DENVER WATERLEAD REDUCTION PROGRAM

Ruby Hill Neighborhood AssociationOctober 15, 2019

Agenda

• Background on Denver Water and Lead Reduction Efforts

• Proposed Lead Reduction Program Overview• Public Comment Period• Q&A

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BACKGROUND

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Denver Water Overview

• Founded in 1918.• Governed by five-person Board of Water

Commissioners to provide separation from City of Denver.

• Water supply comes from mountain snowpack.• Provide potable and recycled water.• Serve 1.4 million people with only 2% of water used

in the state.• 3,000 miles of pipe.• 4,000 square miles of watershed land.

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• There is no lead in water delivered to Denver Water customers

• Lead can get into water as it moves through customers’ lead-containing household plumbing and service lines

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How Lead Enters Drinking Water

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• Denver Water must comply with the Lead and Copper Rule under the Safe Drinking Water Act

• Denver Water exceeded the Action Level for Lead in 2012, leading to a compliance order from CDPHE

Lead and Copper Rule

• Denver Water has not exceeded the lead action level since 2012 but is still required to implement the best method to reduce lead in tap water

LEAD REDUCTION PROGRAM OVERVIEW

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Variance: Seeking a Regional Solution

• Denver Water is proposing an alternative, holistic approach to orthophosphate

• Denver Water is submitting a request to the EPA to use this alternative approach as part of a Lead Reduction Program that combines:– Increasing the pH level for corrosion control– Develop lead service line inventory– Accelerated lead service line replacement– Providing at-home filters for all customers with a lead

service line– Communication, outreach and education

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10/16/201910

PUBLIC PROCESS

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Feedback Results on Draft Proposal

• Community feedback gathered July 12 – Aug. 7 • 406 total respondents• Greatest benefits of Lead Reduction Program:

– Protects future generations (51%)– Protects infants and children (35%)– Protects environmental health (34%)

• Overall support:– Strongly support (90%)– Somewhat support (8%)– Neutral (1%)– Less likely to support (<1%)– Do not support (<1%)

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• Summer 2019– Ongoing community events to collect input on the approach– Denver Water public comment period on draft proposal held July

12 - Aug. 7– Final proposal submitted Sept. 6– Comment period on final proposal held Sept. 10 - Oct.10

• 2019 – EPA/CDPHE expected to decide whether the Lead Reduction

Program Plan is approved– Ongoing community outreach

• 2020 and Beyond– Implement EPA/CDPHE decision (orthophosphate or LRPP)– Ongoing community outreach

Timeline

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What You Can Do Now

• Test your water with a free in-home water quality test kit

• Flush your water• Filter your water• Comments and questions:

– Lead@denverwater.org

– 303-893-2444

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Q&A

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THANK YOU

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