 2006 work crews have responded to about 13,000 leaks which is about 4 a day across the city

● Since 2010 the city has averaged nearly 1,200 leaks in a year

Area With the Most Leaks

(Poston, B., & Stevens, M. 2015)

Areas With Unusually High Number of Leaks

(Poston, B., & Stevens, M. 2015)

Venice(Poston, B., & Stevens, M. 2015)

Key Factors That Contribute to Leaky Pipes

● Pipe Age

● Soil Quality

● Water Pressure

● Leak History

Grading System

History of L.A.’s Water Pipes (Poston, B., & Stevens, M. 2015)

Pipe Material (Poston, B., & Stevens, M. 2015)

Most Recent Break● Two water lines ruptured● One line was > then 90 years old

○ Grade C● Second line was > 80 Years old

○ Grade D● Sent about 20 million gallons of water

spewing into area● Millions of dollars in property damage

(Poston, B., & Stevens, M. 2015)

Replace Pipes Graded D & F by

2025 $1.3 Billion Dollar Plan to replace 435 miles of deteriorating pipe in next 10 years

Planning and Policy Implications● Plan would fix current problems but not future ● Rate increase would require public meetings and

certain approval○ public officials○ citizens

● Have to consider quality of life of residents● Plan could be stalled or impeded by:

○ consistent regulation changes,○ water price fluctuations○ evolving drought

● Consider adverse effects from new pipe materials

(Poston, B., & Stevens, M. 2015)

“This is not just an L.A. Problem … Because pipes are out of sight out of mind, no one has really thought about

how we’re going to pay for this.”- Colin Chung, an asset management consultant

Scope of Problem ● 6,730 miles of water pipes in the L.A. Department of Water and Power

water main network

● Wasting water in middle of harsh droughts

● High cost of replacing aging pipes

● Leaks often hard to locate

● Issue of aging pipe materials and contamination to drinking water

● Feasibility of catching up

Proposed StrategiesComprehensive Local

Strategy:

● Assessing the condition of the drinking water system infrastructure

● Emphasis on research and development

● Educating the public to increase awareness

State Reform:

● States need to reform their current programs to make them for

effective

● Work alongside localities and grant funding where is needed

Federal Assistance:

● Increase federal funding for projects to replace, rehabilitate, or repair

old and damaged drinking water infrastructures

● Encourage research and increase funding for programs on

infrastructure rehabilitation and research on the surrounding issues

Regulations:

● Stricter regulatory methods on keeping up with assessments of

drinking water system infrastructures

● Harsher punishments for companies who allow infrastructure that

may cause waterborne illnesses to still be in use

Works CitedMajor water main break floods parts of UCLA area. (2014, July 30). Retrieved December 4, 2015, from

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/major-water-main-break-floods-parts-of-ucla-area/

Mamo, Thewodros G., and TG Mamo. Aqua (London): Risk-Based Approach to Manage Aging Urban Water Main Infrastructure. 64 Vol. International Water Supply Association, 2015. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.

Poston, B., Stevens, M., & Reyes, E. (2014, November 6). L.A identifies riskiest pipes in aging water system. Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-water-main-breaks-20141107-story.html

Poston, B., & Stevens, M. (2015, February 16). L.A.'s aging water pipes; a $1-billion dilemma. Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://graphics.latimes.com/la-aging-water-infrastructure/

Selvakumar, Ariamalar, and Anthony N. Tafuri. "Rehabilitation of Aging Water Infrastructure Systems: Key Challenges and Issues." Journal of Infrastructure Systems 18.3 (2012): 202-9. Web.

Staff, AWWA, and Inc ebrary. Dawn of the Replacement Era: Reinvesting in Drinking Water Infrastructure. Denver, Colo: American Water Works Association, 2008;2000;. Web.

Study Finds Safety of Drinking Water in U.S. Cities at Risk. (2003, June 10). Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://www.nrdc.org/water/drinking/uscities.asp

Timm, M. (2012). Water main breaks expose public to waterborne disease risk: Distribution systems contaminated after treatment. Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://home.freshwater.uwm.edu/mclellanlab/files/2013/06/6-21Water-main-breaks-expose-public-to-waterborne-disease-risk.pdf

Van Abel, Nicole A. "QMRA: Exposure Model Sensitivity to Input Parameters, Critical Review of Dose-Response Models, and Application in Assessing Risk of Aging Drinking Water Distribution Systems." ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 2014. Web.

Water Main Break Clock. (2011). Retrieved December 4, 2015, from http://www.watermainbreakclock.com/