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SEQUENTIAL DRINKING WATER SAMPLING AS A TOOL FOR EVALUATING LEAD IN FLINT, MICHIGAN
Citation:
Lytle, D., M. Schock, K. Wait, K. Cahalan, V. Bosscher, A. Porter, AND M. Deltoral. SEQUENTIAL DRINKING WATER SAMPLING AS A TOOL FOR EVALUATING LEAD IN FLINT, MICHIGAN. WATER RESEARCH. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 157:40-54, (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2019.03.042
Impact/Purpose:
Eliminating the sources of lead exposure from the environment is an ongoing public health goal. Lead is a neurotoxin that can cause permanent cognitive and behavioral impairments in children, and cardiovascular and kidney problems in adults. This study summarizes the results of sequential sampling for lead in Flint, Michigan. This work is vital in determining the importance of removal of lead service lines. A city, community, or state suffering from lead in drinking water issues could use this research to help guide their decisions.
Description:
Eliminating the sources of human lead exposure is an ongoing public health goal. Identifying the make-up of household plumbing and service line material type is important for many reasons including understanding lead release sources and mechanisms, targeting locations for lead service line (LSL) removal, and assessing the effectiveness of lead remediation strategies. As part of the response to Flint, Michigan’s drinking water lead disaster, a return to their original drinking water source (Lake Huron) and an increase in orthophosphate dose was implemented in late 2015. In 2016, EPA performed multiple rounds of sequential or “profiling” water sampling to evaluate corrosion control effectiveness and identify lead sources in homes and service lines, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of corrosion control treatment with time on the different plumbing components. The results showed that lead levels, including high lead levels likely associated with particles, decreased with time in homes sampled during the 11-month evaluation period. Although sequential sampling indicated that brass fittings, brass fixtures, and galvanized pipes were lead sources, LSLs were the greatest source of lead when present. The removal of LSLs reduced the total mass of lead contributed to the drinking water on average by 86%; more significant reductions would be expected by implementing additional precautions during LSL removal and if no galvanized plumbing is present in the home.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: SEQUENTIAL DRINKING WATER SAMPLING AS A TOOL FOR EVALUATING LEAD IN FLINT, MICHIGAN
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