Why industry-driven Cedar Rapids not worried about having a crisis like Flint

CEDAR RAPIDS — Cedar Rapids is unlikely to face a drinking water crisis from lead contamination like Flint, Mich., despite its industrial roots and factories lining the Cedar River, which feeds the alluvial aquifer where drinking water here comes from, officials said.

Cedar Rapids has used a testing process since 1991 that ensures low lead and copper levels and a safe water supply even as lead pipes feed taps in many older homes, said Utilities Director Steve Hershner.

'Our drinking water, particularly the source water, has been consistent for a very long time,' he said. 'We have not had concerns of lead or copper in the water.'

Flint, in a cost-cutting move, switched its water source to the Flint River more than a year ago, which corroded lead pipes in some parts of the city and caused high levels of lead in drinking water and reports of health issues such as rashes, sores and anxiety.

Emergency measures were taken to protect residents, and a federal investigation has ensued.

The Flint crisis has prompted other cities to examine their infrastructure and water supplies. Elevated levels were found in Jackson, Miss., and the crisis put scrutiny on water quality reporting in Sebring, Ohio, according to news reports.

Since Jan. 19, as the Flint crisis gained more attention, Barb Wagner, Cedar Rapids utilities water quality specialist, said she has fielded about a dozen calls from residents 'seeking reassurance and information.'

'The most common comment is 'My water tastes funny. Is it safe?' or 'My water looks a little weird. Is it safe?'' she said in an email.

Cedar Rapids is confident in its practices and water quality.

In Cedar Rapids, about 35 percent of the water distribution system is less than 25 years old, about 40 percent is 50 years or older and about 13 percent is older than 90 years, according to the city. Water mains aren't made of lead, but lead exists in some public and privately owned service lines that branch off into neighborhoods and homes. The city could not say how many homes are fed by lead pipes.

When a pipe breaks or if a public works project such as road work exposes a lead pipe, the pipes typically are replaced with copper, said Sara Baughman, a utilities spokeswoman. There is not a concerted plan to replace all the lead pipes.

The biggest threat for toxins is with homes built before 1950, which are more likely to have lead lines leading from the water main to the house. Homeowners can contact the water department with question about their water at (319) 286-5900.

While cities are moving away from lead pipes, those pipes don't necessarily mean toxic water.

'Optimal treatment, continuous monitoring and effective corrosion control measures ensure that the water is clean and safe for our residents,' Baughman said in an email.

Cedar Rapids tests water at three points: the source well, the treated water leaving the water plant and at distribution points selected based on risk.

A multi-barrier treatment process, which takes about 12 hours, is used at the water treatment plant and 1,400 water quality analyses occur per month to ensure the quality of water distributed, according to the city. The water department spends $80,000 to $100,000 annually for zinc orthophosphate, a corrosion inhibitor.

Highest risks pipes are tested yearly in Cedar Rapids. Last year, 51 pipes across the city were tested. The highest lead level findings were 12 parts led per billion on Terrazzo Drive NW and 11 ppb on Antelope Trail NE. Most were well below that.

The federal standard for action is 15 ppb or 15 micrograms per liter of water.

Iowa had 10 action-level violations in water systems serving 3,094 people in 2014, which is the most recent Iowa Drinking Water Compliance Report by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. In total, Iowa had 208 water violations, with the most common being coliform bacteria, which includes E. coli and fecal matter, according to the report.

Josh Mandelbaum, a lawyer at Environmental Law & Policy Center, said nitrate contamination from farm runoff and microcystin caused by toxic algae blooms are more pressing issues.

'If we saw instances of lead that certainly would be a focus, but we know of threats to drinking water from nutrient pollution and that's where our focus is.'

In Iowa, about 7 percent of children had lead poisoning, which was above the national average of 1.6 percent, in 2010, according to the state Department of Public Health. Lead-based paint exposure — not water — is the primary factor.

Susan Heathcote, water program director at Iowa Environmental Council, said it is important especially now for citizens to ask questions about how their water is treated and tested.

'One thing that's not well known is there are more standards and more quality control for the public water supply than for bottled water,' Heathcote said. 'The idea that bottled water is safer than tap water is not necessarily true.'