Lead in our water - how can this be? by Tony Green

Our water sources are currently being adjusted in response to the variations in the water supply as the effects of climate change have become more pronounced. As a result occurrences of “snafus” in providing safe drinking water will become more commonplace.

Rusted Water pipes

The declaration of a water emergency

A water emergency was declared a few weeks ago in Flint, Michigan as a result of evidence of increased levels of lead in the potable water which were having pronounced effects on the health of the area’s children.  

In my current position I periodically test the water used to cool HVAC systems and process equipment for lead. Why? I am verifying corrosion of the stainless steel piping is not occurring.  Once piping corrodes lead is leached into the water.  Even if this water is found to contain lead this water is not designed for human consumption.  Potable water is designed for drinking consumption.

The City of Flint Michigan recently disconnected its water supply from the City of Detroit’s to the Flint River which was designed to save money for the financially strapped city. The use of the Flint River was intended to be temporary, set to end in 2016 after a pipeline to Lake Huron’s Karegnondi Water Authority was completed.

What “lead” to this?

Lead is a common metal found throughout the environment in paint, air, soil, household dust, food, certain types of pottery, porcelain, pewter, and in drinking water. In spite of its various uses lead can pose a significant risk to your health when ingested or inhaled. 

Lead can be introduced into drinking water from the plumbing and fixtures in your house as a result of corrosion. Lead levels in your drinking water are likely to be highest if your home or water system uses lead pipes, if the house is less than five years old, or the water is naturally soft water (low level of minerals). Typically, lead gets into water after water leaves your local treatment plant.

Other ways lead enter into your drinking water include well parts made of lead, or from a nearby industrial waste facilities or municipal landfills.

Federal standards limit the amount of lead in water to 50 ppb. While the EPA sets an action level of 15 ppb initial testing from the EPA indicated many of the resident’s homes had levels in excess of 20 ppb.

I am sure the scientists will figure out the source of the lead. Without testing, I will say the end result will be either the lead came for the lead piping connecting the water supply to people homes after the water was pulled from the Flint River or the Flint River, which has a history of poor water quality due to unregulated discharges by industries and municipalities will be proven to be contaminated. For decades, the river was used as a dumping ground for untreated waste from industrial businesses and towns among these wastes were lead which seeped into ground and into the river. In both cases the testing failed to catch the increased lead levels which were being supplied to the residents of Flint. 

The sad underlying truth

Regardless which one of these two scenarios will be proven perhaps the underlying truth is when utilities choose money over health of their constituents without oversight this is what happens. Perhaps I should test my water for lead.  I never thought I would need to test for lead in my drinking water, then again, neither did the residents of Flint, Michigan.