F Flint Water Crisis Public Archive

Michael Alexander

Surface Water Assessment, Water Resources Department

Also known as Alexander, Mike

18

Emails

Mar 2013–Apr 2015

Archive range

18 emails found.

River Source Water Quality Comparison for Drinking Water

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Brad and Mike, In preparation for the interview with Steve Carmody this afternoon, attached is raw water quality information from the 7 community water systems in Michigan that use river water for at least some portion of their source water. These are generally basic physical and chemical parameters. Keep in mind the data is not over the same period of time. For Flint the data represents less than one year so a true average that takes into account seasonal variations cannot be made at this time. As most of our monitoring takes place after treatment, results for things like metals, VOC, pesticides, herbicides, etc., were not included as they would not be representative of raw water quality. Stephen Busch, P.E. Lansing and Jackson District Supervisor Office of Drinking Water and Municipal Assistance MDEQ 517-643-2314 xxxEND_PAGE:deq15_b079_0207_0207_1

RE: Steve Carmody interview. Can you do Friday?

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Just got off the shone with Steve Carmody. He wants to know how the Flint River water quality is as it relates to a drinking water intake, which is not necessarily the type of water quality assessment we conduct in WRB. We can certainly be part of the discussion if the topic of typical types of inputs to the Flint cornpared to other Michigan watersheds, but we wouldn't be able to make any statements as to how if cornnares to other drinking water intakes around Mi. i would think someone from Office of Drinking Water and Radiological Protection would be better to answer that question. Thoughts? Michael Alexander, WRD Department of Environmental Quality Phone 517-449-7971 alexanderm2 @michigan.qov

RE: Steve Carmody interview. Can you do Friday?

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Hi Bradt, Sometinie later this afternoon would be best, if will give us a little more time to prep, | was home with a sick child and the rest of WRD was in training yesterday, Can you please verify for me that he wants to talk about water quality for Flint River, not drinking water treatrnent? Are there any particular items other than Flint’s treatment system you want us to stay away from? Michael Alexander, WIRD Department of Environmental Quality Phone 517-449-7971 alexanderme@michigan gov

Steve Carmody interview. Can you do Friday?

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Hey, Mike. Steve wants to do the interview in person. He can be here Friday, optimally any time between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Can this work for you (and whomever you want to join the conversation)? b Brad Wurfel Communications Director Michigan Department of Environmental Quality 517-284-6713 517-230-8006 cell xxxEND_PAGE:deq16_b5_0892_4900_0854

RE: Targeted monitoring request

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Richard, Thanks for the clarifications you sent along. Since Mike will be out this week, | will take a crack at asking some follow-questions to get a better handle on things. (1} How many samples, at each of the 17 facilities you originally requested, were you hoping to have analyzed for the list of various emerging contaminants you had provided in your request? A single sample at each facility ... for a total of 17 samples in 2013? (2) in your 3" paragraph below you stated the following: “The analyses could be conducted by the state laboratory where possible (drinking water or environmental lab} or at a properly cartified/acceptable contract laboratory if the program’, you meant the WRD’s Surface Water Assessment Saction, of which Mike is one of the unit chiefs, correct? It seems obvious, but | just wanted to make sure. (i have attached your original request for in case you want to reference it.) Thanks, Jeff Jeff Varricchione, Aquatic Biologist Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Water Resources Division Surface Water Assessment Section (SWAS) 525 West Allegan St; P.O. Box 30458 Lansing, Ml 48909-7958 phone: (617) 373-7066 email: varriechionei@michigan gov

RE: Targeted monitoring request

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Mike, xxxEND_PAGE:deq26_b017_0316_0317_1 The systems identified in the request 1 submitted are all surface water systems, and as f recall, all except Ann Arbor are located in or near the basins/watersheds targeted for monitoring by WROD in the next year. My plan was for the samples to be collected frorn the tan{s} the drinking water treatment plants (WTP) currently use for raw water sampling. Many WTPs have a sarnoling tap that runs from their intake to their low service pumping station or even into thelr laboratory raking the sample collection easy. lenvisioned staff at the WTP collecting most if not all of the samples and shipping them to the appropriate laboratory. The analyses could be conducted by the state laboratory where possible (drinking water or environmental jab) or at a properly certified/acceptable contract laboratory if the state lab is unable ta perform the analysis, with this program funding that service (shipping and analyses}. Goes that answer your questions? fam here teday and Tuesday, then out until April 11. Richard Banzie, PL. Community Drinking Water Office of Drinking Water and Municipal Assistance, DEC SLY-244-L245

Targeted monitoring request

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Hi Richard, | had a few questions regarding the targeted monitoring request you sent last fall. You are looking for surface water samples at drinking water intakes throughout the state, correct? Just to be clear are you asking Water Resources Division (WRD) to collect and analyze these samples, just collect the samples and ODWMA would conduct the analysis or for WRD to run the analysis for samples collect by your staff or possibly the drinking water facilitates? It appears as though many of the drinking water intakes are out in the Great Lakes, which will take a significant amount of resources to collect the sample from the vicinity of the intake. Would it be possible for the drinking water facility to collect a sample and ship it to our lab? We are just trying to get our filed work planned for the upcoming year and we want to better understand your request. |’ll be out of the office next week, so if you would like to discuss this further, please contact Jeff Varricchione a call at 373-7066 if you have any questions. Talk with you soon. Mike Michael Alexander, Chief Lakes Erie, Huron and Superior Unit Surface Water Assessment Section Water Resources Division Department of Environmental Quality Office Phone 517-335-4189 alexancernz2gimichigan gov xxxEND_PAGE:deq26_b017_0316_0317_2

RE: Flint River Intake Location

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Hi Steve, Based an the listing from Michigan’s 20412 Integrated Report, the Flint River fram just upstream of the City of Flint to the upstrearn end of the Holloway Reservoir is not meeting its designated uses for; Fish consumption due to PCB in fish tissue and water column Total and partial body contact due te E. coll in water column Other indigenous aquatic fife due to nutrients and phosphorus in the water colursn These are just the rnajor categories for the designated uses currently not being met within this sublect stretch of the Flint River. i you would like the complete fists or any additional information regarding these listing please fet me know. Mike Michael Alexander, Chief Lakes Erie, Huron and Superior Unit Surface Water Assessment Section Water Resources Division Department of Environmental Cuality Office Phone $17-335-4189