Document 2qrqbDdZXkgq71DYmX6ZGnrgR

SUMMARY OF THE MICHIGAN HATER RESOURCES COMMISSION PCS MONITORING EFFORTS a 12/7-27 The Michigan Hater Resources Coranission began monitoring for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's) early in 1971. Investigations were first aimed at deter mining the extent of contaminated waters throughout the state and at isolating the problem areas. Samples wore obtained from all major tributaries to the Great lakes on a seasonal basis, from 36 interstate water intakes, and from a small number of groundwater sources. The emphasis was then switched toward identification of point sources of contamination. This has involved sampling of representative sanitary and industrial landfills, all major municipal wastewater treatment plant discharges, and discharges from a cross section of industries believed to be potential sources of PCS losses. A special intensive study has been conducted on the Saginaw River, the stream where the highest levels were detected in the tributary sampling phase of the program. ' Search for Problem Areas Great Lakes Tributary Hater Samples During 1971, 93 water samples (mostly 30-honr composites) from 30 major - tributaries to the Great lakes were analyzed for I'CB concentrations, lhe results Indicate that PCC contamination of surface waters is widespread through out the state with 71 percent of all samples having detectable (greater than 10 ppt) concentrations. In only 7 streams, however, have concentrations been ..detected at greater than- 100 ppt, the level which is being considered as an environmental water quality standard (Fetterolf, Personal Corwnunication): Black River (Port Huron), Flint River, Tittabawasseo River, Saginaw River, Clinton River, River Rouge, and River Raisin. All of these streams are located in the southeastern portion of the Lower Peninsula. The Saginaw River has consistently had the highest concentrations with as much as 2,900 ppt on one date. Great lakes Hater Intakes Analyses of 36 Great Lakes water intakes in 1971 indicate lower PCB concen trations in the Great Lakes and connecting waters than in tributary streams. Only 3 of the 36 samples contained detectable concentrations (greater than --10-ppt). The highest value detected was 301 ppt at the Escanaba water intake. Since no drinking water standard for PCB's has been established, wc requested Information from EPA on what they would consider hazardous levels of PCB's in drinking water supplies. It is probable that a standard will be set for PCB's In drinking water supplies similar to the limits established for DDT since these compounds are closely related chemically and in biological activity. The drinking water standard for DDT is A2000 ppt, much higher than the concen trations detected at any of the water intakes. As a further check, however, those water intakes where PCB's were found present have been scheduled for MONS 066714 r -2- resampling in the immediate future. Groundwater Samp! inq limited sampling of groundwater drinking supplies in tile southern Lower Peninsula has indicated that groundwater has not been significantly contaminated with PCB's. One of the 4 samples tested contained 19 ppt while the other 3 were less than 10 ppt. . Search for Point Sources Sanitary and Industrial landfills Analyses of surface water runoff from sanitary and industrial landfills in Michigan suggest that these are a minor source of environmental contamination. Five of the 9 samples collected had PCB concentrations ranging from 40 to 300 ppt while the others contained less than 10 ppt. --------- ------------------- \ Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants Discharges from municipal wasteviater treatment facilities appear to be a very significant source of PCB losses to the waters of the state. Twenty-eight of 32 Ut/TP discharges sampled contained greater than 100 ppt PCB's. Eignt of those had concentrations in excess of 1,000 ppt: WWTP Date PCB's (ppt) Kalamazoo FI int Saginaw Detroit Benton Harbor Bay City Portage Mount Clemens . 10- 5-71 10- 5-71 10- 6-71 10-14-71 10-20-71 11- 4-71 11-22-71 11-23-71 11-15-71 11-15-71 1,300 1,300 1,100 3,600 1,000 336,000 175,000 60,000 1,900 . 1,400 Those municipal wastewater treatment plants sampled include the majority of all plants in Michigan serving populations greater than 20,000. The Bay City discharge contained by far the highest-PCB concentrations. By sampling at key points along the Bay City sewer interceptors, we have defined the local area in the city where the major PCB input to the city system originates. Subsequent samples have been obtained (analyses not yet available) which should pinpoint the major source or sources. Detroit WWTP discharge had the second highest PCB concentration of any of the municipal treatment plants. Plans have been initiated with Detroit City officials to begin a systematic sampling program of interceptors within the city system in order to isolate significant points of input. ' * ' MOMS 066715 r -3- Industrial Discharge Sampling * ' Discharges from a cross-section of industries throughout Michigan were sampled for PCB concentrations. PCB losses from industries is apparently very widespread. Thirty of 58 industrial discharges tested had PCB concentrations greater than 100 ppt. Eleven industries had discharges containing PCB's in excess of 1,000 ppt: .- PCB`s (ppt) Buick Motors, Flint Bohn Aluminium l Brass, Holland Amway Corporation, Ada Chevrolet Saginaw Nodular Casting ' Dow Chemical TCC Plant, Bay City* Dow Chemical Bay Refinery, Bay City* Dow Chemical Petroleum Division, Bay City* Consolidated Packaging Corporation, Monroe Fletcher Paper Company, Alpena Port Huron Paper Company, Port Huron Chevrolet Parts Plant, Bay City 6,600 8,100 2,300 1,200 1,200 2,300 2.100 3,200 2,600 3,900 120,000 -........ - - * Hater intakes for these plants have at one time had concentrations as high as the value shown for the discharge. letters requesting immediate inventories of PC3 usage have been sent to all industries found to have more than 1,000 ppt in their discharge. All of the above Industries have responded to our request either verbally or in writing. Only three knew of any PCB use in any of their process and these will soon have replaced hydraulic fluids containing high concentrations of PCB's. Most of the industries, who were not aware of any use of PCB's in their plants, have initiated questionnaire surveys of all their suppliers. Saginaw River Survey Because the Saginaw River was identified as having the highest PCB concen trations of any major tributary to the Great Lakes within Michigan, an intensive survey effort has been conducted to isolate the major sources of PCB contamina tion in that basin. Water samples collected at key locations ranging from each of the four major tributaries of the Saginaw down to the mouth of the river indicated that the primary increase in PCB concentrations occurs in a short zone in the immediate vicinity of Bay City and Essoxville. More Intensive sampling in that zone revealed two major sources of PCB losses ' to the river: .. 1. Bay City Wastewater Treatment Plant - 2. Chevrolet Parts Division of General Motors MOMS 066716 -4- ' Actions taken in regard to these two sources have been mentioned ear'll- this report. ' . . Monitoring Plans for the Future The Bureau of Water Management will continue to sample industrial disthroughout the state in the search for additional sources of PCB con; Me will do follow-up studies on municipal wastewater treatment plants significant levels of PCB's have been detected. Studies on the Bay C Detroit systems have already been initiated. As has been done with t Saginaw River, more Intensive surveys will be conducted on the strew where high concentrations of PCB's have been detected during the tri\ sampling phase of the program. OUi/mf 12/15/71 Prepared by: . John l. Hesse Aquatic Biologist Water Quality Control Division Water Resources Commission Bureau of Water Management Lansing, Michigan MCNS 066 717