HomeMy WebLinkAbout021431 RES - 07/14/1992RESOLUTION
Concerning the Safe Drinking Water Act
Whereas, the City of Corpus Christi is both morally and legally obligated to ensure that
its municipal water treatment system delivers safe water to its customers; and
Whereas, the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 and its amendments provide for the safety
of drinking water supplies throughout the United States by establishing and enforcing
national drinking water quality standards according to specific timetables; for the
Environmental Protection Agency to set national drinking regulations, conduct special
studies and research, and oversee implementation of the Act; and for State governments
to adopt regulations no less stringent than federal regulations; and
Whereas, the City of Corpus Christi will be forced to spend millions of dollars in order to
comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act; and
Whereas, the City currently uses chloramine to disinfect its drinking water but expects
the Act and implementing regulations to require a change in the entire disinfection
process by installing a treatment system using ozone, a strong disinfectant and oxidizing
agent, at a cost of approximately $23 million; and
Whereas, the City is required to establish Maximum Contaminant Levels for 83 specific
contaminants initially, and 25 additional contaminants every three years; and for each, the
City will be required to establish appropriate means for treatment using best available
technology; and the City will be required to test Synthetic Organic Chemicals; and the
best available technology for meeting these requirements is Granular Activated Carbon
adsorption, for which the installation cost would be approximately $52 million; and
Whereas, the City's water treatment testing and chemical costs have sky -rocketed; for
example, the City is required to perform extensive monitoring every six months for lead
and copper in drinking water, and the new coliform bacteria rule requires the City to take
160 samples for coliform per month; and
Whereas, future disinfection standards may require greater water storage requirements
than currently available, requiring the City to construct an additional 10 million to 12.5
million gallon clearwell at a cost of approximately $3 million; and
Whereas, the mandated changes to water treatment systems are not justified by health
problems in Corpus Christi; the City -County Health Department has no record of water-
borne diseases due to the City's water system and it is not defensible that a different
treatment process will be beneficial to our citizens.
021431
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MICROFILMED
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NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS:
Section 1. That the City Council strongly objects to the costs and potential liability
imposed by the Safe Drinking Water Act and is deeply concerned customers will have to
absorb unwarranted costs for unneeded changes to an already excellent water treatment
system.
Section 2. That the Environmental Protection Agency rules and regulations
implementing the Safe Drinking Water Act are too burdensome for cities and that Corpus
Christi can not afford initial costs approaching $100 million and operating expenses which
will be tripled.
Section 3. That the City Council supports the 1992 resolution (attached as Exhibit A)
passed by the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies addressing concerns of the
nation's larger metropolitan water supply agencies regarding the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Section 4. That the City Council urges members of Congress and officials of the
Environmental Protection Agency to reassess implementation of the Safe Drinking Water
Act, and seek affordable solutions to demonstrated problems based on scientific data.
Section 5. That the City Secretary is instructed to send copies of this resolution to
United States Senator Uoyd Bentsen, United States Senator Phil Gramm, United States
Representative Solomon Ortiz, United States Representative Kika de la Garza, United
States Representative Craig Laughlin and United States Environmental Protection Agency
Administrator William K. Reilly.
ATTEST:
City Secretary Maydr
City of Corp C@risti
APPROVED: f/ DAY OF ,jams , 1992
James`Bray, City Attorrt
attachments
Resolution adopted by the Association
SAFE DRINKING
Resolution:
Part A
of Metropolitan Water Agencies
WATER ACT (P.L. 99339)
EXHIBIT
The Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) commends Congress for
enacting the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1986 and urges Congress to
continue its oversight responsibility to ensure reasonable and cost-effective
implementation of the law.
During reauthorization of the drinking Water Act, Congress should consider, at a
minimum, increased funding of health effects research, development of realistic
timeframes for compliance with Safe Drinking Water Act standards, and authorization for
EPA to establish minimum national standards for a laboratory and operator certification
program.
PartB
AMWA supports the promulgation of National Primary Drinking Water Regulations as
required under P.L. 99-339. Drinking water contaminants, for which standards are
promulgated under the law, should be regulated on the following basis:
the contaminant should exhibit an adverse human health impact through exposure
in drinking water;
MCL's should be set in the context of a consistent, science -based risk
management policy;
the regulation must be based on sound science;
the contaminant must occur in drinking water and present a national problem;
• the contaminant must be capable of being detected and measured within practical
quantitation limits;
•
the contaminant must be capable of being removed or inactivated to the standards
set by a designated best available technology that is both available and practical;
or
• a health advisory should be prepared for those contaminants which occur in
drinking water but do not present a national problem.
AMWA, recognizing that one of the many uses of a public water supply is for human
consumption, fully supports the establishment of appropriate regulations and standards
necessary to protect public health from the adverse effects of harmful chemicals or
bacteriologic agents in drinking water. AMWA strongly recommends that the EPA
conduct the detailed and exhaustive toxicological research necessary to ensure the
accuracy of such regulations and standards, and that the agency proceed expeditiously
in defining the factors appropriate to the application of public health requirements, such
as Unreasonable Risk to Health (URTH). AMWA also encourages the agency to be
consistent in setting standards for the protection of human health.
AMWA acknowledges and appreciates the efforts EPA has demonstrated to involve major
water suppliers in an open, flexible rulemaking process and pledges its commitment to
a positive application of the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Rationale:
1. In order for the Safe Drinking Water Act to be effective, its requirements must be
practical and achievable. Health effects research must be conducted to ensure the
regulations are developed to address those contaminants which pose a threat to public
health.
2. To encourage effective planning at the local level, it is important for EPA to
coordinate the promulgation of new regulations for filtration and protection from
microbiological agents and new standards for disinfection by-products and organic
chemicals.
3. The development of a comprehensive standard-setting process will enable local
agencies to make rational, cost-effective choices of supply sources and treatment
technologies.
4. National regulations reflecting congressional intent which are implemented at the
state level will ensure that a consistent level of public health protection is provided to all
consumers.
Corpus Christi, Texas
% day of //x , 19 42._
The above resolution was passed by the following vote:
Mary Rhodes
Cezar Galindo
Leo Guerrero C( (,
Betty Jean Longoria
Edward A. Martin gel/ C
Joe McComb
Dr. David McNichols -(
Clif Moss 171,{
Mary Pat Slavik t"
066
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