! received a call this morning (July 8) from Dominic Adams, Flint Journal/Mlive. | called him back with Mike Prysby,
District Engineer sitting in on the call.
Mr. Adams had obtained information that the City of Flint was contracting some engineering work for the Flint WTP, and
the work was in part to potentially use the Flint River as a primary drinking water source.
| informed Mr. Adams that the City of Flint receives treated water from DWSD and has been since the 1960’s, but has
had the WTP available for reliability should the single transmission line system from DWSD fail. In an emergency the
Flint WTP is already approved to use the Flint River for source water and is designed to meet all drinking water
standards and public health requirements. : :
| also informed Mr. Adams that the engineering work in question would be to primarily enhance treatment capabilities
beyond minimum requirements for the purpose of softening to provide customers with water quality consistent with
what they already receive from DWSD. Some equipment for softening is already in place, but under emergency
operation would not normally be used due to the time required for startup and fine tuning.
Mr. Adams asked whether the DEQ has approved or signed off on the proposed engineering work and on allowing the
City of Flint to use the River as its source water. | explained that the ODWMA has not received a construction permit
application for such work at this time, and that one would be required. | also indicated to Mr. Adams, that regardless of
the source water, the City of Flint would be required to meet ail applicable Drinking Water Standards and public health
requirements and again that the WTP is already approved as a redundant supply to use the Flint River as a source water
_ meeting all drinking water standands and that the WTP undergoes test runs on a quarterly basis to maintain the WTP.
Mr. Adams asked for more specifics regarding the treatment process and | explained that the removal of hardness for
aesthetic water quality : at this WTP is called lime spiteniniy :
Mr. Adams also inquired about the City being able to use the Flint River after the contract with DWSD terminates, and |
indicated that may be one option, but they could also continue to purchase treated water from DWSD.
In Mr. Adams voicemail he mentioned a variance to use the Flint River, and | reiterated that there is no “Variance”, but
that the WTP has been constructed and approved te to treat water from the Flint River to appropriate standards as
needed.
Let me know if you have any questions.
_Stephen Busch, P.E.
Lansing and Jackson District Supervisor .-
Office of Drinking Water and Municipal Assistance
MDEQ
517-643-2314
xxxEND_PAGE:deq27_b325_1544_1743_011
Mr. Howard Kroft . 27 May 7, 2012 |
e The fluoride concentration in Flint’s finished water must remain comparable to |
the fluoride concentration in DWSD’s water. :
e Suggested Practices recommends, and we fully endorse, monitoring WTP filters
and plant tap for total colifom bacteria on a daily basis. In addition to plant tap
monitoring, a protocol should be Sstablsied for monitoring both treated water
components prior to blending. .
e Finished water must meet all ‘other applicable Maximum Contaminant Levels for
° ciganle and inorganic parameters. ; . .
Based upon the 2007 Water Treatment Plant Sanitary Survey and the results of the
most recent WTP test runs, we are confident that the WTP can meet the operational —
parameters: discussed above. Given the installation of intermediate chlorination and
improved ozone residuals, Flint’s‘CT calculation will need to be “updated.
Since Flint was not required to conduct the initial round of source water monitoring for
cryptosporidium, treatment classification as part of the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface
Waiter Treatment Rule requirements has not been determined for the WTP. The next -
round of cryptosporidium monitoring begins in 2015 and subsequent bin treatment
classification for Flint will be determined by 2017 (after completing 24 months of
monitoring). Additional treatment for Siypeceperslam may be required depending on.
the mentary results.
Also, since DWSD would no longer be Flint’s sole source of water, various water
distribution system programs including Flint's Bacteriological Monitoring, Lead and
Copper, and the Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts monitoring -
‘programs will change. ‘Specific changes to these monitoring programs will be discussed -
in more detail after the city identifies the future operation of the Flint WTP.
The-DEQ has no objection to blending Flint River water with water purchased either