More staff, funding recommended in response to algal toxin water crisis

The Oregon Legislature is considering allocating more than $1.2 million to better prepare state agencies for algal toxin contaminations in response to Salem's drinking water crisis this year. 

Lawmakers recommended the Oregon Health Authority receive $160,000 for one permanent position and one temporary position to better staff the state's drinking water program; the Department of Agriculture receive $750,000 for laboratory equipment and one temporary position; and the Department of Environmental Quality receive $380,0000 for four positions needed to continue cyanotoxin testing for 94 facilities in the state.

"We were asked in the wake of the Salem water situation to identify things that we could do to be better prepared for similar circumstances going forward," OHA Director Pat Allen said. "We will have continuing emerging kinds of issues that will need to be responded to."

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Lawmakers are back in Salem for three days of hearings and meetings, the first official assembly since the Salem water crisis began May 25.

It was that date Salem Public Works staff became aware of cyanotoxins in the drinking water above EPA health advisory levels for vulnerable populations. At potential risk were young children, pets, pregnant or nursing mothers, and people with kidney or liver disease or impaired immune systems.

The first drinking water advisory was issued May 29, then lifted on June 2 after tests showed lower cyanotoxin levels for several consecutive days. A second advisory was placed June 6 after cyanotoxins once again spiked above safe levels for vulnerable populations. It lasted until July 3.

The response to the crisis was plagued by public relations failures, miscommunications among state agencies and a general lack of understanding about the dangers of cyanotoxins or what an appropriate response should look like. 

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State lawmakers asked agency leaders to evaluate how they could better respond to similar crises in the future. Algal toxins in drinking water is an emerging problem nationwide with ongoing studies as to the cause.

The Joint Interim Subcommittee on Human Services also recommended sending $123,000 to the Oregon Military Department to reimburse the costs associated with activating the Oregon National Guard. The Guard was in Salem assisting with water distribution and other tasks during both advisories.

A separate request for $50,000 was deferred to the 2019 legislative session. It would create a position responsible for coordinating drinking water resources among agencies at the city, county and state levels. 

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Lawmakers elected to revisit the request next year as part of OMD's larger budget request for the 2019-2021 biennium.

Joint Emergency Board members will vote on these funding recommendations and many more during a hearing Wednesday morning.

"We recognize that these kinds of issues could come up pretty much anywhere in the state," said Sen. Elizabeth Steiner Hayward, D-Beaverton.

Contact the reporter at cradnovich@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6864, or follow him on Twitter at @CDRadnovich