EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Report of Limited Drinking Water Source Sampling
William H. Cotton Service Center II
3701 South Lamar Street - Dallas, Texas 75215
EFI Project No. 98420-10950
At the request of the Dallas Independent School District, EFI collected water samples from eight drinking
water sources at the referenced site. The sampling was to include water sources from within the four
facilities known as the “office building”, the “HVAC building”, the “roofing building”, and the “warehouse
building.” Note that other buildings on the site were specifically excluded from the scope of work. Prior to
the sampling, DISD provided EFI with drawings indicating the probable locations of drinking water
fountains and sinks in those buildings that would likely be used as drinking water sources.
The sampling was performed on January 31, 2016. Samples were collected in the following locations:
Sample #1 - Office Building: 1st Floor, south water fountain;
Sample #2 – Office Building: 3rd Floor, north water fountain;
Sample #3 – HVAC Building: 2nd Floor, break room sink;
Sample #4 – HVAC Building: 1st Floor, water fountain;
Sample #5 – Roofing Building: 1st Floor, water fountain;
Sample #6 – Roofing Building: 1st Floor, break room sink;
Sample #7 – Warehouse Building: 1st Floor, “Grounds and Athletics” water fountain; and
Sample #8 – Warehouse Building: 1st Floor, men’s restroom water fountain.
Each water draw was collected as a “first draw” sample directly into a clean six-gallon glass container. The
water was then decanted into the individual sample containers supplied by Test America in Savannah
Georgia (an EPA-certified drinking water laboratory). Once decanted, the samples were collected by the
local laboratory representative. Note that Test America shipped samples to EM Lab/P&K (Houston, TX)
for coliform testing; to EMSL (Cinnaminson, NJ) for asbestos content analyses; and their laboratory in
Knoxville, Tennessee for PCB analysis, as they did not perform these analyses in-house.
The results of each analysis were compared against the EPA’s National Primary Drinking Water
Regulations and the EPA’s Secondary Drinking Water Standards. Based on the results of the analysis, we
have the following comments and recommendations:
• Trace amounts of lead (8 of 8 samples) and arsenic (7 of 8 samples) were present. Neither constituents
were present above the EPA Action Level, but these samples were higher than EPA recommended
levels (zero).
• One sample contained a bromate concentration above the action level and five more were above the
recommended level (zero). Bromate is a disinfection byproduct resulting from the treatment of the
water.
• All samples contained low levels of dichlorobromomethane. There is no specific EPA action level for
this chemical but they were above the EPA’s recommended level (zero). This is also a disinfection
byproduct resulting from the treatment of the water.
• Two samples contained low levels of alachlor that were below the EPA action level but above the
EPA’s recommended level (zero). Alachlor is a herbicide.
• Three samples contained iron in levels above the EPA’s recommended levels.
• Two samples had a higher pH than the level recommended by EPA.
Because the concentrations observed were very low, and because of the age of the site (and associated
plumbing), and its use as a former industrial manufacturing facility, we recommend DISD continue its
practice of providing bottled drinking water to the occupants.