Issue 11, 2020

Efficacy of corrosion control and pipe replacement in reducing citywide lead exposure during the Flint, MI water system recovery

Abstract

Flint biosolids monitoring data demonstrate a sustained decline in total lead release to potable water from plumbing since the 2014–2015 Flint Water Crisis (FWC), due to enhanced corrosion control treatment (3 mg L−1 orthophosphate as PO4) and removing of ∼80% of lead and galvanized iron service lines through early 2020. The official 90th percentile water lead levels, which have now met the federal Lead and Copper Rule threshold of 15 μg L−1 for the last four years, are in agreement with those predicted by a previously established biosolids regression model. There is also no longer a correlation between the percentage of children under 6 years of age with blood lead ≥ 5 μg dL−1 and biosolids lead mass in the 44 months post-FWC (Nov 2015–Jun 2019), nor are there continued correlations between plumbing-related metals in the biosolids, with the exception of Cu:Zn found in brass alloys that remain installed in homes. After Flint achieves 100% replacement of lead and galvanized service line pipes, a biosolids data analysis predicts that the remaining sources of waterborne lead including leaded brass, lead solder and legacy lead in pipe scale, will still release about 16–28% of the pre-FWC lead mass to potable water. The efficacy of enhanced corrosion control and replacement of service lines that contain lead is, therefore, on the order of 72–84% effective at reducing citywide lead exposure, yet some significant water lead sources will still remain even after pipe replacement is complete.

Graphical abstract: Efficacy of corrosion control and pipe replacement in reducing citywide lead exposure during the Flint, MI water system recovery

Associated articles

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
19 jun 2020
Accepted
03 aug 2020
First published
25 aug 2020
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2020,6, 3024-3031

Efficacy of corrosion control and pipe replacement in reducing citywide lead exposure during the Flint, MI water system recovery

S. Roy and M. A. Edwards, Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2020, 6, 3024 DOI: 10.1039/D0EW00583E

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