Posted on: Friday, February 7, 2003

Maui to replace additive in water

By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui County Bureau

WAILUKU, Maui — Dogged by scores of complaints about skin and eye irritations, the county Department of Water Supply announced yesterday that it will discontinue a chemical additive used to reduce lead in its Upcountry water system and try something else.

The announcement came last night at a Makawao meeting attended by state health officials, politicians and water customers.

The water department began adding C-9, or zinc orthophosphate, into the Upcountry system in June 2001 under orders from the state Department of Health and a rule by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. The chemical reduces lead by preventing corrosion in pipes found primarily in older homes.

But even after cutting back in December on the amount of C-9 added to the system, the complaints continued. At last count, 88 people had registered problems, including rashes, itching, and burning eyes.

Officials said they plan to replace the zinc orthophosphate with food-grade phosphoric acid, which is essentially the same chemical without the zinc. The new chemical likely will be added next month for a six-month trial period.

In addition, officials announced that a consultant will be hired to analyze the water system to recommend the best corrosion-control treatment.

Officials said the decision to switch chemicals was made after consulting with chemists, both locally and at Virginia Tech University, who believe the new additive would be better suited to the Upcountry system, which serves 33,000 customers.

Uses of food-grade phosphoric acid include refining sugar, cottage cheese production and as a flavoring agent in jams and jellies. It is generally recognized as safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

But at least one water customer remains unhappy.

"We're going to be guinea pigs again,'' said Nancy Pilger of Kula, who has limited herself to showers only, no more baths, because of the problem. "I don't think you should test this on the human population.''

Pilger said the EPA rule requiring the addition of chemicals throughout the entire system to take care of lead problems in individual homes is "foolish."

"If I choose to drink lead it's my own business. I don't want my neighbor to drink (additives) just to protect Nancy (from lead). The whole thing is backward. Something doesn't smell right,'' she said.

Water department spokeswoman Jacky Takakura said the agency is "between a rock and a hard place'' because of the government orders to solve the lead problem.

She noted that both zinc orthophosphate and food-grade phosphoric acid are used commonly and successfully in water systems throughout the country. Zinc orthophosphate is used on the Big Island and Wake Island, she said.

But several Maui physicians have treated skin problems in Upcountry residents and have told the water department that there could be a link to the water, Takakura said.

Marc Edwards, a Virginia Tech environmental engineering professor who has analyzed Upcountry water samples, said the removal of zinc from the additive might work.

Edwards said zinc is a factor in "hard" water, the term for water containing high amounts of dissolved minerals. When it reacts with soaps and other materials, it can cause dry skin or scales. He said he has never heard of this particular problem before, so the department should strongly consider having an expert analyze the situation.

The Upcountry area relies on surface water that does not have the natural minerals found in groundwater that coat the inside of water pipes and prevent leaching, Takakura said.