ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
July 11, 1986
IN THE MATTER OF:
)
)
AMENDMENT TO 35 ILL. ADM.
)
R86—29
CODE 604.202 OF SUBTITLE F:
)
PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES
(Aluminum)
)
INQUIRY HEARINGS. PROPOSAL OF THE BOARD.
ORDER OF THE BOARD (by J. 0. Dumelle):
In recent years a great deal of attention has been given to
Alzheimer’s Disease. It is believed to affect about 2,000,000
persons in the United States of whom half are in nursing homes.
It is both crippling and eventually fatal.
Alzheimer’s Disease victims, upon autopsy, are found to have
characteristic neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. High
aluminum content is also found in these cases.
Kidney failure victims who had dialysis with water
containing aluminum developed “dialysis dementia” and died within
a year. Their brains had elevated aluminum levels.
It is not certain that aluminum is the cause of Alzheimer’s
Disease but it appears prudent to limit its level in public
drinking water supplies until more research can be done.
Excessive dosage with alum (aluminum sulfate) used in water
treatment can raise aluminum levels in finished water to as much
as 2.67 mg/l. The American Water Works Association has had,
since 1968, a goal of keeping aluminum levels at 0.050 mg/i. The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends this
concentration as a guidance level to optimize treatment and avoid
particle sedimentation in the distribution system. Since a
standard carries with it enforcement powers and potential
penalties, the rule proposed below has been set at 0.100 mg/i.
It is a level which is believed to be easily attained by
competent operators of water treatment plants. To the extent
that overdosing with alum is occurring, the proposed standard
will save public funds being spent on unneeded chemicals.
The following references are listed for detailed
information:
71-382
—2—
“Relationship of Aluminum to Alzheimer’s Disease” by
Daniel P. Pen. In Environmental Health Pe~pectives,
Vol. 63, pp. 149—153, l~~7
-
“Pathologic Association of Aluminum in Alzheimer’s
Disease” by Daniel P. Perl. In
Alzheirner’s_Disease,
Barry Reisberg, M.D. editor, The Free Press, lT~3,pp.
116—121.
“Alzheimer’s Disease” by Richard J. Wurtman M.D. In
Scientific American,
January 1985, pp. 62—66, 71—74,
“Aluminum” by Leopold Liss and David J. Thornton. In
Generations, Winter 1984.
Carrot, P.O.. (1986) Metabolism and possible health
effects of aluminum. Environmental_Health
Pers~c tIyes, Vol. 65, pp. Y~—T41.
The rule proposed below is offered for purposes of decision
and format. In proposing this particular rule the Board does not
in any way intend to indicate a favorable predisposition toward
its adoption. The Board hereby authorizes inquiry hearings to be
held concerning the proposal and invites public participation and
comment.
TITLE 35: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
SUBTITLE F: PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES
CHAPTER I: POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
PART 604
FINISHED WATER AND RAW WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY
SUBPART B: CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL QUALITY
Section 604.202 Contaminants and Maximum Allowable
Concentrations
The concentration of substances in the finished water shall not
exceed the limits listed, except as provided in Section 604.203.
71-383
—3—
Maximum
Substance
Reported
Concentration
_____________________
-
Aluminum__________
Al
a.ioo
Arse~Ic
As
0.05
Barium
Ba
1.
Cadmium
Cd
0.010
Chromium
Cr
0.05
Copper
Cu
5.
Cyanide
CN
0.2
Fluoride
F
1.8
Iron
Fe
1.0
Lead
Pb
0.05
Manganese
Mn
0.15
Mercury
Hg
0.002
Nitrate—Nitrogen
N
10.
Organics
Pesticides
Chlorinated Hydrocarbon Insecticides
Aldnin
0.001
Chlordane
0.003
DDT
0.05
Dieldrin
0.001
Endrin
0.0002
Heptachlor
0.0001
Heptachlor Epoxide
0.0001
Lindane
0.004
Methoxychlor
0.1
Toxaphene
0.005
Chlorophenoxy Herbicides
2,4—Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4—0) 0.01
2,4,5—Trichlorophenoxypropionic acid
0.01
(2,4,5—TP or Silvex)
Total Trihalomethanes
0.10
Selenium
Se
0.01
Silver
Ag
0.05
Turbidity
NTU
1.
Zinc
Zn
5.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
I, Dorothy M. Gunn, Clerk of the Illinois Pollution Control
Board, hereby eertify that the above Order was adopted on
the
_____
_____
day of
of
(~-o
1986 by a vote
Ill
Control Board
71-384