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Hi, Steve, Thank you for the detailed response! I'll circle back around to you if we have further questions.

Mis. Pratt Please cee responses to your questions belaw. Staphen Busch, PE. Lansing and Jackson District Sumeryisar Office of Drinking Water ari Municipal Assistance MDEQ 517-643-2314

Hi, I am a reporter for Bridge Magazine working on a deadline story about Flint's drinking water. My story will focus on state involvement and state policy. 1 xxxEND_PAGE:executiveofficeemails20_b0609_1918_1920_1 My major questions: 1. Several agencies and officials are involved - can you clarify DEQ's role in the Flint water situation? The City of Flint water system is one of over 1400 Cammunity Water Systems in Michigan raguiated under the Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act (1976 Public Act 299, as armended}, which incorporates requirements of the federal Safe (yinking Water Act, The DEQ Office of Drinking Weter and Municipal Assistance has been given authority for oversight of these regulations. DEQ regulatory oversight is mainly conducted through inspections, review of monitoring information {this includes sample results and operations datal, issuance of construction parmits for water systems, and tanning {rellability, emergency response, capital improvement, operation and rnaintenance, etc.) As both community water systems and the [£0 desire the mutual goal af safe water, the DECL warks proactively in partnershin with water systems to provide compllance assistance. This alse includes activities such as source water protection and infrastructure funding. 2. What is the DEQ's response to the mayor's request for assistance? As indicated by phone this letter was directed to the Gavernor’s Office and should be followed up with that office for response at this point in time. 3. What on-going testing is DEQ doing with Flint water and how often? The City is required to follow all state and federal monitoring requirements under Act 399. This includes sample analysis of over 96 contaminants with health based drinking water standards along with monitoring of its source, treatment, and distribution operations. Sammie analysis frequency is based on the specific contaminant type, its level of detection if any, and its potential variability. in regards to total coliform and ¢.cali bacteria compliance monitaring, the City is required to analyze at least 166 samples each monthly compliance period frorn its distribution systarn. ins rewards to Total Trihalomethane (TTHM] compliance monitoring, the City is required to collect quarterly samples from 8 locations in its distribution system. The TTHM standard is basecl on a Running Annual Avera: : for each of the & locations, rather then individual sample results. The location and timing af these sarnples is baseci on warst case conditions in the water system to identify the highest level of long term exposure. 4. So far, how many drinking water violations have occurred in Flint since the switch to Flint River water and what sanctions - if any - does the city face? The City has had the following Mepdmum Contaminant Level (MCL} standard violations: E.Coli Acute bacteria MCL violation, August 2034 Yotai Coliform bacteria MCL violation, Sentember 2074 TTHM locational running annual average MCL violation, October-December quarter (2 af 8 sites} There are generally two requirements in regards to the violations: Public Neatification and corrective action Public Notice for acute haalth threats like the e.coll MCL must ba made within 24 hours of the violation. Public Notice for nan-acute health threats such as total coliform bacteria and TTHM must be made within 30 days of the vidlation. Corrective action regarding bacteria detections generally involves taking steps to disinfect and repair the affected areas and sampling to obtain confirmation the bacteria source is has been aciiressed. xxxEND_PAGE:executiveofficeemails20_b0609_1918_1920_2 The City has rernained in cornpliance with this standard for each of the monthly monitoring periods since September, including thus far in January Corrective action for TTHM involves taking steps to reduce the ammount of PTHM so that they are below the standard. The City is required to complete an Operational Evaluation report within 90 days of the violation. This report includes examination of treatment and distribution operational practices source water quality, treatrnent changes, storage tank operations, axcess storage capacity, distribution system flushing, treatment problems that contribute to TTHM formation. The City proactively completed an Operational Evaluation following sample results from August 2014, and is now completing another operational evaluation further evaluated based on inforrnation fram the November monitoring. November monitoring showed individual sariole results now below the standard at 7 of 8 locations. However, as reted compllance is determined based on a running annual average at each location. 5. What does DEQ tell Flint residents who call DEQ with concerns about discolored water? Callers indicating discoloration ar other aesthetic water quality issues are directed to contact the Hint DPW to allow the DPW staff to investigate the situation. Generally color, odor and taste are aesthetic water quality issues not related to any health based standards including total coliform hacteria, e.coll bacteria, and TTHM. Treated water is monitored for color at the Water Treatrnent Plant as part of its operation, anc has not been abnormal. The City of Flint has over 500 miles of distribution piping and conditions in some isolated sections of water main piping or private premise olumbing may cause changes to aesthetic conditions such as color, taste, or odor. Those are my major questions. Could you please give me a call today? Chastity Pratt Dawsey Reporter Bridge Magazine/The Center for Michigan 28 W. Adams Suite 330, Detroit, MI 48226 w ridgemicom xxxEND_PAGE:executiveofficeemails20_b0609_1918_1920_3