Letter to Dr. Maxwell sent on Lead In PGCPS Water

This was sent to gain clarity on the amount of lead PGCPS is allowing in the water.

Dear Dr. Maxwell,

I am writing to get information on what level of lead in the water (what ppb) PGCPS is using as their threshold for turning off the water. As I understand it, PGCPS is using an outdated level of 20 ppb as their cut off, and allowing toxic amounts of lead in the water.

In some letters to me you state that the County is using a lead in water cut off of 20 ppb and in other documentation you state it is 15 ppb. I would like some clarity. What is the level at which water is turned of in PGCPS schools?

Two examples of when PGCPS stated they are useing 15  ppb lead as the cut off.

In a 2016 letter PGCPS wrote me stating that they were using the EPA action level of 15 ppb. (Read the December letter here). In 2017 PGCPS wrote WJLA Reporter Scott Taylor that 15 ppb was the cut off. Read that letter here.

Three examples of when PGCPS stated they are using 20  ppb lead as the cut off.

In yet another letter you wrote stating PGCPS were using the action letter of 20 ppb. I have that detailed in full here.  In addition in the most recent 2017 PGCPS Water Quality Program statement it states that in 2004  “2,516 (approximately 90%) found to be at or above the 20 parts per billion (ppb) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) action level” were taken out of service.

In the list of schools with water taps shut off found here PGCPS lists the ppb of the last lead test for each tap AND no where do I see a lead level from 15 to 20 which implies that the lead level at which fountains were turned off is 20, not 15 ppb. After all, if PGCPS were using 15 then we would see lead levels of 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 listed here with taps turned off. See an example here of the extremely high lead levels found in the fountains, yet none under 2. The column all the way to the right is the lead level at ppb:

So it seems like the action level used by PGCPS was in fact- 20 ppb.

Therefore, here are my specific questions: I am asking you these because of all the miscommunications in the past. Please answer each one.

1. What is the current lead in water ppb level at which PGCPS uses as it’s threshold of safety in terms of lead in the water.
2. What ppb was used in 2004 as the cut off for safety in terms of lead in water.
3. What ppb was used in 2009 as the cut off for safety in terms of lead in water.
4. What ppb was used in 2010 as the cut off for safety in terms of lead in water.
5. What ppb was used in 2011 as the cut off for safety in terms of lead in water.
6. What ppb was used in 2012 as the cut off for safety in terms of lead in water.
7. What ppb was used in 2013 as the cut off for safety in terms of lead in water.
8. What ppb was used in 2014 as the cut off for safety in terms of lead in water.
9. What ppb was used in 2015 as the cut off for safety in terms of lead in water.
10. What ppb was used in 2016 as the cut off for safety in terms of lead in water.
11. What ppb was used in 2017 as the cut off for safety in terms of lead in water.
12. What ppb was used in 2004 as the cut off for safety in terms of lead in water.
13. After lead was found in water in 2009, were any taps turned off and at what lead level.
14. After lead was found in water in 2010, were any taps turned off and at what lead level. Please send the list.
15. After lead was found in water in 2011, were any taps turned off and at what lead level.Please send the list.
16. After lead was found in water in 2012, were any taps turned off and at what lead level.Please send the list.
17. After lead was found in water in 2013, were any taps turned off and at what lead level.Please send the list.
18. After lead was found in water in 2014, were any taps turned off and at what lead level.Please send the list.
19. After lead was found in water in 2015, were any taps turned off and at what lead level.
20. The current PGCPS website states that new construction will have a 10 ppb cut off. Am I correct?
21. What is the current ppb lead cut off for current buildings?

Thank you so much,

Theodora Scarato