F Flint Water Crisis Public Archive

John Scherbarth

Michigan Department of Attorney General at Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture Division / AG

Also known as John, Scherbarth

26

Emails

Jan 2015–Jul 2015

Archive range

26 emails found.

RE: Flint Drinking Water TTHM Standard Violation - 2nd quarter 2015

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Were these both sent out at the same time? And, isn’t the Water Quality Update inaccurate since the City is not in compliance until the averages for a year are below MCLs? I want to be certain that the following narrative is correct: “During February, the detected level has been in an acceptable range at all eight sampling locations. Another sampling occurred during the month of May, and, again, the detected level was found to be in the acceptable range at all sampling locations. However, before the City of Flint can be considered to be in compliance, it must meet the compliance levels for a full year.” xxxEND_PAGE:deq04_b579_6765_7195_010 John C, Scherbarth

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John Scherbarth
a ee ee ee ee ee ee ee PE eee ere es ar an ee reer) Michael Prysby, PE. District Engineer Office of Drinking Water and Municipal Assistance 517 290-8817

RE: CIT FLINT WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM

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John, Attached is a copy of the Violation Notice and Public Notice Template that was sent to the City of Flint by the DEQ Office of Drinking Water and Municipal Assistance regarding an exceedance of the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) standard for Total Trihalomethanes at certain locations within the City’s drinking water distribution system. This violation notice is in response to updated monitoring completed in February 2015, which shows the locational running annual average for two of the City’s eight compliance sampling locations continue to exceed MCL. standard of 0.080 mg/L. It is however, important to note that all individual compliance sample results collected in February were well below the 0.080 mg/L levels. (The highest was 0.029 mg/L) The City is continuing to deal with complaints regarding aesthetic issues such as taste, odor, and color. The next quarterly round of TTHM monitoring is in May. At that point some of the high levels from May of last year will drop out of the annual average compliance calculation, and the City may be able to achieve compliance in May or August if levels remain low. There are 47 community water supply systems in Genesee County, but the 2 major water systems in Genesee County are the City of Flint and Genesee County. All Community Water Supply systems set their own water rate and fee structure. In the case of most local governments, the rates are adopted by the City Council, Twp. Board, etc. Many private water systems such as Apartment communities or manufactured housing communities don’t have water rates, but just obtain funds for their water system through their rent charges. If you need anything else please let me know. Stephen Busch, P.E. Lansing and Jackson District Supervisor Office of Drinking Water and Municipal Assistance MDEQ 517-643-2314

CIT FLINT WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM

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Who controls the water rates in Flint/Genesee County? Thanks for providing me an update on the situation involving the Flint water supply system. John C. Scherbarth Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture Division Michigan Department of Attorney General P.O. Box 30755: Lansing, MI 48909 Telephone: 517-373-7540 Fax: 517-241-3473 xxxEND_PAGE:deq04_b575_5314_5665_300 Rennaker, Joanne (DEQ)

RE: Flint Water Supply System

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Jona No, i don’t see any reason why it should not be shared. It was ar attachment to a notice provided by our district staff ta DEQ rianagement to inform thern about a rnedia contact. itis certainly available under FOIA, out even if if wasn't, | don’t see ary reason not to share it. lathended a resting late yesterday at the newly elected Representative Sheidon Neeley's office with Representative Phil Phelps also present. The purpose was to explain the problern te them. Mike Prysby from our Lansing district office recapped what the city of Flint and we have been doing since this problem became evident last summer. We also explained why the public notiteation requirements dic not start until the city aiteined sufficient data to determina that they were going to be in violation of the drinking water standard for these disinfection byproducts (it's a running annual average of quarterly results}, Apparently some have questioned why it was so lang bahween initially seeing results that were high and the putlic being notified of this fact. A single set of high results do not require public notification. However, they did trigger the requiremant for the city to initiate an investigation and evaluate options to reduce these concentrations, which Flint has done admirably. in fact, the results were remarkably lower in the latest round. But even if they continue at these lower levels, it will take a while for the running average to be reduced below the standard. Until then, the violation notice will need te be repeated until the running annual average at aif compliance monitoring points once again meets the standard. Richard Richard Benzie, P.E., Chief Field Operations Section Office of Drinking Water and Municipal Assistance, MDEQ 517-284-8512

RE: Flint Water Supply System

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Date: Wednesday, January 07, 2015 5:31:00 PM John No, | don’t see any reason why it should not be shared. It was an attachment to a notice provided by our district staff to DEQ management to inform them about a media contact. It is certainly available under FOIA, but even if it wasn’t, | don’t see any reason not to share it. | attended a meeting late yesterday at the newly elected Representative Sheldon Neeley’s office with Representative Phil Phelps also present. The purpose was to explain the problem to them. Mike Prysby from our Lansing district office recapped what the city of Flint and we have been doing since this problem became evident last summer. We also explained why the public notification requirements did not start until the city obtained sufficient data to determine that they were going to be in violation of the drinking water standard for these disinfection byproducts (it’s a running annual average of quarterly results). Apparently some have questioned why it was so long between initially seeing results that were high and the public being notified of this fact. A single set of high results do not require public notification. However, they did trigger the requirement for the city to initiate an investigation and evaluate options to reduce these concentrations, which Flint has done admirably. In fact, the results were remarkably lower in the latest round. But even if they continue at these lower levels, it will take a while for the running average to be reduced below the standard. Until then, the violation notice will need to be repeated until the running annual average at all compliance monitoring points once again meets the standard. Richard Richard Benzie, P.E., Chief Field Operations Section Office of Drinking Water and Municipal Assistance, MDEQ 517-284-6512

FW: Flint Water Supply System

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Date: Wednesday, January 07, 2015 4:03:12 PM Richard I shared the information that you provided to me with an attorney in my office impacted by the Flint water issue. She has asked me as you can see whether she can share the information that you provided to me with others. Since it is public knowledge, I see no reason why she cannot share it. Can you? John C. Scherbarth

FW: Flint Water Supply System

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Date: Wednesday, January 07, 2015 4:03:12 PM Richard I shared the information that you provided to me with an attorney in my office impacted by the Flint water issue. She has asked me as you can see whether she can share the information that you provided to me with others. Since it is public knowledge, I see no reason why she cannot share it. Can you? John C. Scherbarth

RE: Flint Water Supply System

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John, Michael Prysby is the district engineer that has been working with Flint for the past 25 years. Steve Busch is the District Supervisor who aiso has knowledge about this subject. Mike's telephone nurnber is (617) 290- 8817. Steve's number is (517) 642-2314. i have also atlached a surnmary of a recent media contact that Mike Prysby hac earlier today that provides some background information and explains what is being done to address this issue. In addition to the measures Mike describes in his media contact, you should know that the city of Flint is relying upon the Flint River temporarily unt the pipeline from Lake Huron is completed, hopefully sometime in mid- 2018. The lower organic content of Lake Huron water should slanificantly reduce the TTHM formation that occurs from disinfection of the Flint River, and TTHM levels should retum to the levels experienced in Flint when they received Lake Huron water from the Detroit Water & Sewerage Departrnent. Richard Benzie, P.E., Chief xxxEND_PAGE:deq21_b487_1365_1367_2 Fieid Operations Section Office of Drinking Water and Municipal Assistance, MDEQ 517-284-6512

Flint Water Supply System

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Richard Who may | contact at DEQ to discuss the City of Flint water system which recently sent a notice to its citizens regarding an exceedance of TTHMs? John C. Scherbarth Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture Division Michigan Department of Attorney General P.O. Box 30755 Lansing, MI 48909 Telephone: 517-373-7540 Fax: 517-241-3473 xxxEND_PAGE:deq21_b487_1365_1367_3

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