Is lead in water poisoning base workers?

YORK COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) - A local firefighters union claims there's lead contamination in the water supply at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown.

The ongoing feud between firefighters and the base has led to several lead tests. All of the tests are analyzed by reputable testing firms.

The firefighters union contacted 10 On Your Side about the problem. We couldn't get any firefighters to comment on the problem, but the lead levels in some of tests are way above EPA standards.

The dispute is about lead levels in two fire stations at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown: Station 13 and Station 14.

In Station 13, there is what they call a "water buffalo" which is filled with good water, but someone put up a sign that reads, "Warning. Danger. Do not consume water, lead contamination."

International Firefighter President Tim Pritchard said, "My concern is my guys are taking in this water with lead and they are being poisoned."

Two fire station water supplies have been lead tested.

The EPA Standard is .01 milligrams/liter (mg/L)

In July, Fire Station 14 registered .07mg/L, which is seven times the accepted level of .01mg/L.

The Base Command did not believe that and re-tested. That test came in at .001mg/L.

The firefighters ordered a test in January of Fire Station 13 which came in at .07mg/L, again, seven times the accepted level.

The firefighters also had Station 14 tested, and that came in at .099mg/L, nearly ten times the accepted EPA limits.

Pritchard said, "This is well above the EPA standard, and when it was brought to the proper senior management, and I asked 'should we test these guys' and they said 'no because not everyone agrees with the results.'"

Wavy.com went to Universal Laboratories. We wanted to get our own sample of water at the base, and bring it there to be tested. We would put the water in an acid rinse container which is free of any metals. It is always best to get the first water out of the line in the morning because that water has been sitting overnight and would have the lead accumulation for the testing, but the Navy wouldn't let us on the base.

The base Commanding Officer Captain Lowell D. Crow wrote us, "Naval Weapons Station (WPNSTA) Yorktown and Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) are working to ensure the safety and well being of all personnel assigned to and working on the installation.

The WPNSTA Yorktown water system is permitted by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and currently complies with all their requirements and those of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. All monitoring plans and results are reviewed and approved by the VDH. The NAVFAC Environmental Services Lab performs and contract oversight for all sampling and analysis at this installation.

The last test was conducted on July 27, 2010, with negative results for lead (<0.001). We are currently re-testing the water in two buildings, Bldg. 703 and 461, in response to the independent test commissioned by fire station personnel. We expect those results back this week. Currently, potable water is being provided to the fire stations by the Public Works Department via 500 gallon water buffaloes (portable water storage) as a necessary precaution while the second round of testing is being completed.

Additionally, a plan is in place to change out the lateral piping from the main water supply to the fire stations."

Pritchard said, "I want them to fix it. I want them to fix it, and take care of my guys. I want them educated, and treat them if they have high levels of lead."

There's no word on what the base plans to do about this, and is awaiting the new test results for both fire stations. It seems to be an isolated situation at the fire stations only, but lead in water is caused by corrosion in plumbing systems.

Changing the piping could fix the problem.