2017 Surface Water Meeting

Transcription

1 2017 Surface Water Meeting

2 Presenter: Laura A. Taylor Drinking Water Branch Goal: Provide latest information on Lead Testing in Drinking Water at Public Schools.

3 Reason for testing lead in public schools How lead gets into the school drinking water What are the health effects of lead EPA s 3T Program The Lead Sampling Plan for Alabama s Public Schools ADEM s February 1, 2017 Memo

4 ADEM s 2004 program for testing lead in public schools. ADPH s past investigations of lead in public school drinking water. Public interest in lead in school drinking water post Flint Michigan crisis. Promotion of public confidence. Minimization of student s and staff s exposure to lead.

5 Lead can come from the public water distribution system. Lead can be present in various parts of a school s plumbing system. (e.g. lead solder, lead and brass fixtures, and lead and galvanized pipes). This lead can leach into the drinking water. The amount of lead in a school s plumbing system is dependent on the corrosivity of the water and the materials used to construct the plumbing system. The longer water sits in the plumbing system, the greater the chance of lead leaching out.

6 Overexposure to lead: Can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Can cause damage to the brain (lowering IQ in children). Can interfere with the production of red blood cells. Can cause damage to kidneys.

7 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed a guidance document called the 3T s for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools Revised Technical Guidance. This document is an aid for school officials (or anyone else) who wish to test for lead in schools. The website:

8 The 3T s Training school officials about the sources and health effects of lead and identifying potential areas where elevated lead may occur and developing a testing plan. Testing for lead and taking proper corrective action. Telling students, parents, staff and the community about the plan to test, the results, and remediation actions.

9 The Alabama State Department of Education (ASDE) in conjunction with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) has developed a Sampling Plan for local public schools who decide to voluntarily test for lead in their school s drinking water. The plan covers PK thru 12 th grade public schools.

10 A plumbing fixture inventory must be completed and sampling sites selected. Samplers must be trained (either school staff, personnel from the applicable public water system, or personnel from a state certified lab). Proper sampling procedures must be followed. A state certified laboratory must perform the analyses of the drinking water. The public must be given notice of the testing results.

11 Presently, Alabama has approximately 1,500 PK thru 12 th grade public schools with approximately 8,000 different buildings. The Sampling Plan provides a methodology for selecting which buildings and which locations within those buildings should be sampled. Elementary and Pre Kindergarten schools should be given first priority for testing. The Sampling Plan was developed with deference to the EPA 3T Program.

12 All schools must complete a plumbing fixtures inventory for each building to be tested (an inventory form is provided in the Sampling Plan). The inventory must delineate fixture types (e.g., water cooler, kitchen sink, bathroom sink, etc.). The inventory must delineate age, manufacturer, and location of each fixture. At a minimum, kitchen sinks, water coolers, water bubblers and nurse s office sinks must be inventoried.

13 Fixtures manufactured from1982 to Old fixtures. Fixtures known to contain lead, lead solder, or brass. Fixtures used to ground electrical circuits. Fixtures of low flow and/or infrequent use.

14 Any tap which has a point of use treatment device (e.g., a filter, softener, etc.). Mop sinks. Outside faucets. Taps which are vacant or taps not used for human consumption. Taps which have had plumbing improvements within last six months.

15 The number of fixtures sampled should be determined on a case by case basis, depending on the variety of fixtures. If fixtures are of the same make, age, and installation date, only one such fixture needs to be sampled. Only fixtures used by students are required to be sampled. Any fixture believed to pose a significant lead exposure risk should be sampled. At least one water cooler and one kitchen sink should be sampled.

16 Samples must be collected during the school year, preferably during the hotter months (i.e., August, September, April, or May). Samples must be taken on a day when school is in session. Samples should not be taken on the morning after a weekend, holiday, or vacation.

17 All samples must be first draw samples and 250 milliliters in volume. Best results will be to collect samples in the morning before school starts. Water must sit in the plumbing system at least 8 hours but no more than 18 hours. Faucets should not be used during that time. All samples must be collected from an interior cold water tap (e.g., kitchen sink, water cooler, etc.). Do not remove aerators from tested fixtures.

18 School sample bottles are smaller than the one liter sample bottle used by the public water suppliers for compliance with the Lead and Copper Rule. All water samples should be 250 milliliters (ml) in volume.

19 250 milliliters (ml)

20 Smaller samples are more effective at identifying a specific fixture as the source of lead because the smaller sample represents a smaller section of plumbing. The smaller sample is also more representative of the water per serving consumed by a child.

21 Do not rinse or overfill the bottle. Open bottle and hold under faucet. Turn on the cold water and collect the first water that comes out of the tap. DO NOT RUN WATER FROM TAP BEFORE FILLING THE BOTTLE. Fill the bottle to the shoulder. Place lid on bottle and tighten cap securely. Fill in bottle label completely, except for sample ID. Place bottle in shipping or pickup container. Return the sample to the analytical laboratory as soon as possible.

22 Information required for chain of custody: a. School or building name b. Sample type (first draw) c. Collection date and time d. Name of person collecting the sample e. Sample location identify each fixture on the form and the label f. Contact and billing information All of this information should be placed on the bottle and the chain of custody form.

23 A sample site identification and certification form must be completed for each site sampled. A copy of the form is provided in the Sampling Plan. The form must be signed by a responsible party. The form must also be completed if the school proposes to change a sampling site.

24 Only designated personnel are allowed to collect resamples. Resamples must be collected at locations that showed lead levels in excess of 20 micrograms per liter (ug/l) or 20 parts per billion (ppb). If required, resamples must be collected from the same site used in the previous round of sampling, unless a change of sampling site is made in accordance with the Sampling Plan.

25 Changes to a sampling site are allowed when: The designated personnel can no longer gain access to the site. The original site no longer meets the selection criteria (e.g., the facility is vacant or demolished). Treatment has been added at the original site. Plumbing upgrades have been made at the original site.

26 Schools can add new sampling sites. The new sampling sites must meet the requirements of a proper sampling location. The school s plumbing fixture inventory must be updated to include any new sampling sites.

27 Samples are to be analyzed in accordance with EPA s 3T program. Samples must be analyzed by a state certified laboratory. The certified laboratory will be selected by the local school system. Laboratory analysis costs will be paid for by the local school system.

28 Schools should complete a Lead Consumer Notice and Certification Form (a copy of the form in provided in the Sampling Plan). The notice should be distributed and put on display at each building that was tested. The notice should be multilingual, where appropriate. Schools should provide the notice to all people served at each building sampled. The notice should be provided within 30 days of receiving the sampling results.

29 All laboratory results must be submitted to ADEM. ADEM will post the results on the ADEM e File system for internet access by the public.

30 Resampling at original sampling site will be necessary. Sampling of all similar fixtures may be necessary. Remediation plan will need to be implemented.

31 Provide an alternate source of drinking water. Provide point of use treatment at suspect fixtures. Replace suspect fixtures. Permanently take suspect fixtures out of service. For example: 1. Shut off water supply to suspect fixtures. 2. Remove suspect fixtures. 3. Hood water coolers and bubblers.

32 Laura A. Taylor Drinking Water Branch (334)