Are High Levels of Lead in Basin Water a Sign that the Basin's Engineering is Failing?

The basin was engineered to clean run-off water from JCCC parking lots and as a nature preserve. The grass and plants used are intended to draw pollutants out of the water before the water drains into the Johnson County general water supply. If the engineering is working, we should see reduced levels of run-off pollutants in the basin when compared to water drawn before reaching the basin. High levels of lead in the basin water indicate that lead is not being absorbed as intended. Since lead is extremely toxic, this is evidence that the basin is not functioning ideally. However, tests indicate that the basin water is free of, or within acceptable concentrations, for other pollutants. This paper concludes that rather than being an indication that the basin is failing, additional measures should be engineered for lead mitigation.