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Occurrence
of Unregulated Compounds in Surface Waters, Ground Waters and Public Drinking
Water Supplies in NJ |
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articles have been appearing both in the scientific literature as well as
in the popular press on the occurrence of unregulated contaminants in New
Jersey’s water. The projects are related to each other but there are
fundamental differences that set them apart. The results of all the studies
relate to each other and can assist regulators in making decisions about
public and ecological health and protection.
There are four studies that have dealt with the issue.
• NJDEP New Jersey “TIC” Study
The characterization of Tentatively Identified
Compounds (TICs) in water samples collected from public water systems
in New Jersey
• USGS National Toxic Substances Study:
Pharmaceuticals, Hormones, and Other
Organic Wastewater Contaminants in U.S. Streams, 1999-2000: A National
Reconnaissance
• NJDEP-USGS New Jersey Toxic Substances
Study
Occurrence, Distribution, And Concentration
of Pharmaceuticals And Other Organic Wastewater-Related Compounds In New
Jersey’s Surface-Water Supplies
• USGS-CDC New Jersey Drinking Water Treatment
-Plant Study
Fate of Organic Wastewater Contaminants
in a Drinking-Water Treatment Facility
Despite the differences in the various studies, several
generalizations can be made about the results:
- Analytical
methods are capable of detecting unregulated compounds at ultra-trace
levels.
• 600 tentatively identified compounds were detected in the NJDEP-EOHSI
study.
• 60 of 122 organic wastewater contaminants were detected in 1
or more stream samples in USGS study.
- QA procedures
vital for interpretation of results.
• Compounds in both samples and blanks.
• Compounds sometimes in blanks.
• False positives and negatives possible.
- Unregulated
compounds in all studies were detected at sub-ppb levels.
- Only a fraction
of the detected compounds in the studies have standards, guidelines,
or criteria.
- Some compounds
pass through existing water treatment.
• 51 tentatively identified compounds in raw and finished water.
• 11 organic wastewater contaminants tracked throughout a water
system.
- Unique compounds
may be introduced due to treatment.
- Little is
known about human health effects and even less about ecological effects.
- Mixtures of regulated
and unregulated chemicals present at trace levels in drinking water.
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Publications
Efficiency
of conventional drinking-water-treatment processes in removal of pharmaceuticals
and other organic compounds - Science of The Total
Environment
Volume 377, Issues 2-3, 15 May 2007, Pages 255-272
Presentations
Unregulated
Organic Chemicals in Drinking Water - March 2008
NJ AWWA Spring Conference
Testimony
- Dr. Eileen Murphy Director, DSRT - Before the Assembly Agriculture and
Natural Resources - May 2008 |
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