Lead no longer plagues the District’s drinking water; it has been replaced by bacteria. A program to rid the water of lead, launched city-wide at the end of August, has resulted in bacteria levels of more than twice the federal limit.
However, this type of bacteria is normally found in water and many food products. No evidence of disease-causing bacteria has been found, according to D.C. Water and Sewer Authority Spokesperson Karen DeWitt.
Still, this news is far from welcome for WASA, which has been under fire since January for hiding evidence of lead in the district’s drinking water. The findings come on the heels of Interim Inspector General Austin Anderson’s Sept. 22 testimony before the D.C. Council, in which he reported that WASA had failed to inform consumers of the gravity of the lead problem.
While these findings are embarrassing for a struggling WASA, the news is in many ways encouraging for D.C. residents. WASA’s handling of the situation suggests that it may have learned its lesson from the lead fiasco.
The elevated bacteria levels aren’t entirely unexpected. In order to fight the lead problem, the Environmental Protection Agency authorized the use of orthophosphate, a “corrosion inhibitor” that coats the insides of lead pipes, protecting the water from the lead. However, in the process of coating the pipes, the chemical can cause rust and bacteria to enter the water stream.
After preliminary tests in northwest D.C. revealed no adverse side effects for using orthophosphate, the EPA decided to widen the program to the entire city at the end of August.
That launch was characterized by a previously unseen level of communication and transparency. The EPA held two public meetings to discuss the changes with residents before the start of the program.
When the orthophosphate did cause problems, WASA was quick to publicize them. WASA organized a news conference with officials from the EPA and the D.C. Department of Health within days of getting the results from routine monthly tests.
WASA will continue to use orthophosphate-EPA regional water Chief Rick Rogers told the Washington Post that there was no other way to reduce lead to legal levels. However, WASA is going to step up efforts to flush the pipes of bacteria.
According to DeWitt, WASA is required by federal law to alert the public of elevated bacteria levels, even though the bacteria themselves are not harmful. Nevertheless, the fact that they complied suggests that the reform process at WASA has begun.
