MOUNT PLEASANT, SC (June 2, 2016) - Today, The Guardian released an article indicating that Mount Pleasant Waterworks was among 33 cities utilizing “cheats” when conducting lead sampling. The Guardian’s article misrepresents the sampling instructions given to our customers. The Guardian is using our instructions prior to EPA’s February 2016 guidance. Our historical data provided to the Guardian was based on sampling which occurred in 2014, MPW used a combination of industry standard recommendations for sampling at the time.
The Guardian indicated that “pre-flushing” instructions were given to our customers, a term that has never been used in any regulation nor guidance prior to February 2016. Our instructions ensured a representative sample was taken from a sampling point commonly used within the home.
The Guardian’s report is an irresponsible misrepresentation that could leave uninformed readers to question testing instructions and lead them to believe we suggested customers flush their lines immediately before collecting the water sample. This type of inaccurate reporting could create an unnecessary alarm for our customers.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires Lead and Copper sampling every three years. MPW tested in 2014 and the next time MPW will conduct lead and copper testing is in 2017. Prior to that testing the instructions will be modified to reflect all of the EPA’s recent guidance. We take the utmost pride in what we do at MPW to protect our citizens and provide clean and safe drinking water.
If customers are interested in having their water tested, MPW can assist. Once the sample is collected, MPW will send the sample to a certified laboratory for testing. MPW will also help analyze results. Customers can contact MPW’s Laboratory Director, Jestine Deepe (843-884-9626) regarding this process.