The following is a letter written to local government officials by Ed Kolodziej, Aqua Ohio President and COO.
At the close of the City Council Meeting on the evening of June 10th, I expressed a concern regarding the level of fear being created in our community by outside interests as a side effect of the public debate about EPA approved Chloramination. Of particular concern is the way the outside interests are spreading their opinions. These fears are becoming real to a portion of our residents who are susceptible to this slanted information.
In fact, Aqua has already received a number of calls alleging animal deaths and health conditions resulting from the water that they believe to be treated with chloramine. Aqua water in Marion is NOT currently treated with chloramine. Promulgation of misinformation appears to be the source of this fear.
As I have done my own research on the tactics of the outside interests’ use of scare tactics, particularly in a public forum, is a common tool used to raise concerns by elected officials. It appears that in other parts of the country, by providing one sided perspectives, offering incomplete information and talking down experts from organizations like the US or state EPA, CDC serve to heighten fear and feed controversy.
As I was asked to extend the startup date for the new treatment system to June 24th, several Council members expressed their desire to use this time to form their own opinions and gather more information. In the spirit of helping your efforts to learn more, I feel compelled to address a few of the glaring misstatements presented by Mr. Bowcock and Ms. Pickford:
Health Studies – As EPA representatives confirmed at the June 10 meeting, ammonia injection to form chloramines is a safe, effective method for reducing levels of cancer causing DBPs and has been approved by the U.S. EPA, Ohio EPA and U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). No connection between chloramines and health complications in humans or non-waterborne pets has been confirmed by these agencies.
Information from organizations like The U.S. EPA, Ohio EPA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) concur that the use of chloramines is a safe, cost-effective method for disinfecting water and controlling cancer causing regulated disinfection by-products.
Of concern over the lack of major health effect studies, information from the above agencies appears to generally conclude one of two things. First, there is not an indication that Chloramine treatment has a supportable link to health effects portrayed by Mr. Bowcock & Ms. Pickford. Second, that ad hoc studies or investigations into alleged health effects have been so polluted by personal coaching of respondents by organizations like Bowcock and Pickford’s, any results are unusable. CDC’s Department of Health and Human Services letter to the Director of Epidemic Intelligence Service, Division of Applied Health Training, EPO dated January 16, 2008 states that in one investigation the activist group launched a mass media campaign just prior to their investigative team’s arrival and “in one case, a PCAC member was present during a home visit and prompted the respondent to provide specific answers to our questions”. Apparently for some, the ends justify the means if you can get the answer you want.
Within the last year, Mr. Bowcock has referred to his “mentor in this field”, Dr. Michael McGuire, the Chief of Water Quality for Metropolitan Water District. In a March 2006 article in the AWWA Journal, Dr. McGuire describes the most recent revolution in drinking water disinfection “Chloramine use as a secondary disinfectant will rise as the implications of IDSE results for hundreds to thousands of utilities and compliance with the Stage 2 D/DBPR are understood.”
Lead Leaching from Pipes – Lead leaching can occur when water chemistry is out of balance over time. Here in Marion, we do not have an issue with lead leaching for two reasons. Aqua has treated the water for over 20 years as a means of avoiding lead leaching. Marion’s water also averages a pH of greater than 8.5 that also works to eliminate the lead issue. The fact is that the issue may have been relevant somewhere else in the country but not in Marion.
Cost Estimates – Mr. Bowcock presented an interesting cost estimate for the Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) alternative that indicated this method was almost the same cost as Chloramination. However his estimates do NOT accurately reflect how costs are reflected in customer rates.
Among other shortcomings, Mr. Bowcock’s estimate ignores the cost to actually build the GAC system and the impact of equipment and construction on water rates. His flawed calculations make it look like Aqua grossly overstated our estimates of GAC when is fact his are plain wrong. His methods may be dramatic in a public forum, but they are wrong and misleading.
Interestingly, when included, Mr. Bowcock’s estimate for GAC is calculated accurately, his estimate would be at a level similar to that originally offered by Aqua. The fact is that GAC is over ten times more expensive to our residents than chloramine treatment.
Pot of Money – Mr. Bowcock portrayed that the American Water Works Association (AWWA) has a “pot of money” that can be used to fund the construction of the GAC system. Aqua has confirmed with AWWA that there is no “pot of money” from the Atrazine settlement managed by AWWA. Mr. Bowcock is once again dramatic, but wrong.
In fact, AWWA’s Water Research Foundation on Guidance on Complying With Stage 2 D/DBP Regulation reports that “pros” to Chloramine treatment are a) dramatically lowers regulated DBP formation, b) requires less capital than GAC or other methods, and c) may also lower other unregulated DBP’s below levels achieved by GAC. The very first “con” listed in the report is “Activists concerned about chloramines”.
EPA Enforcement – In spite of Mr. Bowcock’s contention that EPA will grant a “compliance waiver” for Stage 2 Disinfection for two years, Aqua has confirmed with Ohio EPA that there is NO compliance waiver in Ohio. Per the OEPA, if Aqua does not meet the Stage 2 Disinfection requirements, Aqua will be out of compliance, subject to enforcement action and potential legal action.
Water Quality Data – Although portraying each other as water quality experts, Mr. Bowcock and Ms. Pickford are once again requesting Aqua compile water quality sampling data for them for 2013 and the past several years. Information on water quality sampling is filed with the OEPA on a regular basis and is available from that organization as a public document. Due to the calculation associated with the Stage 2 disinfection requirements, information to perform the 2013 LRAA calculations will not be available until after the fourth quarter water sampling.
In the drama of the public forum, these alleged water quality “experts” orchestrate a well rehearsed dance to lead Council and the public to conclude that Aqua is somehow hiding some key information, when in fact; all the historic sampling information is filed with the OEPA and is publically available.
I realize that as community officials your schedules are demanding and that you need straightforward information to make good local governmental policy. I have patiently listened to the various perspectives and with a compassionate heart for the residents impacted by fear and misinformation. As lies are spread in an effort to raise public fears, it is time to speak up.
Mr. Bowcock and Ms. Pickford are entitled to their opinions and they have every right to express those opinions to the regulating agencies with whom they disagree, but they are not entitled to create their own facts. Their willingness to deceive you and the residents of Marion, Prospect, Caledonia and Martel with fear-tactics and lies is unscrupulous and dangerous. It has no place in a public discussion that should be rooted in fact.
I hope the information presented here helps with your information gathering. Once again, I ask your help in managing the damage and fears being created in our community.
Sincerely,
Ed Kolodziej
Aqua Ohio
President & COO
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