Epa Letter to Mdeq City of Flint Concerning Capability to Boost Chlorine Residual Levels June 3 2016 0 (1)
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UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WASHINGTON , D.C . 20460 UN 2 16 The Honorable Karen Williams Weaver Mayor of Flint 11 1 South Saginaw Street Flint, Michigan 48502 Mr. Keith Creagh Director Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Constitution Hall 525 West Allegan Street P.O. Box 30473 Lansing , Michigan 48909-7973 Dear Mayor Weaver and Director Creagh: O IC E OF E NF ORC M E N T A N D CO MPLI A N C E ASSU RAN C E The purpose o f this letter is to reinforce the concern o f the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about residual chlorine levels in the drinking water distribution system in Flint , Michigan. As you know , EP A s Safe Drinking Water Task Force (Task Force) has been concerned about chlorine residual levels in Flint s water since meeting with the Utilities Administrator in January 2016. While Great Lakes Water Authority water arrives in Flint with a chlorine residual, it is necessary for the City of Flint (City) to have the capability to boost the level o f chlorine in the water to maintain a residual throughout their distribution system. Because o f this concern about chlorine residuals , EPA has been engaged with Michigan Department o f Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the City for many months on ensuring the maintenance of chlorine levels. This effort includes EPA s identification and chlorine monitoring o f 24 locations geographically spread throughout Flint s distribution system and covering a wide range of residence times that supplements the 1 locations routinely sampled b y the City . Also , as part of EPA s field sampling response in Flint , over 800 chlorine residual sampl e s have been taken at residences from January 2016 to May 2016. In addition , EP worked with the City to install 13 automated flushers on h y drants in areas with lower chlorine r es idual l e vels to h e lp mo v e w a t e r throu g h the distribution system and to improve chlorin e levels . It is encouraging that EP sampling this week has shown adequate chlorine residuals at each o f the 2 4 sites we tested. However , as chlorine decay increases with warmer water temperatures , E PA is concern e d that th e Respondents will not be capabl e of maintainin g chlorine r e sidual s that fo llow b e st practic es and ar e prot e ctiv e o f public h e alth . n particul a r , w e ar e conc e rn e d that while the City can add chlorine at its Cedar Street and West Side Reservoirs , this additional I nt e rn e t A ddr ess ( URL) • http :// www . epa . g o v R ecyc l e d/R ecyc l a b l e • P r int ed with V egeta bl e Oi l Base d I nks o n 1 00 Pos t co n s um e r , Pr ocess Chl or ine F r ee Re c y c led Pape r
