Field Office Compliance - Assistance

Assistance ID - 111687
Des Moines Water Works - 310338211
9966 Maffitt Lake Dr Cumming, IA 50061
Dallas County

FO 5

Report
File Name File Type File Date Note
Comments
3/21/2020 COVID-19 & PWS Gastineau, Janet <janet.gastineau@dnr.iowa.gov> Tue, Mar 17, 3:16 PM (4 days ago) to bcc: Contact, bcc: Jim, bcc: Contact, bcc: Jordon, bcc: grangerpubworks, bcc: rhonda, bcc: Contact, bcc: Troy, bcc: Tad Some of you have been asking some good questions about your water supplies. Here are some things in the way of preparation/prevention that can be done at the local level. Some may not apply to your operation and others are good reminders or ideas on how to be well prepared and proceed under current circumstances. Understand the well being and availability of water system operators is paramount and protect them accordingly. Require operators to disinfect common work stations (SCADA station, control consoles, lab equipment, truck steering wheels and shifters, common door knobs, bathrooms, etc) after each shift. Water operators should practice social distancing to reduce virus exposure. Restrict nonessential outside visits such as vendors, plant tours, contractors, etc. Suspend nonessential construction activities if contractors are in usual contact with operators or sharing common facilities (rest rooms, meeting rooms, equipment. Adjust bacti samples receiving procedures to avoid operator contact with the public, such as using a drop off box or window. Update critical standard operating procedures so someone with little familiarity could come in and run the plant. Ensure critical operators have smart phones at home so they can be consulted even if in quarantine. Ensure an adequate supply of materials (treatment chemicals, lab reagents, lab standards, generator fuel, and other consumables). Make sure sample site plans are up to date and accessible. Modify sample plans to avoid operator contact with certain facilities (densely populated places, immune-compromised populations, schools, etc) during the emergency. Make sure operations staff are communicating frequently with management staff about the health status and availability of operators. Provide water treatment cross training to other public works personnel who may be available if there is a shortage of WTP operators. Communicate with chemical suppliers on product availability. Many supply chains are being impacted by the pandemic. Schedule and complete any urgent maintenance activities while O&M staff are available. Review community mutual aid agreements and update contacts. Identify experienced operators familiar with your facility and/or living nearby. Reach out to see if they are willing and available to help out in an emergency. Supply necessary provisions (showers, rest area, food, etc) for extended shift operations if necessary. Prepare communication materials for the public about virus transmission in drinking water. CDC has some info here. The Iowa DNR is waiting to hear from EPA on a few things related to distribution system sampling, so when we do I'll let you know. In the meantime, you can modify total coliform plans as necessary to ensure you're able to get your samples collected each month. If you go to the same place a couple of months in a row, that's OK. If you collect several samples/month and need to return to the same location because the pool of accessible locations is dwindling, that's OK too. Just try to put as much time as possible between samples taken at the same location. Use good judgement and thoroughly document changes made to sampling plans you normally follow. The conditions of your discharge and/or operations permits still apply in order to provide protection of public health, the environment, and you. Therefore, the conditions for operation and maintenance of facilities, monitoring, and compliance with discharge limits and primary drinking water standards and treatment techniques should continue to be implemented to the extent possible. Please continue to consult with FO5 staff as necessary. If you can't reach me, our general number is 515-725-0268 and you will be put through to other staff. Please feel free to share this with other operators. JANET GASTINEAU
3/21/2020 Kyle reiterated some concerns they have for their staff and the covid-19 requirement to close so many public places. We talked about alternatives, such as using fewer sites spread across the month and that the Iowa DNR would be taking enforcement discretion. JANET GASTINEAU
State of Iowa DNR Home Site Policy
Leading Iowans in caring for our natural resources
Version: 2.3.1.23706
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