TRA taking proactive approach to mitigate PFAS
Write a comment
By Emily Banks Wooten
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Trinity River Authority (TRA) of Texas is the largest wholesale provider of wastewater treatment services in Texas. TRA operates the Livingston Regional Water Supply System (LRWSS) which supplies water to the City of Livingston through a 50-year contract.
On April 8 the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signed the final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation rule for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a rule that will go into effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. Through the years, these PFAS have been used in firefighting foams, stain- or water-resistant products, clothing and protective coatings.
According to a press released distributed by TRA, the agency is taking a proactive approach to meeting the EPA requirements, which includes developing a timeline to complete initial sampling and testing by 2027. Additionally, TRA will be required to be in compliance with the listed PFAS limits in the rule by 2029. To accomplish this, TRA has invested in laboratory equipment to test for PFAS compounds, and TRA will begin pilot programs to test several treatment technologies in drinking water.
The press release further states that because PFAS are used in so many everyday products, most people in the United States and other industrialized countries have PFAS in their blood. The EPA says most exposure comes from consumer goods and not drinking water.
Common products that contain PFAS include: cosmetics, especially waterproof or long-lasting products; grease-resistant takeout containers; water-repellent gear; stain-resistant furniture and carpets; nonstick cookware; cellphones and home electronics; contact lenses; paint; upholstered furniture, carpets and carpet pads; dental floss; toilet paper; nail polish, makeup and shampoo; and cleaning products.
Originally sized at 2.0 million gallons per day (MGD) when LRWSS began in 1981, the system was enlarged to 3.0 MGD in 1992 to provide water to the Polunsky Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. It now has a 5.0 MGD treatment capacity. Currently, LRWSS serves a population of approximately 13,000 – 9,000 in the City of Livingston, 3,000 at the Polunsky Unit and 1,000 at the IAH Detention Facility, a privately operated prison facility adjacent to the Polunsky Unit.
In 2017, an expansion was completed, which included the construction of a new, raw-water pump station, approximately 5,000 feet of new 16-inch-diameter raw-water pipeline, new chemical feed systems, a new clarifier and rehab of the two existing clarifiers, new filters, electrical service, and a new control building at the treatment plant site.
Other drinking water systems of TRA include Tarrant County Water Supply Project, Huntsville Regional Water Supply System and Trinity County Regional Water Supply System.
TRA is a conservation and reclamation district that provides water from reservoir facilities, water and wastewater treatment, along with recreation and reservoir facilities within the nearly 18,000-square-mile Trinity River basin. TRA also maintains a master plan for basin-wide development and serves as a conduit for tax-exempt financing for municipal projects, and as a local sponsor for federal water projects. Each TRA operating project is an independent financial entity, and TRA receives no tax revenues or appropriations. For additional information, visit www.trinityra.org.
You are a guest
or post as a guest
Be the first to comment.
Joomla Feed Manager News 