EPA: Flint’s water switch studies ‘highly inadequate’

Lansing – Flint’s plan to switch off Detroit water by the end of this year has hit another hurdle with a stinging assessment by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The federal agency says the city’s proposed timeline for conducting new corrosion control studies is “highly inadequate” for protecting public health.

Flint had hoped to begin providing residents with Lake Huron water from the new Karegnondi Water Authority by October, with treatment initially handled by Genesee County. The city was expected to upgrade its local plant before treating the water itself.

But the schedule is increasingly unrealistic, according to a Feb. 24 letter from EPA Region 5 Water Division Director Christopher Korleski to both city and state officials.

Korleski outlined concerns with the city’s proposed method of corrosion control testing, suggesting anticipatory studies will take longer than the city had planned and must be completed “well in advance” of making any water quality and treatment change decision.

“Given these concerns, it is difficult to envision the conduct of corrosion control studies, regardless of the monies spent of the expertise brought in, that would assure the protection of public health under the current scenario in which the City plans to switch to Genesee County-treated KWA water later this year and then back to Flint-treated KWA water in a year or two,” Korleski wrote.

The EPA letter comes as city officials perform a new alternative water source evaluation. Flint plans to analyze water source provider options throughout March and allow time for public input before officials make a final recommendation in early April, according to a timeline submitted Wednesday to the federal agency.

Flint is evaluating all water improvement and delivery alternatives, said interim Chief Financial Officer David Sabuda.

A lack of proper corrosion controls has been blamed for Flint’s water contamination crisis. State regulators did not require appropriate chemical treatment when the city began using Flint River water in April 2014. The harsh river water ended up leaching lead from aging pipes into the municipal water supply, exposing residents to the harmful toxin.

The city switched back to Detroit’s Lake Huron water supply in October 2015 while construction of the Karegnondi pipeline continued. Although testing has shown a continued reduction in lead levels, officials continue to advise residents against drinking their tap water without a filter.

Weaver’s office submitted a water treatment plant modification plan to the EPA on Jan. 31, proposing water switch protocols and eventual plant upgrades. The city said it planned to use Cornwall Engineering Group for corrosion control studies, including “coupon studies” to measure the effect of water sources.

But the EPA is urging the city to conduct more time-consuming and expensive “pipe loop studies.”

“EPA realizes that this will increase the cost and time needed at each stage; however this is the most informative approach and will lead to a solution that will minimize public risk from two short-term but substantive water quality changes,” Koleski wrote.

Pipe loop studies are “the gold standard” for corrosion control studies, said Bryce Feighner, director of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s Drinking Water and Municipal Assistance Division.

“I think it is appropriate in this case,” Feighner said. “There’s no doubt the city situation is unique, so we want to make sure everything is done properly. We support the recommendation by EPA.”

The federal agency is already conducting loop studies on Detroit water in Flint, but the EPA recommendation to conduct similar studies during subsequent phases means it will take longer than Flint anticipated to complete any water source switch, he said.

“There’s no doubt some emphasis behind the letter, I’m sure, to not switch so many times. To just keep it the same,” Feighner said.

Delays in planned Flint water switches could have a ripple effect throughout the region and complicate implementation of the Karegnondi pipeline, which Flint and other participating communities are supporting through bond payments.

If Flint decides to stay on Detroit water for an extended period, Genesee County also will have to stay on Detroit water, county Water and Waste Services Director John O’Brien said in a December letter to Feighner.

The delay could cost the county $45 million over two years, said O’Brien, who suggested the state or city should pay the additional expense.

“Another agreement will be required to cover this eventuality,” he wrote. “It is imperative for Flint to reach agreement for water supply to avoid unnecessary legal problems.”

Feighner said potential costs associated with staying on Detroit water will be part of the alternative water source evaluation the city is conducting this month.

Flint has bee making KWA bond payments since October 2016 and is paying for Detroit water, Sabuda said. The city anticipated the spending and budgeted for it through this fiscal year.

“So at this time, the city of Flint is still considering all options and a decision has yet to be made on our short or long term water sources,” Sabuda said.

Flint, as outlined in a proposed schedule to the EPA, plans to hold a late March news conference to share its analysis of alternative water source options and then host a March 29 town hall meeting. City officials are expected to make a final recommendation on April 6.

joosting@detroitnews.com