Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Utilities Department

 

TO:

 

Thomas M. Markus – City Manager

Diane Stoddard – Assistant City Manager

Casey Toomay – Assistant City Manager

CC:

Mike Lawless – Deputy Director of Utilities

Aurora Shields – Water Quality Manager

Jeanette Klamm – Management Analyst

Nick Hoyt – I/I Manager

FROM:

Dave Wagner – Director of Utilities

DATE:

April 18, 2016

RE:

Briefing on Public Education and Outreach for Lead

 

Lead contamination of drinking water in Flint, Michigan is a national topic. Lawrence Utilities staff continues to review the circumstances of this and other events across the nation as part of its ongoing efforts to maintain Lawrence’s superior water quality and protect public health.

 

Tests show that lead is not detected in the water from the Lawrence Water Treatment Plants before it enters the distribution system. There remains the possibility that private services lines, piping, and fixtures may contain lead components with potential to leach into the water at a particular residence or business. To help mitigate that possibility, the current federal mandated “Lead and Copper Rule” was put in place in 1991 to minimize lead and copper levels in drinking water by reducing water corrosivity. The City of Lawrence uses treatment techniques to help prevent lead leaching from plumbing materials into the water. Tests for lead from dwelling taps, as prescribed by the Federal rule, indicate Lawrence’s water does not exceed mandated “action levels” for lead.

 

The potential for lead contamination of water still exists. While current programs and efforts show the water meets regulatory requirements, the water industry recognizes there is no safe level of lead. Utilities staff is implementing changes and proposing program adjustments to be proactive in educating the public.                                   

 

Public Education & Awareness

Lawrence Utilities staff has developed a multi-level public outreach plan for raising customer awareness of lead issues. The first level includes distribution of public education materials through the City website, City newsletter, media releases, and other communication methods. The information includes laboratories accredited by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) that homeowners can contact to have their water tested. The communications plan is attached.

 

Customer Assistance

The Department’s Ecoflow - Rapid Rainwater Reduction Program is very successful at reaching out and establishing relationships with customers. The Department is developing materials for a possible parallel program to help residents in assessing their risk for lead contamination of water within their homes. Staff would help the homeowner by going through a series of questions, examine the visible portions of their internal plumbing, and provide public education and awareness materials.

 

Adding In-house Lead Testing Capability

Currently, the Department outsources lead testing to accredited laboratories. In this area, only Johnson County Environmental Water Quality Laboratory provides lead testing services to homeowners for a fee.

 

The Department has qualified and experienced staff capable of performing lead testing. With the expansion of the laboratory on East 8th street as part of the Wakarusa WWTP project, the Department has the space available and the support systems needed for the testing equipment. The Department is reviewing options to either reallocate current resources, and/or propose acquiring new ones through the next budget cycle to include development of the in-house capability to test for lead. This option will take about 6 months to implement.

 

Summary of Current Practices and Programs

·         In the late 1980s and through the 1990s, Lawrence Utilities implemented a program to replace lead service lines. This spring Staff audited (by digging, inspection and review of available records) several areas where lead service lines might still be in use and found no lead services.

·         Lawrence Utilities uses corrosion control treatment to limit leaching of metals from plumbing materials including lead and copper into the drinking water.

·         Since 2014, Lawrence Utilities specifies and installs only lead-free fittings.

·         Lawrence Utilities monitors water corrosivity and tests water chemistry for corrosion within the distribution system. Water processes are adjusted accordingly to control corrosivity.

·         The EPA-mandated “Lead and Copper Rule” under the Safe Drinking Water Act requires public water suppliers to take part in a Lead and Copper sampling and testing program. The rule mandates an action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb) lead concentration in the 90th percentile of samples. Lawrence water is in compliance with this rule. In 2014, the most recent sampling event, the 90th percentile lead concentration was 7.3 ppb, well below the EPA action level.