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MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH October 24, 2007 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Anne Miles Cassell 5 October 24, 2007 whose property is within 3,000 feet of the perimeter of the quarry and who experience well failures not directly attributable to the quarry operation. OCHD staff has responsibilities in providing sampling services, technical assistance, consultation regarding remedies, and determination of well failure. Staff has also taken on fiscal administration of the fund. The Board of Health is the avenue of appeals for those residents who are not satisfied with the process. In 2004, staff proposed an alternative to well replacement, repair, or water treatment if a well had detectable levels of arsenic (>1part per billion [PPB]) but those levels were still below the recommended drinking water limit of 10 PPB. If the well was otherwise satisfactory, the homeowner could receive bottled water to be paid by the NFWRF at a rate of 15 gallons per person per month. The BOH approved this component with the idea it would be reviewed after 2 years for continuation or revisions. In November of 2006, the board provided direction to staff to research available water treatment options for the individuals who have detectable arsenic levels in their well water. Tom Konsler reported that there are currently 10 homes participating in the bottled water program - two are on a shared well. One home will be removed because the well has been replaced and it does not have detectable arsenic levels. A summary sheet of the past expenses paid from fund was provided for the Board. The goal is to provide one point source tap in the home that has adequate treatment to provide water with less than 1 PPB Arsenic. This is best achieved through a reverse osmosis (R/O) filtration unit installed for a drinking water tap. The recommended units cost between $900 and $1000 installed. These are NSF units that will treat up to 75 gallons per day and approximately one-year service intervals. Annual service on the units cost approximately $150. According to the adopted policy, maintenance and servicing of treatment systems is the responsibility of the owner. The R/O units are expected to be effective treatment for Type 5 arsenic, but not Type 3 arsenic. We do not know the species of arsenic in this area. The state lab has equipment to analyze for the speciated arsenic, however not at these low levels. Staff is recommending the following: - That a reverse osmosis unit be installed for the one well that has 9 PPB arsenic. - If follow-up testing after 2 weeks of operation proves that the unit is successful in lowering the arsenic level below 1 PPB, that similar R/O units be installed at the remaining 7 homes. - If the units are found to lower the arsenic levels, that the bottled water purchase program be discontinued.