The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has notified the City of Huntington that the drinking water being supplied to customers had exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for haloacetic acids and Trihalomethanes(TTHM).
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has established the MCL for haloacetic acids to be 0.060 milligrams per liter based on locational running annual average (LRAA), and has determined that it is a health concern at levels above the MCL. Analysis of drinking water Huntington for haloacetic acids indicates a compliance value in the fourth quarter of 2016 of 0.065 mg/L for DBP2-01.
Haloacetic acids are a group of volatile organic compounds that are formed when chlorine, added to the water during the treatment process for disinfection, reacts with naturally-occurring matter in the water.
Some people who drink water containing HAA5 in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer. EPA studies indicate that an adult would have to drink one half gallon of water per day with elevated levels of disinfection by-products for 60 to 70 years to be at risk for developing cancer.
You do not need to use an alternative water supply, as your water remains safe to drink. However, if you have health concerns, you may want to talk to your doctor to get more information about how this may affect you.
As for the Trihalomethanes in the drinking water, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has established the MCL for Total Trihalomethanes to be 0.080 milligrams per liter based on locational running annual average (LRAA), and has determined that it is a health concern at levels above the MCL. Analysis of drinking water Huntington for total trihalomethanes indicates a compliance value in the fourth quarter of 2016 of 0.109 mg/L for DBP2-01.Trihalomethanes are a group of volatile organic compounds that are formed when chlorine, added to the water during the treatment process for disinfection, reacts with naturally-occurring matter in the water.
Some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL over many years may experience problems with liver, kidney, or central nervous system, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer. Like with Haloacetic acids, the EPA studies indicate that an adult would have to drink one half gallon of water per day with elevated levels of disinfection by-products for 60 to 70 years to be at risk for developing cancer.
Again, you do not need to use an alternative water supply, as your water remains safe to drink. However, if you have health concerns, you may want to talk to your doctor to get more information about how this may affect you.
The City of Huntington is taking steps to start using ammonia to treat for halo- acetic acids and Trihalomethanes in the drinking water. The public will be notified before ammonia is injected in the water system.
If you have questions regarding this matter, you may contact Robby Roberts, Public Works Director at 936-422-4195.