U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Finished Drinking Water Storage Facility Inspection and Cleaning

Public Meeting Webinar

October 15, 2014

MEETING AGENDA

(All times Eastern Time)

11:45 Webinar lines open

12:00 – 12:10 Welcome and Logistics

Madhulika Nataraja, The Cadmus Group Inc.

• Participation in this meeting is both in-person and via webinar.

• The facilitator (The Cadmus Group) will enable speaking capability to 

presenters and participants as necessary and appropriate and as indicated in 

the agenda.

• Clarifying questions can be submitted at any time via the webinar questions 

feature. There will be an opportunity for speakers to answer questions after 

each presentation. Facilitators will review and consolidate questions and 

direct as many as possible to the presenters given the time allotted. 

• The Public Comment session at the end of the webinar presentations provides 

an opportunity to share data and information regarding storage facility 

inspection and cleaning. Registration to provide public comment was 

required as described in the Federal Register notice that announced the 

meeting. Additional time for question response will be provided during this 

session as time allows.

• Instructions will be provided for submitting additional data and information

after the webinar. 

12:10 – 12:20 Opening Remarks

Peter Grevatt, Director, US EPA Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water

12:20 – 12:30 Overview of Meeting Objectives and Agenda

Sean Conley, OGWDW

Meeting Objectives:

• Provide background information on storage facility inspection and cleaning 

practices and concerns.

• Discuss and solicit public input on data and information that may inform a

risk management approach for maintaining finished drinking water storage 

facility integrity and water quality through regular inspection, cleaning and 

corrective action.

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• Provide information on State drinking water program approaches to risk 

management and industry guidance regarding inspection and cleaning. 

Meeting Agenda:

• This agenda and the meeting presentations were provided to all registered 

participants via email on October 14, 2014.

12:30 – 12:55 Causes for Concern and Background on Distribution System Storage 

Facilities and Inspection and Cleaning

• Concerns – outbreaks, comments on the issue from the proposed Revisions 

to the Total Coliform Rule (RTCR), 2006 Community Water System Survey 

(CWSS) information on number of facilities and cleaning frequency.

• RTCR Advisory Committee recommendations on research and information 

collection.

• Introduction to risk management approaches currently being implemented by 

States.

• Qualitative benefits and unit cost information for inspection and cleaning.

• Options to improve risk management. 

Presenter: Sean Conley, Environmental Protection Specialist

US EPA Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water

 (20 min + 5 min clarifying questions)

12:55 – 2:15 State Approaches to Risk Management

Survey of State Approaches to Risk Management

Presenter: Darrell Osterhoudt, Regulatory Affairs Manager

Association of State Drinking Water Administrators

 (15 min + 5 min clarifying questions)

Examples of State Approaches to Risk Management

• Background information regarding numbers of systems, types of systems, 

types and numbers of storage facilities, program structure.

• What type of inspection and cleaning is required and why? How often?

• Who inspects the facilities – Are there limitations (climbing, entry, etc.?)

• Inspection findings – What types of deficiencies/defects? How frequent? 

Sediment levels? Other issues?

• Is corrective action also required? How do you deal with problem facilities?

• Reports and records – Submitted? Reviewed? How often?

(15 min + 5 min clarifying questions for each presenter)

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Presenters: Peter Farrelly, P.E., Regional Engineer, 

Oregon Health Authority (healthoregon.org/dwp) 

 

Ron Falco, P.E., Safe Drinking Water Program Manager

Tyson Ingels, Lead Drinking Water Engineer

Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment

Ken Bousfield, P.E., Director

Utah Division of Drinking Water

2:15 – 2:35 Recommended Best Practices for Storage Facility Inspection and Cleaning

 What industry guidance documents cover storage facility inspection and 

cleaning?

 What types of inspections are recommended? At what frequency? 

 When is cleaning recommended?

Presenter: Paul Olson, P.E., Senior Manager of Standards

American Water Works Association 

 (15 min + 5 min clarifying questions)

2:35 – 3:00 Break

 

3:00 – 3:30 Public Comment and Additional Questions

Registered Commenters:

• Ron Perrin, CSHO, Owner

Ron Perrin Water Technologies

• Ron Falco, P.E., Safe Drinking Water Program Manager

Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment

• Randy Moore, Vice President of Market Development

Utility Service Group

3:30 – 4:30 Panel: Options and Opportunities for Reducing Risk

Expert perspectives on the information provided and the observations made 

during today’s discussions. Panelists will be asked to take no more than seven 

minutes each to respond to the questions below, based on the presentations, 

public comments, and their own knowledge of the issues. 

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Panelists: 

• Clifford Chan, Manager of Water Treatment and Distribution 

East Bay Municipal Utility District

• Lynn Thorp, National Campaigns Director

Clean Water Action 

• Mae Wu, Staff Attorney, Health Program

Natural Resources Defense Council

• Gary Williams and Sterling Carroll

Florida Rural Water Association 

• Darrell Osterhoudt, Regulatory Affairs Manager

Association of State Drinking Water Administrators

• Alan Roberson, Director of Federal Relations

American Water Works Association

Questions for Panel Consideration:

1. What additional information are you aware of regarding the potential 

public health risks from failure to maintain finished drinking water 

storage facilities?

2. How often should storage facilities be inspected? Cleaned?

3. Are there types of storage facilities that do not merit inspection, or should 

not be inspected as frequently?

4. What are the most critical elements of a storage facility that should be 

inspected? 

5. What types of deficiencies in storage facilities require prompt action to 

protect public health?

6. Are guidance and recommended best practices sufficient or is regulation 

needed to assure public health protection? 

4:30 – 4:45 Wrap up/Next Steps/Additional Opportunities for Input 

4:45 Adjourn

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