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Philadelphia councilwoman says there's a possibility city water is not lead free Anger and skepticism surge over water testing in Philadelphia after Flint crisis
(about 4 hours later)
Aftershocks of the institutional failure that left high lead levels in a Michigan city’s water supply were felt 600 miles south-east in Philadelphia on Monday, as city council members questioned whether the water department does enough to protect the public.Aftershocks of the institutional failure that left high lead levels in a Michigan city’s water supply were felt 600 miles south-east in Philadelphia on Monday, as city council members questioned whether the water department does enough to protect the public.
One statement made by the city’s water commissioner Debra McCarty that Philadelphia’s water does not contain any lead would prove to be a lightning rod throughout the hearings, underscoring public doubts about water safety since the crisis in Flint, Michigan, became national news.One statement made by the city’s water commissioner Debra McCarty that Philadelphia’s water does not contain any lead would prove to be a lightning rod throughout the hearings, underscoring public doubts about water safety since the crisis in Flint, Michigan, became national news.
“Philadelphia has conducted a customer sampling program in compliance with the federal Lead and Copper Rule since 1992,” said McCarty. “Philadelphia’s water is lead free.”“Philadelphia has conducted a customer sampling program in compliance with the federal Lead and Copper Rule since 1992,” said McCarty. “Philadelphia’s water is lead free.”
The assertion turned heads in the council chambers filled with water and public health advocates. The city’s own tests from 2014 show lead contamination in one home as high as 122 parts per billion, more than eight times the federal limit, though that alone is not enough to violate federal law.The assertion turned heads in the council chambers filled with water and public health advocates. The city’s own tests from 2014 show lead contamination in one home as high as 122 parts per billion, more than eight times the federal limit, though that alone is not enough to violate federal law.
“It seems as if we’re saying it’s ‘lead free’, but there is the possibility that it is not lead free,” councilwoman Cindy Bass said to McCarty during the hearing. “I want to give you an opportunity to clarify that.”“It seems as if we’re saying it’s ‘lead free’, but there is the possibility that it is not lead free,” councilwoman Cindy Bass said to McCarty during the hearing. “I want to give you an opportunity to clarify that.”
“The challenge is when it gets into people’s homes that have a lead service, it can sit in [a lead] pipe,” said McCarty. “That’s how there can be lead in the drinking water, but what we provide to our customers is lead free.”“The challenge is when it gets into people’s homes that have a lead service, it can sit in [a lead] pipe,” said McCarty. “That’s how there can be lead in the drinking water, but what we provide to our customers is lead free.”
The council’s committees on health and children held the meetings to question government officials over water testing after the Guardian reported some water scientists viewed Philadelphia’s water testing methods as “worse than Flint”. Faulty testing could mean that water levels are far higher than tests reveal, and would leave residents in the dark about potential contamination.The council’s committees on health and children held the meetings to question government officials over water testing after the Guardian reported some water scientists viewed Philadelphia’s water testing methods as “worse than Flint”. Faulty testing could mean that water levels are far higher than tests reveal, and would leave residents in the dark about potential contamination.
“Right now they’re not using these best practices,” Megan DeSmedt told council members. She is the clean water campaign director for PennEnvironment, an advocacy organization. “The problem was masked for too long [in Flint and Washington DC] by poor testing methods, and unfortunately, what we’re seeing is those same methods being used here in Philly.”“Right now they’re not using these best practices,” Megan DeSmedt told council members. She is the clean water campaign director for PennEnvironment, an advocacy organization. “The problem was masked for too long [in Flint and Washington DC] by poor testing methods, and unfortunately, what we’re seeing is those same methods being used here in Philly.”
Philadelphia’s water testing method flies in the face of the US EPA’s most recent guidance on the issue.Philadelphia’s water testing method flies in the face of the US EPA’s most recent guidance on the issue.
In 2014, at-home volunteers in the city were asked to remove the aerator from their faucet and flush the lines for a couple minutes before starting the lead test, both of which are against EPA guidance.In 2014, at-home volunteers in the city were asked to remove the aerator from their faucet and flush the lines for a couple minutes before starting the lead test, both of which are against EPA guidance.
The city also failed to test 50 high-risk homes that year (it tested 42), because officials said it was difficult to recruit volunteers with lead service lines or lead solder in plumbing, despite papering the city with 8,000 letters requesting volunteers.The city also failed to test 50 high-risk homes that year (it tested 42), because officials said it was difficult to recruit volunteers with lead service lines or lead solder in plumbing, despite papering the city with 8,000 letters requesting volunteers.
Up to half of the homes tested by the city belonged to water department employees, according to officials’ testimony. Though not against EPA guidance, the practice embraced by other cities such as Chicago has raised conflict of interest concerns from high-profile water scientists.Up to half of the homes tested by the city belonged to water department employees, according to officials’ testimony. Though not against EPA guidance, the practice embraced by other cities such as Chicago has raised conflict of interest concerns from high-profile water scientists.
“I am frankly disgusted by the testimony of the Philadelphia water department, and the misleading of the public in this hearing,” said Paul Schwartz, director of the Washington DC branch of the Campaign for Lead Free Water. Schwartz lived in Washington during that city’s own lead contamination crisis.“I am frankly disgusted by the testimony of the Philadelphia water department, and the misleading of the public in this hearing,” said Paul Schwartz, director of the Washington DC branch of the Campaign for Lead Free Water. Schwartz lived in Washington during that city’s own lead contamination crisis.
Far from being alone, Philadelphia appears to be one of an untold number of public water utilities that flout EPA guidance on water testing. The guidance is advice the federal agency asks utilities to comply with, but does not enforce as law.Far from being alone, Philadelphia appears to be one of an untold number of public water utilities that flout EPA guidance on water testing. The guidance is advice the federal agency asks utilities to comply with, but does not enforce as law.
“There are somewhere between 7 to 10 million [lead pipes that run the water mains] in the nation, some 96 million people are served by water utilities that have these [lines] ... If sampling was done in the lead service lines in these places, somewhere between 50-70% would be above the EPA’s action level of 15 parts per billion – this would undoubtedly include Philadelphia water department,” he said.“There are somewhere between 7 to 10 million [lead pipes that run the water mains] in the nation, some 96 million people are served by water utilities that have these [lines] ... If sampling was done in the lead service lines in these places, somewhere between 50-70% would be above the EPA’s action level of 15 parts per billion – this would undoubtedly include Philadelphia water department,” he said.
The testimony also highlighted the financial and education burdens of reducing lead exposure. Though water department officials said that they wanted to begin a program to remove lead lines up to the curb, remaining lead lines would be the responsibility of property owners. And in a city where 47% of households rent, many may not know or have any control over lead service lines leading to their homes.The testimony also highlighted the financial and education burdens of reducing lead exposure. Though water department officials said that they wanted to begin a program to remove lead lines up to the curb, remaining lead lines would be the responsibility of property owners. And in a city where 47% of households rent, many may not know or have any control over lead service lines leading to their homes.
Water department officials pledged to begin new programs to reduce risk in the coming year, including zero-interest loans for homeowners who want to replace their lead service line, and “enhancing [the water department’s] website to include comprehensive lead information”. There was no exact timetable for either proposal.Water department officials pledged to begin new programs to reduce risk in the coming year, including zero-interest loans for homeowners who want to replace their lead service line, and “enhancing [the water department’s] website to include comprehensive lead information”. There was no exact timetable for either proposal.