FORNEY, Texas — The North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) responded to concerns from area water customers and California environmental activist Erin Brokovich ensuring its water is safe and complies with state and federal regulations.
FORNEY, Texas — The North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) responded to concerns from area water customers and California environmental activist Erin Brokovich ensuring its water is safe and complies with state and federal regulations.
The district is currently conducting its annual 30-day maintenance by discontinuing the use of ammonia in its treatment process which also includes chlorine, ozone, and chloramine which is a combination of chlorine and ammonia. The maintenance period, which, according to the district, is accepted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), ends March 26.
"During this period, residents may experience a stronger smell of chlorine, however NTMWD has not increased the amount of chlorine in the water," stated the district.
"NTMWD, like many water providers, uses all three," read their statement. "Ozone is the most powerful disinfection process and chlorine is used to ensure the water remains safe as it moves through the pipes throughout the regional and local systems."
"Forty-five percent of the U.S. population is served by public water supplies using chloramine," stated the district.
The district's response came after California environmental activist Erin Brockovich raised concerns about the district's maintenance period, calling it a "chlorine burn," the results of a "cheap, dirty trick" of adding ammonia to the treatment process.
"It does not reduce the DIRT in the drinking water... it masks or covers up the ability for chlorine to react with the remaining DIRT and form "regulated" disinfection byproducts," she stated, in part, on Facebook. "Sadly... they only care about "regulated" toxins."
"Chloramine actually forms toxins 1,000 time more dangerous... they are just not yet "regulated," continued her statement. "They know this and frankly just don't care."
“Water quality and safety is a top priority, and we work closely with officials in Member and Customer Cities, federal and state agencies to fulfill our mission,” said Mike Rickman, Deputy Director of Operations and Maintenance at NTMWD. “This is a safe and scientifically proven method to ensure that treated water remains safe as it moves throughout the distribution system,” Rickman added.
"Routine monitoring of bacteria, disinfectant residuals, nitrate, nitrite and many other parameters occurs during the maintenance period at the treatment plant and in the distribution systems," the district added. "Samples are collected by TCEQ-licensed water operators and analyzed in appropriately accredited laboratories."
"NTMWD has performed process control monitoring at its treatment plant for disinfection byproducts including trihalomethanes (THMs)," stated the district. "The results for multiple samples have been less than 28 parts per billion (ppb) which is significantly lower than the EPA Maximum Contaminant Level of 80 ppb."
"The results of all testing are within federal and state guidelines," stated the district. "NTMWD water remains safe for consumption and use."
