radionuclide regulations, treatment and affordability
DESCRIPTION
Radionuclide Regulations, Treatment and Affordability. Anthony E. Bennett, R.S. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Water Supply Division. Introduction. Rules Schedule Radionuclides Gross Alpha Radium 226 and 228 Uranium Gross Beta Treatment Costs. Rules Adoption. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Radionuclide Regulations,
Treatment and Affordability
Anthony E. Bennett, R.S.Texas Commission on Environmental QualityWater Supply Division
Introduction•Rules Schedule•Radionuclides
Gross AlphaRadium 226 and 228 UraniumGross Beta
•Treatment•Costs
Rules Adoption
Aug-94 Aug-95 Aug-96 Aug-97 Aug-98 Aug-99 Aug-00 Aug-01 Aug-02 Aug-03 Aug-04 Aug-05 Aug-06
Dates
New MCLs
LT2
DBP-2
GWR
Radon
CCL Determination
Six Year Review
LT1
Backwash
Arsenic
Rad-Chem
Public Not
Lead/Copper
Unreg Cont
DBP-1
IESWTR
PWS Def
CCR
Op Cert
Cap Dev-Existing
Cap Dev -New
SWA
Sulfate
PMR
IMR
DWSRF
Ru
les
Aug-06
May-06
May-06
Aug-05
Nov-05
Nov-03
Jun-03
Jan-03
Dec-02
Dec-01
Sep-01
Aug-01
Dec-00
Dec-00
Aug-00
Aug-00
Aug-00
Sep-00
Sep-99
Feb-99
Comment on EPA proposal Develop Plans After EPA GuidanceEPA Review Comments - Final Rule
TNRCC Prepare and Propose Rule TNRCC Prepare Final Rule
Public Water System Rule ScheduleEPA Initiated Rules
SDWA Ammended1996
December 9, 2002
Existing Radionuclide Rules
• Gross Alpha 15 pCi/L
• Radium 226 and 228 5pCi/L
• Gross Beta 4 mrem/yr
Radionuclides (except Radon)
•EPA published NODA on April 21, 2000
Maintain current 5 pCi/L for Ra 226/228
Maintain current 15 pCi/L for Gross Alpha
Three options for Uranium MCL at 20, 40 and 80 pCi/L
•December 7, 2000final regs on radium, uranium, alpha, and beta
Radionuclides Schedule
•TCEQ Propose RulesMay 2004
•TCEQ Final RulesDecember 2004
•Federal Effective DateDecember 2003
•TCEQ Effective DateJanuary 2004
Proposed Radionuclide MCLs
•Gross Alpha15 pCi/l - 94 violations
•Radium 226 & 2285 pCi/l - 94 violations
•Uranium 30 pCi/l - 23 violations
•Radon300 pCi/l - 850 violations4000 pCi/l - 50 Violations
Compliance Options
•New/Different Water Source
Managing Existing SourcesDeveloping New SourcesPurchasing water
•Treatment
Treatment for Radionuclides
•Demineralization
•Ion Exchange•Lime Softening
Demineralization
•Membrane process that removes a percent of most
soluble inorganics•Produces a “Reject”
stream of concentrated contaminants
Ion Exchange
•Resin adsorption process which exchanges
one cation for another•Produces a
“Regeneration” stream of high levels of salt and
concentrated contaminants
Lime Softening
•High pH precipitation and removal process
•Produces a “Lime Sludge” which includes
concentrated contaminants
No Discharge Contaminant
Specific Resins•Essentially an Ion
Exchange process which has a long life
•Produces no onsite discharge or waste
•Resin is removed when “spent” and replaced with
new media
Residuals Management•Liquid Residuals
•Can•Discharge to environment•Must meet effluent standards (60/60/300)•Discharge to Sewage Collection
System•Must meet effluent standards
(600/600/3000)•Non Commercial Class I injection well
•Can’t•Residuals above effluent standards•Commercial Class I well
Residuals Management
•Solid Residuals•Can
•Out of State Licensed NORM Facility•Can’t
•In State NORM Waste Facility•In State Class I NORM injection well
Treatment Costs
•Capital Costs•Operation and
Maintenance Costs•Residuals Management
Costs
Treatment Costs•Surveyed Water systems or
applied models•Cost Range (Per Connection)
$1 per month for managing existing sources$140 per month for small water system RO
treatment•New Treatment Technologies
in the range of $10 to $25 per month per Connection
Conclusions
•Radionuclides are naturally Occurring in Parts of Texas
•Radionuclide regulations have recently been revised
•New Regulations will create more violations
•Several Compliance Options•Treatment options Limited by
residuals management options and costs