The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has notified the CITY OF PORT LAVACA, TX0290002 that the drinking water being supplied to customers had exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for total trihalomethanes. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) has established the MCL for total trihalomethanes to be 0.080 milligrams per liter (mg/L) 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 in your community for total trihalomethanes indicates a compliance value in quarter one 2018 of 0.086 mg/L for DBP2-02, 0.090 mg/L for DBP2-03, 0.085 mg/L for DBP2-04, and 0.082 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 organic matter in the water.
Some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL over many years may experience problems with their liver, kidney, or central nervous systems, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
You do not need to use an alternative water supply. However, if you have health concerns, you may want to talk to your doctor to get more information about how this may affect you.
We are taking the following actions to address this issue:
Monthly flushing of Water Distribution System will be increased as needed for specific areas. On-going water valve audit to identify possible dead-ends due to closed/broken valves. Continue upgrades to our distribution system and water storage that will aid in lowering TTHM’s.
Please share this information with all people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (i.e. people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
If you have any questions regarding this matter, you may contact City of Port Lavaca at (361) 552-3347 or GBRA at 552-9751.
