Joanna Glowacki

Here is the Flint Hot Issue item that was sent forward. | believe this is what Susan got. Tom Tom Poy Chief, Ground Water and Drinking Water Branch USEPA - Region 5 (312) 886-5991 xxxEND_PAGE:deq16_b5_0892_4900_0604 Issue: Flint Drinking Water Issues Background/Status: Flint has been having issues since changing the source of their drinking water —

Atiached is a draft of the hot issue for Flint ~it has a placeholder paragraph on the SRF piece as Pm waiting on STPE to give me language or principal forgiveness this week. Tom Torn Poy Chief, Ground Water and Drinking Water Branch USEPA - Ragion 5 {312} 886-5994 xxxEND_PAGE:deq20_b11_432_511_01 Issue: Flint Drinking Water Issues Background/Status: Flint has been having issues since changing the source of their drinking water — from purchasing finished water from Detroit (which comes from Lake Huron) to treating Flint River water themselves at the end of April 2014. The quality of the water in the Flint River is different than that from Lake Huron, and requires additional treatment to ensure an acceptable quality drinking water. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has been working closely with the Operator-in-Charge at Flint’s Water Treatment plant to ensure that the citizens of Flint are provided drinking water that meets health standards. The use of Flint River water is an interim decision as Flint plans to connect to the Karegnondi pipeline, which will draw water from Lake Huron, in 2016. Flint exceeded the health standard for E. coli in August 2014 and total coliform in September 2014 due to issues with malfunctioning valves in the distribution system creating stagnated water flow in certain areas. Additional chlorine was added to deal with the bacteria problem and these two violations have returned to compliance. However, the additional chlorine has likely contributed to a Disinfection Byproduct violation — Total Trihalomethane (TTHM) - in the fourth quarter of 2014, Compliance with the TTHM health standard is based upon the average of one year of quarterly sample data. The initial monitoring in summer 2014 reported elevated levels of TTHM compounds throughout the City’s distribution system. MDEQ staff has worked with Flint to implement operational techniques to reduce TTHM levels. Current levels are below the MCL but consumers will continue to receive public notice of a violation until the running annual average gets below the MCL. In addition to the MCL violations, there have been other potential issues that have been attributed to the water including, complaints about rashes when using the water to bathe, one home has very high lead in the drinking water (R5 is working with Flint and the homeowner; not sure if this is system-wide issue), and the Genesee County Health Department is looking into an increase in the number of reported cases of Legionaire’s Disease in the county in 2014 (still in the investigative stage by the Health Dept — not public knowledge yet). Flint has hired a consultant to help with their drinking water utility. Also, a technical advisory committee has been formed, including Dr. Michael Wright, an EPA-ORD toxicologist, who is providing assistance on health effects. Flint has a number of DW-SRF loans outstanding. The State recently restructured their loans to allow Flint to defer 2015 payments to future years. Rep. Dan Kildee has been inquiring to EPA on whether principal forgiveness can be applied retroactively to existing loans. EPA is working on a response. Message: e Flint switched from purchasing treated Lake Huron water from Detroit to treating Flint River water themselves until a pipeline being constructed can provide them with raw Lake Huron water to treat in 2016. xxxEND_PAGE:deq20_b11_432_511_02 e Flint has/had MCL violations and has been working with MDEQ staff, a consultant, and a technical advisory committee to improve operations. Contact: Tom Poy, Water Division, (312) 886-5991, poy.thomas@epa.gov xxxEND_PAGE:deq20_b11_432_511_03