Lead in Drinking Water Review and Summary West Irondequoit School and Administrative Buildings Rochester, New York

Size: px
Start display at page:

Download "Lead in Drinking Water Review and Summary West Irondequoit School and Administrative Buildings Rochester, New York"

Transcription

1 ME Holvey Consulting, LLC Mr. Jeffrey W. Rahn Director of Environmental and Security Services Health and Safety Committee Chairman West Irondequoit Central School District 321 List Avenue Rochester, New York Re: Lead in Drinking Water Review and Summary West Irondequoit School and Administrative Buildings Rochester, New York Dear Mr. Rahn: ME Holvey Consulting, LLC ( MEHC ) was retained by the West Irondequoit School District ( WICSD ) to review and summarize the Lead in Drinking Water Assessment conducted by ALS Environmental Laboratories ( ALS ). ALS sampled the predetermined drinking water outlets and analyzed the water for lead content. The sampling was conducted in accordance with the United States Environmental Protection Agency s ( USEPA ) guidance as per the 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools. The USEPA 3Ts Guidance prescribes how schools should address lead in drinking water. For schools, such as WICSD, that do not have their own water supply (but rather obtain it from a Regional Water Authority, here the Monroe County Water Authority), the established USEPA Guidance on how to address lead in water provides that schools should take remedial measures when lead levels are shown to be above 20 micrograms per liter (µg/l) or 20 parts per billion (ppb). WICSD has decided to be as protective as possible and apply a more conservative action level of 15 ppb. The objective of this assessment was to review the sampling and analytical data to determine that the sampling protocols, test methodology, and quality control measures, were completed in compliance with the USEPA requirements. ALS sampled the drinking water at WICSD on March 28, March 29, and April 18, A total of 118 drinking water outlets were sampled throughout WICSD s buildings. WICSD pre-determined the drinking water sample locations for each building. ALS analyzed the samples on March 31, April 1, April 8, and April 29, ALS is approved as an Environmental Laboratory in conformance with the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference Standards for Potable Water by the New York State Department of Health ( NYSDOH ). P.O. Box 1252, Pittsford, New York meholvey@gmail.com Phone:

2 Page 2 Lead Sampling Protocols and Analytical Methodology The objective of the review was to confirm compliance with the USEPA Requirements for Lead Sampling and Testing Protocols. The following USEPA Methodologies were used to prepare and analyze the WICSD drinking water samples for Lead: Drinking Water Sample Preparation USEPA Method Lead by ICP-MS USEPA Method Lead Sampling Protocol As per USEPA 3Ts Document, the USEPA recommends that schools collect 250 milliliters ( ml ) first-draw samples (i.e., samples of stagnant water before any flushing or use occurs) from water fountains and other outlets used for consumption, and that the water fountains and/or outlets be taken out of service if the USEPA lead level exceeded 20 ppb. WICSD has decided to be as protective as possible and apply a more conservative action level of 15 ppb. The sampling was designed to pinpoint specific fountains and outlets that require remediation (i.e. water cooler replacement). The school sampling protocol maximizes the likelihood that the highest concentrations of lead are found because the first 250 ml are analyzed for lead after overnight stagnation. Follow up samples were taken after remedial activities on outlets with elevated lead levels. Samples were collected and received, by ALS, on the following schedule: Sample Package ID Date Collected by ALS Date Received by ALS Sample Matrix Requested Analyses Sample Temperature ( C) R /28/ /28/2016 Drinking Water Lead R /28/ /28/2016 Drinking Water Lead R /28/ /28/2016 Drinking Water Lead R /29/ /29/2016 Drinking Water Lead R /29/ /29/2016 Drinking Water Lead R /18/ /18/2016 Drinking Water Lead 25.1 Chain of Custody ( COC ) forms are used to document the history of sample possession from the time the sample containers leave their point of origin to the time the samples are received by the laboratory. COCs are considered legal documents. ALS accurately detailed the COC for each sampling event. Each sample was preserved, at ALS, with nitric acid to reduce the ph to less than 2 as per USEPA Method Lead Analytical Methodology The WICSD drinking water samples for Lead were analyzed using USEPA Method 200.8: Determination of Trace Elements in Waters and Wastes by Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometry ( ICP-MS ). Quality Assurance and Quality Control ( QA/QC )

3 Page 3 measures were designed to achieve the data quality goals associated with this sampling event, such as Method Blanks, Lab Control Samples, Duplicate Samples, and Matrix Spike Samples. The following table details the QA/QC samples and results. QA/QC Sample Result or Percent Recovery Limits Sample Package ID - R Determination Lab Control Samples 102% 85% - 115% Data Quality Objectives Met Replicate Samples <20% Difference 20% Data Quality Objectives Met Matrix Spike Sample s 95% - 98% 70% - 130% Data Quality Objectives Met Sample Package ID - R Lab Control Samples 97% - 103% 85% - 115% Data Quality Objectives Met Replicate Samples <20% 20% Data Quality Objectives Met Matrix Spike Samples 106% - 108% 70% - 130% Data Quality Objectives Met Sample Package ID - R Lab Control Samples 100% - 101% 85% - 115% Data Quality Objectives Met Replicate Sample <20% 20% Data Quality Objectives Met Matrix Spike Sample 97% 70% - 130% Data Quality Objectives Met Sample Package ID - R Lab Control Samples 94% - 105% 85% - 115% Data Quality Objectives Met Replicate/Duplicate Samples <20% 20% Data Quality Objectives Met Matrix Spike Samples 98% - 101% 70% - 130% Data Quality Objectives Met Sample Package ID - R Lab Control Samples 94% - 100% 85% - 115% Data Quality Objectives Met Replicate Sample <20% 20% Data Quality Objectives Met Matrix Spike Sample 96% 70% - 130% Data Quality Objectives Met Sample Package ID R Lab Control Samples 104% 85% - 115% Data Quality Objectives Met Replicate Sample <20% 20% Data Quality Objectives Met Matrix Spike Sample 90% 70% - 130% Data Quality Objectives Met

4 Page 4 The QA/QC samples were within established limits and the data quality objectives were met for the WICSD drinking water samples. The analytical data is considered accurate. Drinking Water Samples Results There were 118 drinking water samples collected from the WICSD buildings on March 28, March 29, and April 18, The sample results were detailed in six (6) individual reports from ALS. Each sampling event is summarized below: Sample Package ID - R Twenty-two (22) samples were collected from Listwood, District Office, and the High School buildings on March 28, There were no samples identified above 15 ppb. No further action is required and the outlets are acceptable to use. Sample Package ID - R Twenty-two (22) samples were collected at the High School, Sproule Field House, and Brookview buildings on March 28, There were no samples identified above 15 ppb. No further action is required and the outlets are acceptable to use. Sample Package ID - R Twenty-two (22) samples were collected at Brookview, Briarwood, South Lawn, Colebrook, Lakeview, Seneca, and Oakview buildings on March 28, There were no samples identified above 15 ppb. No further action is required and the outlets are acceptable to use. Sample Package ID - R Twenty-two (22) samples were collected at Dake and Rogers buildings on March 29, Three (3) samples identified above 15 ppb. The following samples were above the 15 ppb threshold: Sample ID Result USEPA Limit Recommendation Sample Package ID - R Dake Middle School DK ppb 15 ppb 1. Take outlets out of service. 2. Clean aerators, re-sample first DK ppb 15 ppb draw and flush samples to identify if the problem is at the DK ppb 15 ppb faucet or interior plumbing; and/or 3. Replace faucet and re-test. The identified samples above the EPA Action Limit were remediated. The fixtures were replaced and the water was re-tested on April 18, The results are detailed in Sample Package ID R The additional nineteen (19) samples were below 15 ppb and no further action is required and the outlets are acceptable to use. Sample Package ID - R Twenty-four (24) samples were collected at Rogers, South Lawn, Faculty Cafeteria, Department of Environmental Services, and Iroquois buildings on March 29, There were no samples

5 Page 5 identified above 15 ppb. No further action is required and the outlets are acceptable to use. Sample Package ID R Six (6) post-remediation samples were collected at Dake and the High School. The faucets/outlets had been replaced and were retested for lead content. There were no samples identified above 15 ppb. No further action is required and the outlets are acceptable to use. The remedial efforts at the faucets/outlets were successful. Summary The March 28, March 29, and April 18, 2016 drinking water sampling event at WICSD was completed in compliance with the protocols set forth by the USEPA. There were no deviations from the lead sampling or analytical testing protocol. Of the 118 drinking water samples taken, all but three (3) tested below the Action Level of 15 ppb. The three (3) identified outlets were taken out of service and the faucets have been replaced. The drinking water was retested and found to be below the Action Level. Please call me at (585) if you have any questions or comments. Respectfully Submitted, ME Holvey Consulting, LLC by Mary Ellen Holvey, CIH Senior Industrial Hygienist

6 Attachment 1 ALS Laboratory Reports