By Christopher Ingraham
Bottles owned by Flint, Mich., residents Jessica Owens and Tonya Williams, filled with water, sit on the table outside of city council chambers as Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder speaks during a news conference on Monday, Jan. 11, 2016. (Jake May/The Flint Journal-MLive.com via AP)
The city of Flint, Mich., (click here) is in the midst of a water crisis several years in the making. The city (It wasn't the city, it was the emergency manager and Governor Snyder.) opted out of Detroit's water supply and began drawing water from the Flint River in April 2014, part of a cost-saving move. Eighteen months later, in the fall of 2015, researchers discovered that the proportion of children with above-average lead levels in their blood had doubled.
The city reconnected to Detroit's water system in October, but the damage was done. Water from the Flint River was found to be highly corrosive to the lead pipes still used in some parts of the city. Even though Flint River water no longer flows through the city's pipes, it's unclear how long those pipes will continue to leach unsafe levels of lead into the tap water supply. Experts currently say the water is safe for bathing, but not drinking....
The testing record (click here) to the right shows several attempts to mitigate the lead (Chemical symbol Pb).
The first column is the number assigned to the sample The second column is the zip code where the sample was taken. The third column is the "Ward" identified by Flint. (Similar structure is used in other cities, ie: New Orleans.) The fourth column is for a pure sample without mitigation. The fifth column is when the lead level was mitigated with 45 seconds of flushing. The sixth column is when the lead level of mitigated with 2 minutes of flushing.
This is the standard published by the Michigan DEQ. Reporting forms and other information is on this site.
The purpose of the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) (click here) is to protect public health by minimizing lead and copper levels in drinking water, primarily by reducing corrosivitiy. Lead and copper enter drinking water mainly from corrosion of lead and copper containing plumbing materials. The rule establishes an action level (AL) of 0.015 milligrams per liter (mg/L) for lead and 1.3 mg/L for copper based on 90th percentile level of tap water samples. An action level exceedance is not a violation but triggers other requirements to minimize exposure to lead and copper in drinking water, that include water quality parameter monitoring, corrosion control treatment, source water monitoring/treatment, public education, and lead service line replacement. All community water supplies and nontransient noncommunity water supplies are subject to the LCR requirements.
This is the standard published by the Michigan DEQ. Reporting forms and other information is on this site.
The purpose of the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) (click here) is to protect public health by minimizing lead and copper levels in drinking water, primarily by reducing corrosivitiy. Lead and copper enter drinking water mainly from corrosion of lead and copper containing plumbing materials. The rule establishes an action level (AL) of 0.015 milligrams per liter (mg/L) for lead and 1.3 mg/L for copper based on 90th percentile level of tap water samples. An action level exceedance is not a violation but triggers other requirements to minimize exposure to lead and copper in drinking water, that include water quality parameter monitoring, corrosion control treatment, source water monitoring/treatment, public education, and lead service line replacement. All community water supplies and nontransient noncommunity water supplies are subject to the LCR requirements.
Federal Levels
"Fight Lead Poisoning with a Healthy Diet" (click here)
I hope there is no organic lead in the Flint water supply and absorbed through the skin. (click here).
If I recall the city is providing filters for the homes in Flint. That is one answer. Replacing the pipes (click here) in the house will add value to it. A home equity loan of between $4000 to $10,000 will be necessary. But, in the long run the replacement will pay for itself in increased property values. Be sure if hiring a contractor for the work they are qualified and competent with good references. Call Angie's List (click here) or a similar reliable source.
Of course, the city is going to replace the pipes in the street that bring water to homes.
History of Lead in Plumbing
Why is lead in pipes at all? (click here) The answer goes back literally thousands of years to the first plumbing systems, which are names for the word “lead” in Latin,plumbum. Lead piping was used because of its unique ability to resist pinhole leaks, while being soft enough to form into shapes that deliver water most efficiently. Lead was used in many other common products as well until scientific advancements in the 20th century demonstrated the element’s toxicity. The plumbing industry voluntarily took significant steps to reduce lead exposure....
Exposure to occupational sources of lead. (click here)
Lead in Water (click here)
Lead in water is regulated under both the Clean Water Act (CWA) and Safe Drinking Water Act.
The standards of flushing used in Michigan are illegal. Flushing for mitigation of these poisons is not permitted in federal standards. The 'idea' the Flint water is safe for bathing but not drinking is a direct violation of the Clean Water Act. Children do not have the sophistication to think bathing doesn't involve swallowing water.
The CWA prohibits anyone from discharging pollutants, including lead, through a point source into a water of the United States unless they have a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. NPDES permits contain limits on what you can discharge, monitoring and reporting requirements, and other provisions to ensure that the discharge does not hurt water quality or people's health. As appropriate, NPDES permits must contain:...
Flint pipes for water delivery to homes has to be shut down. That water is contaminated and should not be used for anything. The only form of lead that can be absorbed through the skin is tetramethyllead.
The molecule structure to the right is tetramethyllead. The reason this form of lead is absorbed through the skin is because of the "methyl" compound at four places on the lead atom. Methyl is CH3. The three hydrogens attached to the carbon atom is ionicly available to human body metabolism. The standards of flushing used in Michigan are illegal. Flushing for mitigation of these poisons is not permitted in federal standards. The 'idea' the Flint water is safe for bathing but not drinking is a direct violation of the Clean Water Act. Children do not have the sophistication to think bathing doesn't involve swallowing water.
The CWA prohibits anyone from discharging pollutants, including lead, through a point source into a water of the United States unless they have a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. NPDES permits contain limits on what you can discharge, monitoring and reporting requirements, and other provisions to ensure that the discharge does not hurt water quality or people's health. As appropriate, NPDES permits must contain:...
Flint pipes for water delivery to homes has to be shut down. That water is contaminated and should not be used for anything. The only form of lead that can be absorbed through the skin is tetramethyllead.
"Fight Lead Poisoning with a Healthy Diet" (click here)
I hope there is no organic lead in the Flint water supply and absorbed through the skin. (click here).
If I recall the city is providing filters for the homes in Flint. That is one answer. Replacing the pipes (click here) in the house will add value to it. A home equity loan of between $4000 to $10,000 will be necessary. But, in the long run the replacement will pay for itself in increased property values. Be sure if hiring a contractor for the work they are qualified and competent with good references. Call Angie's List (click here) or a similar reliable source.
Of course, the city is going to replace the pipes in the street that bring water to homes.
History of Lead in Plumbing
Why is lead in pipes at all? (click here) The answer goes back literally thousands of years to the first plumbing systems, which are names for the word “lead” in Latin,plumbum. Lead piping was used because of its unique ability to resist pinhole leaks, while being soft enough to form into shapes that deliver water most efficiently. Lead was used in many other common products as well until scientific advancements in the 20th century demonstrated the element’s toxicity. The plumbing industry voluntarily took significant steps to reduce lead exposure....
Exposure to occupational sources of lead. (click here)
