The Color Purple: Protecting Against Cross-Connections from Wastewater

By Don Vandertulip, P.E.
Principal, CDM

Many individuals who follow industry developments are aware of revisions to the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) (see my 12.08 blog for background) that now require use of purple pipe on private property plumbing to convey any non-potable water. The International Plumbing Code (IPC) distributed by the International Code Council (ICC) has similar requirements. WEF’s primary objection to use of purple pipe for onsite non-potable water is the risk to the public through exposure to untreated water. A secondary concern is loss of public confidence in the highly treated reclaimed water distributed in purple pipe by municipal utilities. (Read about recommendations and a letter to IAPMO.)

Simply put, cross connections between a potable water system and any non-potable water supply places the public at risk. The potential for cross-connections with multiple onsite coded non-potable pipe systems proposed by IAPMO could result in a more serious cross connection with the potable water system. I caution all professionals not to think of the onsite alternate piped water as non-potable water but to treat it as wastewater, which includes graywater as it’s generally defined -- all wastewater generated onsite except toilet waste. In many jurisdictions, graywater excludes kitchen sink and dishwasher washwater due to the high organic content of food waste. The key word is "wastewater". In most cases, graywater is not treated though there may have been a lint filter originally provided.

In addition to the potential cross connection of one or more onsite wastewater sources with the potable water system, there is potential for contamination of the highly treated municipal reclaimed water system. Contamination of a municipal reclaimed water system by one of the onsite wastewater systems could result in exposure of individuals with incidental contact to reclaimed water of impaired quality. This exposure could result in illness, even if the reclaimed water were not ingested. Degradation of the reclaimed water quality could also negatively impact other municipal reclaimed water users and violate the user agreement between the utility and customer. I suggest that the untreated wastewater proposed for recirculation and use onsite without treatment does not yet rise to the caliber of "non-potable" until it has received enough treatment to transition from its wastewater designation. In short, distributing wastewater onsite in a purple plumbing pipe will eventually cause significant damage to our collective reclaimed water programs and jeopardize public health.

Time to Reinvent the Clean Water Act?

By Paul Freedman, 2009-2010 President of WEF

Almost 4 decades ago I decided to become a water quality professional, inspired by my personal experiences growing up in Cleveland. There the Cuyahoga River often caught fire and Lake Erie was truly eerie, not blue as you would expect of a Great Lake but rather turbid brown, with green swirls and dead floating fish. In 1972 the Clean Water Act was passed to address the main cause--pollution from poorly treated wastewater. Since then we as a profession have worked hard to successfully eliminate this pollution and improve national water quality. In 2009, however, the problems are much different.

Today’s dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico, Chesapeake Bay, and even Lake Erie are not due to poorly treated wastewater, but rather to failed agricultural practices. In fact, over 90% of our impaired waters are caused in whole or in part due to nonpoint sources, yet we do not have regulatory programs that adequately address these problems. We have aging infrastructure that needs repair and replacement and major issues with wet weather, nutrients and sediments, even flow alterations, but we do not have suitable funding or legislation that reflect the realities of today’s watersheds. There are many innovative new ideas for green approaches to water quality improvement, but no means to consider these in current regulatory structure. Basically today we have a regulatory tool kit that is designed to address problems that no longer exist and doesn’t give us the tools to address our new problems and potential solutions. And we don’t have integrated water programs that allow us to focus on high-priority needs and practical effective solutions. These problems will become even more challenging with population growth and climate change.

The Federation recognizes this dilemma and began efforts to evaluate the CWA around its 35th anniversary in 2007, when we hosted a series of conversations including a briefing on Capitol Hill, and sessions at WEFTEC and MA meetings. This fall we continue in these efforts and will be conducting a workshop (in cooperation with the Nicholas Institute of Duke University and the Johnson Foundation) to examine the problems in achieving our national goals of swimmable and fishable waters. A diverse group of experts will share their perspectives on CWA implementation and consider how its regulatory and enforcement history either facilitates or thwarts specific and emerging water quality challenges. We will also frame issues ripe for consideration during CWA reauthorization and define the best approach for moving ahead. Our hope is that the outcome will be a road map for a new path for helping the US achieve our national goals for water quality.

What are your views on this? Is the CWA broken? Can we meet our nationals goals on our current path? What do you see as the biggest problems and what solutions do you recommend? Please let us know - reply to this blog.

WEFTEC.09: Can’t Hide the Excitement!

By Paul Bowen, Ph.D.

As I conclude my last year as chair of the WEFTEC Program Committee, I am—-as always—-truly excited by the meeting’s technical program. Here at WEFTEC.09, our comprehensive program highlights new and innovative research as well as featuring fresh approaches to proven programs and operations. And this year’s high-quality workshops are in a class by themselves--it’s really exciting to see how everything has come together!

WEFTEC is where you can meet and learn from some of the best and brightest minds in our field. They attend WEFTEC by the thousands and include my colleagues on the hard working and extraordinary Program Committee. We’ve stayed on top of trends and current events to offer exciting, up-to-date new sessions and workshops like the one on carbon footprinting. It is so stimulating and energizing to see state-of-the-art information come through in the program. If you can’t be in Orlando, you can visit the WEF website to see the WEFTEC Daily, posted today through Wednesday, to get a sense of the excitement here.

One technical session I’m extremely excited about is Water Footprinting, Stewardship, and Advocacy, exploring the roles of the public and private sector in water sustainability. This topic truly is cutting-edge and on the forefront of the water sector. The panel assembled for this session has industry leaders in developing this topic, and I know their presentations will generate excitement and interest.

As an old timer on this Committee (been on it for 26 years) I find every year is a fresh experience, and the personal and professional rewards keep coming. And I see that I’ve used some form of "excite" six times in this blog. That sort of repetition is a big nonstarter from a writer’s point of view. But from my own POV, I just still get excited about WEFTEC—-and it’s off to the Opening General Session!

Thanks for the Opportunities and the Memories

By Rebecca West, 2008-2009 WEF President

Well I’m getting close to the end of my term, and I've got to say that it’s been an awesome ride! Like probably every other WEF President, I’m hoping to leave the Federation just a little bit further down the road in terms of providing the world’s best technical knowledge and training in water. To that end, I’m happy to report that Stormwater and Nutrients are two areas the Federation has targeted for resource development. And hot topics like these will be considered as a part of WEF’s latest efforts to “globalize” programming and products for a broader appeal to our members seeking a global perspective on water issues.

As I look back over the last year, it’s also been good to see other priorities take shape, like initiatives to strengthen the relationship between WEF and our outstanding MAs and a fresh look at communications.
That includes a redesigned WEF website for much better access and delivery of products and services – btw, check out our new website - what do you think? – and our focused discussions on water infrastructure in the media through the launch of the Liquid Assets program.

Cruising into next year as immediate past president, I’ll look forward to continued work with AWWA and EPA on our efforts to develop a clearinghouse for water sector education and related communications for water sector workforce issues. In addition, I look forward to supporting WEF’s continued efforts that further our mission of water as a global citizen – specifically in bringing access to clean and safe drinking water and sanitation to others in developing communities through our relationships with Water for People, the Peace Corps, and others. The strengthening of support for these efforts during this past year has been personally exciting to see take shape and further defines the critical connection between water and global health.

Perhaps most important, I’d like to leave with a big thank you to all of the wonderful volunteers, members and hard-working WEF staff who have made this year such a memorable and rewarding experience. It has been a privilege and honor to work with you all – now let’s have some fun at WEFTEC in a few weeks!

SYPC Gets Ready for Wet Work in Orlando

By Haley Falconer, Chair of SYPC Service Project Subcommittee

I’m excited to report that WEF’s Students and Young Professionals Committee (SYPC) will definitely enhance the environment in Orlando this year at WEFTEC! On Saturday October 10th, around 80 volunteers from WEF, consulting firms, universities, and industry are joining forces to complete the second annual community service project, “Wading for Wetlands,” at the Northwest Water Reclamation Facility outside of Orlando. This year we are focusing on harvesting plants from an established part of the wetland and replanting them in undeveloped wetland areas.

Our main goals are to educate participants about the wetland treatment system and how wetlands are used to further remove nutrients from the reclaimed water prior to recharging sensitive aquifer systems. We’ll also encourage volunteers to share this knowledge in their communities. The SYPC service project will help Orange County increase the planted area in the wetlands, which in turn will enhance nutrient reduction by the wetlands, thus improving the overall system performance.

The SYPC, along with staff at the NWRF and WEF, is planning and coordinating the project, recruiting volunteers and sponsors, and most importantly, providing manual labor. A morning ceremony will be attended by WEF Past President Jim Clark and afternoon recognition will be given by WEF Immediate Past President Adam Zabinski.

The SYPC would like to encourage MAs to consider planning a service project for their annual meetings. This is a great way to recruit new members and young professionals, as well as give people a different outlet for furthering their involvement in the organization. It would be fantastic to have any interested MA leaders attend the service project in Orlando to see what the SYPC is up to.

The planning process will soon begin for the WEFTEC.10 third annual outreach project in New Orleans, Louisiana. If you would like more information on this project, please contact me at haleyfalconer@gmail.com. Meanwhile, we hope to see you in some Orlando wetlands next month!

Celebrating a Unified Voice for Water Reuse

By Don Vandertulip, WEF Chair, Water Reuse Committee

As WEFTEC.09 and the WateReuse conferences approach, reclaimed water and water utility professionals can celebrate the unique relationship enjoyed between the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the WateReuse Association (WRA). Why celebrate? Because this special relationship directly and positively impacts the planet’s sustainable water resources. Both organizations direct attention to reclamation and other beneficial uses of the high quality water now produced from what years ago was called a sewer plant. Among other activities, they are working together in research projects and developing an alternative to plumbing code requirements for purple pipe that carries untreated wastewater.

Results also include expanded opportunities to learn and grow professionally. In fact, WEF and WRA are both supporting sessions to begin discussion of potential updates to the EPA Guidelines for Water Reuse at their respective national conferences. WEF is also a co-sponsor for the WRA Symposium to be held in Seattle September 13-16, 2009 and encourages its members and water professionals to attend the conference and become immersed in water reuse topics. If you can’t attend this west coast conference, remember that WEFTEC will be October 10-14 in Orlando.

WEF Water Reuse Committee members already know and appreciate that many WEF members are also members of WRA. We believe this co-participation reinforces our knowledge base and supports a unified voice for expanded reuse of water. And that unified voice bodes well for clean water.

From World Water Week: Thoughts on the SJWP

By Bjorn von Euler, Director of Philanthropy, ITT Corporation

A number of innovations were highlighted at the Stockholm World Water Week event, some of them the result of corporate prizes. But I’ll talk about the prize closest to my heart - the Stockholm Junior Water Prize (full disclosure: the global sponsor is ITT).

Eighteen-year-old Ceren Burçak Dag, of Nisantasi, Turkey, won the prize for one of the coolest projects I’ve seen (of course, I say that every year): Dag’s research may show us a way to harness rainwater to produce electricity. Seeing Dag on stage, along with the 50 other young nominees from 29 countries, was both moving and inspiring.

Some of the other projects were as follows: Eileen Jang, of North Carolina and the U.S. winner, figured out how mercury builds in our water, which promises to help us better understand how it enters the human body. Mzwakhe Sifundo Xulu and Njabubulo Sihle Mbata, of South Africa, developed an inexpensive Auto Mechanical Tap that captures water from community faucets that would normally be wasted due to spillage. This promises to be a valuable tool for rural, arid communities, including their native South Africa.

One of the memories I will take away from this year’s Junior Prize is standing in front of one young nominee’s project and telling him it was very good. “Do you mean brilliant?” he said. I could only smile in response, so let me answer him now - yes, I meant brilliant.

Moments like these with aspiring young researchers remind me of why it’s so important to encourage innovation and creativity in water science. Brilliance is what we need to address today’s water quality challenges, and we saw it in Stockholm last week.