Pennsylvania Sets New Limits on Total Dissolved Solids in Rivers,
Including Monongahela
The new limits stem from a 2008 problem that fouled drinking water.
The State Journal
17 April 2009
By Pam Kasey
New discharge standards for total dissolved solids will take effect in
Pennsylvania in January 2011, the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection announced April 16.
The department said the new limits will protect aquatic life and
drinking water supplies.
"High total dissolved solids in industrial wastewater have been a
problem in the Monongahela River recently and are an impending problem
on a statewide level," said acting Secretary John Hanger.
His comment made reference to a fall 2008 period during which
incompletely treated gas well drilling brine fouled drinking water
drawn from the Monongahela River in Pennsylvania during low river
flows.
Drinking water upriver in north-central West Virginia was not affected
at that time.
Both states' streams assimilate total dissolved solids, or TDS, from a
variety of wastewater sources, including oil and gas well drilling and
abandoned coal mines.
Drinking water treatment facilities are not normally equipped to treat
chlorides and sulfates, components of TDS, and rely on low levels of
these contaminants in drinking water supplies.
But more incidents like last fall's are feared as gas well development
in the Marcellus shale formation increases in the region.
"It is vital that new treatment methods are instituted so that public
municipal drinking water supplies and other industrial uses are not
disadvantaged by increased total dissolved solids and chlorides in our
surface waters and that developing our natural gas reserves is not
unduly constrained," Hanger said.
By January 2011, all Pennsylvania facilities accepting high-TDS
wastewater for treatment must meet the new permitted limits of 500
milligrams per liter of TDS and 250 mg/L for both chlorides and
sulfates.
Little gas well drilling brine enters West Virginia rivers at this
time.
But if it should increase, the state does not have a discharge standard
for TDS.
To view PADEP's Permitting Strategy for High Total Dissolved Solids
Wastewater Discharges, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword:
Wastewater, then select the "Marcellus Shale Wastewater Partnership"
link.