Lead detected in drinking fountains and sinks of six UNC-Chapel Hill buildings
Detectable levels of lead have been found in water fountains and sinks in six campus buildings at UNC-Chapel Hill since late August, according to notifications sent to occupants of the affected buildings.
The notifications, sent by the university’s Department of Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) between Aug. 30 and Sept. 19, show that lead was detected in water fixtures in Wilson Library, South Building, Phillips Hall, Manning Hall, Hamilton Hall and Fordham Hall.
In some cases, the levels of lead detected in the affected fixtures were several times higher than 15 parts per billion (ppb), the Environmental Protection Agency’s minimum threshold at which public water systems are required to deliver education materials and take action to reduce the concentration of lead in the water — though the university says it is “taking action for any measurable lead.”
Lead is a toxic metal known to cause adverse and serious health effects, especially in children and pregnant women, even at low exposure levels.
The notifications sent to occupants of the affected buildings say that the affected water fountains in each building have been removed from service and signs have been added to the fixtures directing people not to use the fountains. The affected fountains will be replaced, the notifications say.
In Wilson Library, where — in addition to drinking fountains — sinks were also found to have detectable levels of lead in the water, signs have been added to the sinks directing people not to drink from them, a Sept. 9 notification to occupants of the building said, but the fixtures “will not be shut off” because “lead cannot be absorbed through the skin” and can still be used for washing hands.
First notification about lead on campus sent Aug. 30
To test water fixtures on campus for lead, the university uses the EPA’s testing and sampling protocol for K-12 schools, a Sept. 1 campus message from EHS about the issue said.
“This protocol involves collecting a first draw sample in the morning, followed by a flushing protocol to clear stagnant water from the lines,” the message said.
“EHS staff return in the afternoon to collect another sample for comparison with the first draw sample to determine the effect of flushing. The fixture is out of service during sampling. EHS compares the results to the EPA action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb) but will take action if there is any detectable lead.”
The first notification about lead in campus water fixtures, sent to occupants of Wilson Library on Aug. 30, said that, of 16 drinking fixtures included in “preliminary testing” in that building, detectable levels of lead were found in three water fountains, which would be removed from service and replaced.
In one of the fountains, located on the building’s second floor, tests detected a lead level of 193 ppb during the fountain’s second flush — a level almost 13 times higher than the EPA’s minimum threshold of 15 ppb.
In the Sept. 1 message, EHS said the department did “not believe this is a widespread issue,” but said if “if other fountains are found to have detectable levels in the water, they will be removed from service immediately.” The department said in the message that it “would test other campus drinking fountains that potentially contain similar lead components and have not been tested recently to check for lead.”
In an update to Wilson Library occupants sent on Sept. 9, EHS said lead had been detected in another water fountains in the building, as well as 14 sinks, after “comprehensive testing” of fixtures in the building.
EHS on Monday sent notifications to occupants of five additional buildings — South Building and Phillips, Manning, Hamilton and Fordham halls — where lead was detected in at least one drinking fountain in each building. Detected levels of lead in those buildings ranged from as low as 2.8 ppb in one Hamilton Hall fountain to as high as 662 ppb in a Fordham Hall fountain.
Investigation into issue ongoing; more fixtures to be tested
A campus message from EHS on Wednesday said there is an “ongoing investigation” into the issue and what is causing it.
“The lead in the water is likely due to the components in the fountains and sinks,” EHS said in the update. The EPA says lead “can enter drinking water when plumbing materials that contain lead corrode, especially where the water has high acidity or low mineral content that corrodes pipes and fixtures.”
“The most common sources of lead in drinking water are lead pipes, faucets, and fixtures,” the EPA says.
In the department’s update Wednesday, EHS said it would continue to test water fixtures on campus, “prioritizing testing fixtures that have similar components to those that have tested positive for lead or are of a similar age.”
Lead pipes are more likely to be found in cities, homes and buildings built before 1986, according to the EPA.
“When we test a fixture, we remove it from service until the results of the test come back,” the Wednesday update from EHS said. “If there is any level of lead detected, the fixture is removed from service completely and the process to replace that water source begins.”
Lead can have adverse health effects
Lead, even at low levels of exposure and ingestion, is known to cause adverse health effects, especially in children and pregnant women.
In adults, the EPA says, lead exposure can lead to cardiovascular effects, increased blood pressure, hypertension, decreased kidney function and reproductive problems in both men and women.
UNC Media Relations told The News & Observer via email Thursday that the university “will be offering health testing,” but did not provide additional details about how testing will be organized. The Daily Tar Heel has reported that the university “is working on a system to allow anyone seeking a lead test to access one.”
In both the notifications sent to occupants of affected buildings, as well as the wider campus messages, employees of the university who are pregnant or breastfeeding or who “have further health-related concerns” are instructed to contact the University Employee Occupational Health Clinic by phone at 919-966-9119.
Students with concerns are instructed to contact UNC Campus Health at 919-966-2281.
Campus visitors and community members with concerns are instructed to contact their health providers.
This story was originally published September 22, 2022 at 11:57 AM.
