RAPID GOALI: Chemical Contamination and Remediation of Plastic Drinking Water Infrastructure during the West Virginia American Water Drinking Contamination Incident

西弗吉尼亚州查尔斯顿的一家选煤厂意外泄漏了目前数量不详的4-甲基环己烷甲醇(估计在3,000至7,500加仑之间)，损害了查尔斯顿和附近县多达30万水用户的饮用水供应。这一悲剧导致禁止使用饮用水，并导致包括学校和企业在内的几个机构关闭。奥巴马总统于2014年1月10日星期五发布了联邦政府对该州的灾难声明，为该州提供联邦援助。公用事业公司和政府响应人员没有必要的信息来确定塑料管污染的程度，以及它们通过清洁水冲洗来净化的能力。众所周知，塑料饮用水管道特别容易受到化学物质的渗透。本项目将探索用塑料聚氯乙烯(PVC)、高密度聚乙烯(HDPE)和交联型聚乙烯(PEX)管道控制污染物命运的过程，以及冲洗过程中污染物的解吸。这些材料还用于制冰机、冰箱和洗碗机。该项目团队将：(1)调查住宅供水系统饮用水质量，(2)确定污染物浓度、管道材料类型和直径对滞留期间观察到的化学浓度的作用，(3)量化几种有机污染物和管道材料的扩散系数和溶解度，(4)确定化学命运、物理化学特性和塑料管道性能之间的重要关系，以及(5)阐明冲洗活动修复受污染塑料管道的能力。该项目的结果将是：(1)纳入几项课堂饮用水污染调查活动，要求他们经历与应急人员、公用事业工作人员和房主相同的事实调查过程；(2)在AWWA全国会议上向饮用水公用事业和监管行业提交结果；和(3)向一家专注于环境科学和工程的杂志提交了一篇研究论文。在我们对饮用水处理厂中4-甲基环己烷乙醇(MCHM)化学泄漏的影响及其对消费者的潜在风险的科学理解中，较大的差距之一是该化学物质在塑料管道中的“溶解度”，或者是吸附到处理厂的管道、水箱和基础设施中。然后，一旦被吸收，随着时间的推移，它需要多长时间才能释放到水中。这些信息随后将在漏油的整体长期影响中进行评估。

Whelton1424627An accidental spill of a currently unknown quantity (estimated between 3,000 and 7,500 gallons) of 4-methylcyclohexane methanol from a coal preparation plant in Charleston, WV has compromised the drinking water supply for up to 300,000 water users in Charleston and nearby counties. This tragedy has caused the ban of use of potable water and has resulted in closure in several establishments including schools and business. President Obama issued a federal disaster declaration for the state on Friday, January 10, 2014 to provide federal aid for the state. Utility and government responders do not have the information needed to determine the extent of plastic pipe contamination and their ability to be decontaminated by clean water flushing. It is well known that plastic drinking water pipes are particularly susceptible to chemical permeation.This project will explore the processes that control contaminant fate with plastic polyvinylchloride (PVC), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) pipes and contaminant desorption during flushing activities. These materials are also used in ice makers, refrigerators, and dishwashers. This project team will:(1) Investigate premise plumbing system drinking water quality,(2) Determine the role of contaminant concentration, pipe material type, and diameter on observed chemical concentration during stagnation,(3) Quantify diffusivity and solubility values for several organic contaminants and pipe materials,(4) Determine significant relationships between chemical fate, physiochemical properties, and plastic pipe properties, and(5) Elucidate the ability of flushing activities to remediate contaminated plastic pipes. The results of the project will be:(1) incorporated several in-class drinking water contamination investigation activities that require them to go through the same fact finding processes as the emergency responders, utility staff, and homeowners;(2) Presented results at an AWWA National conference to the drinking water utility and regulatory industry; and (3) Submitted a research paper to an environmental science and engineering focused journal.One of the larger gaps in our scientific understanding of the effect of chemical spill of 4-methylcyclohexanemethanol (MCHM), in the drinking water treatment plant and hence the potential risk to consumers, is the "solubility" of the chemical in plastic pipes or is adsorption to pipes, tanks and infrastructure in a treatment plant. Then, once ad- or absorbed, how long will it take to be released into the water as time progresses. These information will then be evaluated in the overall long-term effect of the spill.