HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 05151990 - S.6 To: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FRCM: j Contra
Finucane Costa
Health Services Director
DATE: coirty
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May 15, 1990
SUBJECT:
Water Contamination in the Danville Area
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
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I . RECOMMENDED ACTION:
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Accept report from the Health Services �Director.
II . BACKGROUND: l
See attached report.
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CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: XX YES SIGNATURE: q'
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RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S�
ACTION OF BOARD ON May 15, 1990 r.^PROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER
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VOTE OF SUPERVISORS l
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS 1S A TRUE
X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES,,; NOE:S: AND ENTERED ON THE M1NOTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OV SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
CC: Health Services Director ATTESTED /977W-40,
/9 90
County Administrator PHIL BA _HELOR. CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
� (O
M382/7-83 BY � —
,DEPUTY
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CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
HEALTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT
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May 14, 1990
To: Board of Supervisors
From: Mark Finucane
Health Services Director
by Wendel Brunner, M.D.
��`-�`'�' �✓ '
Director of Public Health
Re: Water Contamination in the Danville Area.
Overview.
Several subdivisions in the Danville area are currently being
investigated for water contaminated with copper. The Health
Services Department is working with the State Department of Health
Services to assure public health protections by coordinating
multiple agency response to this issue, aggressively following-up
investigations, and serving as the central public education and
information agency. A community meeting is being scheduled by the
Health Services Department for Monday, May 2.1, lin Danville to
provide up-to-date information to local residents and to answer any
of their questions.
Health Services Department Activities .
Approximately two weeks ago, Robert Holtzer, M.D. ` with the State
Health Services Department, contacted William Walker, M.D.
indicating that a homeowner in Danville had askedfor toxicology
information on water contaminated with copper. The County Health
Services Department began an investigation into the issue which
indicated that several homes in Blackhawk and other subdivisions
in Danville were experiencing the "blue water" contamination. The
Health Services Department contacted the East ! Bay Municipal
Utilities District (EBMUD) which has done some water testing in
coordination with the State Department of Health Services .
The Contra Costa Health Services Department ran a series of tests
from four households in two of the three subdivisions experiencing
the "blue water" contamination. These households were chosen
because they were easily accessible and because they indicated a
potential contamination (blue or cloudy water which can indicate
copper contamination) . Results showed a copper contamination level
of 4 to 60 parts per -million (ppm) . A taste standard (not health
standard) calls for 1 ppm copper level in drinking water. EBMUD
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and Pacific Gas and Electric have continued their testing programs
and will report results to the County Health Services Department
later this week.
On Tuesday, May 8, 1990 the Health Services Department conducted
a meeting between Pacific Gas and Electric, EBMUD, State Department
of Health Services, and three housing developers to plan continued
analysis and investigation of the contamination ;problem and to
inform the public. A flyer was distributed to residents in the
area, and dozens of phone calls have beenHandled by the
Environmental Health Division staff . In addition. ((information has
been given to KGO Radio, the San Ramon Valley Times and the San
Ramon Herald newspapers . i
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Health Concerns .
County Health Services Department is in contact ;�with the State
Health Services Water Toxicology Unit, to gather data on the
potential health effects of drinking water contaminated with
copper. The most likely health effect is gastro-intestinal upset,
including nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, which resolves when
the exposure to copper is removed. We are looking into other
potential health problems that might occur in some individuals .
The Health Services Department has leafleted+ the affected
neighborhoods urging people to drink only bottled water at this
time. This health advisory will remain in effect until the
situation is thoroughly investigated and the problems resolved.
Potential Causes of the Contamination.
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Several theories for the cause of the copper contamination are
being investigated. Some of the most common theories are:
- ungrounded or dissimilar electrical wires could be causing
electrolysis that causes copper to leach from the water
pipes;
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- there could be chemical residues left in the ;pipe joint solder
which is now leaching into the water;
appliances with dissimilar metals touching the copper may not
be properly grounded and thus are leaching copper;
- "aggressiveness" of the water, i .e. , it may contain a pH
level that assists the copper leaching from the pipes .
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It is uncertain how long it will take to complete this
investigation. The Health Services Department will continue to
coordinate the involvement of the multiple agencies until this
problem is resolved.
Future Actions .
The County Health Services Department has called two meetings
within the next week to follow-up on this issue. The first meeting
will be with agency representatives to review and evaluate testing
results to prepare for a public meeting. The second will be a
public meeting scheduled for Monday, May 21, 7 :00 p.m. , City of
Danville, at the Educational Services Center at 6991O1d Orchard Rd.
Both of these meetings will be chaired by the, County Health
Services Department. The public meeting will present the technical
and medical information that is known to date, reconfirm the health
directive for residents, and answer any questions and address
concerns from the public. The Health Services ;Department will
stay involved in this project at every level until it is completely
resolved.
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