hey! there’s lead in my water!

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Hey! There’s Lead in my Water!

The Drinking Water Contamination Issue

Facing Residents of Flint, MI

How Does Lead Get Into my Drinking Water?

Lead in Drinking Water

• Most households contain lead pipes or pipes with lead solder joints

• Corrosive water passes through

the pipes

• Chemical reactions take

place between the pipes

and the water

the pipes

and the water

• Some of the lead dissolves

into the water

the pipes

and the water

• Some of the lead dissolves

into the water

Let’s Look at This

in More Detail…

• Acidic (pH ~4-7)

• Low alkalinity

• High temperature

• Saline (high levels of dissolved salts)

Attributes of Flint River

• Low pH

• High salinity

• High levels of chlorides

There are 3 Common Sources For Chloride in Natural Waters:

1) Naturally occurring chloride salts

Cl- Cl-

2) Runoff from road salts

3) Water disinfection chemicals

Challenges in Treating Flint River Water

• Flint River has naturally excessive levels of chloride

• Chloride reacts with iron pipes to form ferric chloride (FeCl3)

• Reaction with iron ties up chloride that should be disinfecting the water

• Additional chlorine must be added for disinfection

• Organic matter present in Flint River

• Additional chlorine reacts with the organic matter

• Reaction produces trihalomethane (THM) by-products

• THMs well-known for carcinogenic properties

• Flint River has a naturally low pH

• Reaction with iron and lack of corrosion inhibitors for water treatment help

maintain low pH

• Acidic environment promotes reaction with lead in pipes

• Corrosive Water

• Corrosive Water + Lead Pipes

• Corrosive Water + Lead Pipes = Lead Contaminated Water

How Can We Stop Pipes From Corroding?

1. Water Treatment –

• Filter to reduce the amount of chloride present

• Treat water to adjust pH, salinity, hardness

2. Corrosion Control –

• Addition of certain chemicals

affects the chemistry in the water

• They can increase the pH of the water

• They can promote scale growth along the

walls of the pipes

• Orthophosphates found to be most effective

for a range of plumbing materials

Corrosion Control

The Plumbing Superhero to Fight Against Corrosion

Corrosion Control

With Corrosion Inhibitors

Corrosion Control

• Orthophosphates react to form lead compounds - low solubility

Corrosion Control

• Insoluble precipitate forms protective layers on inside of pipes

Corrosion Control

Without Corrosion Inhibitors

Corrosion Control

• Water reacts with the lead-containing pipes

Corrosion Control

• Water reacts with the lead-containing pipes

• Lead dissolves, generally as PbCO3 (PbCl2 soluble in hot water)

How Much is “Too Much” Lead in Drinking Water?

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

• Safe Water Drinking Act (SWDA) and Lead

Copper Rule (LCR)

• Maximum Contaminant Level

• Goal Concentration = 0 µg/L Pb

• Action Level Concentration = 15 µg/L Pb

Copper Rule (LCR)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Copper Rule (LCR)

• No safe concentration for Pb in blood

Copper Rule (LCR)

• No safe concentration for Pb in blood

• Blood lead levels (BLLs) containing 5 µg/dL could indicate

exposure to high levels of Pb

Health Effects From Exposure to Lead

• Well-known toxin

• Affects most organ systems in humans

• Infants/children experience more severe effects

• Symptoms in adults include:

• Joint and muscle pain

• Abdominal pain

• Headaches

• High blood pressure

• Memory loss

• Abdominal pain

• Headaches

• Memory loss

• Symptoms in children include:

• Abdominal pain

• Headaches

• Memory loss

• Symptoms in children include:

• Developmental delays (physical and mental)

• Loss of appetite

• Abdominal pain

• Stunted growth

How Much Lead is in Your Drinking Water?

• Contact your local water municipality

• Collect and submit a water sample for testing

Additional Resources

• EPA document: Actions You Can Take to Reduce Lead in Drinking Water

(http://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi?Dockey=20001R4V.txt)

• EPA document: Actions You Can Take to Reduce Lead in Drinking Water

(http://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi?Dockey=20001R4V.txt)

• WHO guidelines and general education for lead

(http://www.who.int/ipcs/features/lead..pdf)

hey! there’s lead in my water!

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