Pittsburgh water crisis

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Pittsburgh rivers converge

The Pittsburgh water crisis arose from a substantial increase in the lead concentration of the city's water supply. Although catalyzed by the hiring of cost-cutting water consultancy Veolia in 2012, and an unauthorized change of anti-erosion chemicals in 2014, this spike in lead concentration has roots in decades of lead pipe erosion. Since the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) first failed its water quality test in 2016, it has exceeded the federal lead threshold of 15 ppb by almost 1.5 times. [1] This level of lead contamination poses serious health risks to residents, particularly children and pregnant women. [2] In an attempt to remedy the situation, the PWSA has begun removing lead pipes from the city's water lines and has decided to introduce orthophosphate to the water supply. [3]

Contents

Lead contamination

While the Pittsburgh water supply has suffered from a variety of contaminants, the most persistent contaminant has been lead from the aging lead piping infrastructure throughout the city. [4]

Causes

Pittsburgh's water lines include a significant number of lead pipes which have inevitably eroded to a certain degree within the past few decades. In 2014, the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) broke state law by switching from soda ash to caustic soda as an anti-corrosion treatment without first receiving the necessary approval and permits from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) as required by Pennsylvania. [5] This unauthorized switch sparked an increase in erosion levels that made the water's lead levels spike beyond the federal limit of 15 ppb.[ citation needed ]

Risks

Lead is a neurotoxin and of particular concern for children and pregnant women. In children, lead poisoning can contribute to developmental delays and learning disabilities as well as other varied symptoms including but not limited to irritability, weight loss, abdominal pain, and hearing loss. Newborns with lead poisoning are prone to premature death, lower birth weight, and delayed growth. [6] If women get lead poisoning while pregnant, they are at a higher risk for miscarriage. [2] With prolonged exposure, lead poisoning can lead to damage in the brain, kidneys, and nervous system in people of all ages, especially children. [6] Although the federal lead threshold is 15 ppm, any concentration of lead in water is potentially dangerous to consumers. [7] The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a set reference level of 5 micrograms per deciliter (μg/dL) to identify children with elevated blood lead levels. [8]

Public response

About a quarter of PWSA customers receive their water supply through lead pipes, thus putting a significant portion of the Pittsburgh population at risk for lead consumption. [9] Pittsburgh residents have complained about rising water prices alongside contaminated water. Many unknowingly consumed lead-contaminated water, which can have long-term negative health effects. Since the solutions PWSA have proposed have yet to be fully implemented, some Pittsburgh residents have taken matters into their own hands by submitting personal water samples to laboratories for lead testing as well as installing filters into their water systems. [10]

Connections to Flint, Michigan

Flint, Michigan had a highly publicized and controversial lead crisis shortly before Pittsburgh.

Veolia

Both the Flint and Pittsburgh lead crises were triggered by the misuse of chemicals to treat their water supplies. In both cases, the private water company Veolia was involved. Flint hired Veolia in 2015 to help manage the lead crises, while Pittsburgh hired Veolia in 2012 before the lead crises emerged as a serious issue. However, in both cases, the cities complained of the lead problems worsening after hiring Veolia. [11] Michigan attorney general Bill Schuette filed a lawsuit against Veolia in 2016 for professional negligence. [12] [13] The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority similarly tried to press charges, but Veolia struck back with claims that PWSA is responsible for the chemical change that sparked the Pittsburgh lead crises. [14] Ultimately, the charges from both parties were dropped in Pittsburgh, and while the charges in Flint were not dropped, Veolia has not taken responsibility for the lead crisis, particularly since the decision to switch Flint's water source happened prior to the city's contract with Veolia. [12]

Publicity

In 2017, Virginia Tech professor Marc Edwards, who helped reveal the Flint lead crisis, pointed out that Pittsburgh's lead levels were higher than Flint's. [15] Although the Pittsburgh lead crisis has been of comparable magnitude to Flint's, it has been significantly less publicized as officials have seemingly downplayed the issue. Elected official Chelsa Wagner, controller of Allegheny County which includes Pittsburgh, criticized the Pittsburgh health department for failing to acknowledge the full extent of lead exposure in the area. [1]

Solutions

The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority has proposed both a long term and short-term solution to alleviate the water supply's lead contamination.

Long term

After a lead test revealed Pittsburgh's water supply was exceeding the federal limit in 2016, the PWSA was ordered to replace public lead service lines. However, as the PWSA embarked on this task, an unexpected obstacle interfered with the progress of the lead pipe removal. Since they were only required to replace public water lines, private lead lines were left behind. This actually leaves the possibility of exacerbating the lead contamination since construction on the public lines physically disturbs the private lines, thus breaking up the lining within the pipes meant to prevent lead erosion. [16] Because of this risk, the practice of removing only public service lines was discontinued mid-2017. A couple of months after the city ceased removing lead lines, legislation was passed that allowed the PWSA to use Pittsburgh's public safety powers to remove both public and private lines. [17] The best, long-term solution is to remove all of the lead service lines in the city, but despite the legislation allowing for this to happen, it is still a lengthy and expensive endeavor that is unlikely to be fulfilled within the next ten years and could cost close to $400 million. [16]

Short term

While the pipe removal process is underway, the PWSA has decided to add orthophosphate to the water as a means of reducing lead corrosion. [3] Since orthophosphates are attracted to the lining of metal pipes, they serve as a protective coating that prevents lead from leaching out of the pipes. In a study comparing orthophosphate to soda ash, the PWSA and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) came to the conclusion that orthophosphate would be more effective as an anti-corrosive mechanism. [18] In April 2019, the city began adding orthophosphate to the water supply. Two of four distribution points for orthophosphate are in the Highland Park neighborhood. [19]

Related Research Articles

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Plumbing is any system that conveys fluids for a wide range of applications. Plumbing uses pipes, valves, plumbing fixtures, tanks, and other apparatuses to convey fluids. Heating and cooling (HVAC), waste removal, and potable water delivery are among the most common uses for plumbing, but it is not limited to these applications. The word derives from the Latin for lead, plumbum, as the first effective pipes used in the Roman era were lead pipes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toxic heavy metal</span> Category of substances

A toxic heavy metal is any relatively dense metal or metalloid that is noted for its potential toxicity, especially in environmental contexts. The term has particular application to cadmium, mercury and lead, all of which appear in the World Health Organization's list of 10 chemicals of major public concern. Other examples include manganese, chromium, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, silver, antimony and thallium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drinking water</span> Water safe for consumption

Drinking water or potable water is water that is safe for ingestion, either when drunk directly in liquid form or consumed indirectly through food preparation. It is often supplied through taps, in that case, it is also called tap water. Typically in developed countries, tap water meets drinking water quality standards, even though only a small proportion is actually consumed or used in food preparation. Other typical uses for tap water include washing, toilets, and irrigation. Greywater may also be used for toilets or irrigation. Its use for irrigation however may be associated with risks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sewerage</span> Infrastructure that conveys sewage or surface runoff using sewers

Sewerage is the infrastructure that conveys sewage or surface runoff using sewers. It encompasses components such as receiving drains, manholes, pumping stations, storm overflows, and screening chambers of the combined sewer or sanitary sewer. Sewerage ends at the entry to a sewage treatment plant or at the point of discharge into the environment. It is the system of pipes, chambers, manholes or inspection chamber, etc. that conveys the sewage or storm water.

Water purification is the process of removing undesirable chemicals, biological contaminants, suspended solids, and gases from water. The goal is to produce water that is fit for specific purposes. Most water is purified and disinfected for human consumption, but water purification may also be carried out for a variety of other purposes, including medical, pharmacological, chemical, and industrial applications. The history of water purification includes a wide variety of methods. The methods used include physical processes such as filtration, sedimentation, and distillation; biological processes such as slow sand filters or biologically active carbon; chemical processes such as flocculation and chlorination; and the use of electromagnetic radiation such as ultraviolet light.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Water pollution</span> Contamination of water bodies

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A corrosion inhibitor or anti-corrosive is a chemical compound added to a liquid or gas to decrease the corrosion rate of a metal that comes into contact with the fluid. The effectiveness of a corrosion inhibitor depends on fluid composition and dynamics. Corrosion inhibitors are common in industry, and also found in over-the-counter products, typically in spray form in combination with a lubricant and sometimes a penetrating oil. They may be added to water to prevent leaching of lead or copper from pipes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Safe Drinking Water Act</span> Principal federal law in the United States intended to ensure safe drinking water for the public

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) is the principal federal law in the United States intended to ensure safe drinking water for the public. Pursuant to the act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to set standards for drinking water quality and oversee all states, localities, and water suppliers that implement the standards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lead and Copper Rule</span> US drinking water regulation

The Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) is a United States federal regulation that limits the concentration of lead and copper allowed in public drinking water at the consumer's tap, as well as limiting the permissible amount of pipe corrosion occurring due to the water itself. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) first issued the rule in 1991 pursuant to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The EPA promulgated the regulations following studies that concluded that copper and lead have an adverse effect on individuals. The LCR limits the levels of these metals in water through improving water treatment centers, determining copper and lead levels for customers who use lead plumbing parts, and eliminating the water source as a source of lead and copper. If the lead and copper levels exceed the "action levels", water suppliers are required to educate their consumers on how to reduce exposure to lead. In a 2005 report EPA stated that the LCR requirements had been effective in 96 percent of systems serving at least 3,300 people.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Public water system</span> Organization providing drinking water for public use

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lead contamination in Washington, D.C., drinking water</span>

While performing research into premature pipe corrosion for the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) in 2001, Marc Edwards, an expert in plumbing corrosion, discovered lead levels in the drinking water of Washington, D.C., at least 83 times higher than the accepted safe limit. He found that the decision to change from chlorine to chloramine as a treatment chemical had caused the spike in lead levels. The contamination has left thousands of children with lifelong health risks and led to a re-evaluation of the use of monochloramine in public drinking-water systems

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marc Edwards (professor)</span>

Marc Edwards is a civil engineering/environmental engineer and the Charles Edward Via Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Virginia Tech. An expert on water treatment and corrosion, Edwards's research on elevated lead levels in Washington, DC's municipal water supply gained national attention, changed the city's recommendations on water use in homes with lead service pipes, and caused the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to admit to publishing a report so rife with errors that a congressional investigation called it "scientifically indefensible." He is considered one of the world's leading experts in water corrosion in home plumbing, and a nationally recognized expert on copper corrosion. He is also one of the whistleblowers in the Flint water crisis, along with Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha.

The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) is a municipal authority in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is responsible for water treatment and delivery systems in the city of Pittsburgh, as well as the city's sewer system. In a 2010 report, the authority reported 80,557 drinking water service connections and 107,151 sewage connections. The authority claims to serve approximately 83,000 customers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flint water crisis</span> Contamination by lead of water supply in Flint, Michigan

The Flint water crisis is a public health crisis that started in 2014 after the drinking water for the city of Flint, Michigan was contaminated with lead and possibly Legionella bacteria. In April 2014, during a financial crisis, state-appointed emergency manager Darnell Earley changed Flint's water source from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department to the Flint River. Residents complained about the taste, smell, and appearance of the water. Officials failed to apply corrosion inhibitors to the water, which resulted in lead from aging pipes leaching into the water supply, exposing around 100,000 residents to elevated lead levels. A pair of scientific studies confirmed that lead contamination was present in the water supply. The city switched back to the Detroit water system on October 16, 2015. It later signed a 30-year contract with the new Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) on November 22, 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lead abatement in the United States</span>

Lead abatement is an activity to reduce levels of lead, particularly in the home environment, generally to permanently eliminate lead-based paint hazards, in order to reduce or eliminate incidents of lead poisoning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corey Stern</span> American lawyer

Corey Stern is an American lawyer, known for representing children and their families in lead-poisoning and sex abuse lawsuits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newark water crisis</span> Water contamination event in New Jersey

The Newark, New Jersey water crisis began in 2016 when elevated lead levels were observed in multiple Newark Public Schools district schools throughout the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lead service line</span> Pipe used to connect water main to users

A lead service line is a pipe made of lead which is used in potable water distribution to connect a water main to a user's premises.

References

  1. 1 2 Glenza, Jessica (2017-07-25). "Pittsburgh officials may have 'deflected' attention from lead-contaminated water". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
  2. 1 2 "CDC - Lead - At Risk Populations - Pregnant women". www.cdc.gov. 2021-04-05. Retrieved 2021-09-13.
  3. 1 2 "PWSA Makes Progress on Treatment Upgrades to Reduce Lead in Water - Community Lead Response". Community Lead Response. 2018-05-18. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  4. ↑ Reid, Liz. "Contaminants In Pittsburgh's Drinking Water Worry D.C. Environmental Group, But Not Local Experts" . Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  5. ↑ "Timeline: The evolution of lead contamination in Pittsburgh's water". PublicSource. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
  6. 1 2 "Lead poisoning - Symptoms and causes". Mayo Clinic. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
  7. ↑ Health, National Center for Environmental. "CDC - Lead - Tips - Sources of Lead - Water". www.cdc.gov. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
  8. ↑ Health, National Center for Environmental. "CDC - Lead - Standard Surveillance Definitions and Classifications". www.cdc.gov. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  9. ↑ "Getting the lead out — for good". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  10. ↑ "Frustrated Pittsburghers are taking the lead crisis into their own hands - Page 2 of 2". NEXTpittsburgh. 2017-02-07. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  11. ↑ Lerner, Sharon; Hosea, Leana (2018-05-20). "From Pittsburgh to Flint, the Dire Consequences of Giving Private Companies Responsibility for Ailing Public Water Systems". The Intercept. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
  12. 1 2 Klayman, Ben. "Michigan attorney general sues France's Veolia in Flint water crisis". U.S. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
  13. ↑ "AG - Schuette Files Civil Suit against Veolia and LAN for Role in Flint Water Poisoning". www.michigan.gov. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
  14. ↑ "PWSA, Veolia resolve dispute over management". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
  15. ↑ Clift, Theresa. "Flint lead crisis expert says Pittsburgh water a serious health concern". TribLIVE.com. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  16. 1 2 "Pittsburgh Faces Hurdles In Removing Lead From Drinking Water". NPR.org. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
  17. ↑ "What the future holds for Pittsburgh's water authority". PublicSource. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
  18. ↑ "10 things you need to know about orthophosphate, coming soon to Pittsburgh drinking water". The Incline. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  19. ↑ "Highland Park Orthophosphate Project". www.pgh2o.com. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
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