KANSAS
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT
BILL GRAVES, GOVERNOR
Gary R. Mitchell, Secretary
For Immediate Release
Contact: Don Brown, 785-296-1529
KDHE Releases Vinyl Chloride Survey Results
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is releasing the results of its recent screening survey to determine the extent of vinyl chloride contamination of drinking water.
In the early 1990s KDHE became aware of the potential for a unique contamination problem in water systems using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe manufactured before 1977 to distribute water to their customers. Only some of the pipe made before 1977 causes this problem. Under certain conditions, the older PVC pipe may leach vinyl chloride into drinking water. Research indicates that long-term exposure to vinyl chloride can cause cancer.
PVC pipe manufacturing processes were changed in 1977 and newer pipe will not cause this problem. Another factor contributing to the amount of vinyl chloride leached from pipe is the period of time water remains in the pipe. Rural areas which have smaller diameter (two inches and smaller) lines, dead-end lines, and long distances between individual houses are more likely to have this problem. It is also believed warmer water temperatures contribute to increased levels of vinyl chloride leached from the pipe. Cities and towns which use PVC pipe are not vulnerable to this problem, because their houses are closer together, resulting in shorter periods of time for the water to remain in the pipe.
125 Kansas rural water systems were screened between June and October of 1998, the months expected to have the warmest water temperatures. KDHE selected the systems expected to have the greatest chance of having the potential for vinyl chloride contamination, based on meter density, for the screening program. Between two and four samples were collected from each system, and from residences served by dead-end lines. It was believed water systems not showing significant levels of vinyl chloride in the drinking water under these worst case conditions would not be prone to this contamination problem.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and KDHE have established a maximum contaminant level (MCL) for vinyl chloride in drinking water of 2 parts per billion. The MCL is set at a level which is safe to consume daily for a lifetime. Water meeting the MCL is considered safe for consumption. Because the MCL is based on chronic, or long term exposure to vinyl chloride, compliance for public water systems is determined by averaging the results of all samples collected during a year. A single sample with vinyl chloride levels greater than the MCL doesn't necessarily mean the water is unsafe.
82 Kansas water systems tested showed no detectable levels of vinyl chloride. 32 systems had minor levels within EPA safe standards. 11 of the 125 systems sampled had at least a single sample with a vinyl chloride level greater than the MCL of 2 ppb. KDHE will be meeting with the governing bodies of these systems to develop sampling plans to determine if there are any concerns about long term consumption of the water.
The 11 rural Kansas water systems with one or more initial samples over the MCL are: