AWWA ACE56245

In the past few years, water quality management at East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) and other utilities has been characterized by emerging contaminants, such as MTBE (methyl tert-butyl ether) a gasoline component, and NDMA (N-nitrodimethylamine) a suspected disinfection byproduct. Increased use of chemicals in present-day society as well as advancements in analytical chemistry and health research will make emerging contaminants an on-going issue for utilities. This paper examines the application of a generic approach to dealing with emerging contaminants and a case study of MTBE using this approach. Secondly, the paper will deal with the public information activities that are required to make this approach to emerging contaminants successful. In this paper all aspects of the public information effort are addressed and include: the approach developed to deal with emerging contaminants; the MTBE action plan; and, the public outreach portion of the action plan, including media, public meeting, bill stuffers, and special mailings, the Consumer Confidence Report and postings at reservoirs. Includes 2 references, figures.