Health officials confirmed the presence of Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as the brain-eating amoeba, in Ouachita Parish’s North Monroe water system and Terrebonne Parish’s Schriever water system in Louisiana during routine testing. Officials reassured residents that drinking tap water is still safe and that taking precautions in pools and showers can reduce their risk of infection.

The Louisiana Department of Health said it notified public health officials and the administrators of the water systems on Thursday afternoon. The health department urged residents to avoid getting water in their noses, which is how the organism can infect the brain. The department also advised the public to run baths, shower taps and hoses for at least five minutes before use to flush the pipes. A list of other precautionary measures for families was posted on the health department’s website.

Residents should follow these precautions until health officials notify them that the amoebas are no longer in the water systems, the health department said. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Naegleria fowleri can cause primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a brain infection that is almost always fatal. People are particularly at risk for contracting PAM if the amoebas enter through the nose, which can happen when people swim or dive in freshwater contaminated with Naegleria fowleri. In the early stages of PAM, symptoms may be similar to those of bacterial meningitis: a severe headache, fever, nausea and vomiting. Late-stage symptoms include seizures, hallucinations and coma.

The Louisiana Department of Health has routinely tested for Naegleria fowleri since 2015, with officials sampling public drinking water systems each summer when temperatures rise. Officials have collected 540 samples for this ameoba since 2013.The health department asked the water systems to switch to the free chlorine disinfection method for 60 days to ensure that any remaining amoebas in the systems are eliminated.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Army, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are proposing a rule to rescind the Clean Water Rule and re-codify the regulatory text that existed prior to 2015 defining “waters of the United States” or WOTUS. This action would, when finalized, provide certainty in the interim, pending a second rulemaking in which the agencies will engage in a substantive re-evaluation of the definition of “waters of the United States.” The proposed rule would be implemented in accordance with Supreme Court decisions, agency guidance and longstanding practice.

“We are taking significant action to return power to the states and provide regulatory certainty to our nation’s farmers and businesses,” said Administrator Scott Pruitt. “This is the first step in the two-step process to redefine ‘waters of the U.S.’ and we are committed to moving through this re-evaluation to quickly provide regulatory certainty, in a way that is thoughtful, transparent and collaborative with other agencies and the public.”

This proposed rule follows the Feb. 28, 2017, Presidential Executive Order on “Restoring the Rule of Law, Federalism, and Economic Growth by Reviewing the ‘Waters of the United States’ Rule.” The February Order states that it is in the national interest to ensure that the nation’s navigable waters are kept free from pollution, while at the same time promoting economic growth, minimizing regulatory uncertainty, and showing due regard for the roles of Congress and the states under the Constitution. To meet these objectives, the agencies intend to follow an expeditious, two-step process that will provide certainty across the country.

The proposed rule would recodify the identical regulatory text that was in place prior to the 2015 Clean Water Rule and that is currently in place as a result of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit’s stay of the 2015 rule. Therefore, this action, when final, will not change current practice with respect to how the definition applies.

The agencies also have begun deliberations and outreach on the second step rulemaking involving a re-evaluation and revision of the definition of “waters of the United States” in accordance with the Executive Order.

“The Army, together with the Corps of Engineers, is committed to working closely with and supporting the EPA on these rulemakings. As we go through the rulemaking process, we will continue to make the implementation of the Clean Water Act Section 404 regulatory program as transparent as possible for the regulated public,” said Douglas Lamont, senior official performing the duties of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. For the pre-publication Federal Register Notice and additional information, visit www.epa.gov/wotus-rule.

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Bluefield Research released a new U.S. Municipal Water and Wastewater Utility Bill Index. According to the research, residential water and wastewater bills have steadily increased by 5.7% annually over the past five years, outpacing average annual income growth (5%) and inflation (1.9%) and magnifying the financial challenges facing municipal water utilities. Analysis of the 50 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. show combined monthly water and wastewater bills averaging $91.06, based on standard household consumption by geography.

With so much focus on water, the impact of sewer charges on household budgets is often overlooked. In 2017, wastewater represented 58% of the total average utility bill for U.S. households. However, the disparity across cities is extreme, with monthly sewer bills ranging from $14.04 in Memphis to a high of $135.57 in Seattle. Similarly, monthly water bills for customers in Memphis averaged $15.96 compared to a high of $92.62 for customers in San Francisco.

“In the absence of an overhaul of federal and state water infrastructure support mechanisms, beyond state revolving funds and pending WIFIA funding, the burden falls largely on ratepayers,” said Erin Bonney Casey, Bluefield’s director of U.S. municipal water research. “For municipalities, the use of surcharges outside of general rate proceedings, such as Distribution System Investment Charges and Atlanta’s Municipal Option Sales Tax, are expected to rise.”

Rate structures still vary considerably. Municipal utility rate structures have trended toward tiered pricing structures for residential water rates, while employing a flat-rate, or linear, price structure for sewer rates. Tiered water pricing structures are the most common mechanism employed to limit the cost of critical water supplies, while charging premiums for higher water usage (e.g. swimming pools, lawn irrigation).
Taking an alternative approach, Philadelphia will launch its tiered assistance program (TAP), an income-based water rate structure, making the city the first in the nation to establish water rates based on income. The change stems from Philadelphia City Council’s establishment of an Income-Based Water Revenue Assistance Program (IWRAP) in 2015 to ensure water bills are affordable for the city’s low-income residents.

“This shift is part of a broader national discussion regarding the affordability of water in an era of rising water rates to pay for critical infrastructure improvements,” Bonney Casey said. 

Image source: Bluefield Research