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"Who's Taking Americas Water?" - Climate Town (Aug 14, 2024)
"What is a Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO)?" - Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (May 18, 2010)
"The Woman Who Fought Lead": Carol Remmer Angle
Carol Remmer Angle: "Public Health Legend Takes on Air Pollution" - Southern Environmental Law Center (July 31, 2024)
"Her goal is to find solutions to raw sewage that exist in rural communities throughout the United States."
"The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is fulfilling a foundational commitment in the agency's PFAS Strategic Roadmap.
Through this National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR), the EPA is following the process outlined in the Safe
Drinking Water Act for regulating drinking water contaminants, leveraging the best available and most recent science,
and building on existing state efforts to limit PFAS and provide a nationwide, health-protective standard for these specific
PFAS in drinking water.
Some states have established drinking water regulations or guidance values for some PFAS, leading the way in monitoring for
and limiting PFAS. The EPA's PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) sets nationwide limits for
five individual PFAS: PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, and HFPO-DA (known as “GenX chemicals”). And the rule sets
a limit for four PFAS contaminants as a mixture: PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, and PFBS."
POLY VINYL CHLORIDE (PVC)
There are many articles regarding illness and death that I can give you. Detrimental for workers who make the PVC pipes.
The authority in USA is the Environmental Protection Agency:
In 2017, Environmental Protection Agency has classified vinyl chloride as a "Group A, human carcinogen." "Most vinyl chloride
is used to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic and vinyl products. Acute (short-term) exposure to high levels of vinyl
chloride in air has resulted in central nervous system effects (CNS), such as dizziness, drowsiness, and headaches in humans.
Chronic (long-term) exposure to vinyl chloride through inhalation and oral exposure in humans has resulted in liver damage.
Cancer is a major concern from exposure to vinyl chloride via inhalation, as vinyl chloride exposure has been shown to increase
the risk of a rare form of liver cancer in humans. EPA has classified vinyl chloride as a Group A, human carcinogen."
In-depth study of water carrying systems, pipes, and choosing the best pipes for today, and future.
BRIEF HISTORY OF PLUMBING
Humans are the only animals on Earth that intentionally drink from hoses and faucets. It makes sense, as human beings are,
want the convenience to not have to live by a water source and if no longer viable, need to move, or daily carry water to
higher ground living. Plumbing enabled people to no longer live in fertile regions, whether it was a choice, but more likely,
forced to flee.
First pipes in Mesopotamia were made of clay and mainly for removing wastewater mainly from public baths, as water often was
transported via geothermal below, or through built aquifers. The Egyptians in Africa and Indians in Asia used copper for same
purpose. The Romans used lead for their pipe material, called plumbum," which means lead. As the Roman Empire grew, so did
the usage of lead pipes. Lead offered malleability, high durability and corrosion resistance. While lead poison death was
common, which stopped cultures making lead cups and lead eating utensils, lead pipe making and usage prevailed. Galvanized
piping came along in 1836 by Sorel in France through patents with the ability to coat steel - with lead.
It was first well documented by the Egyptians who used slaves in their mines and other workers who ailed and later by the
Pre-Greeks, Greeks, and Romans' leading to early life demise. Greek physician Hippocrates (460-377 BCE) diagnosed symptoms
of lead poisoning as fatigue, appetite loss, weight loss, colic, pallor, irritability, and nervous spasms.
This brings us today in Baltimore City, with homes and other buildings, having still main water lines connecting to city system,
made of either solid lead, or galvanized steel that were dipped in lead.
"The History of Plumbing" - Plumbing Manufacturers International.
"From Turrets to Toilets: A Partial History of the Throne Room" - Smithsonian Magazine
"How Did A Group of Plumbers Wives Change American History?: Initially a Social Club, the Women's Auxiliary Grew to Become
one of the Nation's most Influential Organizations in the Country" - Smithsonian Magazine (2013)
"The History Of Plumbing With Roger Wakefield" (2021)
"Plumbing" - "Modern Marvels" - History
"Pipe Dreams: How the West Went from Bathing Daily to Rarely and Back Again in 2,000 (Mostly Very Stinky) Years" - USC Dornsife
(2022)
"Portable Bathtubs: Tub Bathing from the Early 19th and 20th Centuries" - Smithsonian Institution
History of Plumbing Research at National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) | Building Energy & Environment Division,
United States Department of Commerce
"A Dangerous Business (Revisited) - "Frontline" PBS (2003)
Tyler Union - An Iron and Steel Pipe Company Transformed
HISTORY OF MATERIAL & TODAY'S USE
"In the Georgia clay
Where I was born and raised hell in my childhood days
If you see my roots, they're all stained red
When I'm gone all that's left
Are bones and a stone when I go home
To the Georgia clay
Georgia clay"
CLAY: First known existence of plumbing is found in Mesopotamia in 4000 B.C.E. They made clay pipes, mostly for moving wastewater
away from rivers, springs, creeks, lakes, wherever water collection was made.
"From The Earth And Back Again" - National Clay Pipe Institute (2013)
"Modern Pipe with an Ancient Heritage - Clay Pipe Industry Marks Milestone Amidst Resurgence" - Trenchless Technology (May
18, 2017)
"Take me down on Copperline
Oh, down on Copperline
Lay me down on Copperline"
COPPER: Egypt and Indians 4000-2500 B.C.E. Their metal choice was copper to make their pipes to transport water from aquifers,
wells, and springs to the wealthiest residents' homes, and to public baths.
"How Copper Built the World" - "Modern Marvels - History Channel (2021)
"Love like a lead pipe
The cold and callous type - I hate your guts"
LEAD: The Romans used lead for their pipe material. Latin, "plumbum" means "lead," from which plumbing
and plumber, the occupation name came about.
"Lead pipes for carrying drinking water were well recognized as a cause of lead poisoning by the late 1800s in the United
States. By the 1920s, many cities and towns were prohibiting or restricting their use. To combat this trend, the lead industry
carried out a prolonged and effective campaign to promote the use of lead pipes. Led by the Lead Industries Association (LIA),
representatives were sent to speak with plumbers’ organizations, local water authorities, architects, and federal officials.
The LIA also published numerous articles and books that extolled the advantages of lead over other materials and gave practical
advice on the installation and repair of lead pipes. The LIA’s activities over several decades therefore contributed
to the present-day public health and economic cost of lead water pipes."
"Lead Toxicity From Glazed Ceramic Cookware" - Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) | Journal of Association Medical
Canadian (JAMC) (December 6, 2016)
Metal Pipes Instrumental
GALVANIZED STEEL: Galvanized steel pipes were invented by many people collectively. In 1836, Sorel in France took out the
first of numerous patents for a process of coating steel by dipping it in molten zinc after first cleaning it. He provided
the process with its name ‘galvanizing’. It is interesting to note that Sorel was aware of the electrochemical
nature of corrosion and the sacrificial role of the zinc coating on the iron. Originally, the word galvanizing did not refer
to the process of coating but to the fundamental property offered by this coating. In addition to Sorel’s patent of
1836, A British patent for a similar process was granted in 1837 to William Crawford.
"History of Galvanizing" - Galvanizers Association:
"History of Galvanizing" - Galvanizers Association
"How and Why we Need to Get the Lead Out of our Lives" - PBS Newshour (September 28, 2016)
"I'm laying pipe all night long
Layin' pipe, I'm workin' so hard"
LEAD NOTATIONS
"The science is clear; there is no safe level of lead exposure, and the primary source of harmful exposure in drinking water
is through lead pipes,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan - May 2nd, 2024
"Zapping Lead Pipes with Electricity Could Make Them Safer for Drinking Water" - Scientific American
"FACT SHEET: The Biden-Harris Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan" - The White House, Biden Administration
"President Biden's goal of getting 100% of lead pipes out of water systems once and for all. The GLO initiative is funded
entirely by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law."
While monies is great to replace lead pipes, there is no requirement as to what they should be replaced with. This allows
"cheapest" type of pipe, made by polyvinyl chloride, a carcinogen Group A according to the Environmental Protection
Agency, to be used.
POLYVINYL CHLORIDE (PVC) & CPVC — Chlorinated Poly (Vinyl Chloride)
"70 years of Experience With PVC Pipes" - Thomas Hülsmann, European Vinyl Corporation (Deutschland) GmbH and Reinhard E. Nowack,
ALPHACAN Omniplast GmbH
"Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is one of the most commonly manufactured plastics in the world, used in a wide variety of products
including packaging, pipes, automotive parts, construction materials and furniture. PVC is polymerized from vinyl chloride
(VC) monomer, which is one of the highest production volume chemicals globally with a current annual worldwide demand of approximately
16 billion pounds which is increasing at an approximate 3% annual rate. Up to 98% of VC is used in the production
of PVC.
Unfortunately, VC is a well-established animal and human carcinogen. It is most strongly associated with liver cancer, in
particular the rare, sentinel neoplasm of liver angiosarcoma (LAS), a malignant tumor of the endothelial cells of the liver.[1]
However, VC has also been identified as a cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the corresponding malignant tumor of the
parenchymal cells of the liver.[2] It has also been associated with non-malignant health effects, including in the liver and
other organs, as well as other malignancies (e.g., lung and brain), although these other carcinogenic associations remain
much more controversial. The most significant exposures to VC occur in the petrochemical and plastics’ industries. For
example, national institute for occupational safety and health (NIOSH) has estimated that 81,000 workers employed in more
than 3,700 worksites are potentially exposed to VC in the US; worldwide estimates are much higher with more than 2,200,000
workers probably exposed to VC. General population exposures also occur primarily through the air and water. For example,
elevated levels of VC have been found not only in the air near VC manufacturing and processing facilities but also in the
vicinity of many hazardous waste sites and municipal landfills, either due to the direct disposal of VC or from the microbial
degradation of other chlorinated solvents to form VC. In some cases, dangerously high levels have been detected (up to 44
ppm; compared to a US Environmental Protection Agency Reference Concentration of 0.04 ppm) in the air at some of these landfills."
WATERCRESS: "It has been demonstrated in controlled clinical studies in humans that ingestion of small amounts of watercress
(Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum) can effectively inhibit CYP2E1's metabolic activity.[72] One proposed mechanism for this effect
is due to the fact that watercress is a rich source of glucosinolates, including gluconasturtiin, which is metabolized by
intestinal microflora to phenyllethylisothiocyanate, a known CYP2E1 inhibitor. Cell culture studies have suggested an anticarcinogenic
effect from isothiocyanate exposure, and some dietary studies in animals and humans have associated increased isothiocyanate
consumption with decreased cancer risk.
"Vinyl chloride exposure is associated with an increased risk of a rare form of liver cancer (hepatic angiosarcoma), as
well as primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma), brain and lung cancers, lymphoma, and leukemia."
"When measured in miles of distribution pipe, plastic is forecast to make up nearly 80 percent of the nation’s water
pipe inventory by 2030, according to Bluefield. ....
In the NRDC-led group’s lead-line-replacement principles, the copper-not-plastic item points to recent research suggesting
that plastic pipes can potentially contaminate drinking water in three ways. The first is the release of chemicals
into water from the pipe material, a process called leaching, which has been documented in several studies. The second route,
called permeation, involves pollutants such as gasoline that can seep from groundwater or soils through the walls of plastic
pipes, which has been noted in reports by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Water Research Foundation (formerly
the Awwa Research Foundation). And finally, plastic pipes exposed to the high heat of wildfires are at risk for melting and
other thermal damage. Plastic pipes damaged in wildfires could release toxic chemicals into drinking water, the NRDC document
suggests, citing an October 2021 EPA fact sheet. The high heat of fires can degrade plastic pipes, valves and meters in
drinking water distribution systems, potentially releasing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into drinking water, the
EPA document states."
"90% of breast cancer cases are not linked to genetics alone. That's why we work to eliminate the other risk - to save
lives and prevent breast cancer before it starts."
PEX (Cross-linked polyethylene) XPE, or XLPE.
This pipe plumbers like because of its flexibility. These pipes do not contain vinyl chloride. There are issues with these
pipes. Due to its malleableness, rodents can easily chew through the pipes. Exposure to Ultraviolet rays will crack and
break apart PEX.
COLORS OF PLUMB WATER
| SAFE TO |
|
| DRINK |
* Cloudy/White Water: Indicates extra oxygen. Water pressure and or temperature creates thousands of microscopic bubbles
giving the appearance of milky-looking tap water. Wait and watch. The bubbles will burst, making your water clear.
"Why is My Tap Water Cloudy?" Cleveland Water (2022)
* Yellow Water: Indicates a change of filtration, iron deposits, or other minerals.
"How to Fix Yellow Tap Water" - WikiHow
* Blue-Green Water: Indicates excessive levels of copper. Absorbed through drinking, ingestion, and inhalation, and skin,
it can cause diarrhea and vomiting.
* Pink and Purple Water: Indicates most likely potassium permanganate that oxidizes iron and manganese. If too much used
in water lines, water will turn a shade of pink. If exorbitant amount, water will turn purple.
* Orange-Brown water: Indicates iron deposits. Can also indicate corrosion of pipes. Certain sulfur oxide elements, combined
with hot water can also turn water brown. [Iron alone is not a health risk, but still imperative to have water tested.]
* Red and Reddish-Black water: Indicates a combination of iron and manganese.
"What Can be Causing our Drinking Water to Have a Reddish Color?" - U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Graywater" Untreated wastewater that is collected from bathtubs, showers, wash basins, clotheswashers, laundry tubs, and
including equivalent discharge as defined by a government water entity/
It does not include wastewater from kitchen sinks, photo lab sinks, dishwashers, or laundry water from soiled diapers. Examples
of graywater in an industrial setting include wastewater from cooling tower blow-down; condensate from air conditioning and
steam systems; process water; foundation drainage; swimming pool backwash operations; and fire pump test water.
* Black Water: Indicates material flakes from iron and manganese particles, corroding lead pipes, broken down rubber plumbing
gaskets, or leaking carbon pieces from household water filters. [Iron alone is not a health risk, but still imperative to
have water tested.]
* Pink or Grey Water and/or Slime: Found in toilets, showers, and sinks that have not been utilized in quite some time.
Indicates "Biofilms"; bacteria growing on moist surfaces. This type of bacteria commonly forms small colonies in
sink drains, create rings around toilet bowls, or appear on surfaces in the shower. Like plaque that form on your teeth,
clean biofilm surfaces and other moist surfaces regularly to keep them under control. Control humidity through ensuring good
ventilation lessens the chance of mold growth.
"The science is clear, there is no safe level of lead exposure, and the primary source of harmful exposure in drinking
water is through lead pipes." - EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan
"'While I strongly support the replacement of lead service lines, we need to know that the replacement pipe material is safe,
and there’s definitely not enough scientific evidence to suggest that PVC is,' said Judith Enck, president of Beyond
Plastics and former EPA regional administrator under the Obama administration in a news release distributed by
Beyond Plastics.
The report noted that the $15 billion provided by the federal government does not offer, 'Guidance around what piping materials
should be used to prevent homes from swapping one problematic material for another.' It also cited the recent train
derailment and chemical spill in East Palestine, OH, as a 'vivid example' of the threat that vinyl chloride poses to Americans.
The material is an 'essential ingredient' of PVC, noted Beyond Plastics. .... Recycled copper or stainless steel
are preferable alternatives to PVC, saying that the materials are “slightly more expensive,” which is quite the
understatement. PVC water and sewer pipes have the lowest total cost of ownership compared with non-plastic systems."
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
CHOOSING LEAD PLUMBING SUCCESSOR AS PVC AILS & KILLS
"The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government.”
- President Thomas Jefferson
The purpose for government is to protect its people. Baltimore's Peace Resolution, passed with immediate adoption
April 3rd, 2001 clearly states that for Baltimore to be a "Peace City," it, "Does not use or promote anyone or product hurting
any of its citizens, chooses to concentrate its energy on mentoring, works with the vision that opportunity and prosperity
is indeed unlimited for all, integrates efficient land allocation and conservation, and is not afraid to say compassionate
love is the central focus of politics."
Only in May 2024 does EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan state, “The science is clear; there is no safe level of lead
exposure, and the primary source of harmful exposure in drinking water is through lead pipes.” Yet we've known since
Greek physician Hippocrates who lived 460-377 BCE), diagnosing lead poisoning symptoms as fatigue, appetite loss, weight loss,
colic, pallor, irritability, and nervous spasms. Egyptians documented slave-miners developed ailments. Lead poisoning equals
long term suffering, like Ludwig van Beethoven, who became deaf. Though clear in the United States that lead pipes caused
lead poisoning, the lead industry prevailed any selling disruptions. The United states banned lead-based paint in homes in
1971. The fact of the matter is, it takes CENTURIES, and FAR too many people, millions have become "long-suffering" sick
- and die.
Since the advent of plastic pipes, here we have to start anew a complete ban on Poly and Per Fluorinated Hydrocarbons,
known simply as PFAS. The EPA is only attempting to ban 4 specific chemicals that cause cancer, and has no plans at all to
combat the even more insidious carcinogen other, "Forever Chemical" family, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHS). While
tackling lead removal is good, removing brittle and all plastic pipes, even for sewer, must be replaced too, as cancer is
too a "long-suffering" death sentence. It's all over the news regarding people being diagnosed with cancer due to their plastic
water pipes. On April 30th, 2024, Yale Medicine reported that there is a pertinent shift in public health: addressing alarming
rise of "early -onset" cancers, which are diagnosed in adults between the ages of 18 and 49. More and more people, instead
of lead poisoning, as their lead pipes get replaced with Do you recall last year Vinyl Chloride poured from train into river,
killing all life? Vinyl Chloride is used to make PVC - Poly Vinyl Chloride plastic pipes. Do not replace lead pipes with
plastic. Plumbers become the burden accessories to long-suffering death to humans, and other creatures, especially beloved
pets. Human-being life is worth far more than thinking you will save money now. Healthcare in Baltimore, healthcare in the
United States is already astronomically costly. What do PVC pipes cost? Will you, every plumber in Baltimore City and Baltimore
County, and you, the government bodies, pay for each individual inflicted with cancer from your PVC pipes their doctor and
hospital cancer bills - for life? Because that is exactly what Poly Vinyl Chlorine pipes do. Please purchase steel and copper
pipes - even if for selfish reason to not be sued. They also last longer anyways, so there are actually NO financial savings,
but creating a loss of new replacements, and new labor a few decades later. Plastic pipes in ground are also prone to cable
bacteria.
While PAX, a bendable plastic piping that has no PHAS chemicals is a favorite for plumbers because of its flexibility,
rodents easily eat through PAX pipes. So copper and stainless steel are the only materials that can guarantee that no one
is sickened by pipes. What good is "clean" water when the passage brings sickness and death? Action on PFAS and PAHS removal
and bans will make Baltimore unique, matching European Union research, studies, and enacting corresponding laws. We - Baltimore,
must become accustomed to take stances and make ordinances on its own first, and then encourage, become mentors for Maryland
state and beyond, as if there is no Federal Government. I wrote the Peace Resolution for just that purpose - for Baltimore
to be unstuck - waiting for others to take action, hurting its citizens through idling. For the sake of Baltimore - "HAVING"
a future, let's stop killing our citizens with removing PFAS and PAHS from our shelves, and nature.
Sincerely,
Shaiyel Seltzer Wednesday, July 3rd, 2024
~
BRIEF HISTORY OF PLUMBING
Humans are the only animals on Earth that intentionally drink from hoses and faucets. It makes sense, as human
beings are, to want the convivence to not have to live by a water source and if no longer viable, need to move, or daily carry
water to higher ground living. Plumbing enabled people to no longer live in fertile regions, whether it was a choice, but
more likely, forced to flee.
First pipes in Mesopotamia were made of clay and mainly for removing wastewater mainly from public baths, as water
often was transported via geothermal below, or through built aquifers. The Egyptians in Africa and Indians in Asia used copper
for same purpose. The Romans used lead for their pipe material, called plumbum," which means lead. As the Roman Empire grew,
so did the usage of lead pipes. Lead offered malleability, high durability and corrosion resistance. While lead poison death
was common, which stopped cultures making lead cups and lead eating utensils, lead pipe making and usage prevailed. Galvanized
piping came along in 1836 by Sorel in France through patents with the ability to coat steel - with lead.
It was first well documented by the Egyptians who used slaves in their mines and other workers who ailed and later
by the Pre-Greeks, Greeks, and Romans' leading to early life demise. Greek physician Hippocrates (460-377 BCE) diagnosed
symptoms of lead poisoning as fatigue, appetite loss, weight loss, colic, pallor, irritability, and nervous spasms.
This brings us today in Baltimore City, with homes and other buildings, having still main water lines connecting
to city system, made of either solid lead, or galvanized steel that were dipped in lead.
HISTORY BY MATERIAL
CLAY: First known existence of plumbing is found in Mesopotamia in 4000 B.C.E. They made clay pipes, mostly for moving wastewater
away from rivers, springs, creeks, lakes, wherever water collection was made.
COPPER: Egypt and Indians 4000-2500 B.C.E. Their metal choice was copper to make their pipes to transport water from aquifers,
wells, and springs to the wealthiest residents' homes, and to public baths.
LEAD: The Romans used lead for their pipe material. Latin, "plumbum" means "lead," from which plumbing and plumber, the
occupation name came about.
GALVANIZED STEEL: Galvanized steel pipes were invented by many people collectively. In 1836, Sorel in France took out the
first of numerous patents for a process of coating steel by dipping it in molten zinc after first cleaning it. He provided
the process with its name ‘galvanizing’. It is interesting to note that Sorel was aware of the electrochemical
nature of corrosion and the sacrificial role of the zinc coating on the iron. Originally, the word galvanizing did not refer
to the process of coating but to the fundamental property offered by this coating. In addition to Sorel’s patent of
1836, A British patent for a similar process was granted in 1837 to William Crawford.
"History of Galvanizing" - Galvanizers Association: https://galvanizing.org.uk/hot-dip-galvanizing/history-of-galvanizing/#:~:text=of%20electric%20shocks.-,In%201836%2C%20Sorel%20in%20France%20took%20out%20the%20first%20of,with%20its%20name%20'galvanizing'.
LEAD NOTATIONS
"The science is clear; there is no safe level of lead exposure, and the primary source of harmful exposure in drinking water
is through lead pipes,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan - May 2nd, 2024
- "Biden-Harris Administration Announces $29,917,000 for Maryland Lead Pipe Replacement to Advance Safe Drinking Water
as Part of Investing in America Agenda" - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (May 2nd, 2024): https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/biden-harris-administration-announces-29917000-maryland-lead-pipe-replacement-advance
YET: "Lead pipes for carrying drinking water were well recognized as a cause of lead poisoning by the late 1800s in the United
States. By the 1920s, many cities and towns were prohibiting or restricting their use. To combat this trend, the lead industry
carried out a prolonged and effective campaign to promote the use of lead pipes. Led by the Lead Industries Association (LIA),
representatives were sent to speak with plumbers’ organizations, local water authorities, architects, and federal officials.
The LIA also published numerous articles and books that extolled the advantages of lead over other materials and gave practical
advice on the installation and repair of lead pipes. The LIA’s activities over several decades therefore contributed
to the present-day public health and economic cost of lead water pipes."
- "The Lead Industry and Lead Water Pipes “A MODEST
CAMPAIGN” - American Journal of Public Health (September 2008): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2509614/#:~:text=Lead%20pipes%20for%20carrying%20drinking,prohibiting%20or%20restricting%20their%20use.
The United States of America in 1971 banned lead-based paint in homes.
Roots were the problem, but proceeded to remove precious clay anyways, for carcinogens
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