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

2
How Does Lead Get Into my Drinking Water?
Lead in Drinking Water

3
• Most households contain lead pipes or pipes with lead solder joints

4
• Corrosive water passes through
the pipes

5
the pipes
• Chemical reactions take
place between the pipes
and the water

6
the pipes
and the water
• Some of the lead dissolves
into the water

7
the pipes
and the water
• Some of the lead dissolves
into the water
Let’s Look at This
in More Detail…

10
• Acidic (pH ~4-7)

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• Acidic (pH ~4-7)

12
• Low alkalinity
CO3
2-
CO3
2-
CO3
2-
CO3
2-

13
• High temperature
water

14
• Saline (high levels of dissolved salts)

16
Attributes of Flint River

17
• Low pH

18
• Low pH
• High salinity
• High levels of chlorides

20
There are 3 Common Sources For Chloride in Natural Waters:

21
Cl-
Cl-
1) Naturally occurring chloride salts
Cl-
Cl-
Cl- Cl-
Cl-
Cl-

22
2) Runoff from road salts

23
3) Water disinfection chemicals

25
Challenges in Treating Flint River Water

26
• Flint River has naturally excessive levels of chloride

27
• 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

28
• Organic matter present in Flint River

29
• Additional chlorine reacts with the organic matter
• Reaction produces trihalomethane (THM) by-products
• THMs well-known for carcinogenic properties

30
• Flint River has a naturally low pH

31
• 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

33
• Corrosive Water

34
• Corrosive Water + Lead Pipes

35
• Corrosive Water + Lead Pipes = Lead Contaminated Water
Pb
Pb

37
How Can We Stop Pipes From Corroding?

38
1. Water Treatment –

39
• Filter to reduce the amount of chloride present
• Treat water to adjust pH, salinity, hardness

40
2. Corrosion Control –

41
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

43
Corrosion Control

44
Corrosion Control
The Plumbing Superhero to Fight Against Corrosion

45
Corrosion Control
With Corrosion Inhibitors

46
Corrosion Control
• Orthophosphates react to form lead compounds - low solubility

47
Corrosion Control
• Insoluble precipitate forms protective layers on inside of pipes

48
Corrosion Control
Without Corrosion Inhibitors

49
Corrosion Control
• Water reacts with the lead-containing pipes

50
Corrosion Control
• Water reacts with the lead-containing pipes
• Lead dissolves, generally as PbCO3 (PbCl2 soluble in hot water)
Pb
Pb
Pb
Pb
Pb

52
How Much is “Too Much” Lead in Drinking Water?

53
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

54
• Safe Water Drinking Act (SWDA) and Lead
Copper Rule (LCR)

55
Copper Rule (LCR)
• Maximum Contaminant Level
• Goal Concentration = 0 µg/L Pb
• Action Level Concentration = 15 µg/L Pb

56
Copper Rule (LCR)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

57
Copper Rule (LCR)
• No safe concentration for Pb in blood

58
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

60
Health Effects From Exposure to Lead

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• Well-known toxin

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• Affects most organ systems in humans
• Infants/children experience more severe effects

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• Symptoms in adults include:

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• Joint and muscle pain
• Abdominal pain
• Headaches
• High blood pressure
• Memory loss

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• Abdominal pain
• Headaches
• Memory loss
• Symptoms in children include:

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• Abdominal pain
• Headaches
• Memory loss
• Symptoms in children include:
• Developmental delays (physical and mental)
• Loss of appetite
• Abdominal pain
• Stunted growth

68
How Much Lead is in Your Drinking Water?

69

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• Contact your local water municipality
• Collect and submit a water sample for testing

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Additional Resources

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• EPA document: Actions You Can Take to Reduce Lead in Drinking Water
(http://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi?Dockey=20001R4V.txt)

73
• 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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