DEP Advisory Committee Supports Adopting Science-Based Water Quality Criteria For Toxic Manganese To Protect Public Health, Environment And No Change In Point Of Compliance For The Standard

On November 18, DEP’s Water Resources Advisory Committee voted 12 to 2 to support the draft final regulation setting a science-based manganese standard of 0.3mg/L as a Water Quality Criteria for Toxic Substances to protect public health and environment and make the point of compliance for the standard at the point of discharge into a river or stream.

The draft final regulation also deletes the 1 milligram/liter manganese standard established under 25 Pa Code Chapter 93.7.

In its presentation to the Committee, DEP said it received 953 comments on the proposed regulation-- 923 supporting of the protective 0.3my/L health standard and the existing point of compliance at the discharge point.

Three public water systems said changing the point of compliance to the point where the water is taken from a stream for use, from the existing point of compliance for the standard when water is discharged into a stream, would cost them an estimated $100 million.

Pennsylvania American Water said capital costs of moving the point of compliance to where water is taken from a stream would be $40-$60 million in capital costs, plus up to $1.4 million annually in operating costs.

Reading Area Authority estimated $2.1 million in capital costs, plus $15.8 million in 20 year operating costs.

The City of Lancaster said moving the point of compliance to where the water is taken out would result in tens of millions in capital costs and millions of dollars in lost water filtration plant efficiency.

Nine PA Sportsmen’s, watershed, environmental groups strongly supported the 0.3mg/L manganese Water Quality Criteria for Toxic Substances and not changing the existing point of compliance at the point of discharge, as well as the PA Rural Water Association, PA Municipal Authorities Association, Fish & Boat Commission, PA Environmental Council and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.  Read more here.

DEP expects to send the final regulation to the Environmental Quality Board for action in Spring 2022.

Click Here for a copy of DEP’s presentation.  Click Here for a copy of the draft final regulation.

For more information and available handouts, visit DEP’s Water Resources Advisory Committee webpage.

Why A New Manganese Standard?

DEP is addressing a standard for manganese because a 2017 change in state law (Act 40), added at the last minute as part of a budget-related bill without public review, directed the Environmental Quality Board to adopt a proposed manganese standard within 90 days that includes a 1 milligram/liter manganese standard established under 25 Pa Code Chapter 93.7 and changing the point of compliance from the point pollution enters a stream to the point where it is taken out by a water user (25 Pa Code Chapter 96.3).

The 1 milligram/liter standard is 20 times the level of manganese that water suppliers are allowed to have in their water supplies, according to EPA’s secondary maximum contaminant level. Click Here for more.

The last minute change was a favor to the coal industry and shifts the burden for treating manganese discharges from mine sites and other sources from those who pollute the water to those using the water, like public water suppliers.

The change in law swept away nearly 30 years of environmental protection for Pennsylvania waterways impacted by the consequences of acid mine drainage, and imposes additional testing, monitoring and treatment at public water supply operations along these waterways.

Local government groups, drinking water suppliers and many other groups opposed the last minute amendment, which Republican legislators ignored. Click Here for more.

DEP said it complied with Act 40 of 2017 by including what the law required at the proposed rulemaking stage of this regulation.

Related Articles:

-- 9 PA Sportsmen's, Watershed, Environmental, Mine Reclamation, Conservation Groups Strongly Support Protective Water Quality Standard For Manganese

-- Senate Environmental Committee Hearing Pits Mining Industry Against Water Suppliers On Manganese Standard

-- Republicans On House Environmental Committee OK Bills To Exempt Water Supplies, Slow Down Solar Energy; And Disapprove Of Air Quality Fees, New Manganese Water Standard

[Posted: November 18, 2021]  PA Environment Digest