Water Quality in East Chicago December 12, 2016
What is lead? Lead is a toxic colorless, odorless, and tasteless metal It is found throughout the environment In the past lead was often used in: Paint Gasoline Industrial and commercial operations You can be exposed to lead in air, food, water, dust and soil
What effects can lead have on my health? Lead toxicity may have no obvious symptoms Lead can affect every system in the body Children under the age of six are most susceptible to the effects of lead Lead exposure can lead to learning disabilities, behavior problems, slowed growth, anemia, and hearing problems in children Lead can also have serious effects on pregnant women and the developing fetus
How Does Lead Enter the Drinking Water?
Sources of Lead in Drinking Water Lead in drinking water does NOT come from: East Chicago s source water from Lake Michigan Treated water leaving the two filtration plants The City s water mains Lead contaminated soil
How Does Lead Enter the Drinking Water? The most common source of lead in drinking water is the corrosion of lead or galvanized iron plumbing AFTER the water main Lead can leach into the water as it comes in contact with the piping Many older homes contain lead in the service line piping or the interior plumbing Corroded galvanized iron piping can store lead deposits from upstream lead piping and act as lead piping
Shared responsibility of water system East Chicago Responsibility Property Owner Responsibility
Where is lead found in my plumbing? Lead can be found in the utility portion of the plumbing: The gooseneck connecting the water main to the communication pipe The communication pipe from the gooseneck to the curb stop (shut off valve) Lead can be found in the customer portion of the plumbing: The supply pipe from the curb stop to the internal plumbing The internal plumbing in pipes, leaded-solder, and brass or chrome-plated brass fixtures
Where is lead found in my plumbing? Brass Fixtures Lead Service Line Lead Solder
When was lead used in plumbing? Commonly used for piping in houses in the early 1900s, particularly in homes built before 1930 By the 1960s, galvanized steel and copper grew in popularity as plumbing pipe materials However, lead piping and lead solder was not federally banned until 1986 Nearly all homes built before the 1980s still have lead solder connecting copper pipes Lead Solder Brass and chrome-plated brass faucets could contain up to 8% lead until 1996
How to identify lead service lines Items needed: refrigerator magnet and a key or coin 1. Locate your water meter. It could be outside in a meter pit or inside, most commonly in the basement. 2. If your water meter is outside, walk the shortest path to your home and locate where the service pipe will most likely enter your home. Find that pipe inside your home. If your water meter is inside, locate where the service pipe enters your home before connecting to the water meter. In both cases, there will be a valve on the service line.
How to identify lead service lines (cont.) 3. Inspect the valve. Lead service lines can be connected using solder with a characteristic bulb at the end, a compression fitting, or other connector made of galvanized iron or brass/bronze. 4. Locate an area on the pipe between the point where it enters the building and the valve. Using the key or coin, scratch the outside of the pipe. NOTE: Even if your service line is not made of lead, it is possible the gooseneck buried under the street or internal plumbing of your house could contain lead. Lead Solder Bulb
How to identify lead service lines (cont.) If the scraped area is soft, shiny and silver, the service line is lead. A magnet will not stick to it. If the scraped area is copper in color, like a penny, the service line is copper. A magnet will not stick to it. If the scraped area is hard, and remains a dull grey color, the service line is galvanized steel. A magnet will stick to it.
What is the City doing about lead in the drinking water?
U.S. EPA Lead and Copper Rule Federal rules for lead and copper in drinking water, established in 1991 Requires sampling at least every three years First draw samples are taken at kitchen or bathroom taps of 30 residences Sampling a measure of lead levels throughout distribution system
Historical Lead Results Year 2016 2014 Action Level 90th percentile value 8.4 ppb 7.8 ppb 15 ppb Total no. of samples 30 30
What is the City doing at the filtration plant? The East Chicago filtration plant feeds a chemical called orthophosphate, which protects the water pipes from corrosion Orthophosphate coats the interiors of the pipes to reduce the leaching of lead Orthophosphate is considered safe by EPA and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration The City has been dosing phosphate since 1991 The City is actively working with IDEM to make sure the current dosing of orthophosphate is optimal to decrease your exposure to lead Left: Corroded Pipe Right: Pipe treated with orthophosphate
Key Differences from Flint East Chicago Lake Michigan is relatively clean source of water Lake Michigan is relatively non-corrosive East Chicago feeds orthophosphate as a corrosion inhibitor Historically, has maintained compliance with the Lead and Copper Rule following the addition of phosphate inhibitor in 1991 Flint Transition from Lake Huron to the Flint River, which is exceptionally polluted, as a water source Especially corrosive water source that caused rapid deterioration lead and iron pipes Flint was not feeding a corrosion inhibitor, like orthophosphate Not compliant with Lead and Copper Rule following the change of water sources
EPA Pilot Testing vs. Lead and Copper Rule EPA Pilot Testing The goal of the EPA sampling was to determine whether excavation had an effect on lead levels in drinking water in specific homes 12-20 samples analyzed to represent water from the faucet, internal plumbing, and service line Lead and Copper Rule Testing The goal of Lead and Copper Rule sampling is to determine lead levels on a distribution system wide basis 1 first draw sample is taken Conducted at 30 homes believed to have lead service lines Conducted at the 45 homes where EPA did excavations Samples showed that once water was coming from the main, the lead levels were below action level
First draw vs. Sequential Sampling First-Draw Sample Water Main
What can I do about lead in the drinking water?
Install a water filter Proper installation, use, and maintenance of water filters can eliminate your exposure to lead in drinking water Filter should be located at the end of the plumbing right before tap Find a water filter National Foundation Standard 53 (NSF-53) certified to remove lead Filter screen should be cleaned weekly Filter cartridge should be replaced per manufacturers instructions
How to tell if the filter is certified for lead removal Must look for both the certification (NSF 53) and the removal of lead as a contaminant Most faucet-mount filters and many refrigerator filters are certified for lead removal, but always check before purchasing Most pitcher filters are NOT certified for lead removal Most coffee maker filters are NOT certified for lead removal Whole house filters will NOT remove lead from internal plumbing, only the service line
Filters MUST have NSF 53 Certification
Filters MUST be certified specifically for lead removal
Flush your pipes The longer that water has been sitting in the pipes, the more likely it is to contain high lead levels Water coming from the water mains does not contain lead Once the water from the internal plumbing has been flushed out, the water should contain lead levels below action level because that water is coming from the water main Flushed water could still contain low levels of lead from contact with leaded plumbing before reaching the tap If the water has not been used for several hours, the line should be flushed before use for eating, drinking, or brushing your teeth
How to flush your pipes if you DO NOT have a lead service line Run the kitchen or bathroom tap with cold water for 30 seconds-1 minute to flush out lead from interior plumbing Directly after flushing, fill a container with water to store in the refrigerator for use throughout the day
How to flush your pipes if you DO have a lead service line Can vary depending on the length of lead service line and plumbing configuration If your home is set back from the street, use the longer recommended flushing time Run the faucet to be used for 3-5 minutes with cold water to clear most lead from the household plumbing and service line Doing a load of laundry, taking a shower, or watering a garden for at least 3-5 minutes will also clear lead from the service line Doing these activities will not clear the interior plumbing at all faucets Before using a bathroom or kitchen faucet if it was not the one used for initial flushing, run for an additional 30-45 seconds Directly after flushing, fill a container with water to store in the refrigerator for use throughout the day
Use only cold water for drinking and cooking Running hot water through your tap increases the risk of lead leaching Use cold water for drinking, food preparation, and brushing your teeth Boiling water does NOT remove lead from the water
Clean out your aerators Periodically clean out the aerators on your faucets where lead can build up Rinse off all pieces of the aerator with water and brush off any debris that has accumulated For deposits that do not immediately brush off, soak in water for several minutes and scrub off with a brush
Be aware of nearby construction Construction can disturb the pipes carrying water into your home and increase the chance of lead leaching If construction is being performed nearby, flush pipes with cold water for at least 5 minutes from outdoor faucet, if available, or closest nondrinking water tap (bath, shower) to where service line enters the home following any construction activity
Use baths and showers as normal Skin does not absorb lead in water Children and adults can shower and bathe in unfiltered water Do not allow babies or children to drink bathwater
Wash dishes and laundry as normal Lead in water is not absorbed by porcelain, metal, or glass Dishes can be washed in the sink or dishwasher as normal Be sure dishes are thoroughly dried Clothes washed in unfiltered water will not contain enough lead to cause harm
Have your water tested Your can contact a laboratory certified by the Indiana State Department of Health for analysis of lead in drinking water to test your water A list of these labs is on IDEM s website
Have your child s blood level tested If you are interested in getting your child s blood lead level tested you can contact the East Chicago Health Department at (219) 391-8467
Questions?