Document zQzm20kO8dXVQvb9n6kXKna77

X 16 September 1980 * 4 ** Mrs, Adlene Harrison Regional Administrator Environmental Protection Agency, Region VI First International Building 1Z01 Elm Street Dallas, Texas 75210 Dear Mrs. Harrison: The attached response paper from Region IV, United States Environmental Protection Agency regarding water pipeline materials Is most Informative. Water utilities are moBt perplexed in trying to select a pipe material that does present the lowest health risk. I would appreciate your review of this response paper and your confirmation that the opinions expressed do represent the present thinking of the Environmental Protection Agency. The City Water Board is presently reviewing our present practices to insure that the material->elng used for our water distribution system meets all the existing regulations and presents the least health risk to our customers As you know, the City Water Board's source of supply is the Edwards Aquifer which is classified as a nonaggressive water and according to the response paper asbestos cement pipe should be the best selection. However, your comments regarding the opinions expressed in this response paper are requested to insure that an erroneous conclusion is not reached. Very truly yours. Enclosure OABiid General Manager CAPCO JEN 0009993 FROM: CITY WATER BOARD 10/10/80 (Jack Mullen, Brooks & Associates, 227-3454) Asbestos cement pipe used by the City Water Board in its water distribution system represents the least health risk to customers, according to a letter received by the utility from the Environmental Protection Agency's regional office in Dallas. Replying to a request from Robert P. Van Dyke, CWB general manager, seeking EPA's opinion on acceptable water * pipeline materials, Mac A. Weaver, the region's acting chief of water supply said: ''Extensive evidence, indicates that in systems having an Aggressive Index (AI) greater than 12. 0, asbestos cement pipe does not dissolve and thereby release asbestos fibers. Such' material does represent the lowest health risk pipe material for non-aggressive waters according to the best information available to us at this time. " Van Dyke explained that using this Index San Antonio's water is classified as mildly aggressive to non-aggressive and is suitable for pipelines made of asbestos cement. He said CWB will continue its investigation of materials being used in the utility's water distribution system to insure they meet all-existing regulations and present the least health risk to water users. . - 30.- i* - \ * CAPCO JEN 0009994