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Lead Contamination in Water Supply For Caudill Laboratories and Chapman Hall

Lead Contamination in Water Supply For Caudill Laboratories and Chapman Hall. Meeting with Occupants and Students April 23, 2007. Agenda. Introduction Summary of Complaints and Response Sampling Results for Lead in Water Supply Health Effects from Lead Exposure Questions and Answers.

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Lead Contamination in Water Supply For Caudill Laboratories and Chapman Hall

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  1. Lead Contamination in Water SupplyFor Caudill Laboratories and Chapman Hall Meeting with Occupants and Students April 23, 2007

  2. Agenda • Introduction • Summary of Complaints and Response • Sampling Results for Lead in Water Supply • Health Effects from Lead Exposure • Questions and Answers

  3. History of Complaints and Response • Occupancy • Chapman - October 2006 • Caudill - December 2006 • Complaints that “water tastes bad” from Caudill - February 2007 • Repeated flush of potable water system in Caudill – February 2007 • Flushing removes any residuals from construction activities • Buildings are flushed, chlorinated, and tested before being accepted for occupancy

  4. History of Complaints and Response • Renewed complaints about taste from Caudill – March 2007 • OWASA sampling • Caudill – March 22 and 26 • Chapman – March 30 • Results showed high hardness – non-specific indication of a problem

  5. History of Complaints and Response • Actions Taken • Water turned off to water fountains and breakroom sinks • Signs posted • Memo sent to occupants • Testing for specific metals • Additional flushing of Caudill and Chapman • Search for cross-connections

  6. History of Complaints and Response • Tri Test sampling for specific metals on March 29 and April 2 in four buildings • Results received on April 12 • Kenan – no elevated lead • Sitterson – no elevated lead • Caudill – mildly elevated lead in 2 samples (water fountains) • Chapman – elevated lead in 1 sample (main water service line in building)

  7. History of Complaints and Response • Actions • Additional E-mails to occupants of Caudill and Chapman • Water turned off to bathroom sinks (since restored) • Additional signs posted • Bottled water supplied to buildings • Sought assistance from • Orange County Health Department • N.C. Public Water Supply Section, Department of Environment and Natural Sources • Experts in Environmental Sciences and Engineering, School of Public Health • State Toxicologist, Division of Public Health, Department of Health and Human Services

  8. History of Complaints and Response Actions • Offering free lead testing to pregnant and nursing mothers and children • Investigating building design and construction • Investigating lead standards for plumbing piping, fittings, and fixtures since 1980’s • Investigating design conforms to standards • Investigating plumbing components

  9. History of Complaints and Response • Actions • Additional sampling • Over 60 samples • 4 separate sampling events • Tested by Research Triangle Institute and Tri Test • Results indicate complex situation • May be related to particular devices or fittings • May be related to water utility treatment protocol • May be related to interrelationship between the two • Additional flushing

  10. History of Complaints and Response • Actions • Posted sampling results on the web – www.ehs.unc.edu • OWASA has made adjustments to water supply treatment protocol • University has hired Dr. Marc Edwards, Virginia Tech, leading expert on lead contamination in water, to lead investigation

  11. Sampling Results • EPA Action Level - 0.015 mg/L Lead (or 15 parts per billion) • Requires public water systems to • Provide education materials • Take action to reduce lead in water • Based on what an infant could ingest at 1 L/day without elevated blood lead levels • Adults - Levels above 0.100 mg/L at 2 liters per day may cause elevated blood lead levels

  12. Sampling ResultsDrinking Fountains - 26 samplesEPA Action Level - 0.015 mg/L Lead

  13. Sampling ResultsBreak Rooms - 9 SamplesEPA Action Level - 0.015 mg/L Lead

  14. Sampling ResultsBathrooms - 15 SamplesEPA Action Level - 0.015 mg/L Lead Lead is not absorbed through skin and handwashing poses no risk

  15. Sampling ResultsLaboratory Sinks - 17 SamplesEPA Action Level - 0.015 mg/L Lead

  16. Sampling ResultsMain Service Line in Bldg14 Samples EPA Action Level - 0.015 mg/L Lead

  17. Conclusion • We take having safe drinking water in Chapman and Caudill -- and throughout the University -- seriously. • The University is working hard to correct this problem • The University is committed to finding a solution to ensure the water in these buildings is safe.

  18. Health Effects from Exposure to Lead Luanne K Williams, Pharm.D., State Toxicologist North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services

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