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Mayor Dan Horrigan Reports Record Low Lead Levels in City of Akron Drinking Water
AKRON, Ohio, July 27, 2020 — Mayor Dan Horrigan and the Water Supply Bureau are proud to announce record low lead levels in City of Akron drinking water for the 2020 testing period. Akron is reporting lead at 0.00155 milligrams per liter which is 90% below the EPA action level. The EPA action level is 15 PPB (parts per billion) and Akron’s results are 1.55 PPB. These results exemplify Akron’s long history of providing its citizens with a safe, reliable and plentiful supply of excellent quality drinking water.
“This new data is meaningful confirmation of the success of our efforts to eliminate lead in our water supply,” said Akron Mayor Daniel Horrigan. “This work has been ongoing in Akron for decades now and this report shows those efforts are paying off. We will continue to do everything we can to protect the health and safety of our residents and to continue to provide safe, reliable drinking water to our customers.”
For many years the City of Akron has taken a proactive approach in protecting its customers from the dangers of lead. This includes the installation of a state-of-the-art lead corrosion control treatment process and by replacing lead water services which supply water to homes installed in the early 1900’s. Unlike many other communities, Akron’s computerized control treatment process continuously adds a special corrosion inhibitor called “zinc orthophosphate” to the water. This safe inhibitor specifically acts as a barrier between the metallic pipes and the water. This barrier chemically coats the pipes and helps prevent lead from dissolving into drinking water.
In addition to treatment, Akron remains committed to eliminating the primary source of lead in the distribution system through Akron’s lead service line removal program. Akron has replaced nearly 95% of all lead services lines ever installed in its system. The water corrosion control program and lead service line removal program are two examples of Akron’s continued commitment to water quality.
“We are now seeing these record low lead levels in our water supply due to the hard work and progressive decision-making of our staff over the years,” said Director of Public Service Chris Ludle. “This is a major milestone in our continuing efforts to provide safe drinking water to all Akron water customers, and I'm incredibly proud of this achievement on behalf of all our dedicated Water Supply employees.”
The 2020 lead results exemplify that Akron’s Corrosion Control Program is working effectively at a homeowner’s tap water satisfying all Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements.
A Message About Covid-19 and Your Tap Water
Is drinking tap water safe from Covid-19?
One of the Akron Water Treatment Plants main functions is to remove pathogens, including viruses through disinfection. Coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, is a type of virus that is particularly susceptible to disinfection. Standard treatment and disinfectant processes used by Akron Water and most other water treatment plants are expected to be effective.
More information on Coronavirus and Drinking water can be found in the links from the EPA and CDC below.
https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus/coronavirus-and-drinking-water-and-wastewater
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/water.html
Drowning in water bills? New meters empower Akron residents to lower their costs.
-Akron Beacon Journal
Jul 28, 2019 - Akron Water Meter Supervisor Jerome McCall talks about the benefits of using the new digital water meters.
City of Akron Releases Records Showing Limited Number of Lead Pipes Serve Akron Water Customers
City of Akron Press Release
From the desk of Ellen Lander Nischt, Press Secretary
Published: 01-23-2017
Akron, Ohio, January 23, 2017 – Today, Mayor Dan Horrigan released public records and an interactive map that demonstrate the City’s proactive efforts to replace lead piping for residences and businesses throughout the City and to treat the City’s water with special chemicals that prevent lead from dissolving into the water supply. The information can be found at www.akronohio.gov/water.
“In light of the situations in Flint, Michigan and other communities, I wanted the Akron public to know that regardless of whether or not their property is served by a lead pipe service, regular tests prove that their drinking water is clean and safe, far exceeding all EPA requirements,” Mayor Horrigan said.
The City of Akron stands apart from other cities with respect to its response to the presence of lead piping in its water system. Since the mid-1950’s, the City of Akron has been aggressively and proactively replacing lead pipe services with copper piping throughout the City. A lead service is the pipe from the water main in the street to the shutoff valve, typically at the sidewalk. Today, only 5% of Akron’s water customers are served by a lead pipe service. Based on the City’s best available data, out of the 85,211 active service pipes in the City’s 125+ year-old water system, only 4,341 lead services remain. “Whenever a street or sidewalk is being repaired or other work is being done, we make it a priority to replace any lead pipe services in the area,” John Moore, Director of Public Service said. “On average, we replace 3-5 lead services every week.”
Importantly, having a lead pipe service does not indicate that water will have unhealthy levels of lead. The City’s comprehensive corrosion control program prevents dangerous levels of lead from entering the water supply. Unlike other cities, for the last three decades, Akron has continuously added a special corrosion inhibitor called “zinc orthophosphate” to its water which acts as a barrier between the metallic pipes and the water. This barrier chemically coats the pipes and helps prevent lead from dissolving into the drinking water.
The City regularly tests homeowners’ tap water for lead and results show that the corrosion control program is working and that the City exceeds all United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements.
“Due to the hard work and progressive decision-making of our Water Department staff over the past several decades, we have a good story to tell in Akron,” Mayor Horrigan said. “I am proud to say that only a small percentage of lead services remain in our City, and those that do are fully and carefully treated to prevent any dangerous contamination. We work every day to protect the health and safety of our residents and their families, and we are pleased to continue our long history of providing safe, reliable drinking water to our customers.”
The City released, and published on its website at www.akronohio.gov/water, a color-coded, searchable map showing the locations of each of the active lead pipe services and non-lead pipe services throughout the City, for the convenience of customers and residents. The City also released a copy of the letter and frequently asked questions document that was mailed to every property owner with an active lead service in March 2016, and a list of frequently asked questions about lead and water.
Residents with questions are encouraged to read the City’s letter and frequently asked questions posted on the City’s website or contact the Mayor’s Action Center at (330) 375-2311 or 3-1-1, with any specific questions.
For further information, contact:
Ellen Lander Nischt
Press Secretary / Assistant Director of Law
166 South High Street, Suite 200
Akron, Ohio 44308
Phone: (330) 375-2325
E-mail: [email protected]
Akron Water Testing DNA of Algae to Identify Toxin Potential
Akron, Ohio July 31, 2015
Furthering international relationships developed during the Akron Global Water Alliance (AGWA) International Algal Toxin Conference, a two day conference that was hosted by Akron in April of 2015, The City of Akron Water Bureau has recently partnered with an Australian company, Diagnostic Technology. This partnership has been developed to test a product at Lake Rockwell Reservoir, the drinking water supply for the nearly 300,000 residents of the City of Akron and surrounding neighborhoods, which looks at the genetic makeup of potentially harmful algal blooms (HAB). This product, called Phytoxigene (http://www.phytoxigene.com), uses DNA analysis to determine if the algae present in the lake has the genetic ability to create the harmful toxins that caused a Do Not Drink advisory for drinking water to be issued for two days to nearly 500,000 people in the Toledo area. 2
The City of Akron will be the first water system in the United States to use Phytoxigene as a pre-screening tool to help make decisions for reservoir management and water treatment. Knowing
ahead of time if the algae in the lake poses the threat to create toxins gives the leadership team at Akron Water Supply the time and confidence to make decisions to prevent harmful algal blooms and to prevent toxins from contaminating the drinking water.
Akron Mayor Jeff Fusco said "This is another example of Akron’s continued efforts to capitalize on global opportunities to take advantage of the latest technology to improve Akron’s water quality."
This is the second project be developed through AGWA and the International Algal Toxin Conference, the first of which was the testing of a hand held algae counter, called the WISP-3, from the BlueLeg Monitor (http://bluelegmonitor.com)company out of the Netherlands. Akron is excited to test these new products and to be involved in evaluating new technology which might provide solutions to the ever present threat of HABs. For more information please visit http://www.akronohio.gov/cms/Water/Watershed/index.html
The City of Akron is the first City in the United States to test a state-of-the art Algae Monitoring Device.
Akron, Ohio, July 10, 2015
Starting this week, the City of Akron Water Supply Bureau will begin testing a unique handheld monitoring device to measure algae in Lake Rockwell Reservoir, Akron’s primary source for drinking water.
The device was developed in the Netherlands by BlueLeg Monitor, http://bluelegmonitor.com, and designed to quickly measure multiple water quality factors indicating the presence and quantity of algae. BlueLeg Monitor develops equipment and provides services to help water utilities such as Akron monitor the ecological quality of surface water.
Algae identification levels and the treatment of algae by-products that may pose health threats have become serious issues for water utilities throughout the country. The prompt detection of an algae bloom provides Akron staff with an earlier opportunity to implement water plant treatment adjustments and preventive reservoir management techniques in an effort to minimize algae’s adverse effects. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has been at the forefront of this issue and has set aggressive testing standards for algal toxins, resulting in “do not drink advisories” for a number of communities, including the one issued by the City of Toledo last summer that affected nearly 500,000 Toledo water customers. On June 15, 2015 the U.S. EPA reinforced the importance of this issue by releasing national drinking water health advisory standards for toxic algae.
In addition to addressing the presence of algal toxin by-products, many water utilities experience issues with excessive disinfection by-products and complaints of musty odors in drinking water, which are also caused by algae in reservoirs. “When we learned about the availability of this technology, we wanted to be the first utility in the country to test it,” said Jeff Bronowski, Water Supply Bureau Manager. “Mayor Jeff Fusco added: “Akron has always been at the forefront when it comes to protecting the safety of the community’s drinking water. If this instrument works as well as advertised, we will be able to make substantial progress in addressing a very important public health issue.”
Bronowski also noted this testing program is only the latest initiative in the City of Akron’s ongoing effort to be a leader in identifying and addressing emerging drinking water concerns. Others Akron actions include:
- The City of Akron was the founding member of the Akron Global Water Alliance, a group dedicated to identifying the best available technologies to address emerging water quality issues and spur economic development by improving access to clean, high quality drinking water. The BlueLeg Monitor was identified through this group’s work.
- This past April, the Alliance hosted the 2015 U.S. Algal Toxin Conference, which brought nearly thirty expert presenters and more than 200 water professionals from around the world to Akron to educate them on the algal toxin issue.
- In addition, for nearly two years, Akron has hosted a series of quarterly water utility operator forums for the superintendents of northeast Ohio’s water utilities, where they meet to discuss algae and other drinking water issues.
- The City of Akron also has extensive research projects underway with the City of Akron Drinking Water Laboratory, the University of Akron and the Netherlands Water Alliance.
- This year marks one hundred years that the City of Akron’s Water Supply Bureau has been pumping drinking water from the Lake Rockwell reservoir. Today, the Bureau provides approximately 35 million gallons a day of drinking water to customers in the City of Akron and neighboring communities throughout Summit County. For more information, visit www.akronohio.gov/water, or call (330) 678-0077.
The City of Akron Water Supply Bureau Expands its Educational Partnership with Akron Public Schools
Akron, Ohio (November 1, 2013) – The City of Akron Water Supply Bureau is pleased to announce the expansion of a current educational partnership with the Akron Public Schools providing students with innovative learning opportunities associated with the drinking water industry.
Technical staff at the City’s Water Supply Bureau will now provide in-class presentations on an array of water related science and technology topics to students enrolled in Environmental Science classes at Buchtel, East and Firestone High Schools. In addition, Akron Water will offer transportation to students and faculty to visit Akron’s advanced drinking water treatment facility which will include guided tours, environmental education and research opportunities within the treatment plant, laboratory and protected watershed properties.
“Akron Water has had an excellent educational partnership with the National Inventors Hall of Fame School - Center for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math and we are pleased to offer these additional educational opportunities to other Akron Public School science programs,” said Akron Service Director John Moore.
The City of Akron also currently offers work-study programs at Akron Water including student intern employment opportunities for high school seniors and cooperative education employment opportunities for university engineering students.
Akron Water serves nearly 280,000 drinking water customers throughout the City of Akron and many neighboring communities. If you have any additional questions regarding Akron Water or Akron Water educational programs, please visit the Akron Water website at www.akronohio.gov/wateror call the Akron Watershed office at (330) 678-0077 x437.
City of Akron Water Supply Bureau hosts 2013 AWWA District Seminar
October 18, 2013 (Akron, Ohio) - Yesterday, the City of Akron’s Drinking Water Supply Bureau hosted a 2013 American Water Works Association District Seminar at the Akron Drinking Water Treatment Facility. The event was attended by more than 200 water professionals throughout the State of Ohio including officials from the Environmental Protection Agency, municipal water supply operators, scientists, biologists, engineers and technicians.
The attendees were provided with guided tours of the highly secured Akron facility and its 2 billion gallon Lake Rockwell drinking water reservoir. In addition, six hours of technical sessions were provided by presenters from throughout the United States discussing the latest advancements in drinking water treatment technologies and drinking water system management.
“We are very proud of our technologically advanced drinking water system and pleased to host such a well-attended event,” said Mayor Don Plusquellic. “Akron is the ideal venue for water professionals throughout the country to exchange ideas to improve this most valuable asset.”
Akron serves nearly 280,000 drinking water customers throughout the City of Akron and many neighboring communities. If you have any additional questions, please visit the Akron Water website at www.akronohio.gov/wateror call (330) 678-0077.
Ohio EPA Re-Confirms Akron Water is free of Algal Toxin
September 20, 2013 (Akron, Ohio) – On the heels of a front page newspaper article warning of elevated levels of a specific algaltoxin in an Ohio water supply, Mayor Don Plusquellic announced this morning that Akron’s drinking water supply and raw water reservoirs havebeen recently tested by Ohio EPA and do not contain the offending algae.
Earlier this month, a water utility in Northwest Ohio serving 2,000 customers issued a precautionary drinking water advisory because of elevated levels of a blue-green algae toxin called microcystin. In response to this most recent unique situation involving Algal toxins, and as part of Akron’s continuous effort to insure safe drinking water to our customers, the City of Akron and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency once again reconfirmed this week that the Akron drinking water supply remains free of the Algal toxin.
“Akron Water implements an extensive monitoring program that continuously analyzes the drinking water reservoirs and water treatment process to insure optimal drinking water quality,” said Akron’s Service Director John Moore. “Testing has confirmed that our drinking water is safe for our residents.”
Akron serves nearly 280,000 customers throughout the City of Akron and many neighboring communities. If you have any additional questions, please call (330) 375-2420.
More Information:
9/20/13 article regarding Algal toxin:
9/6/13 article regarding Algal toxin:
Ohio EPA Information regarding Harmful Algal Blooms
Additional Resources
- American Water Works Association
- Ohio AWWA
- Ohio EPA Drinking Water
- US EPA Drinking Water
- The History of Akron Water Supply
- 100 Years of Fresh, Clean Akron Water
- AWS Rules & Regulations
- AWS Standard Drawings
Our Mission
To deliver to the public an ample supply of high quality water that exceeds all regulatory requirements now and in the future.
