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DRAFT of July 10, 2012

Siloxane Technical Working Group

POTW Monitoring

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

1:00-3:00 PM Eastern Time 

Teleconference: (866) 299-3188; code: (202) 564-6738

Charge: Build on the SEHSC proposal to develop a science-based, rational proposal for 

monitoring of Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) sites which provides sufficient 

information and data on the presence and concentrations of D4 and D5 in the environment and 

on sources of and pathways to the environmental concentrations of D4 and D5 associated with 

POTWs, to support a national risk assessment for D4 and D5. Workgroup participants should be 

prepared to provide a scientific basis to address the following questions:

1. What factors (e.g., treatment type, population (in surrounding area); low dilution (in 

receiving water); other considerations (geography, population, location of D4/D5 

indirect discharge industrial facility, loading)) should be considered in developing a 

monitoring plan for POTWs to support a national risk assessment for D4 and D5?

2. Which monitoring parameters (e.g., D4 and D5 in WWTP influent; D4 and D5 in 

WWTP biosolids; D4 and D5 in air emissions at WWTP; D4 and D5 in effluent at 

each WWTP’s outfall; D4 and D5 in surface water of receiving water body; D4 and 

D5 in surface sediment of receiving body water, biota monitoring, number of POTWs 

to be monitored) should be used to support a national risk assessment for D4 and D5?

Note - biota monitoring is outside the scope of this Technical Working Group 

meeting. 

Attached are references and background information pertaining to the technical issues to be 

discussed at this meeting.

Agenda:

1. Introduction, Goals, Charge – Paul Lewis, EPA

2. SEHSC Proposal, including justification/rationale for monitoring at 5 sites – Karluss 

Thomas, SEHSC (15 minutes)

3. Site Selection Factors (20 minutes)

SEHSC proposal

Discussion by participants

Recommendations for site selection factors

4. Monitoring Parameters (20 minutes)

SEHSC proposal 

Discussion by participants

Recommendations for monitoring parameters

5. Development of Proposal (30 minutes)

6. Next Steps

7. Adjourn
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Discussion times are approximate. For further information, please contact Marcus Aguilar at 

(202) 564-3194 or aguilar.marcus@epa.gov

Participants of the technical working group will include technically knowledgeable 

representatives from EPA, SEHSC and member companies, and other interested parties 

including the National Association of Clean Water Agencies. 
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Attachment

Background and References for Siloxanes Technical Working Group Meeting 

on POTW Monitoring

1. SEHSC January 31st 2012 communication to the EPA from Karluss Thomas to Maria Doa

Attachment 1 – Description of Work Performed, Implications, On-going Work

Attachment 2 – D4 and D5 Conceptual Site Models and Mass Balance Report

Attachment 3 – Table of SEHSC Member Company D4/D5 Manufacturing, Processing, and Formulating Facilities in 

the U.S.

-5 POTW sites and 4 SEHSC direct discharge sites in current proposal

2. Oregon study

Hope, B. K., Stone, D., Fuji, T., Gensemer, R. W. and Jenkins, J. (2010), Meeting the challenge 

of identifying persistent pollutants at the state level. Integr Environ Assess Manag, 6: 735–748. 

doi: 10.1002/ieam.94

http://www.deq.state.or.us/WQ/SB737/docs/LegRpFinal20100601.pdf

Bruce K. Hope, Lori Pillsbury, Brian Boling, A state-wide survey in Oregon (USA) of trace 

metals and organic chemicals in municipal effluent, Science of The Total Environment, Volumes 

417–418, 15 February 2012, Pages 263-272, ISSN 0048-9697, 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.12.028.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969711014926

- 52 POTW sites in Oregon analyzed effluent for over 400 chemicals (D4 and D5 

included)

3. Degao Wang et al., Concentrations of cyclic volatile methyl siloxanes (cVMS) in various 

environmental media from Southern Ontario and Southern Quebec. Water Science and 

Technology Directorate Environment Canada. 2012 (accepted for publication)

- 13 POTW sites in Ontario (sites remain anonymous) and 4 Industrial sites (Industrial 

information claimed as CBI)

4. Fate of Priority Pollutants in Publicly' Owned Treatment Works. United States Environmental 

Protection Agency. Effluent Guidelines Division. WH·552 Washington DC, 20460 EPA 

440/1·82/303 September 1982. http://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPURL.cgi?Dockey=000012HL.txt

- 40 POTWs and 10 industrial POTWs studied in the USA (siloxanes not included)

5. Targeted National Sewage Sludge Survey. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Water (4301T) 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20460 EPA-822-R08-016. January 2009.

http://water.epa.gov/scitech/wastetech/biosolids/tnsss-fs.cfm

- 74 POTWs sampled in the USA (siloxanes not included)
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6. Clean Watersheds Needs Survey http://water.epa.gov/scitech/datait/databases/cwns/index.cfm

7. Norden. 2005. Siloxanes in the Nordic Environment. TemaNord 2005:593. Copenhagen (NO), 

Nordic Council of Ministers. Available from:

http://www.norden.org/pub/miljo/miljo/uk/TN2005593.pdf