{"id":26458,"date":"2016-04-14T13:43:15","date_gmt":"2016-04-14T18:43:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/?p=26458"},"modified":"2018-06-19T10:58:18","modified_gmt":"2018-06-19T15:58:18","slug":"excessive-lead-levels-found-in-a-small-number-of-public-water-providers-in-oklahoma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/2016\/04\/14\/excessive-lead-levels-found-in-a-small-number-of-public-water-providers-in-oklahoma\/","title":{"rendered":"Excessive Lead Levels Found in a Small Number of Public Water Providers in Oklahoma"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-30298 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2016\/04\/20160412-parkway-pics063_HR-1920x1280.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2016\/04\/20160412-parkway-pics063_HR-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2016\/04\/20160412-parkway-pics063_HR-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2016\/04\/20160412-parkway-pics063_HR-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2016\/04\/20160412-parkway-pics063_HR-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2016\/04\/20160412-parkway-pics063_HR-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2016\/04\/20160412-parkway-pics063_HR-620x413.jpg 620w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2016\/04\/20160412-parkway-pics063_HR-1620x1080.jpg 1620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/>Brooke Hall has lived in the Parkway Mobile Home Park most of her life. She\u2019s never really liked the taste of the water that comes from the park\u2019s wells, but she didn\u2019t think it could be dangerous until she was in the hospital giving birth to her son.<\/p><p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com\/player\/?url=https%3A\/\/api.soundcloud.com\/tracks\/258999368&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=false\" width=\"100%\" height=\"150\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><!--more--><\/p><p>\u201cDoctors and nurses told me I needed to stop breastfeeding while they did blood work and tested for lead because they were afraid that, because I was drinking the water, that it would be passed through to him,\u201d she says.<\/p><p>Hall didn\u2019t know lead had been detected in drinking water provided and distributed by the Midwest City park. The hospital was alerted by Hall\u2019s sister, who learned about the possible lead exposure after getting a call from someone \u2014<b> <\/b>no one can remember who.<\/p><p>\u201cIt was really scary,\u201d she says.<\/p><p>A water sample taken from Parkway in 2014 showed lead levels of 82 parts per billion, more than four times higher than the 15 parts per billion limit set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p><p>State law obligated the park\u2019s owners to alert the residents. It\u2019s unclear if they did. No one answered a knock on the park office door, and management never returned calls seeking comment.<\/p><p>State environmental records show Parkway management has failed to complete public education efforts required of drinking water systems with lead exceedances. The park, records show, is one of only three active violators of state rules designed to detect and fix high lead levels in public drinking water.<\/p>\n<h3>Flint fear<\/h3><p>The crisis in Flint, Mich., has the country on edge about lead levels in public drinking water. Oklahoma\u2019s problems appear to be much smaller, but excessive levels of lead have been found in a small number of public water systems across the state.<\/p><p>Lead levels are an active concern at 19 public water systems in Oklahoma, roughly 1 percent of <a href=\"http:\/\/sdwis.deq.state.ok.us\/DWW\/JSP\/SearchDispatch?number=&name=&county=All&WaterSystemType=C&SourceWaterType=All&PointOfContactType=None&SampleType=null&begin_date=4%2F14%2F2014&end_date=4%2F14%2F2016&action=Search+For+Water+Systems\">1,634 systems<\/a> statewide, records from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality show. Most, however, appear to be working with regulators to address the problem.<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\">Oklahoma Water Systems Exceeding EPA Lead Limits<\/h4>\n<table border=\"0\" width=\"809\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<colgroup>\n<col width=\"267\" \/>\n<col width=\"93\" \/>\n<col width=\"75\" \/>\n<col width=\"92\" \/>\n<col width=\"143\" \/>\n<col width=\"139\" \/> <\/colgroup>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"267\" height=\"21\"><strong>SYSTEM<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"93\"><strong>CITY<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"75\"><strong>COUNTY<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"92\"><strong>CUSTOMERS<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"143\"><strong>LEVEL<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"139\"><strong>OVER EPA LIMIT<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td height=\"21\">Douglas<\/td>\n<td>Douglas<\/td>\n<td>Garfield<\/td>\n<td align=\"right\">32<\/td>\n<td>378 parts per billion<\/td>\n<td>25.2 times EPA limit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td height=\"21\">Charles E. Johnson Correctional Center<\/td>\n<td>Alva<\/td>\n<td>Woods<\/td>\n<td align=\"right\">444<\/td>\n<td>279 parts per billion<\/td>\n<td>18.6 times EPA limit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td height=\"21\">Morris<\/td>\n<td>Morris<\/td>\n<td>Okmulgee<\/td>\n<td align=\"right\">1440<\/td>\n<td>221 parts per billion<\/td>\n<td>14.7 times EPA limit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td height=\"21\">Parkway MHP C\/O Stonetown Capitol<\/td>\n<td>Midwest City<\/td>\n<td>Oklahoma<\/td>\n<td align=\"right\">290<\/td>\n<td>82.5 parts per billion<\/td>\n<td>5.5 times EPA limit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td height=\"21\">Seminole CO RW&SWMD #3<\/td>\n<td>Comanche<\/td>\n<td>Seminole<\/td>\n<td align=\"right\">337<\/td>\n<td>73.5 parts per billion<\/td>\n<td>4.9 times EPA limit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td height=\"21\">Cherokee<\/td>\n<td>Cherokee<\/td>\n<td>Alfalfa<\/td>\n<td align=\"right\">1630<\/td>\n<td>63.5 parts per billion<\/td>\n<td>4.2 times EPA limit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td height=\"21\">Thirsty Water Corp<\/td>\n<td>Mangum<\/td>\n<td>Greer<\/td>\n<td align=\"right\">81<\/td>\n<td>52.3 parts per billion<\/td>\n<td>3.5 times EPA limit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td height=\"21\">Beaver Co RWD #2 (Gate)<\/td>\n<td>Gate<\/td>\n<td>Beaver<\/td>\n<td align=\"right\">87<\/td>\n<td>49.7 parts per billion<\/td>\n<td>3.3 times EPA limit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td height=\"21\">Moore<\/td>\n<td>Moore<\/td>\n<td>Cleveland<\/td>\n<td align=\"right\">41138<\/td>\n<td>40 parts per billion<\/td>\n<td>2.7 times EPA limit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td height=\"21\">Yale<\/td>\n<td>Yale<\/td>\n<td>Payne<\/td>\n<td align=\"right\">1227<\/td>\n<td>34.3 parts per billion<\/td>\n<td>2.3 times EPA limit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td height=\"21\">Tupelo<\/td>\n<td>Tupelo<\/td>\n<td>Coal<\/td>\n<td align=\"right\">377<\/td>\n<td>31.8 parts per billion<\/td>\n<td>2.1 times EPA limit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td height=\"21\">McCurtain Co RWD #8 (Mt. Fork Water)<\/td>\n<td>Broken Bow<\/td>\n<td>Mccurtain<\/td>\n<td align=\"right\">5685<\/td>\n<td>31.2 parts per billion<\/td>\n<td>2.1 times EPA limit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td height=\"21\">Buffalo<\/td>\n<td>Buffalo<\/td>\n<td>Harper<\/td>\n<td align=\"right\">1200<\/td>\n<td>31 parts per billion<\/td>\n<td>2.1 times EPA limit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td height=\"21\">Latimer Co RWD #2<\/td>\n<td>Talihina<\/td>\n<td>Latimer<\/td>\n<td align=\"right\">1500<\/td>\n<td>29.7 parts per billion<\/td>\n<td>2 times EPA limit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td height=\"21\">Mary Jackson TP<\/td>\n<td>Marlow<\/td>\n<td>Carter<\/td>\n<td align=\"right\">50<\/td>\n<td>26.6 parts per billion<\/td>\n<td>1.8 times EPA limit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td height=\"21\">Avant Utilities Authority<\/td>\n<td>Avant<\/td>\n<td>Osage<\/td>\n<td align=\"right\">361<\/td>\n<td>19.3 parts per billion<\/td>\n<td>1.3 times EPA limit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td height=\"21\">Cannon MHP<\/td>\n<td>Checotah<\/td>\n<td>Mcintosh<\/td>\n<td align=\"right\">63<\/td>\n<td>18.6 parts per billion<\/td>\n<td>1.2 times EPA limit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td height=\"21\">LRED Woodhaven<\/td>\n<td>Hulbert<\/td>\n<td>Cherokee<\/td>\n<td align=\"right\">200<\/td>\n<td>17.5 parts per billion<\/td>\n<td>1.2 times EPA limit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td height=\"21\">Oakview Water Corp<\/td>\n<td>Madill<\/td>\n<td>Marshall<\/td>\n<td align=\"right\">925<\/td>\n<td>16.2 parts per billion<\/td>\n<td>1.1 times EPA limit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><p>Nearly all the water systems on the state lead watch list are small, supplying water to just a few thousand customers or a couple of hundred homes, like the Parkway Mobile Home Park. The list includes rural water districts, municipal systems in towns like Douglas, Morris and Yale, and the Charles E. \u201cBill\u201d Johnson Correctional Center in Alva.<\/p><p>The City of Moore is the largest system on the state\u2019s lead watch list, supplying water to more than 41,000 customers through private contractor Veolia. Utility Director Robert Pistole says his department stepped up testing after lead levels of 40 parts per billion were reported in 2014, when <a href=\"http:\/\/www.waterworld.com\/articles\/print\/volume-29\/issue-1\/editorial-features\/industry-plans-transition-lead-free-rules.html\">stricter federal limits<\/a> went into effect.<\/p><p>\u201cWe did exceed,\u201d Pistole says. \u201cWe retested, and all the exceedance passed the second go-around.\u201d<\/p><p>The City of Moore alerted the public by including a written notice in their water bill. Records show the city is not violating rules and is working with regulators to address the issue. The city buys most of its water from Oklahoma City, which comes treated and doesn\u2019t have any lead issues. The rest comes from wells, which also are lead-free.<\/p><p>Pistole says his city\u2019s high lead levels come from pipes or fixtures inside homes or businesses, or improperly taken water samples. Environmental officials say that\u2019s likely true for other water systems, too.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_26466\"  class=\"wp-caption module image alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 620px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-26466\" src=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2016\/04\/20160307-moore-water-pics005_WEB.jpg\" alt=\"Robert Pistole, the utility director for the City of Moore.\" width=\"620\" height=\"413\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2016\/04\/20160307-moore-water-pics005_WEB.jpg 620w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2016\/04\/20160307-moore-water-pics005_WEB-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2016\/04\/20160307-moore-water-pics005_WEB-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2016\/04\/20160307-moore-water-pics005_WEB-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-media-credit\">Joe Wertz \/ StateImpact Oklahoma<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Robert Pistole, the utility director for the City of Moore.<\/p>\n<\/div><p>\u201cLead sampling is done by the private individuals at the households,\u201d Pistole says. \u201cWe send them a kit with instructions.\u201d<\/p><p>Getting a proper water sample takes time, and it\u2019s a hassle for many residents.<\/p><p>\u201cWe feel that some of our failures was just bad sample protocol because when we go back and follow the protocol to the T, we seem to pass it,\u201d Pistole says.<\/p><p>Corrections spokeswoman Terri Watkins blamed sample-collection errors for high lead levels at the state prison in Alva, too. The DEQ has not confirmed if follow-up tests show the prison\u2019s water are within federal limits, <i>Tulsa World<\/i>\u2019s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.tulsaworld.com\/news\/health\/prison-veterans-home-town-of-morris-among-those-whose-water\/article_97b210aa-5d7d-5723-bfe2-4cb82083138c.html\">Curtis Killman reports<\/a>. Statewide, 30 water systems had samples that exceeded federal limits during the last three years, according to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtontimes.com\/news\/2016\/apr\/9\/excessive-lead-found-in-30-oklahoma-water-systems-\/\">an analysis<\/a> by The Associated Press.<\/p><p>Testing errors and false positives are common, says Shellie Chard-McClary, director of the DEQ\u2019s Water Quality Division. When excessive lead samples are reported, her office helps water providers resolve sampling problems and orders fixes to reduce the levels.<\/p><p>\u201cWhen we start seeing an issue or a problem, we can start that technical assistance process early,\u201d she says. \u201cWe didn\u2019t really see that happen in Flint [Michigan].\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>Blood thicker than water<\/h3><p>Back at the Parkway Mobile Home Park, 2-year-old Ayden emerges from his bedroom. He\u2019s fresh from an afternoon nap in blue pajamas dotted with pictures of trucks, cranes and other construction equipment. He runs between Hall and her husband making silly noises.<\/p><p>After Hall gave birth, nurses took blood samples from her and newborn Ayden. Pregnant women and children are particularly vulnerable to lead exposure.<\/p><p>\u201cThey came back negative, that\u2019s what they told us, but as far as testing the actual water around here? I never got any results for that,\u201d she says.<\/p><p>Hall says Parkway has been through ownership and management changes, but no one has addressed a lead problem state water authorities say is ongoing. Hall doesn\u2019t expect any answers or fixes. That\u2019s why her whole family gets their drinking water from the store \u2014 not from the faucet.<\/p><p>\u201cWhen I got back from the hospital, that was it,\u201d she says. \u201cI don\u2019t even want to risk it.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lead levels are an active concern at 19 public water systems in Oklahoma, roughly 1 percent of 1,634 systems statewide, records from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality show. Most, however, appear to be working with regulators to address the problem.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":30298,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[491],"tags":[245,499,665,495,427],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26458"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/36"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26458"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26458\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30299,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26458\/revisions\/30299"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30298"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26458"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26458"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26458"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}