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Fact Sheet
October 2008
Proposed Decision to Issue Final Permit, Des Moines Water Works, Des Moines, Iowa
INTRODUCTION
On November 24, 2008, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 7 (EPA) is proposing to issue an Underground Injection Control (UIC) permit to the Des Moines Water Works to allow for the injection of treated drinking water into the Jordan Aquifer. This permit would be issued under the EPA-administered UIC program.
A draft permit has been developed by EPA which specifies conditions for the operation, monitoring, reporting, and abandonment of the injection well. This project has already received approval from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, but a federal permit is required for the injection portion of this process to meet the provisions of the EPA-administered UIC program in Iowa.
EPA is soliciting written comments on the proposed EPA permit for this facility. The Administrative Record for this action will remain open for public comment until November 17, 2008.
Background
The Des Moines Water Works has requested an Underground Injection Control (UIC) permit for the operation of an Aquifer Storage and Recovery well at its McMullen Aquifer Storage and Recovery Facility located at 12223 SW Maffiatt Lake Road, Cumming, Polk County, Iowa. The permit, if issued, would allow for the use of the well to inject water that has been treated to drinking water standards by the Des Moines Water Works into the Jordan Aquifer for storage and later recovery and use in the public water system.
The Des Moines Water Works has been investigating various alternatives to meet the growing peak water demand in the Greater Des Moines area. As an alternative to constructing additional water treatment facilities, the Des Moines Water Works has been looking at using the Jordan Aquifer as a storage and recovery zone for treated drinking water. In November 1996, EPA issued a permit for a pilot project conducted in Ankeny, Iowa, by the Des Moines Water Works that used the Jordan Aquifer as a storage and recovery zone. The results of the pilot study showed that the Jordan Aquifer could successfully be used as a storage and recovery zone for drinking water. EPA then issued an additional permit for a full-scale project in Clive, Iowa, to the Des Moines Water Works in January 2005. This project has also used the Jordan Aquifer as the storage and recovery zone. The injection well covered under the proposed permit would expand on the Clive full-scale injection/recovery project.
Under their plan, the Des Moines Water Works would direct the excess capacity of the current water treatment plant to this well where it would be injected into the Jordan Aquifer and stored there until it is needed. When the demand for drinking water exceeds the capacity of the plant, the water would be recovered from the aquifer and placed into the distribution system.
Before it is placed into the distribution system, the water would undergo testing and receive the necessary treatment to make sure it meets drinking water standards.
This method would allow the Des Moines Water Works to meet the anticipated peak water demand, and allow for an emergency backup supply during times of drought or flood without the need to develop additional drinking water treatment plants. Any expansion of this project would require an additional EPA permit to cover the conversion or construction of additional wells.
The permit application identifies the depth of all the underground sources of drinking water above and beneath the injection zone. Underground sources of drinking water are defined by the UIC regulations as aquifers, or portions thereof, that are being used or could be used as sources of drinking water. The injection would not negatively impact any underground sources of drinking water.
As required by the federal regulations, a search was conducted by the Des Moines Water Works to identify the locations of all known public or private wells within a minimum of a ¼-mile radius of the proposed injection site.
For this permit application, a search was conducted within both a one-mile radius and a ¼-mile radius of the proposed injection site. The one-mile search found 20 wells (16 active) within that area of review. Only one well exists within the ¼-mile radius.
None of the active or abandoned wells found in either search go into or through the proposed injection zone, and should not have an affect or be affected by this operation.
Permit Conditions
A draft permit has been developed by EPA which specifies conditions for the operation, monitoring, reporting, and abandonment of the injection well. This project has already received approval from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, but a federal permit is required for the injection portion of this process to meet the provisions of the EPA-administered UIC program in Iowa.
Permit conditions specific to this project are:
- The proposed permit would allow injection to occur for 10 years after its effective date and may be renewed by EPA if an application is submitted by the Des Moines Water Works. The maximum injection rate for the well would not exceed 1,736 gallons per minute (or 2.5 million gallons per day).
- The proposed permit would require periodic monitoring of the treated water for pesticides, herbicides, nitrates, and other chemical and physical characteristics before it can be placed in the well.
- Samples would be taken at the start and end of every injection/recovery cycle. Samples would also be taken periodically during each injection/recovery cycle to ensure that the water is of drinking water quality. The results of the testing data would be reported to EPA on a quarterly basis. EPA may modify the sampling frequency, depending on the results of the chemical analyses during the life of the project.
- The proposed permit would require that the Des Moines Water Works (or their agent) determine the mechanical integrity of the well before any injection may take place. This ensures that the well only allows the injection of fluids into the approved zone. Any modifications to the testing procedures used on the well are subject to EPA approval.
Opportunity for Public Comment
EPA is soliciting written comments on the Agency’s proposed decision to approve this permit. The public comment period opens October 14, 2008, and closes November 17, 2008.
Copies of the permit application, supporting documentation, and Administrative Record are available for public review between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the following location:
UIC Program Office
Drinking Water Management Branch
EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th St.
Kansas City, KS 66101
If it is determined that there is a significant degree of public interest, based on requests, EPA will hold a formal public hearing. Individuals may also specifically request that a public hearing be held on the permit. Any request for a public hearing must be in writing and must state the nature of the issue(s) that the requestor proposes to raise at the hearing.
Where to Send Comments
All written comments regarding the proposed decision must be postmarked by November 17, 2008, while all requests for a public hearing must be postmarked by October 31, 2008, and sent to:
Kurt Hildebrandt
Drinking Water Management Branch
EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th St.
Kansas City, KS 66101
A final decision to approve or deny the permit will be made after the close of the public comment period. EPA Region 7 will notify each person who submitted written comments of the final permit decision.
Additional Information
For more information, or to request copies of a more detailed fact sheet describing EPA’s basis for its proposed decision, please contact Kurt Hildebrandt at the mailing address above, or by phone or e-mail, as follows:
Toll-free: (800) 223-0425E-mail: hildebrandt.kurt@epa.gov
