NEWS RELEASE

Friday, May 18, 2007

The Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA) has begun testing the drinking water at several new buildings to evaluate whether there is a link between newly installed plumbing and the potential for lead contamination. OWASA serves the Chapel Hill-Carrboro community including the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

OWASA’s testing follows the University’s recent finding of lead contamination in the drinking water in three new buildings and one recently renovated building.

Under the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act, the limit on lead is 15 parts per billion (ppb). One part per billion corresponds to one penny in $10 million.

In coming weeks, OWASA will test for lead in water from new buildings including homes, businesses and public buildings that are less than two years old. As of Thursday, OWASA had received results from testing at seven buildings. In four buildings, the results were below the detectable level of 3 parts per billion, and results in the other three locations were between 4.1 and 5 parts per billion.

OWASA has also engaged Dr. Marc Edwards of Virginia Tech, a nationally known researcher, to evaluate possible changes in OWASA’s drinking water treatment process to see if there are ways to reduce the potential for release of lead from plumbing systems into drinking water. Dr. Edwards has been working with the University for several weeks as a consultant and guiding the campus investigation of the issue.

John Greene, OWASA’s General Manager of Operations, said Friday that “The purpose of this initiative is to check a representative sample of new buildings in the overall community to determine whether there is a possible link between new plumbing systems and lead contamination and, if necessary, to determine what corrective actions are appropriate for OWASA.”  Based on the findings from the initial samples, the testing may be expanded or extended.

Rachel Monschein, Laboratory Supervisor at OWASA’s Jones Ferry Road Water Treatment Plant in Carrboro, said that OWASA invites customers to have their OWASA tap water tested for lead at no charge.

Customers who wish to have their tap water tested are encouraged to contact OWASA’s Laboratory staff at 537-4227 or to send e-mail to rmonschein@owasa.org. Customers are asked to get a special bottle from OWASA for getting a sample of tap water for laboratory analysis.

Why is OWASA testing for lead in new buildings?

OWASA is testing in new buildings because of the potential for lead contamination until a corrosion-inhibiting coating develops inside new pipes and fixtures. The coating develops inside plumbing systems because OWASA adds chemicals (phosphates) to drinking water during the treatment process for the specific purpose of inhibiting corrosion and thus the potential for release of lead and copper into water.

Under plumbing codes in effect since 1986, the lead level in solder is limited to 0.2%, but brass water fixtures such as faucets may have up to 8% lead content. Lead may be released or “leached” from fixtures into drinking water until the corrosion-inhibiting coating develops over a period of time that depends on how much water is used.

Does OWASA test for lead contamination in water from older buildings?

Yes. In accord with the Safe Drinking Water Act, OWASA Lab staff tests tap water from 30 homes built in the mid-1980s every 3 years. The last such testing for lead occurred in the summer of 2005, and the test results in all 30 homes were below the detectable level of 3 parts per billion.

Also, in response to customers’ requests in 2006, OWASA tested for lead in tap water from 41 homes and other locations.  In 40 samples or 98% of the tests, lead was below the detectable level of 3 ppb.  In the remaining test, the lead level was 4 ppb, well below the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act limit of 15 ppb.

OWASA also tests annually for lead in drinking water as it leaves the treatment plant. Results from these tests have been below 3 ppb for more than 10 years.

OWASA’s Annual Water Quality Report Cards

Each spring, OWASA distributes an annual report on its drinking water quality, water treatment, laboratory testing, etc. and posts it in the Drinking Water section of the OWASA Website, www.owasa.org. OWASA’s Water Quality Report Card for the 2006 calendar year will be distributed in June, 2007.

UNC Connection

Based on advice from Dr. Edwards, the consultant, the University has been working to address the lead problem in the four buildings with drinking water restrictions. As a result, one recently renovated building, the Campus Y, was cleared last week to resume normal operation. Officials hope the other three buildings – all new – can be cleared soon, following Dr. Edwards’ protocol.

For more information

John Greene, General Manager of Operations
Telephone: 537-4218; E-mail: jgreene@owasa.org

Rachel Monschein, Laboratory Supervisor, Jones Ferry Road Water Treatment Plant
Telephone: 537-4232; E-mail: rmonschein@owasa.org

Ken Loflin, Water Supply and Treatment Manager
Telephone: 537-4232; E-mail: kloflin@owasa.org

Mike McFarland, Director of University Communications
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Telephone, 962-8593, mike_mcfarland@unc.edu