We are now three weeks into our laboratory experiment w.r.t. testing the relative corrosivity of Flint River water versus Detroit water. As the test continues, it becomes a more accurate measure of the relative corrosivity of the two waters. We previously noted, that it would be expected that Flint River water would be much more corrosive than Detroit water, due to its higher chloride content.

Experiment: When we visited Flint, we took pieces of copper pipe joined with lead solder (old solder is 50% lead by weight) inside them. Lead solder is probably present in the plumbing of many Detroit/Flint homes built before 1986 when it was banned from use in drinking water systems. We put the lead solder-copper pipe test pieces in 250 mL containers, and filled them with the following three waters:

Test 1) Detroit water

Test 2) Current Flint River water

Test 3) Current Flint River water with orthophosphate (a typical corrosion inhibitor)

Test 3 was conducted, to see if adding orthophosphate to Flint River water would stop lead corrosion. About 50% of water companies in the U.S. add orthophosphate to their water to control lead corrosion, but it is not currently added to Flint River water.

Results and Observations:

From the data shown above in Figure 1, it is clear that Detroit water is much less corrosive to lead solder than the Flint River water. On average, Detroit water is 19 times (or 19X) less corrosive than the Flint River water currently in use. That is, the current Flint River water leaches 19X more lead to the water than Detroit water. This explains why the lead in Flint’s water in our survey, is so high, even when it was low before when Detroit water was being used.

We can actually still see the high lead in the Flint River water test by eye (i.e. as white particles suspended in the water). Lead levels in our test with Flint River water, were slightly above hazardous waste levels (5000 ppb), which is still lower than the worst levels of lead we detected in the home of Flint resident Lee-Anne Walters.

Orthophosphate still does not seem to help stop lead leaching in Flint River water, which is also consistent with expectations based on experiments in high chloride water. There is a slight improvement, but even with phosphate, Flint River water has 16 times more lead compared to the same condition using Detroit water. We will continue to run these tests, but at present it does not seem like orthophosphate will provide a quick answer to the very high lead levels in Flint water.

Conclusion: On a scientific basis, Flint River water leaches more lead from plumbing than does Detroit water as predicted before. This is creating a public health threat in some Flint homes that have lead pipe or lead solder. Unfortunately, adding orthophosphate corrosion inhibitor to the Flint River water, does not solve the lead problem.

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PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

We believe, that in the weeks and months ahead, MDEQ and Flint will be forced to admit they failed to protect public health as required under the Federal Lead and Copper Rule. The question that will then be asked is “What can be done to protect residents?”

Step 1: Issue Scientifically Sound Advice.

The first step is to admit that the water in Flint is not safe for cooking or drinking — a fact that MDEQ still denies. According to MDEQ statements provided to reporter Ronald Fonger this week, which were presented to us for comment, MDEQ’s Brad Wurfel asserts that:

“the issue here isn’t Flint’s water source or water plants. It’s the high number of older homes with lead pipes and lead service connections….Folks who have concerns should get a water specialist to take a look at their home and see what they need to do to achieve peace of mind, because lead and copper are home plumbing problems that no water source can eliminate entirely.”

We note that this is the exact same position that MDEQ and the city took months ago, after Lee-Anne Walters’ child was lead poisoned from exposure to high lead in Flint water. After MDEQ and the City blamed Ms. Walters home plumbing for the problem, an EPA water specialist did come to her home and inspected her plumbing. His finding: There were no lead plumbing sources in her home. How does that finding, provide Ms. Walters and other Flint residents, with “peace of mind?”

Likewise, during our sampling events in Flint homes, we are finding very high lead in other homes with modern lead free plumbing, which again points to city owned lead pipes and corrosive water as the problem.

On the basis of these facts, we consider MDEQ’s position to be both unscientific and irresponsible, and we stand by our recommendations to Flint consumers, that they immediately reduce their exposure to high lead in Flint’s water by implementing protective measures when using tap water for drinking or cooking.

Step 2. Implement Corrosion Control.

The second step will ultimately require some sort of corrosion control treatment to reduce lead in Flint water. Three options are possible as detailed below:

1. Switch back to the non-corrosive Detroit water. It is our opinion, based on years of experience, that Flint’s lead levels would drop markedly in about one month.
2. Add orthophosphate to Flint River water. As indicated in this work, orthophosphate will not reduce lead leaching from all lead plumbing sources. On the basis of our extensive experience, we would only expect modest improvements to water lead levels if orthophosphate was added.
3. Wait for KWA pipeline. If orthophosphate was added to water from the KWA pipeline, it would be about the same corrosivity as Detroit water (Option A). In that case, Flint residents will have to live with the very high lead in their water, until at least one month after the pipeline is connected.

Politicians and residents will ultimately have to look at which of the above options is best for Flint, after weighing feasibility and costs.

Experiments and analysis: Christina Devine

Primary Author: Dr. Marc Edwards

Acknowledgements: Siddhartha Roy