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 MCLsLT2

DBP-2GWR

RadonCCL Determination

Six Year ReviewLT1

BackwashArsenic

Rad-ChemPublic Not

Lead/CopperUnreg Cont

DBP-1IESWTRPWS Def

CCROp Cert

Cap Dev-ExistingCap Dev -New

SWASulfate

PMRIMR

DWSRF

Rul es

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