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Mercury in our Water?
I spoke with Lynn Scarpa at the City of Richmond Treatment Plant this morning regarding the article concerning high levels of mercury in BYL’s waste water which she wrote for the October issue of Cove Call. If you would publish what I’m about to report regarding our conversation, I would appreciate it. I contacted Lynn because of my concern, and the concern of other BYL residents, of the possibility of mercury already being in the water coming out of our taps which would result in mercury being in our waste water. Lynn advised me that the waste water reading in August of 2002 showed mercury levels at BYL to be 100x higher than it should be – “should be” being defined as “non-detectable”. Samples taken on that date in other parts of Richmond were “non-detectable.” Another sample taken in December of 2002 was twice as high in terms of mercury than it should be and other parts of Richmond were again “non-detectable”. Samples were taken in April and July of 2003. Those samples came back at a “non-detectable” level. It is important BYL residents understand that we are back to a non-detectable level. Lynn explained to me that, given those high readings in August and December, even though the April and July samples were “non-detectable,” in order to be in compliance with any future audits, the City is required to “do a generic educational piece for BYL regarding mercury and best home practices.” Lynn advised me that it is unlikely mercury is coming out of our taps as on the same day last August and December, when waste water was tested in other parts of the city, there was no mercury detected in those samples. If mercury is present in the drinking water, those other tests would have also come back with detectable results. However, to be absolutely certain, we would need to contact EBMUD and request their recent readings. Lynn also advised me that it is quite possible on the one day those August and December samples were taken, there might have been some medications containing mercury tossed down the toilet as well as a high consumption of fish containing mercury by the residents of BYL. She said that would do it! The good news is it appears we need not be concerned about mercury in the water coming from our taps and the last two readings in 2003 were back to non-detectable levels. I hope this information alleviates the concerns expressed to me by my BYL friends and neighbors. Lynn not only works for the City of Richmond Treatment Plant as a water specialist, she authored the article in The Cove and she is herself a BYL resident. Lynn wishes BYL residents will not hesitate to contact her regarding questions/concerns about the contents of her article, or questions/concerns about mercury in the waste water. Her number at the Treatment Plant is 510-412-2008. (October, 2003) |
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