Hey, Ron.
| continue to have concerns about how the Journal reports this issue. Here are a few from yesterday.
The headline is factually incorrect. Plumbing and fixtures are not the same thing at all. In fact, | sent a
note to you guys when | advanced you this piece which specifically said our findings are good news
because fixtures are less expensive to replace than plumbing, and our testing indicates there are no
deeper plumbing issues so far in the schools we’re checking.
More to the point, these two adjoining paragraphs in the story don’t even agree:
The DEQ says the leaching ieed is likely because of the fixtures and the connected plumbing in the
building -- lead saider joints an copper piping, brass valves and brass fittings, brass componenis in
fptures and galvanized piping.
“The highest contribution of lead appears to be frorn the individual faucetfountains and not fram the
larger diameter supply plumbing within the main school building or the two oul building units,” the
report says.
This paragraph offers a whoily inaccurate reflection of whal’s going on:
“The more thorough testing al Eisenhower comes after three Fini school bulidings tested above
the federal Hrnit in initial screenings prompted by the discovery of rising levels of lead in Flirt
children’s blood. Eisenhower was one of those schools, along with the Brownell school building
and Freeman Elementary.”
The testing of every Flint school was part of the commitment in the Governor’s 10-point plan. The
findings at ail the schools have consistently shown limited instances of initial high sarnples,
specifically associated with limited points in the building, where spikes are followed by dramatic
drops on subsequent draws — clear indication that the lead exposure is limited to faucets and
bubblers that should have been replaced a long time ago.
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Also, | realize you guys can’t say “lead” without saying “toxic,” but please don’t attribute that to the
DEQ. We recognize the levels at some points are elevated.
The results of follow-up testing at Freeman were released Nov. G, and showed nine of 31 faucets had
toxic lead levels, the DEQ said.
I'd like to meet for lunch or coffee next week, get caught up and generally have a discussion beyond
phone and email. Happy to drive there for it. Let me know if you've got a date better than others. I’m
best Tuesday or Wednesday, and can make any day work except Monday.
Thanks,
b
http://www ssf/7015/12/18 faucets at flints eisenbowe.htmlfincart 2box news flint
New tests show toxic lead in plumbing at
Flint elementary schools
FLINT, Mi ~ Recent water tests at a Flint elementary found tonic lead levels at faucets and drinking
fountains, a problem state officials largely attribute to the type of fixtures in the school building.
The report on Flint's Eisenhower Elementary showed 18 of 43 water outlets had lead levels above [5 parts
per billion at least once during testing, exceeding the action limit set by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency.
The report was based on water samples collected by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality on
Oct. 30-31, and included testing from all 43 water fixtures in the school and two out buildings on the
property.
The DEO says the leaching lead is likely because of the fixtures and the connected plumbing in the building
-- lead solder joints on copper piping, brass valves and brass fittings, brass components in fixtures and
galvanized piping.
"The highest contribution of lead appears to be from the individual faucet/fountains and not from the larger
diameter supply plumbing within the main school building or the two out building units,” the report says.
The results of follow-up testing at Freeman were released Nov. 9, and showed nine of 31 faucets had toxic
lead levels, the DEO said. Those results were also atiributed to the fixtures or connected plumbing.
While the DEO recommends the school district replace the hardware, if that is not possible running the
water "for three minutes following periods of stagnation is likely to reduce lead concentrations and lead
exposure," the report said.
xxxEND_PAGE:deq15_b353_1517_1521_3
The DEQ said when the faucets and fountains at Freeman were operated for several minutes, lead levels fell
significantly, in some cases to non-detectable levels.
"4
lhe data is part of a clearly emerging trend that points to fixtures as a source of lead exposure," Brad
Wurtel, spokesman for the DEQ, said in an email.
For a permanent solution, the school should opt to replace the faucets and fountains of concern, the DEQ
said.
The superintendent issued a statement last month after the Freeman Elementary test results were released.
"Flint Community Schools will implement ¢ comprehensive district-wide solution to repair and replace all
the affected fixtures and faucets,” Superintendent Bilal Tawwab said. "We want to look at all the buildings
and what needs to be done. We want to get the job done right so our students have access to safe water."
The city ended its use of the Flint River for drinking water after researchers at Virginia Tech found high
levels of lead in water at some Flint homes, and concluded that Flint River water was more corrosive than
the city's previous water source, Lake Huron water via the Detroit water and sewer depariment.
Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha of Hurley Medical Center also found elevated blood lead levels in Flint children.
Flint eventually changed back to purchasing water from the city of Detroit in mid-October, but experts have
said it would take weeks to clear the remnants of river water out of transmission pipes.
Even after that point, the U.S. EPA has said residents still should be warned of the ¢
i
4
in drinking water when crews do underground work that might dislodge lead scale and sediment in city
water pipes.
Wurfel said the DEQ has posted homeowner water test results at its Flint Water site,
2, Those test results "appear to show the same trend and underscore that lead is
site specific,” he said.
"Homeowners with lead in their home plumbing systems ~ whether that is faucets of copper plumbing or a
lead service line - should continue using the free lead filters, take advantage of free home water testing from
the city, and if they've got kids, get them tested for blood lead levels," Wurfel said.
~Staff Writer Ron Fonger contributed to this report.
or 84}-24£-8803.
xxxEND_PAGE:deq15_b353_1517_1521_4
Brad Wurfel
Communications Director,
xxxEND_PAGE:deq15_b353_1517_1521_5