RE: DW goal
- From
- Richard Benzie
Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2015 10:59:00 AM
As you have heard me say before, the state does not have a rule or law that requires
municipalities to practice “good government.” We can recommend that water systems
properly operate and maintain their facilities (source, treatment, storage, pumps, pipes,
etc.), but under current regulatory authority, we cannot intervene in many situations until it
deteriorates to the point that there is an “imminent” threat to public health.
For example, we encourage and repeatedly recommend water systems conduct O&M
programs like hydrant flushing, valve turning, meter testing, etc., but we do not have a law
or rule that says they have to do so. It’s only when failure to do so results in system-wide
or catastrophic events that we may then use emergency order provisions to require them
to correct the problems that are jeopardizing public health. During the time that these
systems are falling into disrepair, intermittent violations may occur as a result of the
situations Liane mentioned below. The poster child for demonstrating this matter is
Highland Park, but they are not alone in this category.
We are also implementing regulations that “challenge” each other, like the ones that Flint
has experienced. A number of distribution system issues in Flint led to coliform violations
last summer. In response, the city increased the chlorine dosage and residuals throughout
the distribution system to disinfect more of the underground piping system where low
usage and stagnant water had allowed increased microbial activity. That increased
chlorine dose in turn contributed to higher disinfection byproduct formation that eventually
exceeded a drinking water standard.
We also have no means to ensure that water systems are being adequately financed and
that water rates reflect the true cost of service, including a replacement component. We
are trying to address that issue with some increased planning requirements (Capital
Improvement Plans, Asset Management principles), but those requirements are just being
implemented now. So underground piping systems continue to deteriorate as they exceed
their life expectancy and no one addresses the issue until it becomes catastrophic. And
these are just the challenges in the community program consisting of ~1400 water systems
of which only half are municipalities. Imagine the difficulty of ensuring 100% compliance in
~10,000 noncommunity water systems that do not have the redundancy and reliability
requirements that are imposed on community systems and lose pressure every time there
is a major thunderstorm or an ice storm that interrupts power supplies.
I'll quit preaching to the choir.
Richard