November 7, 2003

On November 4, 2003, Lynn J. Thomas of Grand Rapids was sentenced in the 62B District Court of Kentwood, Kent County for falsifying chlorine residual reports in violation of the Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act. Mr. Thomas was sentenced to pay fines and costs totaling $1415, placed on probation for 12 months, and to complete 240 hours of community service or serve 30 days in jail. Following a revocation hearing on Mr. Thomas’ conduct, the Department of Environmental Quality suspended Mr. Thomas’ certification for 3-months followed by a 24-month probation period. Operators are certified by the DEQ and water suppliers are required to have certified operators running their drinking water treatment systems.

The charges stem from a city of Kentwood Department of Public Works internal investigation of fabricated chlorine residual reports. The city findings were then brought to the attention of the DEQ. The DEQ oversees the Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act and receives drinking water monitoring information from regulated facilities to ensure that supplies are being properly treated for public consumption. State regulators depend heavily on accurate and trustworthy drinking water quality reports from facilities that do self monitoring. Disinfection and other drinking water quality standards have been set for public drinking water supplies for the purpose of protecting public health. Accurate reporting of chlorine residuals is required for assessing adequate operation of waterworks systems for disinfection of water supplies.

The internal investigation by the city of Kentwood and a DEQ review of city water laboratory data did not find any indication that the falsified reports concealed drinking water quality below state and federal standards.

Editor’s note: DEQ news releases are available on the department’s Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

Revised November 7, 2003 by Pat Watson