From: DiLuccia, Andrew@Waterboards <Andrew.DiLuccia@waterboards.ca.

gov>
Date: Tue, Apr 28, 2015 at 5:04 PM
Subject: RE: following up on contracting issue
To: Joe Rubin <rubin.joe@gmail.com>
Cc: "Kostyrko, George@Waterboards" <George.Kostyrko@waterboards.ca.gov>
Hi Joe,
So I spoke with our Division of Drinking Water (DDW) staff that have been working with Sacramento on
the Sacramento River Water Treatment Plant. To answer your questions, there was regulatory oversight
but no supervision of the day-to-day process. The DDW approved the use of the new chemical on a trial
basis and would have amended the system permit to include it if the system had decided to use it on a
permanent basis. However, DDW did not direct the system to do any of these things. It initiated the
request and we responded as we would to any public water system request.
Here is a timeline of events:

March 24, 2013 The City of Sacramento submitted a letter requesting to change the
coagulant chemical at the Sacramento River Water Treatment Plant (SRWTP) from aluminum
sulfate to HCL. (letter attached: DPH Submittal 3-26-13.pdf)
April 24, 2013 DDW approved the City of Sacramento request conditionally and only from
May 15, 2013 until September 30, 2013 (copy of letter attached: 3410020 2013-04-24 HCL
Authorization.pdf).
August 9, 2013 Upon satisfactory operation of the SRWTP using HCL, the City of
Sacramento requested to extend the use of HCL for one year.
August 13, 2013 After review of the records, DDW approved the request conditionally and
only until May 15, 2014 (copy of letter attached: 3410020 2013-04-24 HCL Extension.pdf).
During this process, there were no indications of treatment issues; however, the water system did not
submit a permit amendment application to change the coagulant chemical from aluminum sulfate to
HCL. The latest information is the water system has returned to aluminum sulfate as the primary
coagulant.
Some final points:

1. All chemicals used were reported to be NSF approved, and used in other surface water
treatment plants in Sacramento District.

2. DDW neither directed nor supervised this proposed change. Frequent site inspections were
performed to discuss any issues that had been encountered by the operators. No water quality
issues and/or problems were reported from May 1, 2013 through May 14, 2014.
3. DDW did not extend the authorization to use HCL only after three weeks of operation. This
extension was granted upon review of submitted records and successful operation of the SRWTP
after more than three months of operation.
4. DDW did not mandate for the trial to be extended from three weeks to a full year. The city
of Sacramento requested the extension and DDW approved the extension request.

Hopefully you find this helpful. If you need something else, let me know.
Thank you,
Andrew DiLuccia
Public Information Officer
Office of Public Affairs
State Water Resources Control Board
(916) 324-4775
andrew.diluccia@waterboards.ca.gov
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From: Joe Rubin [mailto:rubin.joe@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2015 11:56 AM
To: DiLuccia, Andrew@Waterboards
Cc: Kostyrko, George@Waterboards

Subject: Re: following up on contracting issue

Great much appreciated.
Sent from my iPhone
On Apr 28, 2015, at 11:42 AM, DiLuccia, Andrew@Waterboards
<Andrew.DiLuccia@Waterboards.ca.gov> wrote:
Hi Joe,
Yes, were still working on your request. Hopefully I will have something for you at the end of the day.
Thanks,
Andrew DiLuccia
Public Information Officer
Office of Public Affairs

State Water Resources Control Board

(916) 324-4775
andrew.diluccia@waterboards.ca.gov
Connect with us:
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