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Coordinates: 39°57′08″N 75°09′31″W / 39.9521°N 75.1585°W / 39.9521; -75.1585
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==Water Quality==
==Water Quality==
In April 2011, [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA) found elevated [[iodine-131]] levels in [[Philadelphia]]'s drinking water.<ref name="EPA radiation">{{cite web |url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffmcmahon/2011/04/10/epa-new-radiation-highs-in-little-rock-milk-philadelphia-drinking-water/ |title=EPA: New Radiation Highs in Little Rock Milk, Philadelphia Drinking Water |author=Jeff McMahon |date=10 April 2011 |publisher=Forbes |accessdate=22 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.epa.gov/japan011/rert/radnet-sampling-data.html#water|title=Japanese Nuclear Emergency: Radiation Monitoring |date=30 June 2011 |publisher=EPA |accessdate=23 February 2012}}</ref> In response to the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA) findings, the Philadelphia Water Department posted a notice that [[Iodine-131]] had been found in the water supply.<ref name="iodine 131">{{cite web |url=http://www.phila.gov/water/pdfs/QA_Iodine131.pdf |title=Iodine 131 Found in Philadelphia's Drinking Water |date=April 12, 2011 |publisher=Philadelphia Water Department |accessdate=12 February 2012}}</ref> [[Iodine-131]] is associated with the treatment of [[thyroid cancer]],<ref name="Wissahickon">{{cite web |url=http://articles.philly.com/2011-07-21/news/29798099_1_drinking-water-radioactive-iodine-water-department |title=Cancer patients' urine suspected in Wissahickon iodine-131 levels (short version)|author=Bauers, Sandy |date=21 July 2011 |publisher=Philadelphia inquirer |accessdate=25 February 2012}}</ref>
In April 2011, [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA) found elevated [[iodine-131]] levels in [[Philadelphia]]'s drinking water.<ref name="EPA radiation">{{cite web |url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffmcmahon/2011/04/10/epa-new-radiation-highs-in-little-rock-milk-philadelphia-drinking-water/ |title=EPA: New Radiation Highs in Little Rock Milk, Philadelphia Drinking Water |author=Jeff McMahon |date=10 April 2011 |publisher=Forbes |accessdate=22 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.epa.gov/japan011/rert/radnet-sampling-data.html#water|title=Japanese Nuclear Emergency: Radiation Monitoring |date=30 June 2011 |publisher=EPA |accessdate=23 February 2012}}</ref> In response to the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA) findings, the Philadelphia Water Department posted a notice that [[Iodine-131]] had been found in the water supply.<ref name="iodine 131">{{cite web |url=http://www.phila.gov/water/pdfs/QA_Iodine131.pdf |title=Iodine 131 Found in Philadelphia's Drinking Water |date=April 12, 2011 |publisher=Philadelphia Water Department |accessdate=12 February 2012}}</ref> [[Iodine-131]] is associated with the treatment of [[thyroid cancer]],<ref name="Wissahickon">{{cite web |url=http://articles.philly.com/2011-07-21/news/29798099_1_drinking-water-radioactive-iodine-water-department |title=Cancer patients' urine suspected in Wissahickon iodine-131 levels (short version)|author=Bauers, Sandy |date=21 July 2011 |publisher=Philadelphia inquirer |accessdate=25 February 2012}}</ref><ref name="Carbon County">{{cite web |url=http://carbonwaters.org/2011/07/cancer-patients-urine-suspected-in-wissahickon-iodine-131-levels/ |title=Cancer patients’ urine suspected in Wissahickon iodine-131 levels (More complete version of Wissahickon article with additional information) |author=Bauers, Sandy |date=21 July 2011 |publisher=Philadelphia inquirer, Carbon County Groundwater Guardians |accessdate=25 February 2012}}</ref> [[nuclear power|nuclear energy]], and is a popular [[radioactive tracer]] used in [[hydraulic fracturing]] fluid since the 1970s to determine the injection profile and location of fractures created by [[hydraulic fracturing]],<ref name="USNRC regs">{{cite web |url=http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr1556/v14/Nuclear Regulatory Commission |title=Consolidated Guidance About Materials Licenses: Program-Specific Guidance About Well Logging, Tracer, and Field Flood Study Licenses (NUREG-1556, Volume 14)|publisher=U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission |date=June 2000 |accessdate=21 March 2012}}</ref><ref name="Reis iodine">Reis, John C. (1976). ''Environmental Control in Petroleum Engineering.'' Gulf Professional Publishers.</ref> <ref name="No5635712">[http://ip.com/patent/US5635712] Scott III, George L. (03-June-1997) US Patent No. 5635712: Method for monitoring the hydraulic fracturing of a subterranean formation. US Patent Publications.</ref><ref name="US4415805">[http://ip.com/patent/US4415805]Fertl; Walter H. (15-Nov-1983) US Patent No. US4415805: Method and apparatus for evaluating multiple stage fracturing or earth formations surrounding a borehole. US Patent Publications.</ref> <ref name="US5441110">[http://ip.com/patent/US5441110] Scott III, George L. (15-Aug-1995) US Patent No. US5441110: System and method for monitoring fracture growth during hydraulic fracture treatment. US Patent Publications.</ref> The [[National Cancer Institute]] has reported that children exposed to iodine-131 may have an increased risk of [[thyroid cancer]]. <ref name="NCI report">{{cite web |url=http://www.ieer.org/latest/ncipress.html |title=Press release: NCI Completes Nationwide Study of Radioactive Fallout from 1950s Nuclear Tests |publisher=National Cancer Institute |accessdate=25 February 2012}}</ref> In the notice, the Philadelphia Water department attributes the presence of [[Iodine-131]] to [[nuclear power|nuclear energy]] production and the March 2011 Japanese nuclear incident (Fukushima Nuclear Incident).


⚫
[[Iodine-131]] was also found in the [[Wissahickon Creek]], and at several sewage treatment plants along the creek near [[Philadelphia]] in late July 2011, long after the fallout from the Japanese incident would have decayed.<ref name="Wissahickon">{{cite web |url=http://articles.philly.com/2011-07-21/news/29798099_1_drinking-water-radioactive-iodine-water-department |title=Cancer patients' urine suspected in Wissahickon iodine-131 levels (short version)|author=Bauers, Sandy |date=21 July 2011 |publisher=Philadelphia inquirer |accessdate=25 February 2012}}</ref><ref name="Carbon County">{{cite web |url=http://carbonwaters.org/2011/07/cancer-patients-urine-suspected-in-wissahickon-iodine-131-levels/ |title=Cancer patients’ urine suspected in Wissahickon iodine-131 levels (More complete version of Wissahickon article with additional information) |author=Bauers, Bauers |date=21 July 2011 |publisher=Philadelphia inquirer, Carbon County Groundwater Guardians |accessdate=25 February 2012}}</ref> Historically, Iodine-131 had been found in several Philadelphia drinking water samples before. [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA) records showed that Philadelphia's [[iodine-131]] levels were the highest in the last decade in the set of those measured at 59 locations across the United States.<ref name="Carbon County" /> EPA records show readings above the acceptable limit of 3 pCi were recorded at Queens Lane Water Treatment Plant on three occasions and Belmont Water Treatment Plant on four occasions since October 2007. Levels are recorded 3-4 times a year. Readings at Baxter Water Treatment Plant were lower.[http://iaspub.epa.gov/enviro/erams_query_v2.simple_query] The [[EPA]] also found elevated levels of Iodine-131 in the water discharged from water treatment plants in nearby [[Ambler, PA|Ambler]] and [[Abington, PA|Abington]] in April 2011.<ref name="Abington06152011">{{cite web |url=http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/health-science/item/21635-iodine- |title=Philly officials still don't know where iodine in water coming from |author=Beeler, Carolyn |date=15 June 2011 |work=NewsWorks |publisher=WHYY news |accessdate=8 March 2012}}</ref> The EPA is concerned about radionuclide levels in drinking water. In March 2011 the EPA asked the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PDEP) to require "community water systems (CWSs) near publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) and centralized wastewater treatment (CWT) facilities receiving Marcellus Shale wastewater to conduct sampling immediately for radionuclides." They note that "in previous monitoring, radionuclides were not detected or were detected at levels less than one-half of maximum contaminant levels," but that "the CWS have not sampled after the introduction of Marcellus Shale operations." The EPA letter adds that "Discharges from these operations could increase radionuclide levels substantially."<ref name="EPA to PDEP">[http://www.epa.gov/region03/marcellus_shale/PADEP_Marcellus_Shale_030711.pdf March 7, 2011 Letter from the EPA to Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection]</ref> In 2011, the [[US Environmental Protection Agency]], [[Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection|Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection]] and the Philadelphia Water Department were working together to test surface water (rivers and streams) and discharge from water treatment plants. By June 2011, the [[EPA]] had ruled out hospital sources and the [[Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster]] as causes and were still trying to identify the source.<ref name="Abington06152011" /> In July 2011, although no source had been identified, the Philadelphia Water Department was attributing the elevated levels to thyroid cancer patients' urine.<ref name="Carbon County" /> As of 2012, the [[US Environmental Protection Agency]] had taken over the investigation of hydraulic fracturing in Pennsylvania (currently under the administration of pro-drilling Governor [[Tom Corbett]]).<ref name="corbett">{{cite web | url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pennsylvania-dep-secretary-defends-states-ability-to-regulate-hydraulic-fracturing-134054278.html | title=Pennsylvania DEP Secretary Defends States' Ability to Regulate Hydraulic Fracturing | date=November 17, 2011 | publisher=PR Newswire}}</ref>
<ref name="Carbon County">{{cite web |url=http://carbonwaters.org/2011/07/cancer-patients-urine-suspected-in-wissahickon-iodine-131-levels/ |title=Cancer patients’ urine suspected in Wissahickon iodine-131 levels (More complete version of Wissahickon article with additional information) |author=Bauers, Sandy |date=21 July 2011 |publisher=Philadelphia inquirer, Carbon County Groundwater Guardians |accessdate=25 February 2012}}</ref> [[nuclear power|nuclear energy]], and is a popular [[radioactive tracer]] used in [[hydraulic fracturing]] fluid since the 1970s to determine the injection profile and location of fractures created by [[hydraulic fracturing]],<ref name="USNRC regs">{{cite web |url=http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr1556/v14/Nuclear Regulatory Commission |title=Consolidated Guidance About Materials Licenses: Program-Specific Guidance About Well Logging, Tracer, and Field Flood Study Licenses (NUREG-1556, Volume 14)|publisher=U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission |date=June 2000 |accessdate=21 March 2012}}</ref><ref name="Reis iodine">Reis, John C. (1976). ''Environmental Control in Petroleum Engineering.'' Gulf Professional Publishers.</ref> <ref name="No5635712">[http://ip.com/patent/US5635712] Scott III, George L. (03-June-1997) US Patent No. 5635712: Method for monitoring the hydraulic fracturing of a subterranean formation. US Patent Publications.</ref><ref name="US4415805">[http://ip.com/patent/US4415805]Fertl; Walter H. (15-Nov-1983) US Patent No. US4415805: Method and apparatus for evaluating multiple stage fracturing or earth formations surrounding a borehole. US Patent Publications.</ref> <ref name="US5441110">[http://ip.com/patent/US5441110] Scott III, George L. (15-Aug-1995) US Patent No. US5441110: System and method for monitoring fracture growth during hydraulic fracture treatment. US Patent Publications.</ref> The [[National Cancer Institute]] has reported that children exposed to iodine-131 may have an increased risk of [[thyroid cancer]]. <ref name="NCI report">{{cite web |url=http://www.ieer.org/latest/ncipress.html |title=Press release: NCI Completes Nationwide Study of Radioactive Fallout from 1950s Nuclear Tests |publisher=National Cancer Institute |accessdate=25 February 2012}}</ref> In the notice, the Philadelphia Water department attributes the presence of [[Iodine-131]] to [[nuclear power|nuclear energy]] production and the March 2011 Japanese nuclear incident (Fukushima Nuclear Incident).


⚫
In Pennsylvania, much of this wastewater from hydraulic fracturing operations is processed by public sewage treatment plants. However, many in charge of sewage plants say that they are incapable of removing the radioactive components of this waste, which is often released into major rivers. Some are concerned that this provides the opportunity for radioactive waste, including [[Iodine-131]] to enter public water supplies.<ref name="Urbina 26Feb2011">{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/27/us/27gas.html |title=Regulation Lax as Gas Wells' Tainted Water Hits Rivers |author=Ian Urbina |date=26 February 2011 |newspaper=The New York Times |accessdate=22 February 2012}}</ref> Despite the fact that [[iodine-131]] has been found in drinking water in Philadelphia,<ref name="EPA radiation">{{cite web |url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffmcmahon/2011/04/10/epa-new-radiation-highs-in-little-rock-milk-philadelphia-drinking-water/ |title=EPA: New Radiation Highs in Little Rock Milk, Philadelphia Drinking Water |author=Jeff McMahon |date=10 April 2011 |publisher=Forbes |accessdate=22 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.epa.gov/japan011/rert/radnet-sampling-data.html#water|title=Japanese Nuclear Emergency: Radiation Monitoring |date=30 June 2011 |publisher=EPA |accessdate=23 February 2012}}</ref><ref name="Carbon County">{{cite web |url=http://carbonwaters.org/2011/07/cancer-patients-urine-suspected-in-wissahickon-iodine-131-levels/ |title=Cancer patients’ urine suspected in Wissahickon iodine-131 levels |author=Bauers, Sandy |date=21 July 2011 |publisher=Philadelphia inquirer, Carbon County Groundwater Guardians |accessdate=25 February 2012}}</ref> iodine-131 is not listed among the chemicals to be monitored in the EPA's Draft Hydraulic Fracturing Study Plan.[http://www.shalegas.energy.gov/resources/HFStudyPlanDraft_SAB_020711.pdf]. This is because the 2005 Clean Water Act includes a provision referred to as the "[[Halliburton]] Loophole" that prevents the EPA from measuring or regulating hydraulic fracturing. The EPA and the state authorities generally have the authority "to regulate discharge of produced waters from hydraulic operations" (EPA, 2011) under the Clean Water Act, which is regulated by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program.<ref>{{cite web |title=Regulation of Hydraulic Fracturing Under the Safe Drinking Water Act |url=http://water.epa.gov/type/groundwater/uic/class2/hydraulicfracturing/wells_hydroreg.cfm |publisher=EPA |date=31 October 2011 |accessdate=7 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Hydraulic Fracturing |publisher=Environmental Protection Agency |accessdate=5 October 2011 |url=http://water.epa.gov/type/groundwater/uic/class2/hydraulicfracturing/index.cfm}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Treatment and Disposal of Wastewater from Shale Gas Extraction | NPDES |publisher=Environmental Protection Agency |accessdate=15 October 2011 |url=http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/hydrofracturing.cfm}}</ref> Although this waste is regulated, oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) wastes are exempt from Federal Hazardous Waste Regulations under Subtitle C of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). This is in spite of the fact that wastewater from hydraulic fracturing contains toxins such as total dissolved solids (TDS), metals, and radionuclides.<ref>{{cite web |title=Exemption of Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Wastes from Federal Hazardous Waste Regulations |publisher=Environmental Protection Agency |accessdate=15 October 2011 |url=http://www.epa.gov/osw/nonhaz/industrial/special/oil/oil-gas.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Natural Gas Drilling in the Marcellus Shale NPDES Program Frequently Asked Questions |publisher=Environmental Protection Agency |date=16 March 2011 |accessdate=15 October 2011 |url=http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/hydrofracturing_faq.pdf}}</ref> Companies are still not required to provide the names of chemicals in "proprietary" formulas, so the chemical lists provided on company web sites are incomplete. <ref>FracFocus.org</ref><ref>{{cite web
⚫
[[Iodine-131]] was also found in the [[Wissahickon Creek]], and at several sewage treatment plants along the creek near [[Philadelphia]] in late July 2011, long after the fallout from the Japanese incident would have decayed.<ref name="Wissahickon">{{cite web |url=http://articles.philly.com/2011-07-21/news/29798099_1_drinking-water-radioactive-iodine-water-department |title=Cancer patients' urine suspected in Wissahickon iodine-131 levels (short version)|author=Bauers, Sandy |date=21 July 2011 |publisher=Philadelphia inquirer |accessdate=25 February 2012}}</ref><ref name="Carbon County">{{cite web |url=http://carbonwaters.org/2011/07/cancer-patients-urine-suspected-in-wissahickon-iodine-131-levels/ |title=Cancer patients’ urine suspected in Wissahickon iodine-131 levels (More complete version of Wissahickon article with additional information) |author=Bauers, Bauers |date=21 July 2011 |publisher=Philadelphia inquirer, Carbon County Groundwater Guardians |accessdate=25 February 2012}}</ref> Historically, Iodine-131 had been found in several Philadelphia drinking water samples before. [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA) records showed that Philadelphia's [[iodine-131]] levels were the highest in the last decade in the set of those measured at 59 locations across the United States.<ref name="Carbon County" /> EPA records show readings above the acceptable limit of 3 pCi were recorded at Queens Lane Water Treatment Plant on three occasions and Belmont Water Treatment Plant on four occasions since October 2007. Levels are recorded 3-4 times a year. Readings at Baxter Water Treatment Plant were lower.[http://iaspub.epa.gov/enviro/erams_query_v2.simple_query] The [[EPA]] also found elevated levels of Iodine-131 in the water discharged from water treatment plants in nearby [[Ambler, PA|Ambler]] and [[Abington, PA|Abington]] in April 2011.<ref name="Abington06152011">{{cite web |url=http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/health-science/item/21635-iodine- |title=Philly officials still don't know where iodine in water coming from |author=Beeler, Carolyn |date=15 June 2011 |work=NewsWorks |publisher=WHYY news |accessdate=8 March 2012}}</ref> The EPA is concerned about radionuclide levels in drinking water. In March 2011 the EPA asked the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PDEP) to require "community water systems (CWSs) near publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) and centralized wastewater treatment (CWT) facilities receiving Marcellus Shale wastewater to conduct sampling immediately for radionuclides." They note that "in previous monitoring, radionuclides were not detected or were detected at levels less than one-half of maximum contaminant levels," but that "the CWS have not sampled after the introduction of Marcellus Shale operations." The EPA letter adds that "Discharges from these operations could increase radionuclide levels substantially."<ref name="EPA to PDEP">[http://www.epa.gov/region03/marcellus_shale/PADEP_Marcellus_Shale_030711.pdf March 7, 2011 Letter from the EPA to Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection]</ref>The [[US Environmental Protection Agency]], [[Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection|Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection]] and the Philadelphia Water Department have been working together to test surface water (rivers and streams) and discharge from water treatment plants. By June 2011, the [[EPA]] had ruled out hospital sources and the [[Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster]] as causes and were still trying to identify the source.<ref name="Abington06152011" /> In July 2011, although no source had been identified, the Philadelphia Water Department was attributing the elevated levels to thyroid cancer patients' urine.<ref name="Carbon County" />

⚫
In Pennsylvania, much of this wastewater from hydraulic fracturing operations is processed by public sewage treatment plants. However, many in charge of sewage plants say that they are incapable of removing the radioactive components of this waste, which is often released into major rivers. Some are concerned that this provides the opportunity for radioactive waste, including [[Iodine-131]] to enter public water supplies.<ref name="Urbina 26Feb2011">{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/27/us/27gas.html |title=Regulation Lax as Gas Wells' Tainted Water Hits Rivers |author=Ian Urbina |date=26 February 2011 |newspaper=The New York Times |accessdate=22 February 2012}}</ref> Despite the fact that [[iodine-131]] has been found in drinking water in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, downstream from hydraulic fracturing sites,<ref name="EPA radiation">{{cite web |url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffmcmahon/2011/04/10/epa-new-radiation-highs-in-little-rock-milk-philadelphia-drinking-water/ |title=EPA: New Radiation Highs in Little Rock Milk, Philadelphia Drinking Water |author=Jeff McMahon |date=10 April 2011 |publisher=Forbes |accessdate=22 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.epa.gov/japan011/rert/radnet-sampling-data.html#water|title=Japanese Nuclear Emergency: Radiation Monitoring |date=30 June 2011 |publisher=EPA |accessdate=23 February 2012}}</ref><ref name="Carbon County">{{cite web |url=http://carbonwaters.org/2011/07/cancer-patients-urine-suspected-in-wissahickon-iodine-131-levels/ |title=Cancer patients’ urine suspected in Wissahickon iodine-131 levels |author=Bauers, Sandy |date=21 July 2011 |publisher=Philadelphia inquirer, Carbon County Groundwater Guardians |accessdate=25 February 2012}}</ref> iodine-131 is not listed among the chemicals to be monitored in the EPA's Draft Hydraulic Fracturing Study Plan.[http://www.shalegas.energy.gov/resources/HFStudyPlanDraft_SAB_020711.pdf]. This is because the 2005 Clean Water Act includes a provision referred to as the "[[Halliburton]] Loophole" that prevents the EPA from measuring or regulating hydraulic fracturing. The EPA and the state authorities generally have the authority "to regulate discharge of produced waters from hydraulic operations" (EPA, 2011) under the Clean Water Act, which is regulated by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program.<ref>{{cite web |title=Regulation of Hydraulic Fracturing Under the Safe Drinking Water Act |url=http://water.epa.gov/type/groundwater/uic/class2/hydraulicfracturing/wells_hydroreg.cfm |publisher=EPA |date=31 October 2011 |accessdate=7 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Hydraulic Fracturing |publisher=Environmental Protection Agency |accessdate=5 October 2011 |url=http://water.epa.gov/type/groundwater/uic/class2/hydraulicfracturing/index.cfm}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Treatment and Disposal of Wastewater from Shale Gas Extraction | NPDES |publisher=Environmental Protection Agency |accessdate=15 October 2011 |url=http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/hydrofracturing.cfm}}</ref> Although this waste is regulated, oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) wastes are exempt from Federal Hazardous Waste Regulations under Subtitle C of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). This is in spite of the fact that wastewater from hydraulic fracturing contains toxins such as total dissolved solids (TDS), metals, and radionuclides.<ref>{{cite web |title=Exemption of Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Wastes from Federal Hazardous Waste Regulations |publisher=Environmental Protection Agency |accessdate=15 October 2011 |url=http://www.epa.gov/osw/nonhaz/industrial/special/oil/oil-gas.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Natural Gas Drilling in the Marcellus Shale NPDES Program Frequently Asked Questions |publisher=Environmental Protection Agency |date=16 March 2011 |accessdate=15 October 2011 |url=http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/hydrofracturing_faq.pdf}}</ref> Companies are still not required to provide the names of chemicals in "proprietary" formulas, so the chemical lists provided on company web sites are incomplete. <ref>FracFocus.org</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url= http://www.propublica.org/article/fracking-chemicals-cited-in-congressional-report-stay-underground/single
|url= http://www.propublica.org/article/fracking-chemicals-cited-in-congressional-report-stay-underground/single
|title= Fracking Chemicals Cited in Congressional Report Stay Underground
|title= Fracking Chemicals Cited in Congressional Report Stay Underground
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===Current Solution===
===Current Solution===
Unable to locate and eliminate the source, the Philadelphia Water Department is upgrading its water treatment facilities and water management systems to better deal with the waste water. The water department plans to raise funds for the project by increasing Philadelphia residents' water and sewer rates over the next four years, rather than asking for money from the state or the oil and gas companies.[http://www.phila.gov/water/Press_Release/pr20120203Rates.pdf] The warning about iodine-131 was still posted on the Philadelphia Water Department web site as of March 1, 2012. No contaminant levels have been posted on the EPA web site since April 2011.<ref name="iodine 131" />The [[US Environmental Protection Agency]] is taking over the investigation of hydraulic fracturing in Pennsylvania (currently under the administration of pro-drilling Governor [[Tom Corbett]]) to the degree permitted under the current laws.<ref name="corbett">{{cite web | url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pennsylvania-dep-secretary-defends-states-ability-to-regulate-hydraulic-fracturing-134054278.html | title=Pennsylvania DEP Secretary Defends States' Ability to Regulate Hydraulic Fracturing | date=November 17, 2011 | publisher=PR Newswire}}</ref>
Unable to locate and eliminate the source, the Philadelphia Water Department is upgrading its water treatment facilities and water management systems to better deal with the waste water. The water department plans to raise funds for the project by increasing Philadelphia residents' water and sewer rates over the next four years.[http://www.phila.gov/water/Press_Release/pr20120203Rates.pdf] The warning about iodine-131 was still posted on the Philadelphia Water Department web site as of March 1, 2012. No contaminant levels have been posted on the EPA web site since April 2011.<ref name="iodine 131" />


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 17:01, 21 March 2012

Philadelphia Water Department
Philadelphia Water Department logo
Utility overview
Formed1801
JurisdictionCity of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
HeadquartersARAMARK Tower
1101 Market Street, FL 5

Philadelphia, PA 19107
39°57′08″N 75°09′31″W / 39.9521°N 75.1585°W / 39.9521; -75.1585 39° 57′ 7.56″ N, 75° 9′ 30.6″ W

39.9521, -75.1585
Employees2,000[1]
Annual budget$607,576,000, FY ending 2008-06-31, actual[2]
Utility executive
  • Howard Neukrug, Water Commissioner
Websitehttp://www.phila.gov/water

The Philadelphia Water Department provides integrated potable water, wastewater, and stormwater services for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and some communities in Bucks, Delaware and Montgomery Counties. [3]

The primary mission of the department is the planning, operation and maintenance of both the physical infrastructure and the organized personnel needed to provide high quality drinking water, and to provide an adequate and reliable water supply for all domestic, commercial, and industrial requirements, and to manage wastewater and stormwater to protect and improve the quality of the region’s watersheds, especially the Delaware River and the Schuylkill River.[3]

Drinking water

Philadelphia Water Department Belmont Pumping Station, built 1900, Martin Luther King, Jr., Drive at Montgomery Drive, Philadelphia, PA. View from the parking lot, looking north, with the Columbia Railroad Bridge in the background.

The Water Department draws about half of its water from the Schuylkill River, and about half from the Delaware River. The Queen Lane Plant in East Falls draws water from an intake pumping station (1895) on Kelly Drive. The Belmont Plant on Belmont Avenue in Wynnefield draws water from an intake pumping station (1870-1900) on Martin Luther King, Jr., Drive. [4] The Fairmount Dam prevents brackish water from the Delaware River from coming up the Schuylkill from the Delaware with the tide.[5]

The Baxter Plant draws water from the Delaware River from an intake next to the plant.


Water Quality

In April 2011, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found elevated iodine-131 levels in Philadelphia's drinking water.[6][7] In response to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) findings, the Philadelphia Water Department posted a notice that Iodine-131 had been found in the water supply.[8] Iodine-131 is associated with the treatment of thyroid cancer,[9][10] nuclear energy, and is a popular radioactive tracer used in hydraulic fracturing fluid since the 1970s to determine the injection profile and location of fractures created by hydraulic fracturing,[11][12] [13][14] [15] The National Cancer Institute has reported that children exposed to iodine-131 may have an increased risk of thyroid cancer. [16] In the notice, the Philadelphia Water department attributes the presence of Iodine-131 to nuclear energy production and the March 2011 Japanese nuclear incident (Fukushima Nuclear Incident).

Iodine-131 was also found in the Wissahickon Creek, and at several sewage treatment plants along the creek near Philadelphia in late July 2011, long after the fallout from the Japanese incident would have decayed.[9][10] Historically, Iodine-131 had been found in several Philadelphia drinking water samples before. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) records showed that Philadelphia's iodine-131 levels were the highest in the last decade in the set of those measured at 59 locations across the United States.[10] EPA records show readings above the acceptable limit of 3 pCi were recorded at Queens Lane Water Treatment Plant on three occasions and Belmont Water Treatment Plant on four occasions since October 2007. Levels are recorded 3-4 times a year. Readings at Baxter Water Treatment Plant were lower.[4] The EPA also found elevated levels of Iodine-131 in the water discharged from water treatment plants in nearby Ambler and Abington in April 2011.[17] The EPA is concerned about radionuclide levels in drinking water. In March 2011 the EPA asked the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PDEP) to require "community water systems (CWSs) near publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) and centralized wastewater treatment (CWT) facilities receiving Marcellus Shale wastewater to conduct sampling immediately for radionuclides." They note that "in previous monitoring, radionuclides were not detected or were detected at levels less than one-half of maximum contaminant levels," but that "the CWS have not sampled after the introduction of Marcellus Shale operations." The EPA letter adds that "Discharges from these operations could increase radionuclide levels substantially."[18] In 2011, the US Environmental Protection Agency, Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection and the Philadelphia Water Department were working together to test surface water (rivers and streams) and discharge from water treatment plants. By June 2011, the EPA had ruled out hospital sources and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster as causes and were still trying to identify the source.[17] In July 2011, although no source had been identified, the Philadelphia Water Department was attributing the elevated levels to thyroid cancer patients' urine.[10] As of 2012, the US Environmental Protection Agency had taken over the investigation of hydraulic fracturing in Pennsylvania (currently under the administration of pro-drilling Governor Tom Corbett).[19]

In Pennsylvania, much of this wastewater from hydraulic fracturing operations is processed by public sewage treatment plants. However, many in charge of sewage plants say that they are incapable of removing the radioactive components of this waste, which is often released into major rivers. Some are concerned that this provides the opportunity for radioactive waste, including Iodine-131 to enter public water supplies.[20] Despite the fact that iodine-131 has been found in drinking water in Philadelphia,[6][21][10] iodine-131 is not listed among the chemicals to be monitored in the EPA's Draft Hydraulic Fracturing Study Plan.[5]. This is because the 2005 Clean Water Act includes a provision referred to as the "Halliburton Loophole" that prevents the EPA from measuring or regulating hydraulic fracturing. The EPA and the state authorities generally have the authority "to regulate discharge of produced waters from hydraulic operations" (EPA, 2011) under the Clean Water Act, which is regulated by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program.[22][23][24] Although this waste is regulated, oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) wastes are exempt from Federal Hazardous Waste Regulations under Subtitle C of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). This is in spite of the fact that wastewater from hydraulic fracturing contains toxins such as total dissolved solids (TDS), metals, and radionuclides.[25][26] Companies are still not required to provide the names of chemicals in "proprietary" formulas, so the chemical lists provided on company web sites are incomplete. [27][28]

Congress has been urged to repeal the 2005 regulatory exemption ("Halliburton Loophole") under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 by supporting The FRAC Act, introduced in June 2009, but has so far refused.[29] The oil and gas industry contributes heavily to campaign funds.[30][[6]] The FRAC Act, introduced in June 2009, would eliminate the exemption and might allow producing wells to be reclassified as injection wells placing them under federal jurisdiction in states without approved UIC programs. In June 2009 two identical bills named the Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act were introduced to the United States House and the Senate. The House bill was introduced by representatives Diana DeGette, D-Colo., Maurice Hinchey D-N.Y., and Jared Polis, D-Colo. The Senate version was introduced by senators Bob Casey, D-Pa., and Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. These bills were designed to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to allow the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate hydraulic fracturing that occurs in states which have not taken primacy in UIC regulation. The bill required the energy industry to reveal what chemicals are being used in fracking fluid. The 111th Congress adjourned (Jan. 3, 2011) without taking action on the "FRAC Act." The FRAC Act was re-introduced in both houses of the 112th United States Congress. In the Senate, Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced S. 587 on March 15, 2011.[31] In the House, Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) introduced H.R. 1084 on March 24, 2011.[32]As of March 2012 Congress had not yet passed either of The FRAC Act bills[33][34]

Current Solution

Unable to locate and eliminate the source, the Philadelphia Water Department is upgrading its water treatment facilities and water management systems to better deal with the waste water. The water department plans to raise funds for the project by increasing Philadelphia residents' water and sewer rates over the next four years.[7] The warning about iodine-131 was still posted on the Philadelphia Water Department web site as of March 1, 2012. No contaminant levels have been posted on the EPA web site since April 2011.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Key Statistics about Philadelphia Water Department". LinkedIn. Archived from the original on 2010-08-03. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
  2. ^ "PWD 2008 Financial Report" (PDF). Philadelphia Water Department. 2008. p. 21. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
  3. ^ a b "Philadelphia Water Department, Mission". Philadelphia Water Department web site. City of Philadelphia. Archived from the original on 2010-08-01. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
  4. ^ Gibson, Jane Mork (1990). "Belmont Pumping Station, 1899-1900". Workshop of the World. Oliver Evans Press. Archived from the original on 2010-08-03. Retrieved 2010-08-03. The City of Philadelphia maintains two pumping stations that draw water from the Schuylkill River—Belmont (1870) and Queen Lane (1895)—both of which are connected to filtration and water purification facilities.
  5. ^ Gibson, Jane Mork (1990). "Fairmount Dam, 1819-1821". Workshop of the World. Oliver Evans Press. Archived from the original on 2010-08-03. Retrieved 2010-08-03. Originally constructed for ponding of the river for water supply and for waterpower, Fairmount Dam no longer is needed for waterpower, but it continues to serve the city by providing a water supply storage area for two pumping stations with intakes on the Schuylkill.
  6. ^ a b Jeff McMahon (10 April 2011). "EPA: New Radiation Highs in Little Rock Milk, Philadelphia Drinking Water". Forbes. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  7. ^ "Japanese Nuclear Emergency: Radiation Monitoring". EPA. 30 June 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  8. ^ a b "Iodine 131 Found in Philadelphia's Drinking Water" (PDF). Philadelphia Water Department. April 12, 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  9. ^ a b Bauers, Sandy (21 July 2011). "Cancer patients' urine suspected in Wissahickon iodine-131 levels (short version)". Philadelphia inquirer. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
  10. ^ a b c d e Bauers, Sandy (21 July 2011). "Cancer patients' urine suspected in Wissahickon iodine-131 levels (More complete version of Wissahickon article with additional information)". Philadelphia inquirer, Carbon County Groundwater Guardians. Retrieved 25 February 2012. Cite error: The named reference "Carbon County" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  11. ^ Regulatory Commission "Consolidated Guidance About Materials Licenses: Program-Specific Guidance About Well Logging, Tracer, and Field Flood Study Licenses (NUREG-1556, Volume 14)". U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. June 2000. Retrieved 21 March 2012. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  12. ^ Reis, John C. (1976). Environmental Control in Petroleum Engineering. Gulf Professional Publishers.
  13. ^ [1] Scott III, George L. (03-June-1997) US Patent No. 5635712: Method for monitoring the hydraulic fracturing of a subterranean formation. US Patent Publications.
  14. ^ [2]Fertl; Walter H. (15-Nov-1983) US Patent No. US4415805: Method and apparatus for evaluating multiple stage fracturing or earth formations surrounding a borehole. US Patent Publications.
  15. ^ [3] Scott III, George L. (15-Aug-1995) US Patent No. US5441110: System and method for monitoring fracture growth during hydraulic fracture treatment. US Patent Publications.
  16. ^ "Press release: NCI Completes Nationwide Study of Radioactive Fallout from 1950s Nuclear Tests". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
  17. ^ a b Beeler, Carolyn (15 June 2011). "Philly officials still don't know where iodine in water coming from". NewsWorks. WHYY news. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  18. ^ March 7, 2011 Letter from the EPA to Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
  19. ^ "Pennsylvania DEP Secretary Defends States' Ability to Regulate Hydraulic Fracturing". PR Newswire. November 17, 2011.
  20. ^ Ian Urbina (26 February 2011). "Regulation Lax as Gas Wells' Tainted Water Hits Rivers". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  21. ^ "Japanese Nuclear Emergency: Radiation Monitoring". EPA. 30 June 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  22. ^ "Regulation of Hydraulic Fracturing Under the Safe Drinking Water Act". EPA. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
  23. ^ "Hydraulic Fracturing". Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  24. ^ "Treatment and Disposal of Wastewater from Shale Gas Extraction". Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved 15 October 2011. {{cite web}}: Text "NPDES" ignored (help)
  25. ^ "Exemption of Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Wastes from Federal Hazardous Waste Regulations" (PDF). Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  26. ^ "Natural Gas Drilling in the Marcellus Shale NPDES Program Frequently Asked Questions" (PDF). Environmental Protection Agency. 16 March 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  27. ^ FracFocus.org
  28. ^ "Fracking Chemicals Cited in Congressional Report Stay Underground". ProPublica. April 8, 2011. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
  29. ^ Mulkern, Anne C. (May 7, 2009). "Industry campaign targets 'hydraulic fracturing' bill". The New York Times. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
  30. ^ "Oil & Gas: Money to Congress". OpenSecrets.org. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  31. ^ H.R. 1084: S. 587: FRAC Act
  32. ^ H.R. 1084: Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act of 2011
  33. ^ "H.R. 1084: Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act of 2011". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  34. ^ "S. 587: FRAC Act". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
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