Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Non-Residential Buildings - Term Paper Example

LEAD IN DRINKING WATER IN SCHOOLS AND NON-RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS Student’s Name Instructor Course Class City Date Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 Reasons for Worries about Lead in Water Systems 5 Common Ways through Which Lead Get to Drinking Water 6 Corrective measures to Lead Contamination 7 Short-term remedies to lead contamination 7 Drink or prepare food with cold water 7 Flush the tap before use 8 Testing the Water for Lead 8 Permanent Remedies 8 Replacement Remedy 9 Reducing of Lead at the Tap 9 Reconfigure Plumbing 10 Use of Lead-free Materials 10 Bottled Water Remedy 11 Primary Interest Groups 13 Building Community 13 Local Health Community 13 States and EPA Regions 14 Drinking Water Community 14 Conclusion 16 References List 17 Henrietta Cook, 2015, ‘School drinking fountain connected to recycled water’ The Age, Retrieved on September 6, 2015, from http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/school-drinking-fountain-connected-to-recycled-water-20150414-1mkynt.html. 17 Lead In Drinking Water in Schools and Non-Residential Buildings Introduction Apart from the many other reasons, most parents are currently worried about the safety of their children when in schools due to increasing in cases of high lead contaminated water being supplied to schools and non-residential buildings. Children are much highly susceptible to the effects caused by lead because they are still developing. Elderly persons are equally in danger caused by contaminated water and as such, fear has been high in multiple schools and non-residential buildings concerning the quality of water they are supplied. Some of the few effects that can be mentioned to be effects of drinking water that is contaminated with lead is having significantly reduced IQ and reduced span of attention, reduced performance in class for children, impaired growth, loss of hearing, problems that are related to behavioral and many other adverse effects. Drinking the water used in school does not have any prescribed federal law that requires that it be tested except for only schools that use their water supply (Cartier et al., 2012). Those schools that has their water supply are regulated by a body that is known to be Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). It is only family dwellings that sampling of water supplies for lead and copper and that means that a vast majority of public water supplies such as school and non-residential facilities do not have their water supply sampled. Lead levels in drinking water are in most cases defined by the state and jurisdiction for the overall plan of schools to ensure that environmental threat is significantly reduced. This is considered essential by most states and governments as a clean environment ensure that children grow healthy life and have their general performance improved. As drinking water is supplied to various destinations such as schools and non-residential houses, there are high chances of lead getting into the system through plumbing materials and fixtures used to transport and supply water. In most cases, waters used in these facilities such as schools are known to meet federal or state standards for lead but always the level of lead contained in such water systems are always on the rise because of the water usage pattern and plumbing materials (McIntosh 2014). It is very crucial to taste the water being used in places such as schools are tested at schools and not at the sources of such waters because the lead levels change at different stages of the water system. Testing of the lead level is crucial as it gives the opportunity for the evaluation of plumbing materials and finally coming up with rightful remedies to curb the rise in the lead level in schools and non-residential houses. It is only through testing that a problem can be understood in case there is one, and appropriate corrective measure be put in place (Cartier et al., 2012). This paper gives a detailed case study on the lead that is increasing in that school and Non-residential building’s water supply from the perspective of a professional Hydraulic Service Engineer. The paper outlines various steps that need to be taken to ensure that the problem is remedied and various authorities that need to be in contact with are appropriately highlighted (McIntosh 2014). Highly insightful information that is not only required by water users in the schools and non-residential buildings but even the regulated authorities and the government is provided in a much more detailed form. Reasons for Worries about Lead in Water Systems There is a need for anyone being concerned about being exposed to the lead substance, as it is a profoundly harmful substance to all human beings. Lead when inhaled or ingested in the body remains to be a high health risk to humans regardless of the level at which one is exposed to it. It is said that even blood with a lead level of 5 micrograms per deciliter is associated with adverse mental, behavioral and physical effects to mostly children. Health risk of lead can be conclusively looked at based on the adults and children. Some of the health risk that adult people are exposed to when they inhale or inject point is blood pressure (Cartier et al., 2012). A high level of lead in an adult blood is an important cause of increased blood pressure, frequent nerve damage, poor coordination of muscle, and again impairment of hearing and vision. Women who are pregnant and their fetuses are highly vulnerable to lead exposure as lead has the potential of resulting in lowering birth weight and resulting to slowing physical and mental development of the newborn. On the other hand, children are known to be susceptible to the exposure of lead due to the fact they potentially have a higher rate of absorbing metals at a much higher rate than adults do. The rapid growth that is exhibited by children that are in the age bracket of six years makes this age group more vulnerable to lead exposure than it does another age group. When children are exposed to high level of lead, they are being at risk of having their brain damaged, damaged red blood cells, and many other body tissues (Cartier et al., 2012). Those children that are exposed to small lead are susceptible to impaired hearing, hyperactivity, very low IQ, significantly reduced attention span, and delays in development, and finally destitute performance in class. Common Ways through Which Lead Get to Drinking Water Lead that is found in drinking water is majorly considered to the "endpoint" problem associated with the distribution of drinking water. To be able to find the best ways of going through problems of lead exposure in schools and non-residential buildings’ drinking water, it is important to understand how lead gets into drinking water (McIntosh 2014). The two major ways through which lead get into drinking water is when lead was in the water from the source and when water being supplied come into contact with plumbing materials that contain lead or when water containing water gets into the system at the cross connections (Wilking, Cradock, & Gortmakern 2015). Sources of water are in most cases do not have lead but then lead are known to be naturally existing naturally in the ground hence contaminating clean water either directly or indirectly such as dumping lead-containing wastes and many other. Most of the lead found in drinking water commonly gets there through corrosion of the plumbing materials. The greatest concern of lead presence in drinking water is concentrated at the near end of the tap. Some of the parts of the plumbing system that is highly associated with lead presence include lead pipes, lead solder, and brass fixtures (Cartier et al., 2012). It is from these parts that lead is leached into the drinking water passing through the distribution channel. Water that stays for quite a long time is known to be likely to have a high concentration of lead. Concentration of lead is also associated with water chemistry, plumbing materials’ age, and temperature. With the great risks that children and people staying in the nonresidential are exposed to due to contaminated drinking water, there is a much greater need to find a long-term solution to this problem. As a professional Hydraulic Service Engineer, there is the need to offer precautionary ways through which the issue of drinking water with high level of lead is avoided or significantly reduced (Wilking, Cradock, & Gortmakern 2015). There are those practices that schoolchildren and those living in non-residential buildings should practice, there are those measures were taken concerning the plumbing materials being used, and finally there are legal practices that have been put in place to guide water supply, sampling, testing, and many others. Corrective measures to Lead Contamination There are several ways through which lead level in drinking water can be significantly reduced which will consequently result in significant reduction in the number of casualties reported in most schools and non-residential buildings after being excessively exposed to lead. Some of the solutions to the problem of lead in drinking water is in most cases done in the short term and on a permanent condition. The short-term measures are the measures that are taken as one waits for the test results or before the permanent solution is arrived at (Cartier et al., 2012). Besides the shorter and the permanent remedies to the lead contamination, there is the need for routine measures to be performed more often. Both the short-term and long-term solutions are discussed as follows. Short-term remedies to lead contamination Drink or prepare food with cold water Hot water is considered to be of a higher concentration of lead as compared to cold water. When intending to quench thirst or when intending to prepare juice or mixing baby food, it is recommended that one prefer cold water to hot one (Wilking, Cradock, & Gortmakern 2015). Boiling water is high likely to remove lead thus increasing its concentration level, unlike the cold water. It is therefore required that consumption of direct water or mixing of water with foods that are then eaten or drunk directly would be much more safe for school children or non-residential people. Flush the tap before use Other than using cold water and avoiding boiling water, the other way of reducing lead levels in water include flushing the valve before it is used. Most of the scholars considered cleaning to be more of a routine remedy rather than a short term but it is always done as permanent solution is being sort making it a short term remedy (Wilking, Cradock, & Gortmakern 2015). Like it was initially stated, when water stays for a longer time before use, the level of lead concentration increases. It is therefore crucial to allow the tap water to run for some time before using that water with an aim of ensuring that the concentration of lead is significantly reduced. The best way to reduce the lead level in the water system is by ensuring that flushing is done at least twice a day more particularly in the morning and midday for the lead to run out of the system. Testing the Water for Lead There is a need to have occasional testing of drinking water to known the level of lead. It is recommended by professional that water that is being used for drinking or for preparing food be tested for a period of every five years. It is always after the test that proper corrective measures can be taken should it be found that lead level has highly elevated (Wilking, Cradock, & Gortmakern 2015). There is also the need for ensuring that aerators are cleaned on a quarterly basis more so in the event that there is a high level of debris buildup. Permanent Remedies There are a number of ways through which sources of lead in drinking water that is supplied to schools and non-residential can be permanently eliminated or reduced. In the permanent solution seeking, some of the short-term remedies such as flushing are usually eliminated or reduced to a significant level. Immediately after carrying out a test, it is important that a permanent treatment to the identified contamination to be examined (Cartier et al., 2012). There are a number of ways through which permanent solution to lead contamination can be realized, and the choice will have to be pegged on factors such as availability of water, cost of the solution, likelihood of success, and requirements by the staff members. Replacement Remedy In the event that contamination that results from lead is within a given outlets within the water supply system then it will be more practical to replace these outlets. The plumbing industry has worked with EAP and NSF International to come up with a given standard for the industry that was to ensure that amount of lead was minimized that were being leeched into the system. It is crucial that adequate information is sort before any brass plumbing is purchased to an individual its level of compliance with the required standard. Reducing of Lead at the Tap There is also the option of reverse osmosis units that can be purchased to help in removing lead at the tap. Reverse osmosis units are highly corrosive, and it is highly recommended that when they only are used at the water outlets. These devices are commonly known as the point of use (POU) devices, and they are usually used to treat faucets or traps but they are not recommended for drinking water fountains. In the current market, several POU cartridge filter units can effectively remove lead out of the water system used in schools. The challenge with POU is that they are relatively expensive as most of them go for around $65 to $250 with the most expensive going for even $500. It should be pointed out that POU have varying effectiveness, and they are prone to vandalism and as such, it would be significant that they are properly guarded or placed in areas that they can be carefully monitored. Reconfigure Plumbing In most of the facilities, plumbing system requires modification in order for water that is being supplied for drinking to be redirected not to follow sources that have lead contamination. When such an alternative is not taken, it is crucial that sources of lead contamination are known, and it would be significant for the follow up testing to be conducted. By performing a follow-up testing, other remedies need to be involved to ensure that significant effort is put to reduce the level of lead at the tap. This remedy may not as expensive as other already mentioned remedies and at the same time may not be so effective when solely employed in the elimination of lead in the water system. Use of Lead-free Materials As it has already been discussed above, the use of lead soldiers and other materials that have material are the primary cause of lead presence in the drinking water system. In the event that a plumber comes to repair or replace broken or worn out water system, they must be instructed to only use “Lead-free” materials. According to 1986 safe Drinking Water Act Amendments, it is recommended that only materials that are “lead-free” should be used in new and repair plumbing works. It is necessary for any school and even the non-residential buildings to ensure that any plumber called upon to perform any plumbing work (Bryant 2004) adheres to such a provision. Through such actions, the level of new lead being introduced into the facility plumbing system is significantly reduced. It is also important that those who are seen violating such regulations be reported to various local plumbing sectors, state drinking water program, or any other institution that deals with issues that relate to plumbing regulations. Bottled Water Remedy Another permanent remedy to the problem of lead concentration in the drinking water used by schoolchildren or non-residential buildings is by using bottled water. This remedy is highly significant when other treatments become impractical or fails to achieve its objective. It is very possible for one to purchase a bottle of water for the purposes of consumption by building community. This remedy is also considered as interim remedy, and it is highly crucial that the bottled water being bought meets state or federal standards for lead and other common water contaminants (Bryant 2004). The best way to ascertain the safety of the bottled water is by obtaining written statement by manufacturers or relevant authorities that bottled water that is being distributed does not have a lead that exceeds 5ppb. The following chart shows the various steps that need to be taken as remediation process. It shows where and why specific remedies are used, which implies that one cannot only choose any of the remedy and apply it to correct any problem at hand, but specific remedies are shown to be most appropriately used at specific conditions. Source: Bryant 2004. Several schools around the world that have in one way been found drinking water whose lead content is more than 20 ppb. A good example is the case of campus of St. Peters College’s Cranbourne East where students were reported to have unintentionally drunk water that was directly from a sewerage treatment plant for nearly one year (Henrietta 2015). It is a perilous situation as very young people who are also very vulnerable to lead are exposed to concentration of lead. In this, it is fortunate that the lead content was not so high for its impact to be noticed relatively quickly but even with the small percentage, it still posed a danger to the students. Such a case would be very worse should the lead concentration level be increased. Several ways can be used to handle such exposures as already discussed above. There should be an outlined way of ensuring that those who are exposed as those in St Peters College. All schools and non-residential buildings need to conduct testing even at the individual level to be sure of the degree of lead available in the drinking water (Henrietta 2015). There are those schools that only do this when there are the iron staining problems, but this always result to a widespread of lead and iron-related problems. In case of suspected incidence of lead related consequences, various relevant bodies need to be contacted. Primary Interest Groups Three major players need to be involved if the war on the lead found in drinking water used in schools and non-residential homes is to be won. Some of this interest group includes: Building Community This is the entire group that is comprised of those using the facility that is highly affected by lead in drinking water problems. Some of these installations in a more concrete way include schools and non-residential buildings. Mostly those who are using these facilities are the students, teachers, employees, and even community group. When a critical situation relates to the drinking water contamination, school, and building community should be targeted first. Local Health Community People such as health officers, nurses, and sanitarians are the ones that can help non-professionals understand possible health risks that may result from increased level of lead in drinking water (Bryant 2004). It would be significant to inform this group of people about any suspected incident concerning lead leeching into the drinking water. It is important to contact this community immediately to enable them take corrective measure immediately to avoid many casualties. States and EPA Regions Officers from EAP and states are the one responsible for ensuring that public water supplier is done in line with the regulations provided by the state or federal concerning lead in drinking water. This is also a group that needs to be reported to of any significant issues concerning lead in drinking water at an appropriate time so that they can act before the situation escalates. States and EAP can offer precious communication on health risks and potential sources of lead. Drinking Water Community Schoolchildren and the members of the public are equally very important group when it comes to the fight on the lead in drinking water. Every student and the user of any of the non-residential buildings must be made aware that they must comply with the standards that are set by national and state on drinking water and lead (Cartier et al., 2012). Drinking water Community is composed of public water suppliers and as such must ensure that any water they distribute to school and any other building must not be corrosive, must have the lowest level of lead, and has the very lowest potential of leading to lead leaching from plumbing. They must also be informed of the possible consequences of supplying water that is corrosive and that which contains a high amount of lead. This way every supplier will ensure that they know the content of the water they provide to schools and non-residential. It is important noting that schools are classified into three broad categories (Bryant 2004). The first category is the school that receives water from a Community Public Water Supply (CPWS), the second one are those schools with their own source and people served are 25 or more, the last category are those schools with their own source but serve less than 25 persons. There are also three major bodies responsible for ensuring that drinking water is free from contamination. The first legal body is Lead and Copper Rule, Training, Testing, and Telling, also known as a 3T rule, and finally Lead Contamination Control Act. Lead Contamination Control Act (LCCA) is a regulatory body whose provisions are applied in all the three categories of school. The body is meant to not only identify but also reduce the level of lead in drinking water in all schools by simply relying on voluntary compliance by school districts and individuals. The other body is the 3T that was developed by EAP to help in all categories of institutions in the fight for reducing the concentration level of lead in the drinking water. It requires that all schools adopt and fully implement a lead reduction plan. The last one is the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) a law that is also applicable to all categories of schools. Lead that is found in drinking water is in most cases not from the natural water and sources such as soil. The primary cause of lead concentration, as it has elaborately discussed, is due to the corrosion of pipes and plumbing fixtures (Bryant 2004). Reduction of drinking water act became law in the year 2011, and its provision was meant to reduce the allowable lead content in the materials used in plumbing by redefining SDWA of lead-free. These bodies are the one that provide crucial provisions that are critical to ensuring that drinking water used in nearly all schools consume water that is free from lead or that which has the lowest level of lead. The most risk that result from school drinking water being highly contaminated with lead is professionally addressed in a much better ways. Conclusion It can be seen that there are potential problems that result from water connections in most public and school buildings. It is therefore crucial to understand things that could potentially go wrong in most of the drinking water supply pipes connected to school buildings non-residential buildings. The most comprehensive ways of going through this case are by conducting various tests to identify possible health effects of lead due to the presence of lead in drinking water that is used by students and non-residential buildings. It is then important to find out how lead gets into drinking water with an aim of finding the most convenient ways of ensuring that drinking water is prevented from being contaminated by lead. It is important that most schools conduct testing of their drinking water more regularly as contamination may happen due to the tear and wear of the plumbing materials, which are then supposed to be replaced. The effect of lead in drinking water is so dangerous more so to students and as such it should be taken more seriously. References List Bryant, S, 2004, ‘Lead‐Contaminated Drinking Waters in the Public Schools of Philadelphia,’ Journal of Toxicology: Clinical Toxicology, 42(3), 287-294. Cartier, C, Nour, S, Richer, B, Deshommes, E, & Prévost, M 2012, ‘Impact of water treatment on the contribution of faucets to dissolved and particulate lead release at the tap,’ Water Research, 46(16), 5205-5216. Henrietta Cook, 2015, ‘School drinking fountain connected to recycled water’ The Age, Retrieved on September 6, 2015, from http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/school-drinking-fountain-connected-to-recycled-water-20150414-1mkynt.html. McIntosh, A, 2014, Urban Water Supply and Sanitation in Southeast Asia: A Guide to Good Practice. Walking, C, Cradock, L, & Gortmaker, S, 2015, ‘Harnessing the Public Health Power of Model Codes to Increase Drinking Water Access in Schools and Childcare,’ The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 43(s1), 69-72. Read More