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Department of Biomedical and This letter provides some additional information pertinent to the TWX I recently sent out informing you of the coliform levels in the Bikini cistern waters. During our recent Bikini trip, Charles Fraley, working for Bob Buddemeier, analyzed our groundwater samples for coliform content by the membrane filter technique. A sufficient number of blanks were run so I am confident the data is good. Two days before departing Bikini, we used the remaining sterilized containers to determine coliform in the water from 2 cisterns on Bikini Island. We were very surprised to find concentrations in the water, at the school and building 8 cisterns, which exceeded 25 colonies/100 ml (see tables attached for all results). In addition, one of the two existing cisterns on Enyu was sampled and found to be highly contaminated as was the groundwater at the old Bikini well (tIFH-7). The groundwater on Enyu shows anywhere from no contamination to a probable small number of colonies. I have attached copies of pertinent paragraphs from the Water Quality Standards regarding coliform levels in drinking water. A quick comparison of the table of data and the standards shows that the maximum acceptable microbiological levels are greatly exceeded at Bikini. I can only suggest a few possibilities to account for the contamination. The cisterns were constructed several years ago and are covered with a cement slab. There are large separations between the caps and the cisterns and all of the cisterns have drain openings. Rats could easily enter the cistern through these openings. It is possible that one or more rats have died in the cisterns while seeking water during dry seasons. Bird, rat or pig droppings which find their way to the roofs (I may be stretching it a University of California consider pig droppings) could wash into the cisterns with the water rain storms. Whatever the reason, contaminatiti is evident and the
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trust territory health officials should be informed of these preliminary results. More important, some purification system, easy to use, should be considered for the water systems. Something should be done about the existing cisterns and open wells and some thought might be given to the design of future cisterns planned for the residential housing on Enyu. I asked the district representative at Bikini if many of the people suffered from dysentery. He told me that many people did and I recommended that he inform the population to boil the drinking water before use until a more rigorous inspection of the water supply could be made. Unfortunately we were both out of time and suitable sterilized containers to conduct more sampling. Roger Ray indicated he would inform Oscar DeBrum of our results and recommend to the health officials that a more detailed investigation of the microbiological contamination of the water supplies should be conducted in the immediate future. Environmental Sciences Division Mr. Roger Ray, NVOO
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COLIFORM CONTENT IN WATER SAMPLE School Cistern Sample 2 and 3 (duplicates) Building 8 Cistern 70-80 definite colonies/100 ml clean background plate - 0 colonies HFH-7 (old well site 3 samples showed greater than 100 definite colonies/ previously used to 100 ml water supply during 1975) no definite indication of colonies Mess Hall South 3 samples - 45-50 colonies/100 ml in each ground water well expected) area when used 2-3 #2 - 5-6 probable but identification difficult families now use this #3 - no definite indication of colonies FWR 5 (emplaced in no large colonies but 3 plates covered with 25-30 1977) tiny dark, red droplets (identification unknown)
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the totnl conccntrntion of owanic chcm- ~ Ids. M ctctcrmmcri by the cflrbon chloroform cxtrnct method set forth in taminant levels for pcsticictcs: Chlordrmc (CIS and trans) (1,2.4,5,. The maximum conL~minant level of turbidity in the drinkin~ water at a repbution system is one turbidity unit (TTl), cept t,hfit fivo Qr frxver turbidity units may bo allowed if tlie ,wDi-sllc14of witter can demonstrate to the State that the higher turbidity does not: (a) Interfere with disinfection: tive disinfectant agent throughout the distribution system; and (c) Interfere with microbiological (a) The supplier of water may emcompllanco with the coliform maximum PICS whcN 20 or more arc cxrmincd IICY. (u) The suppllcr of w:tt.cr shall m:!:kc month. I coliform rfcns] Ly mcnsurctncnks. for tim ploys the fcrmcntatlon Lubo method find, $ 141.15, in riccordancc wllh the mmlyt.lexamined pcr month: or the rncmbranc filter tcchniqllc. The than fl’w percent of the sampics if 20 or ~ arc rcprc:;cn@tivc of tk.c coriditmns moro sarnplcs nrc examined pcr month. vnthin the distribution sys~m. (ii) When the supplier of water em- I (b) The supplier of watm shall t~ke ploys the fclmcntation tube mcthocl and : coliform dcnslty samples St regular :npresent in more than 60 percent of the \ portions in any month: and either f (A) Five or more portions in more I than one sample when less than five I samples arc cxlmined; or (B) Five or more porUon6 in more i than 20 percent of the samples when ftvc samples or more arc examined. I(b) The supplier of water shall Pro-, vide water In which there shall be noi served by the public watm systcm. In no event shall the frequency bc less than x Minimum rrumbcr of Population served: samples per month greater than 500 orcm.tsrm per one rnil- 5;801 to 6,700------------------------ liliter O-S dctcrmincd by the standard 6,701 to 7,600------------------------ (a) The supplier of tiater may, with the npprovrd of the Strrte, substitute the usc of chlorine rcsidunl monitoring for not more than 75 percent of the samples vldcd that the supplier of water takes chlorine residual samples at points which arc reprcscntativc of the conditions within the distribution system at the frequency of nt lcaat four for each substituted microbiological sample. There shall bc sit least daily dct.crminrttions of chlorine residual. Measurcmenta shalf bc tlrm imovidcd in tlda mtrawph (u), he shall mrtintain no less than 0.2 mg/1 frvc chlorine in the public water distribution (b) For public water systems serving 4900 or fewer persons, the supplier may, with the approval of the State, make a total substitution of chlorine residual McXUrCmCnt for the samnlcs rcollircd Lo the suppllcr of writer takes chlorirtc rcscntdivc of Lhc conditions within the rikitrlbutlon systcm at the rate of one required to be ‘bkcn per month under
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single standard sample exceed four per samples shall be collected and examined from the same smnphng point until tl]e rcsuits obtained from at Ieast two consecutive .mrnplcs show Icss than one coli- (2) When orgamsms of the coltform group occur in three or more 10 ml portions of a single standard sample be collected and examined from the same sampling po]nt until the results obtttlncd from at least two consecutive samples show no positive tubes. (3) When orgmusrns of the coliform group occur in ail five of the 100 ml porbe collected and examined from the same sampling point until the results obtained from at least two consecutive samples show no positive tubes. (4) The location at which the check graphs (c) (1) , (2) or (3) of this section must not be eliminated from future sampling because of a history of questionable water qurdity, Check sfimples shrill not bc Includecl In calculating the tnt~l number of srtmplcs taken each month to determine compliance with i 141.15. (d) When a Darticulrw sampling point has been confmrned, by the first check sample cxarruned as directed in paration, to be in non-comphancc with tile maximum cxmt,aminant Icvcls set forth in $141.15, the supplier of water shxll notify the Stxte as prescrjbcd in $ 141.31. (e) When the maximum contaminant levels set forth in paragraphs (a) (1) or (2) Of S 141.15 are exrxerfed as conflrmcd by check sxampl= taken pursuant to parIvlthin onc hour, If the non-compliance is cotlflrmcd. the Slxtc shall be notr]cci ns prcscriberf in $ 141.31. Also, if the rttcly collcctcct from that. smnpling pomr, and the rcsuli-s of such analysis reported wltli the rccoilllllrtlclttloll set forth In “SLanrirmd hfcthork for tho Exxmlnation lccted at points which arc rcprcscntztivc percent of the frequency for conform anthis section with the cxccntion that at low]nl: the circctivc elate of thi~ suhtmrt six ycnrs followlng the cffcctlvc rfatc of (b) If the supplier of water dctcrminc.i or hits been informed by the Sta Lc that cent or more of the maximum crm Lamimmt Icvcl, hc shall analyze for the after conducting monthly tcstin[: for a Dcriod of .at Icast onc Year, the suppiicr of water demonstrates to Lhc so Llsractmn tamlnant is stab[c and cfuc to a natural ducc the frequency of ana!ysis for Lhnt least onc sample shall be collec@I and , analyzed monthly. or has been mformcd by the State that 1 url)l(llly snmplintg and arm:” $141.11 cxcceds the maximum contam- (a) Samples shall be taken at a representative entry point(s) to the water distribution systcm at least once per plies using wratcr obtained from underground sources) for th6 purpose of makinz turbidity mcasurcmcnts to determine mcnt shall be made in accordance with the recommendations set forth m 4’St.m~dard Methods for the Exammation of Water and Wastcwater.” Amcncan Public Health Association, 13th Edition, (b) In the event that such measurement indicates that the maximum allowable limlt has been excccdcd, the sanlpling and mcttsurcmcnt shall be repeated within one hour. The results of the two measurements shall be nvcragcd, and if the nventge confirms that the mxximum allowable limit has been cxcecdcd, this nvcracc sIM1 be reported x directed in $141.31. If the monthly avcmgc of all samples exceeds the maximum allowablc limit. this fact shall bc reported as dlshall not riPpJY to Public wntcr systems which use water obtained from under- $141.23 rnorgnnic chemical sampiing and analytical rcquircmcnk (a) (1) To establish an initial record of water quality, an nrmlysis of substances for (IM purpose of dctcrminmg inant level for the substance, he shall tion by rcpeatmg the analysls within 24 hours following the ititial analysis or information, and then at Icast at weekly intervals durin~ the period of time the maximum contnminrmt level for that substance has hccn exccccfcci, or until a monitorin~ schccfule m a condition to a variance, exemption or cnforccrnent action si~all become effective. The rcstdts oi such rcpctitivc testing shall bc averrrccd and reported M prcsctibcd in paragraph (d) of this section. (d) TO judge the compliance of z public water system with the rnmhnuin contaminant levels listed in I 141.11, averages of data shall bc used and shall be rounded LO the same number of significant figures as the maximum contaminant level for the substxncc in question. past 12-month movjng average basis if less than twelve samples Pcr year arc anrdyzccl. and on n past three month moving averngc b~ls if twelve or more samples per year are rmnlsr.cd. In cases where the maximum contaminant level has been exceeded in any onc sample, the average concentration shall be co.lcuMcfi on a onc-mcnth fncriing wcrngo basis and reported pursuant to s 141.31. If the mean of the samples comprising the onc month moving average exceeds the maximum contaminant level, Line supplier of water shall give public notice compliance with the nmximllm con;. a:monc year followinc the cffcctivc dntc of rstther than by nvcrnccs. \vilcn a ICVCI tills subpnrt. This nnalysis shall be re- excccding the rnnwmum contmulno. nt peatcd nt ycariy Intcrvds. level for nitrnti is found, the rmmlyscs (2) An nnalysls fOr communtiy writer shafJ bc repented within 24 hours. rmd if sYsLems utilfzing ground water SOUIW2.S the mean of the two analyses exceeds the FEDERAL REGISTER, VOL 40, NO. S1-FRIOAY, MARCI+ 14, 1975