Massachusetts Department of Environmental ProtectionDrinking Water ProgramJuly 2014 1

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• Naturally-occurring mineral in water, soil and air

• Present in many common foods including infant formula

• Essential nutrient in our diets• Found in both surface water and groundwater• Found in proximity to iron • Found throughout Massachusetts and the US

• Naturally-occurring mineral in water, soil and air

• Present in many common foods including infant formula

• Essential nutrient in our diets• Found in both surface water and groundwater• Found in proximity to iron • Found throughout Massachusetts and the US

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EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations

• Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level (SMCL) of 0.05 mg/L (For Mass. See 310 CMR 22.07D)

• Aesthetics: taste, odor, color or staining laundry

• MassDEP may require PWS to take action on SMCL per 310 CMR 22.07D if warranted by health concerns

• EPA Health Advisory Level and ORSG Level established

EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations

• Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level (SMCL) of 0.05 mg/L (For Mass. See 310 CMR 22.07D)

• Aesthetics: taste, odor, color or staining laundry

• MassDEP may require PWS to take action on SMCL per 310 CMR 22.07D if warranted by health concerns

• EPA Health Advisory Level and ORSG Level established

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Target Population Exposure Period Health Advisory

General population Lifetime 0.3 mg/L

General population 10-day 1 mg/L

Infants and children less than 1 years of age

< 10 days 0.3 mg/L

(Address within 10 days; sooner if possible).

Note: At Mn concentrations greater than 0.3 mg/L, parents are advised to use bottled or treated water for

their children, in particular to make formula .

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Adverse health effects from over-exposure (neurotoxin)

Recent studies have shown an association between intellectual impairment and consumption of manganese in drinking water by school age children.

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Water Manganese Exposure and Children’s Intellectual Function in Araihazar Bangladesh”  by Wasserman e al. in

EHP 2006

Ingestion of Mn from water is small compared to ingestion from food. 3 orders of magnitude!

3.5 ug/kg/month versus 2335 ug/kg/month

Metabolized differently

Levels of manganese found in children’s hair increased with consumption of Mn in water but not food

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22.07 D (1) - SMCL apply to all PWS 22.07 D (2) - Monitoring is at the discretion

of MassDEP 22.07 D (3) – If MassDEP determines that the

water poses a risk to public health the PWS must take all actions necessary to reduce to levels deemed safe by the department MassDEP Drinking Water program, and Office of

Research and Standards (ORS)in consultation with the Mass Department of Public Health make this determination.

Actions include monitoring, reporting to DEP, public notice , reducing levels

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Some States are requiring notifications to consumers and/or treatment. For example:

New York has an MCL of 0.3 mg/L. If iron and manganese total concentration of both should not exceed 0.5 mg/L. Higher levels may be allowed by the State when justified by the supplier of water. (NY does not distinguish between primary and secondary MCLs.)

California has enforceable SMCLs for Community Systems (manganese level of 0.05 mg/L). There is also a notification level of 0.5 mg/L.

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Central Region has 827 active sources.

To date, all sources in CERO have conducted some form of baseline monitoring with most conducting ongoing assessment monitoring for iron and manganese. MassDEP recommends that all sources be tested annually since secondary contaminants can affect water quality and quantity, damage to water equipment, treatment efficiency, consumer confidence, and aesthetics such as color, taste and odor.

CERO continues to work cooperatively with PWSs to address finished water with a history of elevated manganese levels > 0.3 mg/L. Community systems in CERO continue to inform consumers of elevated manganese levels through their annual CCR.

Benefits for systems that have successfully installed treatment include improvements in water quality, distribution maintenance and reduction in complaints.

Proposed Interim and long term actions have included: Source replacement, source removal, limiting use of

source, installation of treatment. Distribution system flushing and additional testing. Comprehensive water quality evaluation of PWS system,

and subsequent updating of operations and master plans. Improving efficiency in existing treatment operations

(backwash, media changes, chemical applications, blending etc.) to lower levels and reduce risk of breakthroughs.

Routine iron and manganese monitoring to document changes in source water conditions over time, evaluate pumping configurations and treatment efficiencies.

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Wellfield sources (typically gravel developed wells) may differ from each other in water quality characteristics, especially in secondary contaminants such as iron and manganese. Recommend individual monitoring of key contaminants to determine optimum operating conditions and scheduled maintenance activities.

Sources that are currently being treated for iron and/or manganese removal should routinely collect a set of raw and finished water samples to assess treatment efficiency and changes in groundwater quality.

Breakthrough occurrences observed in water softeners and greensand treatment. If breakthrough observed, PWS should review and optimize treatment.

Establish SMCL compliance goal to improve overall water quality delivery to consumers, limits damage to infrastructure and improve maintenance activities.

Fall 2013, letters were sent to:• PWS• Medical professionals caring for infants and

pregnant women (In conjunction with the Mass Dept of Public Health)Boards of Health, information is relevant for private well owners also

Manganese was added to the 2014-2016 Sampling Schedule for systems not already sampling for manganese.

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Initial manganese baseline monitoring should include sampling of finished (treated) water at each entrance point to the distribution system, representative of each source in operation.

Please note that all sample results, whether required or voluntary, are reportable to the Department pursuant to 310 CMR 22.03(10).

Use the same sampling containers to collect the samples for manganese analysis that you normally use for other inorganic (i.e., metals) analyses.

MassDEP does not specifically certify laboratories for manganese. Use a lab certified for the analysis of other inorganic metals (cadmium, chromium, lead, etc.)

Request Methods 200.8, 200.9; Standard Method 3120B or equivalent.

Report all results on the MassDEP Secondary Contaminant Report Form (SEC) or electronically through eDEP.

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When manganese levels are over 0.3 mg/L, Community Systems, NTNCs, and day care centers will need to develop a long-term corrective action plans and should work with MassDEP Regional Offices to develop these plans.

Public Notification Community Systems must include manganese data and health

information in their CCR if levels are over the SMCL of 0.05 mg/L

Starting July 1, 2014, Community PWS will be required to issue a (Tier 2, 30-day) Public Notice to customers if manganese level is over 0.3 mg/L (if consumers have not been previously informed through their 2013 CCR.)

NTNCs and day care centers over 0.3 mg/L as well as TNCs that are over 1.0 mg/L will be required to post a public notice

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BlendingTreatmentTaking a well offlineAlternative water supply for sensitive

consumers: Bottled WaterTreated water from another Public

Water Supplier Also pitcher filters (some brands)

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1. Adsorption with an oxide coated media such as Greensand

2. Membrane filtration

3. Sequestration with (phosphate). Does not remove the manganese!

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Membrane filtration

Regulated by the Massachusetts Regulated by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH)Department of Public Health (MDPH)

Water Quality Standard for manganese of 0.05 mg/L Water Quality Standard for manganese of 0.05 mg/L

All In-state and Out-of-State bottled water sold in Mass All In-state and Out-of-State bottled water sold in Mass must meet Water Quality Standardmust meet Water Quality Standard

Data on each brand is available on MDPH websiteData on each brand is available on MDPH website

A few Mineral Waters are above 0.05 mg/L A few Mineral Waters are above 0.05 mg/L

Note: Mineral waters are held to a different standardNote: Mineral waters are held to a different standard

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Region Name Phone Email

WERO Jim Gibbs 413-756-2299 James.gibbs@state.ma.us

CERO Paula Caron 508-767-2719 Paula.caron@state.ma.us

NERO Sean Griffin 978-694-3404 Sean.griffin@state.ma.us

SERO Allison Rescigno 508-946-2763 Allison.rescigno@state.ma.us

Boston Margaret Finn

Yvette DePeiza

617-292-5746

617-292-5857

Margaret.finn@state.ma.us

Yvette.depeiza@state.ma.us

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