Logosm.gif (1927 bytes)
navlinks.gif (4688 bytes)
Hruler04.gif (5511 bytes)

Back to DC Water and Sewer Authority main page

DC Water and Sewer Authority
Press release: tests indicate lead levels continue to decline
March 8, 2005

Home

Bibliography

Calendar

Columns
Dorothy Brizill
Bonnie Cain
Jim Dougherty
Gary Imhoff
Phil Mendelson
Mark David Richards
Sandra Seegars

DCPSWatch

DCWatch Archives
Council Period 12
Council Period 13
Council Period 14

Election 1998
Election 2000
Election 2002

Elections
Election 2004
Election 2006

Government and People
ANC's
Anacostia Waterfront Corporation
Auditor
Boards and Com
BusRegRefCom
Campaign Finance
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Management Officer
City Council
Congress
Control Board
Corporation Counsel
Courts
DC2000
DC Agenda
Elections and Ethics
Fire Department
FOI Officers
Inspector General
Health
Housing and Community Dev.
Human Services
Legislation
Mayor's Office
Mental Health
Motor Vehicles
Neighborhood Action
National Capital Revitalization Corp.
Planning and Econ. Dev.
Planning, Office of
Police Department
Property Management
Public Advocate
Public Libraries
Public Schools
Public Service Commission
Public Works
Regional Mobility Panel
Sports and Entertainment Com.
Taxi Commission
Telephone Directory
University of DC
Water and Sewer Administration
Youth Rehabilitation Services
Zoning Commission

Issues in DC Politics

Budget issues
DC Flag
DC General, PBC
Gun issues
Health issues
Housing initiatives
Mayor’s mansion
Public Benefit Corporation
Regional Mobility
Reservation 13
Tax Rev Comm
Term limits repeal
Voting rights, statehood
Williams’s Fundraising Scandals

Links

Organizations
Appleseed Center
Cardozo Shaw Neigh.Assoc.
Committee of 100
Fed of Citizens Assocs
League of Women Voters
Parents United
Shaw Coalition

Photos

Search

What Is DCWatch?

themail archives

District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority
5000 Overlook Avenue, SW, Washington D.C. 20032

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 8, 2005

Contact: Karen De Witt
(202) 787-2200

TESTS INDICATE LEAD LEVELS CONTINUE TO DECLINE

The DC Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) is encouraged by a significant drop in lead levels in recent samples of District of Columbia tap water.

"We’re very optimistic," said Jerry N. Johnson, General Manager of WASA.

Of the first 19 samples taken from homes in 2005, none had lead levels above 15 parts per billion, the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) action level for compliance testing. The decline appears to continue a trend first detected in the fourth quarter of 2004.

The promising drop in lead levels is being attributed to the addition of orthophosphate to the water six months ago by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Washington Aqueduct. (The Washington Aqueduct produces and supplies the water that WASA distributes through its pipes to District residents).

WASA has been aggressively monitoring the distribution system to insure that water quality is being maintained and that no adverse affects have resulted due to the addition of orthophosphate.

WASA, which is expected to complete compliance testing of 100 homes during a six month period, is waiting for the results of other compliance water tests before determining whether the orthophosphate addition is successful.

"We anticipate completing the rest of our compliance sampling by early May, " said Johnson.

"We still have a way to go, " he continued. "It’s too early to predict our long term compliance with respect to meeting the standard contained in the Lead and Copper Rule."

According to the rule, 90 percent of the tap samples taken by WASA during back-to-back six-month periods over two years must be below 15 parts per billion before the Authority is in compliance.

See attached chart on lead test results.

Lead test results table

Back to top of page


Send mail with questions or comments to webmaster@dcwatch.com
Web site copyright ©DCWatch (ISSN 1546-4296)