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Extended Abstract: Contaminant Characterization of Effluent from Pennsylvania Brine 

Treatment Inc., Josephine Facility Being Released into Blacklick Creek, Indiana County, 

Pennsylvania: Implications for Disposal of Oil and Gas Flowback Fluids from Brine 

Treatment Plants 

Conrad D. Volz1, DrPH, MPH, Kyle Ferrar1, MPH, Drew Michanowicz1, MPH, CPH, Charles 

Christen1, DrPH, MEd, Shannon Kearney1, MPH, CPH, Matt Kelso1, BS and Samantha Malone1, 

MPH, CPH 1Center for Healthy Environments and Communities (CHEC), Department of 

Environmental and Occupational Health, Graduate School of Public Health, University of 

Pittsburgh Date: March 25, 2011

This report contains results from sampling and analysis of wastewater effluent entering Blacklick 

Creek, Indiana County Pennsylvania from the Pennsylvania Brine Treatment (PBT) Josephine 

Facility conducted by the Center for Healthy Environments and Communities (CHEC). The PBTJosephine Facility accepts only wastewater from the oil and gas industry, including flowback 

water from Marcellus Shale gas extraction operations. This report describes the concentrations of 

selected analyzed contaminants in the effluent water and compares the contaminant effluent 

concentrations to standards, guidelines and criteria set by federal and state regulatory and 

investigative agencies for the protection of human and aquatic health. 

Sampling Methodology and Concentrations of Contaminants in Effluent Water from 

Pennsylvania Brine Treatment Facility, Josephine Plant 

CHEC conducted sampling of wastewater as it was discharged into Blacklick Creek, Indiana 

County, Pennsylvania from the PBT-Josephine Facility on December 10, 2010. Samples were 

taken at 3-hour intervals over the course of one 24-hour period. These samples were analyzed for 

listed inorganic and organic species by R. J. Lee Inc, a PA State Certified Laboratory (Certificate 

# 006). 

The concentrations of analyzed contaminants in this effluent of primary environmental public 

health importance, which may also stress aquatic life, include: barium (Ba) [mean, 27.3 ppm; 

maximum, 37.0 ppm]; bromides (Br) [mean, 1068.8 ppm; maximum, 1100.0 ppm; strontium (Sr) 

[mean, 2983.1 ppm, maximum 3120.0 ppm]; benzene [mean 0.012 ppm; maximum 0.013 ppm] 

and 2 butoxyethanol (2-BE) [mean 59ppm; maximum 66 ppm]. Contaminant concentrations of 

ecological and secondary drinking water importance include: chlorides (Cl) [mean 117,625 ppm, 

maximum 125,000 ppm]; magnesium (Mg) [mean 1247.5 ppm; maximum 1300.0 ppm]; total 

dissolved solids (TDS) [mean 186,625 ppm; maximum 190,000 ppm]; sulfate (SO4) [mean 560 

ppm; maximum 585 ppm], and pH [mean 9.58 units; maximum 10 units].

Comparisons of Effluent Contaminant Concentrations to Standards, Guidelines and 

Criteria set by Federal and State Regulatory and Investigative Agencies for the Protection 

of Human and Aquatic Health

Levels of contaminants in effluent from the PBT- Josephine Facility were interpreted according 

to comparisons with applicable federal and state standards and recommended guidelines for both 

human and aquatic health. Barium had a mean concentration in effluent of 27.3 ppm (maximum 

of 37 ppm); this is approximately 14 times the United States Environmental Protection Agency 

(EPA) maximum concentration limit (MCL) of Ba in drinking water of 2 ppm. The EPA 

consumption concentrations „water and organism‟ and „organism alone‟ for barium are both 1 

ppm. The levels of barium in the effluent are over 27 times these consumption concentrations. 

The U.S. EPA criteria maximum concentration (CMC) and the EPA criteria continuous
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concentration (CCC), both for protection of aquatic health, are 21 ppm and 4.1 ppm, respectively; 

the mean level of barium in effluent exceeds these criteria by 1.3 and 6.7 times, respectively. The 

mean level of barium in effluent water was 4, 4.73, and 9 times the derived drinking water

minimum risk level (MRL) for intermediate and chronic exposures in adult men, adult women, 

and children, respectively. The EPA recommended limit for Sr in finished municipal drinking 

water is 4 ppm. The mean concentration of Sr in PBT-Josephine effluent water is 2981.1 ppm 

(over 745 times the recommended level). The MRL for strontium set by the ATSDR for 

intermediate length exposure is 2 mg/kg of body weight/day. The sampled mean level of 

strontium in PBT-Josephine effluent water was over 43, 51.7, and 97.9 times the derived drinking 

water MRL for intermediate exposures in adult men, adult women, and children, respectively. 

Bromide in water is of concern because of its ability to form brominated analogs of drinking 

water disinfection by-products (DBP). Specifically, bromide can be involved in reactions between 

chlorine and naturally occurring organic matter in drinking-water, forming brominated and mixed 

chloro-bromo byproducts, such as trihalomethanes or halogenated acetic acids. There is general 

agreement that bromide levels in fresh-water sources be kept below about 100 ppb. The PBTJosephine facility discharged effluent into Blacklick Creek with a measured mean concentration 

of bromide of 1068.8 ppm, which is 1,068,800 ppb. This is 10,688 times the 100 ppb level at 

which authorities become concerned.

The mean level of benzene, a known carcinogen, in outfall effluent from PBT-Josephine was 

0.012 ppm or 12 ppb. The drinking water MCL for benzene is 5 ppb, thus effluent levels were 

above twice the drinking water MCL. The EPA consumption, water and organism risk level for 

benzene is 2.2 ppb in water, the mean level of benzene in PBT-Josephine effluent water is almost 

6X this criteria; the organism only risk level for benzene is 50 ppb in water, the mean level of 

benzene in effluent water is 24% of this guideline. The measured Benzene value was 60%, 1.2X, 

and 1.5X the derived drinking water MRL for chronic exposures in adult men, women and 

children, respectively. 2-butoxyethanol is a glycol ether and is used as an anti-foaming and anticorrosion agent, as well as an emulsifier in slick-water formulations for Marcellus Shale gas 

extraction. The mean concentration of 2-BE in the effluent exceeded derived drinking water 

MRL‟s for 2-BE for both acute and intermediate exposure for adult men and women and children. 

Contaminants with secondary MCL‟s (SMCL) and aquatic receptor effects that were measured in 

the PBT-Josephine Facility effluent include magnesium, manganese, chlorides, sulfates, and total 

dissolved solids (TDS). Magnesium was found in the effluent with a mean concentration of 

1,247.5 mg/L, which is 24,950 times the EPA Mg SMCL of .05 mg/L. The mean concentration 

of Manganese in the effluent was .08 mg/L, and the SMCL for Manganese concentration in 

drinking water is .05 mg/L, which is 62.5% lower than the concentration in the effluent. The 

mean concentration of chlorides in the sample analysis was 117,625 mg/L, which is 470.5 times 

the SMCL for chlorides in drinking water of 250 mg/L. To protect aquatic communities, the 

criteria maximum concentration (CMC) for chlorides in surface water is 860 mg/L, and the 

criteria continuous concentration (CCC) for chlorides in surface water is 230 mg/L. The mean 

concentration of chlorides measured in samples was 138 times the CMC and 511 times the CCC. 

The mean concentration of sulfates in the sample analysis was 560 mg/L - 2.2 times the SMCL 

for sulfates in drinking water (250 mg/L). The SMCL for total dissolved solids (TDS) in drinking 

water is 500 mg/L, and the mean concentration of TDS measured in samples was 186,625 mg/L, 

373 times the SMCL. 

Levels of strontium and 2-BE exceeded the NPDES reporting requirement set by the 

Pennsylvania DEP of 100 ppb and 500 ppb for discharge of a toxic substance regularly or 

irregularly, respectively
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Masses of Contaminants Entering Blacklick Creek

CHEC has information from the Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) 

that the PBT – Josephine Facility treated 15,728,241 gallons of oil and gas wastewater in the 6 

month period from July 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010. Using this figure as the amount of 

effluent wastewater exiting the Josephine outfall and using the mean level of each contaminant 

found in the effluent over the sampling period of the study, the masses of contaminants with 

important human and ecological consequences discharged from the PBT, Josephine Facility into 

Blacklick Creek in the last 6 months of 2010 are projected to be: barium - 1627 kg (3588 

pounds); strontium - 177,712 kg (391,856 pounds; 196 tons); bromides -63,708 kg (140,476 

pounds; 70.2 tons); chloride – 7,011,631 kg (15, 460,646 pounds; 7,730 tons); sulfate – 33,382 kg 

(73,607 pounds; 36.8 tons); 2 butoxyethanol – 3517 kg (7,755 pounds; 3.88 tons); and total

dissolved solids – 11,124,733 kg (24,530,036 pounds; 12,265 tons). 

Potentially Exposed Populations

Recreationalists are at high risk of being exposed to outfall contaminants through ingestion, 

inhalation and through dermal exposure. The outfall of the Josephine Facility is easily accessible 

to users of nearby rails-to-trails pathways, and there are indications that anglers frequent the 

area.1 Additionally, children wade and swim in the creek during warmer weather, and regional 

watershed websites indicate that paddlers use the creek for canoeing and kayaking. 2 BE released 

into Blacklick Creek may be ingested by swimmers in the creek. This pollutant can become 

airborne and present an inhalation hazard to anglers, swimmers and boaters. It is also taken in to 

the body via dermal absorption. Anglers catching and eating fish from upstream or downstream 

of the effluent outfall are at risk for exposure to multiple contaminants that were sampled in this 

study. 

CHEC has developed maps showing numerous private water wells in the immediate vicinity of 

Blacklick Creek downstream from the effluent discharge. Private well water users are at risk of 

exposure to contaminants in effluent being released into Blacklick Creek because these private 

wells may capture water from the creek when the well pump rate is sufficiently high. High pump 

rates can occur especially during peak usage by residents. 

The first identified municipal drinking water intake downstream of this discharge is at Freeport, 

Pennsylvania on the Allegheny River. Populations served by the Freeport authority and water 

authorities downstream of Freeport are at potential risk for exposure to contaminants identified in 

effluent, as well as other contaminants in Marcellus Shale flowback water that were not sampled 

for in this study.

Implications of Effluent Discharge from the PBT – Josephine Facility Discharge for 

Exposures to Other Contaminants Known to be Present in Marcellus Shale Flowback 

Fluids and a Regional Appreciation of These Results

Of particular environmental public health significance is that Marcellus Shale flowback water 

contains other contaminants, in addition to those analyzed for in this study, which have health 

consequences if ingested, inhaled, and/or absorbed through the skin. While we make no

statements regarding the presence of other contaminants in this effluent water being discharged 

into Blacklick Creek, it is imperative that additional testing be conducted immediately by federal 

 

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Blacklick Creek has been classified as a ‘trout stocking” stream.
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and state health and enforcement agencies to determine if other contaminants of public health 

significance are entering this watershed.

Additionally, oil and gas wastewater and Marcellus shale flowback fluids are being disposed of in 

“brine treatment” facilities and at Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW‟s) throughout the 

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and in Ohio, West Virginia, and New York. The ramifications of 

disposal of large quantities of oil and gas wastewater through ineffectual brine treatment plants 

and POTW‟s needs further evaluation throughout the region to determine its impact on stream 

and river systems and public drinking water supplies, as well as to recreationalists and private 

well water users.

Recommendations

Operations at this plant should be halted until all contaminants of human and aquatic 

health concern in accepted oil and gas fluids are known and it can be determined that the 

treatment processes used at the plant effectively remove these contaminants from the 

fluids being treated. 

All approaches to the effluent discharge area and a reasonable distance downstream (at 

least 100 meters) from streamside and landside should be posted with warning signs. 

These signs should discourage any use of and/or contact with stream water.

An advisory to all anglers should be issued stating that fish taken from this stream, both 

up and down stream may be contaminated in order to discourage fish take and 

consumption.

Studies to determine the levels of all potential Marcellus Shale flowback fluid 

contaminants in downstream water, sediments and pore water should be undertaken 

immediately. 

Residential and other private well water users downstream of the effluent outfall of the 

PBT-Josephine Facility should be advised that there may be contaminants in their well 

water and discouraged from using it for drinking, cooking or bathing until such water is 

tested for continuous safe use. 

Municipal water authorities downstream of this outfall should be notified of the 

contaminants found in effluent from the PBT- Josephine Facility, of other possible 

contaminants in Marcellus Shale flowback fluids and oil and gas wastewater, and that 

there are other treatment facilities and POTW‟s in the Blacklick, Conemaugh, and 

Kiskikiminetas drainages that accept and discharge oil and gas waste fluids into surface 

water. 

All municipal water authorities at reasonable distances downstream of “brine treatment” 

and POTW‟s accepting Marcellus Shale flowback fluids and other oil and gas wastewater 

in the region extending eastward across Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia and New 

York should be notified of these results. 

The PA DEP and other state and federal regulatory authorities should immediately review 

all surface water discharge permits granted to brine treatment facilities and POTW‟s that 

accept Marcellus Shale flowback fluids and oil and gas wastewater, to ensure that 2-BE 

concentrations being discharged are below all applicable standards, guidelines and 

criteria. This review should be informed by results of this report but should be extended 

to all known contaminants in flowback and other oil and gas wastewater.