Drinking Water Operator Training

1. Drinking Water Operator Training January 29, 2014Davis County and Salt Lake County Health Departments

2. Salt Lake Valley and Davis County Health DepartmentsFluoridation Regulations • Overview/History • Fluoride Levels • Reporting/Monitoring • Operator Safety • Underfeeds/Overfeeds • Training

3. A Little History….. • November 2000: Davis County voted in favor of water fluoridation • September 4, 2001: Regulation signed into effect • Set optimal level at .9 control range: .8-1.4 mg/L • November 2004: Davis County again voted in favor of water fluoridation • February 8, 2005: Revised Regulation signed into effect • An attempt at more uniformity with SLCoHD • June 2007: Revision of optimal level of fluoride • Set optimal level to .8 control range .7-1.0 mg/L

4. A Little History….. November 2010, The Annual Control Range was changed: • Davis- 0.6 to 0.8 mg/L with an annual average of 0.7 mg/L. • 0.6 - 0.7- 0.8 • SLVHD-0.6 to 0.9 mg/L with an annual average of 0.7 mg/L. • 0.6 - 0.7- 0.9

5. A Little History….. • August 13, 2013 • Better defines training requirements and requires that documentation of training be submitted to the County by the 15th of January of each year.

6. Powers and Duties of Local Health Departments • Responsibilities • Require fluoridation at Optimal Levels • Require submission of reports of fluoride addition and analysis • Provide Fluoride Surveillance • The regular review of monitored data and Split Sample results to ensure that fluoride levels are maintained by the Public Drinking Water Supply • Distribution samples (in addition to required Water Supply’s samples)

7. Monitoring (Davis) • Sampling • Daily, at representative points in the Distribution System • When there are several zones or areas, the sample sites can be rotated from day to day, providing the entire system is covered in one week (Davis). • Monthly Split Sample • Ensures accurate testing equipment

8. Split Samples • One sample is split • One sample is analyzed by field kit used for compliance sampling • One sample is submitted to the lab for laboratory analysis • These samples should be within 20%. If not, a repeat is required. If still not in the range, let’s evaluate any potential issues!

10. Investigative Samples (Davis) • Results of samples collected by Davis County Health Department may also be taken into consideration to determine compliance. • Minimum 2 samples/month/system (Davis) • Investigative samples are processed in our NELAC/State certified lab.

11. Compliance • Compliance is determined by taking the annual average of the field tests results taken by water system • Split sample results and the calculated dose support the validity of the field test results

12. 2013 Fluoride Compliance Averages (Davis)

13. Monitoring (Salt Lake) • Fluoride concentrations, including natural and added fluoride, need to be recorded daily. • Weekly samples must be taken at representative locations through out the distribution system • Systems meeting the annual control range may reduce sampling to twice/month and each site • A monthly Split Sample result (for equipment calibration verification) must be submitted with the monthly report

14. Investigative Samples (Salt Lake) • The investigative samples are analyzed by SLCoHD and serve as secondary verification of fluoride concentration throughout the system. • Several samples are taken each month throughout the county at random locations

15. 2013 Fluoride Average Salt Lake County

16. Pocket Colorimeter, Fluoride Analysis • Only does fluoride • SPADNS Method • Factory calibrated • Be aware of interfering substances

17. Fluoride Reagents

18. Interferences

19. Fluoride Analysis • Materials needed: • Colorimeter kit • Distilled Water • Beakers • Standards may be used to check for accuracy.

20. Some notes on using this method (SPADNS): • Samples may be stored in glass or plastic for at least 7 days when kept refrigerated. • Watch expiration dates of reagents

21. Some notes on using this method (cont.): • SPADNS reagent contains enough arsenite to eliminate up to 5 mg/L chlorine • Aluminum may be an issue for surface treated water • Be sure that your meter is not getting any error codes when turned on and reagents are fresh and in good condition. • DI water quality is very important, when testing for Fluoride… first step in troubleshooting is trying another source of DI water

22. Some notes on using this method (cont.): • Cleanliness of sample cells is very important… Keep these items for fluoride use only. Acid wash cells after use (1:1 HCL) and rinse three times with DI water and air dry • Temperature of sample and DI water must be the same… temperature differences will affect results. Also reagent temperature should be the same.

23. Some notes on using this method (cont.): • If you are pipetting ,  both the reagent and the sample must be pipette… pipetting errors cause the most errors in results. • It is technically possible to get tighter results using the pipetting procedure … However many customers are able to get tighter results by switching to the AccuVac method which is less technique sensitive. Bulk SPADNS can be contaminated . Contamination is eliminated with the AccuVac.

24. Fluoride Compounds and Application Equipment Plan Reviews, Evaluation of Fluoride Equipment, Fluoride Compounds, Chemical Feed Equipment and Methods • Refer to Rules forPublic Drinking Water Systems, R309-535-5.  Fluoridation. • Fluoride Chemical Standards • AWWA standards and/or ANSI/NSF Standard 60

25. Does this meet AWWA standards and/or ANSI/NSF Standard 60 ???

28. New Requirements!

29. Operator SafetyReferences • Refer to R309-525-11 Chemical Addition, Division of Drinking Water • Refer also to R315-9 Emergency Controls, Environmental Quality, Solid and Hazardous Waste • Refer also to R614 Labor Commission, Occupational Safety and Health

30. Operator Safety (continued) • The Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) Should be posted at all chemical injection sites • Spill Response • Recommended Disposal • Health Hazard Data • First Aid • Special Protection • Storage

31. Storage of Fluoride Compounds • Prevent cross contamination • Allow enough room for storage • Separate other chemicals from fluoride chemicals • Keep dry chemicals dry! • Bags and drums shall be stored on pallets

32. Liquid Chemical Storage (fluorosilicic acid) • Tanks must: … Have an overflow and a receiving basin or drain capable of receiving accidental spills or overflows, … • Fluorosilicic acid must not be allowed in the storm drains or sanitary sewer. • Vent any unsealed fluorosilicic acid containers to the atmosphere

37. Accidental Release • In the event of an uncontained or accidental release to the environmentin excess of five gallons,operators are to • follow the “Accidental Release Measures” instructions found on the MSDS. • notify the Department within 24 hours.

38. Liquid Spills • Use spill control pillows or dams to contain liquid from spreading • Neutralize with lime • Avoid “flushing” to public sewer or on-site septage (septic tank) system

39. Overfeed Requirements • Public notification may be required if fluoride levels reach 2.0 mg/L • Public notification is required if fluoride levels reach 4.0 mg/L

40. Overfeed Requirements • If over 2.0, notify Health Department and supervisor. Determine malfunction/repair • If over 4.0, if malfunction is not found, immediately turn off fluoridation equipment, sample throughout distribution system. After repairs are complete, with supervisor’s permission, restart • If over 10.1, as above, but restart system with both Health Department and Supervisor approvals

41. Underfeed Requirements • For less than 2 weeks: • No action needed if equipment is off line • For 2 weeks - 6 months: • Contact the Health Department in writing with • a proposed plan of action and • an anticipated correction date by week three.

42. Required Training • A minimum 6 hour training course must be taken before operation of fluoridation equipment • Training includes: • Operator safety • Maintenance/operations • Fluoride chemicals • Regulatory requirements

43. Required Training • An ongoing training must be taken every 2 years • A 3 hour course that includes: • Operator safety • Regulatory updates/reviews • Operations/maintenance

44. Training Possibilities • All day course typically every year though AWWA • WBWCD, usually every year • CDC 6 hour training on CD (contact me for a copy) • Water Fluoridation: Principles and Practices, in Sacramento fall course in Murfreesboro, TN • Thatcher

45. CDC-Sponsored Water Fluoridation Training • Water Fluoridation: Principles and Practices CDC Sponsored course • Murfreesboro, Tennessee:usually in September each year, dates have not yet been announced • Sacramento, California: February 11 to February 13, 2014 http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/engineering/training.htm

46. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr4413.pdf

47. Contact InformationDavis County • Davis County Fluoride Regulation: • http://www.daviscountyutah.gov/documents/health/environmental//fluoridation_regulation.pdf • Dee Jette: 801-525-5111 deejette@co.davis.ut.us • Angie Jones (reports) 801-525-5115 ajones@co.davis.ut.us • For spill reporting call EH emergency phone @ 801-807-8872 (after hours, emergencies).

48. Contact Information • Salt Lake County Fluoride Regulation: • http://www.slvhealth.org/envRegs/reg33flouridation.html • Lili Benavidez: 385-468-3898 libenavidez@slco.org • Submit monthly reports to drinkinwatersamples@slco.org • For spill reporting after hours and weekends call Emergency Response # 801-580-6681