MEMORANDUM

TO: Ed Kerwin

THROUGH: John Greene

FROM: Sandra Bradshaw

DATE: April 1, 2004

SUBJECT : Update on Lead Testing within OWASA System

Background

What is lead and how does it affect us? Lead is a naturally occurring metal found everywhere in the environment. Its main route into the body is through ingestion, eating and drinking. Lead accumulates in the body over a long period of time causing many health problems. Some of which include brain, red blood cell, and kidney damage, high blood pressure, and delays in the physical and mental development of infants and children. The greatest risk is to the young, pregnant women, and developing fetuses. Amounts that will not hurt adults can cause delays in growing children.

The AWWA published a Public Affairs Advisory on March 31, 2004 . This advisory concerns an article to be published in the April 5 edition of Time Magazine. The author of the article, Dr. Marc Edwards of Virginia Tech University , talks about the elevated levels of lead in the drinking water in Washington D.C. and that the likely cause of this increase is the switch to chloramines. The research states that chloramines cause lead to leach from lead pipes and brass plumbing materials. It also notes that the second-draw samples were higher than the first-draw samples (AWWA, Public Affairs Advisory, March 31, 2004 ). During the June 2001 to June 2002 year, D.C. officials were aware through an initial random testing of 53 homes that there was a problem with elevated results. The Environmental Protection Agency required the city to replace 7% of its lead pipes by the deadline of September 30, 2003 . The City did an expanded testing of over 5000 homes to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s lead safety requirements without replacing the lead pipes. Two-thirds of the homes tested, exceeded the lead action limit of 15 parts per billion (ppb) and 157 of those tested above 300 ppb. In January 2004, City Council members became aware of the problem when the Washington Post wrote an article. Since then the D.C. system has been holding emergency hearings, posted information on its website, is increasing its budget for the replacement of more lines, has set up a hot line, and has invited community to other meetings (Water and Wastewater Leadership Communication Lead Contamination – Timeline, Schultz).

The OWASA System

OWASA had a limited number of lead fitting and pipe joints in the water distribution system and all known fittings and pipe have been abandoned or removed. Testing of the finished water leaving our Jones Ferry Road Water Treatment plant, indicates that all lead levels are below the action level set by the Environmental Protection Agency of 15 ppb. In fact, all test results for finished water in the past 10 years have shown the lead levels to be below 1.2 ppb.

On January 31, 2002 , OWASA switched from free chlorine to chloramines for disinfection purposes. We completed five months of disinfection with chloramines before our lead samples were collected. Sample collection began in July 2002 and ended in September 2002. These sampling sites were homes within the distribution system as required by regulations. The following table summarizes our testing of homes within the OWASA service area for the past 10 years.

Conclusion

OWASA has not seen an increase in lead levels since our change to chloramines and we continue to remain in compliance with all state and federal regulations.

AWWA has a Lead Fact sheet on their website (www.awwa.org) that outlines possible causes and precautions that one may take to minimize their exposure to lead. These practices include the following:

• If you are concerned about the levels, you can have your water tested by a state-certified laboratory.
• When your water stays unused in the pipes and fixtures for more than a few hours, flush the tap for a short time to bring in fresh water from the mains. Many older homes may have lead pipes, lead-based solder which were used to join copper pipes, brass and chrome fixtures, or lead pipes that connect the home to the water main. Standing water may leach out any metals in your piping system. Flushing your tap is a simple and cheap method to avoid elevated levels.
• Use the discarded water for watering plants or doing dishes. This is an easy conservation method.
• Use the fresh water for cooking and drinking.
• Do not use hot water from the tap for cooking or drinking. Hot water leaches out metals quicker than cold water.
• Check to see if the ground wires from your electrical system are connected to your pipes. Incorrect grounding can cause corrosion within your pipes.

If customers have any questions or concerns about their drinking water quality, they can contact me in the Laboratory Department at 537-4206.

__________________________
Sandra F. Bradshaw
Laboratory Manager