ILLINOIS
    POLLUTION
    CONTROL
    BOARD
    July
    11,
    1974
    VILLAGE
    OF
    NEW
    BERLIN,
    )
    Petitioner,
    )
    )
    v.
    )
    PCB
    74—133
    )
    ENVIRONMENTAL
    PROTECTION
    AGENCY,
    )
    Respondent.
    )
    )
    VILLAGE
    OF
    SHIPMAN,
    )
    Petitioner,
    )
    )
    v.
    )
    PCB 74—187
    )
    ENVIRONMENTAL
    PROTECTION
    AGENCY,
    )
    Respondent.
    )
    OPINION
    AND
    ORDER
    OF
    THE
    BOARD (by Mr. Dumelle):
    These
    two
    proceedings
    are
    variance
    requests
    to
    use
    copper
    sulfate
    for
    algae
    control
    in
    water
    supp~Ly
    reservoirs.
    We
    grant
    them
    subject
    to
    the
    conditions in the Order,
    The Village of New Berlin
    filed its petition on April
    10,
    1974.
    The
    Board on April
    30 entered
    an Order requesting information
    as
    to actual
    copper levels attained in the finished drinking water under 1973 dosing.
    On May 22 the Village of New Berlin replied to state that they had never
    measured copper levels
    and
    in fact had not used copper sulfate in
    1973.
    The
    Agency
    recommends
    a
    grant
    of
    the
    variance’from
    Rule
    203(f)
    of
    the
    Water
    Pollution
    Regulations
    to
    exceed
    the
    level
    of
    0.02
    mg/l
    for
    copper
    for
    the
    Village
    of
    New
    Berlin.
    The Village of Shipman filed its variance petition on May 21,
    1974.
    The Board
    on May 23 asked for information as to actual copper levels
    measured
    in the raw water intake under previous variance (PCB73—259).
    On
    June
    17
    the laboratory analysis for September
    1973
    was
    subini~ted.
    The
    laboratory
    data
    are
    not
    clear,
    The
    Board
    order
    in
    PCB73—259
    required
    that
    copper
    in
    the
    raw water
    intake
    not
    exceed
    1.0
    mg/l.
    This
    exact level is shown for this sampling location.
    However a 6
    ounce
    sample for the
    lake
    before copper sulfate was added shows a blank
    (presumably zero) while a 2 ounce similar sample showed 0.90 mg/l of
    copper.
    This discrepancy is not explained.
    And
    if
    the
    natural level
    of
    copper
    is
    in
    fact
    0.90
    mg/l
    in
    the
    lake,
    then no need
    might
    exist
    to
    add more copper.
    The Agency should review these sampling data beca~use
    they are not consistent
    and
    closely check new data from
    Shiptxtan.
    13—43
    On June
    17,
    1974 the Agency filed its recotmuendation.
    It recognized
    the data discrepancies and attributed them to mislabelling or switching
    of bottles.
    The Agency gives other copper data which show levels from zero
    to only 0.18 mg/i for five samples and
    all
    are
    thus far below the 1,0 mg/l
    limit set by Board
    order.
    As we have said in many similar opinions,
    the use of copper sulfate
    is presently now under Board review in
    the Public Water Supply proceeding.
    Secondly,
    the alternatives to its use seem not satisfactory.
    Lastly, the
    poisoning of the bottom sediments by copper has not been shown and may be
    a long term hazard.
    Thus we urge the Agency to study alternatives.
    We
    urge the
    two petitioners here to use as little copper sulfate as possible.
    ORDER
    1,
    Variance
    is granted to the Village of New Berlin
    and
    to the
    Village of Shipman to exceed the 0.02 mg/i copper level set
    forth in Rule 203(f)
    during
    1974.
    2.
    Treatments with copper sulfate shall be limited to one
    per
    month
    (May
    through September for New Berlin; June through
    September for Shipman).
    The quantity used shall not exceed
    150
    lbs.
    per treatment for New Berlin and 400
    lbs. per treat~
    merit for Shipman.
    If
    it is shown
    to the Agency that
    the
    dosage for Shinnian will not control algae,
    then 500
    lbs. may
    be used,
    3.
    Copper concentrations in the raw water intake to the
    treatment
    plant shall never exceed
    1.0 mg/i.
    They shall be measured
    and reported
    to
    the Agency monthly.
    4.
    The copper concentrations in the reservoir shall
    be
    measured
    before
    and after each treatment and the results submitted
    monthly
    to the Agency.
    IT IS SO ORDERED.
    I,
    Christan I. Noffett, Clerk of the Illinois Pollution Control Board
    do hqreby certify that the Board adopted
    ti’e above Opinion
    and
    Order
    this
    II~~
    day of July,
    1974 by a vote of
    ~to
    0
    Chris ~
    Illinois Pollution ControfBoard
    13 —44

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