SPRING VALLEY ? Lake County Special Districts (LCSD) issued an information notice Tuesday regarding the drinking water in Spring Valley. According to the notice, the water system recently violated a drinking water standard; however, the situation does not require any immediate action by those consuming the water.
“When the water is disinfected there are byproducts that are created. One of them is TTHM; that”s what has exceeded the maximum level,” Pete Preciado, Special Districts deputy administrator said. “The health department has us test for TTHM every three months. It exceeded its maximum contamination level twice. So, what we are doing now is reducing the chlorine dosage rate and we are also going to begin flushing the lines more frequently in the Spring Valley community.”
According to the notice issued by LCSD, consumers do not need to boil their water or take any other corrective action. Preciado said that prolonged exposure could present health concerns; however, he said there are no any immediate health risks associated with this current situation.
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) sets drinking water maximum contamination levels (MCLs) and requires the disinfection of drinking water. However, when used in the treatment of drinking water, disinfectants react with naturally-occurring organic and inorganic matter present in the water to form chemicals called disinfection byproducts (DBPs). The CDPH has determined that a number of DBPs are a health concern at certain levels of exposure. Some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL over many years experience liver, kidney or central nervous system problems and may have an increased risk for cancer the notice states.
“It”s something that could affect their health after many years of exposure,” Preciado said. “If someone really wants to take some action in this situation there are some relatively inexpensive water filters that they can use that will take care of the TTHM.”
Preciado said that a significant factor in exceeding the MCLs was the district”s reduction in line flushes due to drought conditions.
Preciado said the district is currently reducing its chlorine dosage rates in order to reduce the total trihalomethane (TTHM) level. “These adjustments require a sample be drawn and tested for TTHM to determine the effectiveness of the adjustment,” he said. “This is a delicate balance between adequately chlorinating the drinking water yet reducing chlorination to reduce the TTHM level. The last reduction in chlorination showed encouraging results as TTHM levels lowered to 80.72 ug/L.” The maximum level, he said, is 80 ug/L.
Preciado said staff is also beginning a vigorous water distribution system flushing program. “The residents of Spring Valley should understand that this is not a wasteful use of a valuable resource but a necessary step as this action may also help to reduce the TTHM levels within the water distribution system,” he said.
For more information contact LCSP Deputy Administrator Pete Preciado at 263-0119.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
