R.I. Army National Guard Installs Corrosion Control System in Coventry

This week the Rhode Island Army National Guard (RIARNG) has begun installation of a Corrosion Control Treatment System to comply with the requirements of the federal Lead and Copper Rule at .

This past October the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency entered into an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) with the RIARNG to resolve violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act at its Coventry facility. EPA entered into the AOC due to the failure to install optimal corrosion control treatment and comply with the sampling requirements identified in the Lead and Copper Rule. 

The failure to install optimal corrosion control treatment has caused the facility to exceed the action levels established under the Safe Drinking Water Act for lead and copper. 

The facility was operated by the Rhode Island Air National Guard during most of the time frame when the lead and copper action levels were exceeded and optimal corrosion control was required. The RIARNG was quick to respond to EPA’s concerns and began implementing a plan to bring the facility into compliance with the Lead and Copper Rule.

The facility regularly serves a population of at least 25 of the same persons and during weekend reserve exercises the daily population served by the water system increases to approximately 50-100 individuals.

This case was referred to EPA in February 2011 when the Rhode Island Department of Health requested that EPA take over the enforcement at the water system and help return the system to compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act. EPA issued the facility a Notice of Violation later that month and have since have worked closely with the RI DOH to pursue this enforcement action.

Under the AOC, the RIARNG has 90 days to install and construct a Corrosion Control Treatment System. The facility will also need to continue to sample the drinking water for lead and copper and provide the EPA and the health department with the lead and copper monitoring results until such time that the water system meets the lead and copper action levels during each of two consecutive six-month monitoring periods.