The USEPA is Facing Big Cuts

An article published by WATERONLINE reports that the U.S. EPA is being cut to the bone. Drinking water regulators that were already stretched thin will simply not have the resources they need to enforce drinking water regulations designed to protect the public. The EPA is being systematically deconstructed, it is more political than ever, but with everything else that is going on in Washington who even notices this?

Public safety demands that water regulations like the Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR) be enforced.

The WATERONLINE ARTICLE By David Coursen, Environmental Protection Network, goes into detail about the cuts:

“More than 27 million Americans are served by community water systems that do not fully meet health-based drinking water standards. Many community water systems draw their water from surface waters, but nearly half a million square miles of such waters fail to meet one or more standards for water quality, and the list is growing each year.

U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler says that unsafe drinking water, not climate change, is the world’s greatest environmental challenge. So it should be no surprise that EPA’s budget proclaims “clean and safe water” as a central agency goal.

What is surprising is that the EPA budget proposes jaw-dropping cuts of $1.4 billion from water protection and restoration programs.”  READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE.

The USEPA is Facing Big Cuts

via The USEPA is Facing Big Cuts

OUR FILM PROJECT – Out of Sight – Out of Mind

“Out of Sight – Out of Mind What’s in Your Water?“, A new documentary will shine a light on what ends up inside our water storage tanks and towers.

This new look into our water systems is being taken from a different point of view.

In a partnership with the Ron Perrin Clean Water Tank Project, the film is being produced by Ron & Robert Perrin of Ron Perrin Water Technologies (RPWT) to let viewers see what they encounter on a daily basis. 

RPWT has been inspecting and cleaning water storage facilities since 1997.  The film goes into great detail of how microbial pathogens can use the sediment on the floor of a water storage tank, to get a foothold in the water distribution system.

The EPA has identified bacteria, protozoa and even viruses that can use the sediment commonly found in water storage for a habitat.

Yet there are no national regulations on inspecting or cleaning potable water storage tanks.

Microbiologists will explain the science behind water tank contamination from legionella and other microbial pathogens. 

The documentary will expose a wide variety of cases where entire communities have been affected.

Approved by the IRS to be a 501(c)3

The Ron Perrin Clean Water Tank Project was granted 501(c)3 status by the IRS in August of 2018. This will allow us to raise funds to promote and explain the need for cleaning water storage tanks and towers. Cleaning tanks and towers is often forgotten as the interior of the tank is simply out of sight and out of mind. Instead, the focus of many water utilities is on adding more chemical disinfectants to meet federal and state guidelines. Bacteria, protozoa, viruses and other microbes can use the sediment at the bottom of storage tanks as a habitat to grow and eventually become a health concern. Going forward, we will be able to apply for grant funding and ask the public for donations. All donations are Tax deductable. “Out-of-Sight Out-of- Mind – What’s in your water?”, is our first film project that will benefit from new funding.

This blog has been sponsored by Ron Perrin for several years to echo the need for our drinking water tanks to be cleaned.  Ron’s simple project has now become an organized mission of education to the water utility industry to correct this often overlooked problem. Please explore our blog and video’s we look forward to your comments and support.

 

UTA -Environmental Training Institute

Check out my class:
Potable Water Storage Inspection Techniques
Dates: October 4-5, 2018 Meets: Th and F from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
https://web-ded.uta.edu/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?&Course=19WTR308001%20&DirectFrom=Schedule

Do you have something to say about TAP Water?

 

DO YOU HAVE A PHOTO OF BAD TAP WATER? We want to see it! Do you have a story about bad tap water? We want to hear it! We are making a documentary of what is really going on with tap water.

Share your stories or photos with Ron at RonPerrinCSHO@gmail.com on twitter at @RonPerrin1

Like our page and share your comments, photos and stories. See:

https://www.facebook.com/cleanwatertankproject/

The Mess in Flint

By now almost everyone is aware about lead seepage into the drinking water in Flint, MI that lead to a massive public health crisis and prompted President Obama to declare a federal state of emergency there.

The problem began when the city switched its water supply in 2014 from Detroit city water to water from the Flint River. Almost immediately, residents of Flint started complaining about the quality of the water. City and state officials denied for months that there was a serious problem. The GM plant in Flint quickly switched back to Detroit city water because the Flint river water was corroding car parts.

Due to the fact that anti-corrosion additive was not used supply pipes sustained major corrosion and lead was leaching into the water. The city switched back to its original water supply, but it was too late to reverse the damage to the pipes.

On the news we heard about High lead levels found in the blood of children.  This can cause are  “learning disabilities, behavioral problems and mental retardation,” but what went on behind the News stories? What made the City and the Governors office go from stating over and over again “The Water Meets EPA STANDARDS, it is safe to drink” to declaring a state of emergency and spending millions of dollars to switch back to Detroit water?  What happened on the ground is a story you must read. I thought I knew a lot about the Flint crisis, there was a lot more I didn’t know and it is an amazing story to read.  It will inform you on much more than Flint.  This book looks at the relationship between recent water problems and new EPA rules that seem to be happening everywhere.  She also explains the complicated relationship between the EPA, state government and municipal government that can sometimes work together, only to  to fail.  How in Flints case doing the right thing took a back seat to protecting jobs and political careers.

The unfolding crisis in Flint is captured in Dr. Hanna-Attisha’s new book, “What the Eyes Don’t See: A Story of Crisis, Resistance, and Hope in an American City”. Here is an excerpt from her book published by CBS News:  https://cbsn.ws/2JU6a3U

You can see the CBS Sunday Morning Cover Story interview here: https://youtu.be/pd2qxi2mF_4 

New 60 Second video explains a lot Fast

 

This site is supported by Ron Perrin.  Since 1997 my company Ron Perrin Water Technologies has been a leader in underwater inspection and cleaning for the water utility industry. We offer underwater inspection and cleaning services to municipal water utilities so they do not need to drain water tanks or towers to inspect or clean them. Our city drinking water comes from surface waters (lakes, rivers or streams) or ground water (well water).  After the water is treated it is sent to the water storage tanks & towers where it waits to be used at your tap.  Over time sediment builds up in these tanks  the sediment can be a safe habitat for bacteria protozoa and even viruses.

Our cleaning service is performed by Commercial Divers(also called line air because they are breathing surface supplied air on an umbilical line). They wear dry suits that completely seal them in their own environment.  The diver is then washed down with a chlorine solution before entering the water supply.

Once inside the water tank or tower our diver can quickly remove the accumulated sediment from the interior floor of the tank. Removing the habitat that can hide bacteria and other contamnants makes the water safer to drink and safes the utility money by reducing chlorine cost.   because the contaminants are no longer growing and depleting the chlorine reserves.

Our new logo designed by Ryan Bijan.

Our new logo designed by Ryan Bijan. The background photo is a west Texas sunset taken by Bradly Perrin several years ago on the way to a tank inspection or cleaning job. I always liked the photo but had no idea it would eventually become part of a logo like this. At first glance I just liked the color and design. But upon deeper reflection it really has depth and shows what our organization is all about. Our infrastructure is in trouble. Billions of dollars need to be spent in all areas. The nations water storage tanks are only a part of the infrastructure but the sun is truly setting on many of them that have been standing tall for 40, 80, 100 years or more. The sunset background is reflecting the heat of a hot summer day. Heat is another factor, more heat year after year heat records are being broken. Bacteria, protozoa, viruses and other contaminants thrive in heat. Far too many older tanks go year after year without being properly cleaned. That mixed with he lack of funds to repair and replace infrastructure like water towers along with more and more heat is a recipe for disaster. I hope the logo will spark some interest in our project. Our Mission us to educate elected officials and utility managers of the dangers of going year after year without proper inspection and cleaning of water storage tanks and towers.

BRAIN-EATING AMOEBA FOUND in Terrebonne Parish water system

June, 2020 update.

A potentially deadly brain-eating amoeba has been detected in a Louisiana neighborhood’s drinking water — the third time the terrifying discovery has been madein the same parish since 2015, reports said.

The deadly amoeba had been found in Louisiana water systems 2015 to 2018. The amoeba may still be in some systems due to the fact that it is not something that is commonly tested for when conducting required water quality test.

Naegleria fowleri, which causes fatal brain swelling and tissue destruction, was last found in Terrebonne Parish in 2018, deep in the Louisiana bayou about an hour south of New Orleans, WWL-TV reported.

Potable Water Line Air Diver

On Monday, July 03, 2017- ABC 7 Chicago News reported that Louisiana health officials confirmed the presence of Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as the brain-eating amoeba, in Ouachita Parish’s North Monroe water system and Terrebonne Parish’s Schriever water system in Louisiana during routine testing. Officials reassured residents that drinking tap water is still safe and that taking precautions in pools and showers can reduce their risk of infection.

The Louisiana Department of Health said it notified public health officials and the administrators of the water systems on Thursday June 29, 2017. The health department urged residents to avoid getting water in their noses, which is how the organism can infect the brain. The department also advised the public to run baths, shower taps and hoses for at least five minutes before use to flush the pipes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Naegleria fowleri can cause primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a brain infection that is almost always fatal.

Naegleria fowleri — Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) — Amebic Encephalitis

People are particularly at risk for contracting PAM if the amoebas enter through the nose, which can happen when people swim or dive in freshwater contaminated with Naegleria fowleri. In the early stages of PAM, symptoms may be similar to those of bacterial meningitis: a severe headache, fever, nausea and vomiting. Late-stage symptoms include seizures, hallucinations and coma.The Louisiana Department of Health has tested for Naegleria fowleri since 2013, with officials sampling public drinking water systems each summer when temperatures rise. Officials have collected 540 samples to test for this amoeba since 2013. The health department ordered the water systems to switch to the free chlorine disinfection method for 60 days to ensure that any remaining amoebas in the systems are eliminated.

Unfortunately switching to free chlorine is only a bandaid on a larger problem that is not going away any time soon.

Removing sediment from the interior floor of the tank is the only way you can be sure to get rid of this type of contaminant. Many think a “Chlorine Burn” is the answer. Wrong. The “Burn” only works if the tank is clean.

If there is sediment on the floor of the contaminated tank the intruder will still be there under the sediment and grow again after the additional chlorine is gone. The AWWA recommends tanks be cleaned every 3 to 5 years. Still some are never cleaned.

Photo #3 Potable Water Tank Cleaning with Diver (c) Ron Perrin.com 

Why? How much of a reason do you need?

Keeping your tanks clean may prevent you from collecting a wide range of bacteria, protozoa, viruses and even amoebas like this. These microbes use the sediment on the floor of a dirty tank as a habitat to grow, deplete your chlorine reserves and become a real threat to public health.

All public water systems should clean all storage tanks and towers at least every five years. A potable water dive crew is one way to remove the sediment with minimal water loss and usually no disruption in service. After the sediment has been removed chemical treatments are many times more effective.

Photos: #1 File Photo Potable Water Tank Cleaning with Diver (c) Ron Perrin.com 

#2 CDC- Naegleria fowleri (commonly referred to as the “brain-eating amoeba”)

#3  File Photo Potable Water Diver (c) Ron Perrin.com 

File Photo Potable Water Tank Cleaning with Diver (c) Ron Perrin.us