Lead Concentrations in Drinking Water at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy: A Case Study

Abstract

Drinking water samples taken from various locations in the dormitory facilities and water supply piping at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (CGA) in New London, CT, were analyzed for lead content using a Perkin-Elmer model 3030 atomic absorption (aa) spectrophotometer. Results indicate that CGA drinking water meets the current Environmental Protection Agency lead maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 50 PPB. However, in one area it appears that the lead concentrations might exceed the newly proposed lead MCL of PPB scheduled for implementation in 1990. The accuracy of the results was verified by reanalyzing samples via AA spectrophotometer and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) techniques at the Coast Guard Research and Development Center. Lead—based solder and fittings are shown to be the most likely causes of elevated lead concentrations. Flushing the lines of standing water at the sites showing elevated lead concentrations proves to be a viable short term solution for reducing lead concentrations to levels beneath the proposed MCL.