Introduction
In 2014 Flint Michigan found itself captured in the national headlines after high levels of trihalomethanes (THMs) and lead concentrations were found in the water system. This was after a terrible decision was made by the Flint Michigan city council of switching the water supply from a Detroit plant treated water system to the local Flint River water supply. The decision was made because the city council officials believed that the new proposed water system would assist in saving a lot of money little did they know that they would cause a significant problem to the society. Soon after Michigan water supply was changed, the city’s water supply became concentrated with high levels of trihalomethanes (THMs). On their own, small levels of THMs in the water are safe as they are byproducts of natural chlorinated water, but a high concentration level renders the water acidic. In addition to the high THMs concentration levels, the lead levels in the water were also elevated as a result of the acidic water that caused lead leaching from the water pipes. In regards to the above information, the paper presents a proposal to fix the water crisis at Flint Michigan by adding dechlorinating chemicals and corrosion inhibitors.
As the Flint Michigan city council was facing a financial crisis, cutting the budget of the town’s water supply was the only solution to saving some money. Therefore, the city council officials made a decision to switch from the old system of water supply to the Flint River supply instead of buying water from the Detroit Company that was quite expensive. Part of the saved money was to be used for treating the Flint River water as well as building new water plants to enhance development in the city’s water supply system. However, the county officials concentrated so much on switching from the old water supply and treating the water and in the process; they failed to recognize the harm that was resulting from the new water supply system.
Soon after the switch, residents started complaining about the watercolor and the quality. The water had a strange smell with a dirty yellow color and was not appropriate for human consumption. After investigation and testing, the water was found with high concentrations of trihalomethanes (THMs) a product of chlorine that was resulting from the water disinfection process. These THMs were formed as a consequence of interaction between organic compounds in the water and the added chlorine that was used in excess quantities in the water treatment process. Water with high THMs levels is not safe for human consumption as it predisposes individuals to liver and kidney cancers especially after a long period of exposure. THMs contact with the skin can also predispose individuals to dermal problems; therefore, it is necessary to purify water after chlorination to make it safe for human consumption. Moreover, the high THMs levels changed the water pH making it more acidic. The acidic water caused lead leaching from the pipes as the water became more corrosive due to an increase in the chloride ion (Brown et al., 352). As well, high level of lead in the water causes lead poisoning that affects the normal functionality of the body’s crucial organs such as the kidney, heart, and the nervous system. It is, therefore, paramount to fix the water crisis in Flint Michigan to ensure supply of safe water for human consumption.
Objective
The primary purpose of the research project is to provide a sustainable solution that will avert the water crisis at Flint Michigan. After reviewing all the options that could help fix the problem that is being faced by the Flint water supply system, the best viable solutions are using corrosion inhibitors and dechlorination chemicals. Through this, it will be possible for me to achieve the following goals:
Determine the best method of reducing the high concentration of trihalomethanes (THMs) in the water supply system.
Explore the best viable solution for reducing the lead concentration values in water supply system.
Develop a water supply system with safe quality water for human consumption free from hazardous compounds.
It is important for the city council officials to provide safe quality water for consumption despite the financial crisis that they are facing. Clean water protects humans from contracting water based; water washed and water-related diseases that spread rapidly over a population especially with a contaminated water supply. The Flint water supply is already contaminated with high lead, and trihalomethanes levels and individuals are already suffering. Action must be undertaken quickly and fast. Therefore, the primary objective of the project is averting the water crisis at Flint Michigan.
Based on the sustainability, cost, effectiveness and efficiency of the water treatment methods the best possible solutions to help control the Flint water crisis is the use of dechlorination chemicals and corrosion inhibitors. Other proposed solutions entail fixing the lead pipes that were old with new PVC pipes, but it is too expensive, increasing the alkalinity and pH of the water where the project requires frequent maintenance costs and the adoption of lead dioxide pipe coating that is also quite expensive (Hu, Song, and Karanfil, 797). Thus, the use of corrosion inhibitors and dechlorinating chemicals are the only suitable options left. By adding orthophosphate, corrosion inhibitor, the lead leaching will be stopped, and it is a very economical and effective approach to controlling the lead concentration levels in the water system. As well, in counteracting the high THMs levels, dechlorination provides the best option of neutralizing the high chlorine levels making water safe for consumption (Gorchev and Ozolins, 106).
Plan of action
This section presents the proposed method for obtaining the set objectives highlighted in the previous chapter. My first objective is reducing the THMs levels in the water supply system. The elevated THMs levels are as a result of the high chlorine levels used in the water treatment process that eventually combine with the naturally occurring organic compounds. Water with high THMs levels is not safe for human use as it predisposes individuals to particular types of cancers such as the kidney and liver cancers after a long period of exposure. Therefore, one of our projects goals is neutralizing the high water chlorine levels using sodium ascorbate. The chemical will help to reduce the water pH rendering it less acidic than it was before reducing its corrosive properties. The water will not be completely chlorine free, but the levels of chlorine will be reduced significantly reducing the availability of trihalomethanes (Xue et al., 253). It is, however, important for the water to have some little chlorine in it as it plays a critical role in the water purification process. Chlorine helps in the killing of water pathogens while preventing pathogen regrowth. Nevertheless, excess chlorine in the water is hazardous as highlighted in the case of the Flint water system.
My second objective is to reduce the lead values in the water system. Once ingested in our body, lead causes lead poisoning that is quite fatal especially when it affects the main body organs such as the heart, nervous system as well as the kidneys. Thus, it is important to reduce the lead concentration levels in the water supply system. This will be achieved through the addition of orthophosphate a corrosion inhibitor in helping to reduce the corrosion effect of the lead water pipes. The use of orthophosphate will be an economical approach in suppressing the lead levels as per the EPA standards. The corrosion inhibitor will help in the formation of a lead phosphate on the lining of the pipes preventing the release of lead ions in the water. Reducing the THMs and lead levels will help in the provision of safe quality water that will be free from hazardous compounds (Brown and Margolis, 5).
Because the government and water supply officials are the primary audience for my proposed project, and they may not be familiar with these water treatment methods, I will provide some background information on the feasibility and success of the methods as well as a brief general overview of the metrics of adopting the water treatment methods chosen.
Management plan
This section presents the proposed costs, qualifications as well as my schedule for completing my project. The project will be a cumulative formal report that will be completed by the end of the year. Part of my time will be utilized in collecting the relevant materials needed to complete my research project. I will also spend some time sifting through these resources in an effort of finding out key facts and results about the proposed water treatment methods. The remaining time in my schedule will be spent assessing my objectives, collecting and analyzing my research findings and presenting the end results.
No costs will be spent, as all the resources are available from the school library other than printing money that will be minimal. As a senior Environmental Studies student, I believe that I have the relevant qualifications to complete the project. I hope that my research project will be of great benefit in solving the Flint water crisis.
Conclusion
Flint Michigan water system is poisoned with a high-level concentration of trihalomethanes (THMs) and lead. This was after the city council officials who believed that the new proposed water system would help them save a lot of money made a terrible decision. Low levels of THMs in the water are safe as they are by-products of natural chlorinated water, but a high concentration level renders the water acidic. This makes the water have a corrosive effect on the lead pipes causing lead leaching in the water supply system. Both high THMs and lead levels have hazardous effects on human health; therefore, it is important for them to be controlled. Thus, the research projects seeks to determine the best method of reducing the high concentration of trihalomethanes as well as lead levels and also aims to develop a water supply system with safe quality water for human consumption free from hazardous compounds. The best way of solving the problem is by using corrosion inhibitors and dechlorination chemicals, as they are sustainable and efficient.
Work citied
Brown, Aaron W. et al. “A Device for Fully Automated on-Site Process Monitoring and Control of Trihalomethane Concentrations in Drinking Water.” Analytica Chimica Acta 853.1 (2015): 351–359.
Brown, Mary Jean, and Stephen Margolis. “Lead in Drinking Water and Human Blood Lead Levels in the United States.” Morbidity and mortality weekly report. Surveillance summaries (Washington, D.C. : 2002) 61 Suppl (2012): 1–9. Print.
Gorchev, H G, and G Ozolins. “WHO Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality.” WHO chronicle 38.3 (2011): 104–108.
Hu, Jia, Hocheol Song, and Tanju Karanfil. “Comparative Analysis of Halonitromethane and Trihalomethane Formation and Speciation in Drinking Water: The Effects of Disinfectants, pH, Bromide, and Nitrite.” Environmental Science and Technology 44.2 (2010): 794–799.
Xue, Chonghua et al. “The Impact of Changes in Source Water Quality on Trihalomethane and Haloacetonitrile Formation in Chlorinated Drinking Water.” Chemosphere 117.1 (2014): 251–255.
