ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
    August
    5,
    1982
    VILLAGE OF GLASFORD,
    )
    )
    Petitioner,
    )
    v
    )
    PCB 82—42
    )
    ILLINOIS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY,
    )
    Respondent.
    OPINION AND ORDER OF THE BOARD
    (by J.
    Anderson):
    This matter comes before the Board on the petition for
    variance filed by the Village of Glasford
    (Village) April
    3,
    1982
    as amended May
    6 and 28,
    1982.
    The Village seeks variance from
    the 2.0 mg/l fluoride concentration limit of Rule 304(B) (4)
    of
    Chapter
    6:
    Public Water Supplies (Chapter 6) and from the 15
    pCi/i gross
    alpha particle activity limitation of Rule 304(B) (4)
    of Chapter
    6.
    On July
    2,
    1982 the Illinois Environmental
    Protection Agency (Agency)
    filed its Recommendation in support
    of grant of variance until January
    1,
    1984.
    Hearing was waived
    and none has been held.
    The Village of Glasford, Peoria County, supplies the water
    needs of its approximately 1201 residents
    (1980 census) from two
    deep wells.
    These wells were the subject of a previous variance
    from the fluoride and radiological quality standards in PCB 79-238
    (February 7,
    1980).
    Agency analyses of samples taken between
    June,
    1980 and June,
    1982 of the Village’s water show fluoride
    levels ranging from 2.55 mg/i to 3.76 mg/i.
    Analysis of composite
    (sic) samples was made in July, September, and December, 1981 and
    March, 1982 show gross alpha particle activity levels in pCi/i,
    respectively, of 31.9;
    36.7 and 52.5; 28.3 and 23.2; and 55.8
    (no ±figures provided).
    No reports were given of testing for
    radium—226,
    228.
    The City has identified two possible compliance options.
    The first would involve construction of a shallow well, but its
    location near the Illinois River would require the laying of a
    2-mile transmission main and the quality of its water would
    require installation of an iron removal plant.
    Capital costs
    for this project would be $310,000.
    (In PCB 79—238, construction
    of such a well was considered only for blending purposes, a
    concept which would seem to have been discarded.)
    47-479
    2
    The other alternative would be installation of a lime
    softening plant, which would involve capital expenditures of
    $250,000.
    The Village has stated that it ~will proceed in this
    direction as financing becomes available.”
    The Village gives no projection as to when this might occur.
    It explains however that it has recently borrowed $350,000 from
    the Farmer’s Home Administration to finance sewage treatment
    plant rehabilitation and to construct an elevated water tower.
    As the average water/sewer bill per family is now $14.00 per
    month, the Village believes that an immediate increase to
    finance the needed drinking water treatment plant would impose
    an arbitrary or unreasonable hardship.
    The Village finally
    reasserts its belief that no harm to the health of its water
    users has resulted from consumption of either radium or
    fluoride at the levels present in its water.
    The Agency does not dispute the City’s cost figures.
    It
    too reasserts its belief that the public health will not he
    endangered by grant of variance until January
    1,
    1984, the
    deadline date for exemptions pursuant to S1416 of the federal
    Safe Drinking Water Act.
    In light of the high cost of compliance, and the apparent
    lack of any immediate threat to health from consumption of water
    containing fluoride or radioactivity at the levels present in
    the Village’s water
    (see Village of Kirkwoo~1v.
    IEPA, PCB 81—111,
    December
    3,
    1981 and Village of Lemont v.
    IEPA,
    PCB 80—48,
    April
    30,
    1981)
    the Board f:Lnds that denial of variance would
    impose an arbitrary or unreasonable hardship.
    Variance
    is granted
    until January
    1,
    1984, subject to the conditions outlined in the
    attached Order.
    Given the apparent rise in gross alpha particle
    activity in the Village’s water between December,
    1981 and March,
    1982, and the Board’s continuing uncertainty about the accuracy
    of test analyses (see County of Du Paç~ PCB 82—24, May
    27, 1982),
    it is even more than usually important that gross alpha testing
    continue and that radium testing commence,
    and the Board will so
    order.
    This Opinion constitutes the Board’s findings of fact and
    conclusions of law in this matter,
    ORDER
    1.
    Petitioner, the Village of Glasford,
    is granted a
    variance from the 2.0 mg/i fluoride limitation of Rule 304(B) (4)
    and the 15 pCi/i gross
    alpha particle activity limitation of Rule
    304(C)(1)(b)
    of Chapter
    6:
    Public Water Supply until January 1,
    1984, subject to the following conditions:
    a.
    Petitioner shall,
    in consultation with the Agency,
    continue its sampling program to determine as accurately as
    possible the level of radioactivity in its wells and finished
    water.
    Testing for radium 226 and 228 shall be commenced
    within 45 days of the date of this Order.
    47-480
    3
    b.
    As expeditiously as is practicable, but no later
    than November
    1,
    1982,
    Petitioner shall submit to the Agency,
    a program
    (with increments of progress)
    for bringing its
    system into compliance with radiological quality and fluoride
    standards.
    c.
    Petitioner shall take all reasonable measures with
    its existing equipment to minimize the level of fluoride and
    radioactivity in its water supply.
    The fluoride level shall
    not be allowed to exceed an average of 4.0 mg/i.
    d.
    Pursuant to Rule 313(D)(1) of Chapter
    6, in its
    first set of water bills
    or within three months after the
    date of this Order, whichever occurs
    first, and every three
    months thereafter,
    Petitioner will send to each user of its
    public water supply a written notice to the effect that
    Petitioner has been granted by the Pollution Control Board
    a variance from the 2.0 mg/i fluoride standard and 15 pCi/i
    maximum gross alpha particle activity standard.
    The notice
    shall state the average content of gross alpha particle
    activity in samples taken since the last notice period during
    which samples were taken.
    2.
    Within forty—five days of the date of this Order,
    Petitioner shall execute and forward to the Illinois Environmental
    Protection Agency,
    PWS
    Enforcement Programs,
    2200 Churchill Road,
    Springfield,
    Illinois
    62706,
    a Certificate of Acceptance and
    Agreement to be bound to all terms and conditions of this variance.
    This forty—five day period shall be held in abeyance for any period
    this matter is being appealed.
    The form of the certificate shall
    be as follows:
    CERTIFICATE
    I,
    (We),
    ,
    having read
    the Order of the Illinois Pollution Control Board, in PCB 82-42,
    dated ________________________________, understand and accept the
    said Order, realizing that such acceptance renders all terms and
    conditions thereto binding and enforceable.
    Petitioner
    By:
    Authorized Agent
    Title
    Date
    IT IS SO ORDERED.
    47-481
    Board Chairman J. Dumelle concurred.
    I, Christan L.
    Moffett, Clerk of the Illinois Pollution
    Control Board, hereby certify that the abov
    Opinion and Order
    was adopted on,~the
    .~
    day of
    _____________________,
    1982
    by a vote of
    ~
    Christan L. Mof
    ~
    Clerk
    Illinois Polluti~?r’ControlBoard
    47-482

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