As a result of examining this issue, students should be able to:

• Characterize the corrosion of lead process to include writing the appropriate chemical equations and describing the specific type of reactions that are involved.
• Predict how changing pH (such as by using lime) affects the rate of corrosion and use appropriate sets of chemical reaction and chemical principles to explain how.
• Understand the common corrosion inhibitors used and the specific reaction that occurs that allows them to inhibit corrosion.
• Understand the possible role of chloramines in increasing corrosivity and the chemical equation involved.
• Know the EPA action level for lead in drinking water in both ppb and mg/L units.
• Understand the toxic effects of lead on human health and be able to effectively describe them to include discussing the general mechanism of action.
• Understand and explain the basis for the primary methods are used to remove lead from household drinking water.

March 5, 2004 Committee on Government Reform Hearing on:

• Testimony of Professor Ellen K. Silbergeld, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University.
• Extensive background on lead toxicity and policy; served CDC, EPA, MD, WHO, NRC panels examining lead exposure, toxicity, and policy.
• Testimony of Professor Marc Edwards, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech; and current President of the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors
• Years of expertise in lead corrosion; uncovered first evidence of problem in Washington area. Research shows the corrosivity effect of chloramines.

Washington Post Web Site Established on the Lead in Drinking Water Issue

• The Washington Post broke this issue open in February 2004 and has been particularly effective in increasing public awareness
• A number of excellent articles that portray policy decisions made without sufficient understanding of the underlying science

Washington, DC, 2002 Official Water Quality Report

• A requirement of the Federal Safe Water Drinking Act is that public drinking water systems be monitored and that the public be informed on the results of these analyses. This type of water quality report is available throughout the country.
• Note on page 5 that 26 out of 53 samples taken at customer taps had lead levels above the EPA action level of 15 ppb.
• Page 1 highlights the new use of chloramines as a secondary disinfectant.
• Page 3 provides a schematic of the drinking water purification process used in Washington.
• Page one gives a glowing report in all aspects on the water quality test results.