The State of Michigan is Getting Very Serious about Water Infrastructure, Restoring Public Trust & Protecting Ratepayers

–By Gregory M. Baird–

A shockwave occurred in the U.S. water industry as the toxic lead findings sent a media mushroom cloud over Flint, Michigan.

Every water utility in America convened fact finding meetings to assess their own water system testing and water quality risks. Still reeling from the shock and gripped by the fear of their aging and failing underground pipe infrastructure, more revelations emerged from Virginia Tech scientists — high iron corrosion removed chlorine disinfectant leading to Legionella deaths. Iron corrosion is a food source for water-borne pathogens. It can combine with lead and be deposited in galvanized pipes and could be disturbed later even when lead service lines are removed.

Now, nearly numb from looking down the abyss of potential risks, the water industry takes another blow as a survey of green building water systems reveals elevated water age and water quality concerns. Almost in disbelief, experts learn that water conservation methods to combat drought and water scarcity now has the potential to increase water age and extend stagnation which can cause chlorine and chloramine residuals to be absent, decaying up to 144 times faster and spiking the Legionella risk by four times.