Link to Reference: Todd Horneck, Associate Editor, Feb 2006

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Highlights:
- Water systems that are now operating and able to maintain pressure in their distribution systems are no longer being significantly affected by coliform bacteria.
- In some heavily flooded areas, local officials may postpone repairs to water systems pending their decisions on how and when rebuilding may proceed. Most small public water systems have been able to repair or replace damaged infrastructure.
- Water systems in Louisiana that have lost pressure below 15 psi are placed on boil-water advisories, and about a dozen public water systems, predominantly non-community systems, remain in boil-water advisory status, although most of the water systems in boil-water advisory status are not currently operating.

Summary: Six months after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf region, many are still struggling with the aftermath. Blake Atkins, chief of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 Drinking Water Section, based in Dallas, TX, sat down with Water Technology in January to discuss the impact Katrina has had on water quality and treatment issues in the affected states and what the future holds.

Water Technology®: In rural areas affected by Hurricane Katrina, what were some of the most problematic contaminants that needed to be removed from the water to make it suitable for drinking?

Blake Atkins: In rural areas largely impacted by the hurricanes, coliform bacteria were the most prevalent and problematic contaminants. This was due to pressure loss in distribution systems.

Water systems that are now operating and able to maintain pressure in their distribution systems are no longer being significantly affected by coliform bacteria.

WT: At what point do you think most or all of the larger public water system infrastructures will be fully repaired in the region? How about small public systems or private wells?

BA: The larger public water systems have been able to repair impacted water treatment facilities to return them to operational status, and the vast majority of damaged distribution systems have been repaired.

In some heavily flooded areas, local officials may postpone repairs to water systems pending their decisions on how and when rebuilding may proceed. Most small public water systems have been able to repair or replace damaged infrastructure.

Some of the smaller public water systems associated with businesses that are no longer operating may never [be repaired or replaced].

WT: Are there any public systems still on boil-water orders?

BA: Water systems in Louisiana that have lost pressure below 15 psi are placed on boil-water advisories, and about a dozen public water systems, predominantly non-community systems, remain in boil-water advisory status, although most of the water systems in boil-water advisory status are not currently operating.

WT: Is federal financial assistance available to assist consumers or water treatment professionals to buy or repair treatment systems for individual homes or businesses? If so, how do they find out about it?

BA: FEMA s Public Assistance Program, which provides reimbursement funding to not-for-profit water systems, has funds for returning water infrastructure to pre-hurricane damage status. For-profit public water systems can apply to the Small Business Administration for loans.

WT: News reports about the hurricane s aftermath emphasized the large amounts of hydrocarbons, industrial chemicals, sewage, and other contaminants that the receding waters left on and in the ground. Will these pose long-term problems for treating groundwater in the region? Are you or other agencies making any special recommendations in this regard to consumers or treatment professionals?

BA: While some levels of contaminants were detected in floodwaters in the New Orleans area, water systems in that area rely on surface water treatment, and monitoring of treated water in these areas revealed no contaminants of concern. Most groundwater sources are located far from where chemical releases were possible, and fortunately, most of the groundwater sources are protected by geologic strata.

The US Geologic Survey intends to monitor some groundwater sources that are recharged by the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, but no special recommendations have been made at this time. Hundreds of bacteriological samples were analyzed free of charge to private well owners, and private well owners were advised of disinfection and flushing procedures following a flood.

WT: What technical advice would you have for water treatment businesses in the Gulf region trying to help their customers restore or improve water supplies affected by the hurricane? Are there are any specific treatment methodologies that appear to have been particularly well suited for post-hurricane recovery?

BA: From a lessons-learned standpoint, water systems should focus on backup and contingency plans. Most water systems lost pressure and were subsequently placed on boil-water advisories due to power loss.

If these water systems had an emergency connection to another water system that was able to maintain pressure, or if these systems had their own backup power generators, most boil-water advisories would have been averted. Disinfection and flushing were the treatment methodologies that were most effective in returning water systems to safe operations.

WT: How would you assess the response of the water treatment industry so far to the problems caused by the hurricane?

BA: [It] could be characterized as generous. In order to help maintain public health protection, many vendors were offering equipment and services at reduced or no cost to water systems.