Spring Break
Water safe to drink
Chris Lee
Issue date: 11/20/08 Section: Community News
The question about the safety of Maryville's water seems to be on people's minds throughout town.
Water Plant Manager, Steve Guthrie said the water Maryville residents drink is safe and no one should worry about the quality of the water.
Many citizens in Maryville received a notification in the mail in October describing the current state of the city's drinking water. Maryville's water failed to meet the total organic carbon (TOC) removal requirement by a running 12-month average of 0.91. A level of 1.0 is the required amount. The sample tested was collected in the second quarter (April 1 to June 30).
"With the average below the required level, the water doesn't present any health concerns," Guthrie said.
However, total organic carbon provides a medium for the formation of disinfection by-products. Those include trihalomethanes (TTHM) and haloacetic acids (HAA5).
The notice distributed to residents explained the different contaminants in the water. Disinfection by-products, such as (TTHM) and (HAA5) are formed when disinfectants such as chlorine react with naturally occurring organic matter, called TOC.
The reason behind the plant not meeting the required TOC removal rate is due to the lakes alkalinity, Guthrie said.
Due to the low 12-month average and the removal rate just below 1.0, Guthrie expects another notice to go out to the public in January.
"You can have as much TOC in your water and it's not going to hurt you," Guthrie said. "Yes, we know there is an issue, but there are no health effects from the TOC violation. It's more the state saying hey, you have an issue here, we don't want it to turn into something worse."
Different methods can be used to treat the drinking water. Right now, the city uses chlorine but other methods are being looked at.
"We're looking at the UV absorbents to meet the alternative criteria for meeting this rule," Guthrie said. "We are currently meeting all of our TTHM's."
No matter what people may say, the water in Maryville doesn't present any health problems.
"The water is safe to drink by all state standards," Guthrie said.
Buying a filtration system will help with the taste of the water as well as help clean some chlorine and lead out of the water. Following the directions and changing the filter every three months is important for the filtration system to work properly.
For information or concerns, contact Steve Guthrie at 562-3713 or the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Kansas City Regional Office at 816-622-7000.
Water Plant Manager, Steve Guthrie said the water Maryville residents drink is safe and no one should worry about the quality of the water.
Many citizens in Maryville received a notification in the mail in October describing the current state of the city's drinking water. Maryville's water failed to meet the total organic carbon (TOC) removal requirement by a running 12-month average of 0.91. A level of 1.0 is the required amount. The sample tested was collected in the second quarter (April 1 to June 30).
"With the average below the required level, the water doesn't present any health concerns," Guthrie said.
However, total organic carbon provides a medium for the formation of disinfection by-products. Those include trihalomethanes (TTHM) and haloacetic acids (HAA5).
The notice distributed to residents explained the different contaminants in the water. Disinfection by-products, such as (TTHM) and (HAA5) are formed when disinfectants such as chlorine react with naturally occurring organic matter, called TOC.
The reason behind the plant not meeting the required TOC removal rate is due to the lakes alkalinity, Guthrie said.
Due to the low 12-month average and the removal rate just below 1.0, Guthrie expects another notice to go out to the public in January.
"You can have as much TOC in your water and it's not going to hurt you," Guthrie said. "Yes, we know there is an issue, but there are no health effects from the TOC violation. It's more the state saying hey, you have an issue here, we don't want it to turn into something worse."
Different methods can be used to treat the drinking water. Right now, the city uses chlorine but other methods are being looked at.
"We're looking at the UV absorbents to meet the alternative criteria for meeting this rule," Guthrie said. "We are currently meeting all of our TTHM's."
No matter what people may say, the water in Maryville doesn't present any health problems.
"The water is safe to drink by all state standards," Guthrie said.
Buying a filtration system will help with the taste of the water as well as help clean some chlorine and lead out of the water. Following the directions and changing the filter every three months is important for the filtration system to work properly.
For information or concerns, contact Steve Guthrie at 562-3713 or the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Kansas City Regional Office at 816-622-7000.
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