Testing Marylands Schools Drinking Water For Lead Stakeholder

Testing Maryland’s Schools Drinking Water For Lead Stakeholder Workgroup Meeting July 27, 2017

Outline • Background on Lead in Drinking Water • How Lead is Regulated • House Bill 270

Where Do We Find Lead? • Naturally occurring element found in small amounts in the earth’s crust • Sources: Ø Ø Ø Food Paint (banned 1976) Soil Dust Gasoline (banned 1990) Drinking water

Lead in Drinking Water • Rarely found in source water Ø Water that leaves a water treatment plant is lead free Ø Corrosive water releases lead from plumbing and service lines into drinking water • Much of Lead exposure in water comes from: - Lead Service Lines - Lead Gooseneck Connections - Pipes and Lead Solder (banned in 1986) - Galvanized Pipes - Brass and Bronze Plumbing devices

Health Effects of Lead • Children (e. g. deficits in IQ) and Adults (e. g. increased blood pressure) • Pregnant women and children <6 years are most vulnerable

Lead Regulatory History • 50 ppb MCL (1975 – 1991) • Lead Ban (1986, 1996, 2011) Ø “Lead free” = reduced Lead • Lead Contamination Control Act (1988) Ø EPA list of water fountains with Lead Ø Schools and daycare centers • Lead and Copper Rule 1991 (Revisions 2000 & 2007) Ø Optimize water quality to minimize corrosion Ø Changed MCL to AL

How Water Safety Is Measured By EPA? • Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) Ø maximum concentration of a contaminant allowed in public drinking water Ø Usually based on life-time exposure with chronic health risks • Action Level (AL) Ø specified concentration of a contaminant in water that triggers an action by the public water system Ø not health-based standard

• Public water systems regulated for >90 contaminants (including Lead) • SDWA requires testing at source, treatment plant, and water distribution system Ø Water system responsible for water quality up to property line • Lead and Copper Rule testing at homes Ø inside property line/customer’s tap (controversy)

• Single-family Tier 1 sites Priority Ø Older homes tested Ø Schools left out (unless have own well) • Approximately 3, 000 schools in Maryland are NOT required to be tested under LCR

House Bill 270 • Complements LCR Ø Covers shortcomings of LCR related to schools • Public and non-public schools Ø Schools not already tested under LCR Ø Testing for approximately 3, 000 schools in Maryland

HB 270 Overview • Where? Samples collected from drinking water outlets – # varies from school to school • When? – Initially by July 1, 2018 – Phase In Process (Pre-K to Grade 5 AND Buildings constructed <1988) • How? – Using EPA Technical Guidance (3 Ts)

HB 270 Requirements • • • Establish Stakeholder Group Gather Information Adopt Regulations Establish Waiver Protocol Prepare Annual Report to the Governor

Establish Stakeholder Group • We depend on the expertise of every member of workgroup

Gather Information • Testing processes, protocols, efforts undertaken by schools • Other information: Ø# schools (public and private) in each County ØYear school built and year of renovations

Adopt Regulations • Periodic testing-establish monitoring frequency • Samples to be analyzed by MDE approved entity • Steps to be taken when there is an elevated level of lead • Address Best Practices and Cost-Effective Testing

Establish Waiver Protocol A. Drinking water outlets tested for Lead in a manner that substantially complies with regulations, AND Test results show no elevated levels of Lead in any drinking water outlets in school. B. Students do not have access to any drinking water outlet, AND Bottled water is sole source of water for drinking or food preparation (i. e. no piped water).

Prepare Annual report to the Governor • MDE and MSDE • December 1, 2018 initially • Location of and type of drinking water outlet where elevated lead was found.

Contact Information: Christina Ardito MDE Water Supply Program Christina. Ardito@maryland. gov 410 -537 -3729