HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 9685 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9685
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council November 18, 2014
r� Page 1 of 2
�i
�i7 Y
•a SUBJECT: PUBLIC NOTIFICATION TO WATER CUSTOMERS REGARDING
rrn MINOR MONITORING AND REPORTING VIOLATION FROM THE TEXAS
COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
The purpose of this informal report is to brief the City Council on the public notification
requirement to water customers regarding a minor monitoring and reporting violation of the Total
Coliform Rule received from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
The Total Coliform Rule (TCR), a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation, became effective
in 1990. The rule set both a health goal and legal limits for the presence of total coliforms in
drinking water.
The purpose of the TCR is to protect public health by ensuring the integrity of the drinking water
distribution system and monitoring for the presence of bacteriological contamination. The rule
requires all public water systems to monitor for the presence of total coliforms in the water
distribution system. If a sample tests positive for total coliforms, the water system must collect a
set of repeat samples near the location of the routine positive sample within 24 hours. Water
systems are required to collect three repeat samples for each positive sample.
On July 3, 2014, two routine water samples collected from the Fort Worth water distribution
system in far north Fort Worth were positive for total coliform bacteria. The Water Department
was required to collect six repeat samples for the two positive samples. The department collected
and reported five repeat samples for the two samples. The five repeat samples were negative for
total coliform bacteria.
When a water system violates a drinking water standard that does not have a direct impact on
human health (for example, failing to take a required sample on time) the water supplier must
provide a public notice of this situation to its water customers. Since the Water Department did
not collect and report the required number of repeat samples, the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality (TCEQ) issued notice to the City to provide Public Notice and Certificate of
Delivery to its water customers.
The receipt of a violation by the Water Department is an unusual occurrence, and the laboratory
has made the necessary changes to its standard operating procedures to ensure the sampling
staff collects the correct number of repeat samples for routine positive samples to meet the TCEQ
requirements.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9685
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council November 18, 2014
r� Page 2 of 2
�i
�i7 Y
•a SUBJECT: PUBLIC NOTIFICATION TO WATER CUSTOMERS REGARDING
rrn MINOR MONITORING AND REPORTING VIOLATION FROM THE TEXAS
COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
The public notice will be distributed in the December water billings. The mandatory language for
the public notice and certificate of delivery are provided as attachments to this informal report.
If you have any questions concerning this information, please contact Andy Cronberg, Interim
Water Director at 817-392-5020 or andy.cronberq(a)fortworthtexas.gov.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
Bryan W.Shaw,Ph.D.,P.E.,Chairman 0 PWS_2200012_CO_20140926_NOVTCR
Toby.Baker,Commissioner ,y err,
Zak Covar,Commissioner x
Richard A.Hyde,P.E.,Executive Director
TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Protecting Texas by Reducing and Preventing Pollution
September 26, 2014
TCR/NOV/M/2200012
CITY OF FORT WORTH h j
STACY WALTERS __ '01
2600 SE LOOP 820 �+
FORT WORTH,TX 76140-1010 ,5 OCT 0 2014 �1 1
Subject: Notice of a Total Coliform Rule(TCR) _
MONITORING(TCR), REPEAT MINOR VIOLATION°
Dear Public Water System Owner:
Due to coliform-found routine/distribution sample(s) collected from your Public Water System
(PWS), Repeat samples were required for the month of JUL2014. To date, we have not
received all of the"Repeat"sample results.
Rule citations: 3o Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Section 290.109(c)(3); Section
290.109(fl(5 and 7);
If the required samples were collected, please forward a copy of the Microbial Monitoring
Form(s)so your records can be updated. However,if you did not perform the required sampling,
you must provide copies of the Public Notice (PN) and Certificate of Delivery (COD) to the
TCEQ. The mandatory language for the PN and the COD are provided as attachments to this
letter.
Failure to notify your customers and submit a copy of both the PN and COD to TCEQ will result
in additional violations. Note: Additional violations may result in a referral to the
TCEQ Enforcement Division.
Rule citations: 3o TAC, Section 290.1o9(e); Section 290.1o9(f)(8); Section 290.109(g)(5);
Section 290.122(c)(1)(B); Section 290,122(c)(2); Section 290.122(d)(1-9); Section 290.122(f);
The most current sample data or PWS information the TCEQ has received can be viewed at
Drinking Water Watch,http://d�g.texas.gov/DWW/.
Please fax your,sample results to(512) 239-3666 or email them to
TCRDATA@tceq.texas.- . They may also be mailed to the same address as the PNs below.
Please fax your PN and COD to(512) 239-3666 or mail to
TCEQ
Drinking Water Inventory and Enforcement Team,MC-155
P 0 Box 13o87
Austin,Texas 78711-3087
P.O.Box 13o87 • Austin,Texas 78711-3o87 • 512-239-1000 tceq.texas.gov
How is our customer,service? tceq.texas.gov/customersurvey
- printed on recycled paper
STACY WALTERS .
Page 2
September 26, 2014
If you have questions about the TCR requirements,please contact
• Tom Heitman, (512) 239-3257,Tom.Heitman@tceq.texas.gov
• Joaquin Montes, (512) 239-6o61,Joaquin.Montes(&tceq.texas.gov
• TCRDATA(&tceq.texas.gov
If you have questions about the PN requirements,please contact
• Public Notice Rule Coordinator, (512) 239-4691
• PDWS(&tccg.texas.gov
Sincerely,
-7
Gary Chauvin,Manager
Public Drinking Water Section(MC-155)
Water Supply Division
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
GC/av
Enclosures: Mandatory Language for PN
Certificate of Delivery
PWS_ _CO_ _PN
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
CERTIFICATE OF DELIVERY OF PUBLIC NOTICE TO CUSTOMERS: TIER III
Public Notice to be posted within three months of the violation
Public Water System(PWS)name:
PWS ID: Month/Year of violation(s):
Type of Total Coliform Rule or Ground Water Rule violation(s):
Distribution Routine Monitoring/Temporary Increased Routine Monitoring violation
Repeat Monitoring violation
Triggered Source Monitoring(raw groundwater source sample)violation
Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring or Reporting violation
3o TAC 290.122(c)requires that your PWS make an adequate,good-faith effort to reach all
consumers served by the system by appropriate methods(check all below that apply):
COMMUNITY WATER SYSTEM:
Mail or directly distribute PN to each customer receiving a bill and to other service
connections to which water is delivered by the public water system
and at least one of the following methods if direct delivery may not reach all
persons regularly served by the system:
Publish PN in local newspaper
Deliver multiple PNs for distribution by customers that provide their drinking
water to others (e.g. apartment building owners or large private employers)
Post PN in public places
Deliver PN to community organizations
Post PN on the Internet at: www.
NONCOMMUNITY WATER SYSTEM:
Post PN in conspicuous places within the water system, or
Mail or directly deliver PN to each customer and service connection
and at least one of the following methods if direct delivery or public posting
may not reach all persons regularly served by the system:
Publish PN in local newspaper
Deliver multiple PNs for distribution by customers that provide their drinking
water to others (e.g. apartment building owners or large private employers)
Post PN in public places
Deliver PN to community organizations
Post PN on the Internet at: www.
REQUIRED SIGNATURE ON REVERSE SIDE
PWS CO PN
"I certify under penalty of law that this document and all attachments were prepared under my
direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed to assure that qualified personnel
properly gather and evaluate the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or
persons who manage the system,or those persons directly responsible for gathering the
information,the information submitted is,to the best of my knowledge and belief,true, accurate,
and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information,
including the possibility of fines and imprisonment for knowing violations."
Certified by: (print name): Title:
Date of Delivery to Customers: Phone:
Signature: Date:
Fax to(512) 239-3666 or mail a copy of this completed form,AND copies of the
Public Notices given to your customers to: TCEQ—Public Drinlang Water Section
MC— 155,Attn: Public Notice.P. O.Box 13087 Austin,TX 78711-3o87
BOTH SIDES OF THIS FORM, PLUS THE COMPLETED
MANDATORY LANGUAGE, MUST BE DELIVERED TO THE TCEQ
FOR PUBLIC NOTICE COMPLIANCE.
I
Mandatory Language for Public Notice
Repeat Monitoring Violation Total Coliform Rule
Each month, <PWS name / PWS ID number> is required to submit water samples for
bacteriological testing. The samples we submitted during <Month / Year> contained
coliform bacteria. The presence of coliform bacteria indicates a potential problem with
our water treatment system or the pipes that distribute the treated water.
When coliform bacteria are found in our distribution system sample, the Texas
Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) requires us to collect a specific number
of repeat samples to help determine if there is a problem.
These repeat samples were not collected. OR We did not collect the correct number of
repeat samples. (Use the sentence that applies to your system.)
The failure to collect any or all of these repeat samples is a monitoring violation and we
are required to notify you of this violation. If you have any questions regarding this
violation,you may contact <Name of water system official>at <phone number>.
Instructions for preparing the required Public Notice:
Copy the mandatory language above and insert the underlined information in the spaces
indicated. Please refer to the Certificate of Delivery or 3o TAC 290.122 for additional
information on public notification.
After filling in the necessary information,fax to (512) 239-3666 or mail a copy of
this completed form AND a copy of the signed Certificate of Delivery to:
TCEQ—Public Drinldng Water Section
MC—155
Attn:TCR/GWR Public Notice.
P. O. Box 13087 Austin,TX787:1:1-3o87
Outside Inside
FORT WORTH®
WATER Mandatory language required by the
We need to tell sou about Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
a monitotcn,# violation Repeat Monitoring Violation Total
Every month we take hundreds of water samples Coliform Rule
from the distribution system and test for coliform Each month the City of Fort Worth (PWS
bacteria. Coliforms are bacteria that are naturally ID# 2200012) is required to submit water
present in the environment and used as an
samples for bacteriological testing. The
indicator that other potentially harmful bacteria
may be present.When we do get a coliform samples we submitted during July 2014
positive sample,we must go back the next day and contained coliform bacteria. The presence
resample the same location plus an upstream and of coliform bacteria indicates a potential
downstream location. problem with our water treatment system or
pipes that distribute the treated water.
On July 2,two samples in north Fort Worth tested
positive. On July 3,we pulled only five samples When coliform bacteria are found in our
because one of these sampling sites was common distribution system sample,the Texas
to both sets of three samples.According to the Commission on Environmental Quality
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality,
we should have pulled a second sample from this (TCE� requires us to collect a specific
number of repeat samples.
common site for a total of six samples. Since we
did not,it is a monitoring violation.All of the
July 3 samples tested negative for total coliforms. We did not collect the correct number of
Laboratory proceedures were modified to ensure repeat samples.
this error does not happen again.
The failure to collect any or all of these
Water quality was not compromised. samples is a monitoring violation and we are
required to notify you of this violation. If you
Example: have an questions regarding this violation,you
Samples B and D tested positive for coliforms.Samples
were then taken at the original sites(B and D)as well as may contact Mary Gugliuzza at 817-392-6565.
at an upstream and a downstream for each(A,C,and E).
Site C is upstream of site B and downstream of site D.
We took one sample at site C,but according to TCEQ,we
should have taken two separate samples from site C.
D E FORT WORTH®
Water line
Open this insert to read the required wording WATER
we must use to tell you about this error. December 2014 240,000
Outside Inside
FORT WORTH.
11*-�
AQUA Lenguaje obligatorio que exije la Comisi6n de la
Cffecesitainos avisatle sobte Calidad del Medioambiente de Texas
una violacion ale monitoteo Reglamento por la Violacion del
Cada mes se toman cientos de muestras de agua del Monitoreo Repetido de Coliformes
sistema de distribucion para realizar pruebas de la
bacteria coliforme.Los coliformes son bacterias que Cada mes la Ciudad de Fort Worth (PWS
naturalmente se presentan en el medio ambiente y su ID# 2200012) Bebe emitlr muestras de agua
presencia indica posiblemente la existencia de otras para las pruebas bacteriologicas. Las muestras
bacterias daCunas.Al momento de obtenerse una clue se emitieron en Julio 2014 contenian la
muestra positiva de coliforms,se debe regresar al dia bacteria coliforme. La presencia de la bacteria
siguiente y tomar otra muestra del mismo lugar asi coliforme indica un posible problema con
como otras de ubicaciones rio arriba y rio abajo. nuestro sistema del tratamineto del agua o
El 2 de Julio,hubo dos muestras positivas en el norte tuberias clue distribuyen el agua potable.
de Fort Worth.El 3 de Julio,se tomaron solo cinco
muestras ya que uno de los sitios era comun,o el Debido al hallazgo de la bacteria coliforme en
mismo,en ambos grupos de tres muestras.De acuerdo nuestras muestras del sistema de distribucion,
con la Comision de Calidad del Medioambiente de la Comision de la Calidad del Medioambiente
Texas,se debio haber tornado una segunda muestra de Texas (TCE� nos exije tomar un Humero
de este mismo lugar para un total de leis muestras. especifico de muestras repetidas.
Debido a que no se tomo la segunda muestra,esto
representa una violacion de monitoreo.Todas las Nosotros no tomamos el numero correcto de
muestras del 3 de Julio resultaron negativas a todo tipo
de coliformes.Los procedimientos de laboratorio han muestras reperidas.
sido modificados para evitar que este error vuelva a
El no colectar cualquiera o todas estas
suceder.
muestras representa una violacion de
La calidad del agua nunca estuvo en riesgo. monitoreo y nos vemos en la obhgac16n de
Ejemplo: notificarle sobre la violacion. Si usted tiene
Muestras B y D resultaron positivas de coliformes.Se preguritaS SObYe est.vlolaClOri COmutllquese
volvieron a tomar muestras de los sitios originates(B y D) con Hilda Zuni a al 817-392-6565.
asi como otras rio arriba y rio abajo de cada sitio(A,C, g
y E).Sitio C se encuentra rio arriba del sitio B y rio abajo
del sitio D.Se tomo solo una muestra del sitio C,pero de
acuerdo a TCEW, se debio haber tomado dos muestras
del mismo sitio C.
A B C E
FORT WORTH®
Tubo de agua
Dentro de este folleto econtrar6 el lenguaje AGUA
que debemos utilizar al avisarle de este error.