Trihalomethanes....Notice to Water Customers....

[jus_the_facts]

....got a notice from my water comany yesterday and our system seems to have currently 111 parts per billion and the EPA standard is now 80ppb...but THIS IS NOT an EMERGENCY they inform us but IF it was we would have been notified immediately...heh riiiight...may not affect we humans untill we've been exposed to it for a ?LONG time?...but wonder what ill affects it's having on our little pets...makes me furious but I realize it's probably much worse than we'll be ever be told....there is MTBE to be concerned about as well but I know it never will be addressed as it'll COST the precious OIL CO'S TOO MUCH $$$$$$$$$ TO CLEAN THE WATER SUPPLY....:evilfrown:





http://www.ngwa.org/pdf/trihalomethanes.pdf

Water safety has been in the news again in recent months. This
time it is due to trihalomethanes, a water by-product thought to be
a possible carcinogen. However, that doesn’t mean all homeowners
who use a water well for their daily water supply are at risk.
Water well owners should always try to have a working
knowledge about their well, its parts, and possible water contaminants.

What follows is information about trihalomethanes. However,
if questions arise, the best solution is to contact a professional
water well contractor and seek his advice.
What are trihalomethanes?

Trihalomethanes are a group of four chemicals—chloroform,
bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, and bromoform
—formed, along with other disinfection by-products, when
chlorine or other disinfectants used to control microbial contaminants in drinking water react with naturally occurring organic and inorganic matter in water.

How are trihalomethanes formed?

Chloroform—the trihalomethane often found in the highest
concentration—is formed by a reaction of chlorine with certain
compounds in water. Formation occurs during chlorination and
can continue to occur as long as chlorine is available. The other
trihalomethanes are formed by a reaction of bromine and iodine
with the same certain compounds.
Is chloroform always the most common
trihalomethane in water?

Depending on the characteristics of the water, the other three
trihalomethanes may be formed at a higher concentration than
chloroform.

Are trihalomethanes more prevalent in public water
systems than in private settings?

Trihalomethanes are much more prevalent in public water supplies
because most use chlorination as a disinfection technology.
However, while trihalomethanes are more common in public water
systems, they are a threat to any water supply that uses chlorine—
including private water wells.

How dangerous are trihalomethanes?

High levels of trihalomethanes can be dangerous. In fact,
in December 2000, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
lowered the maximum allowable annual average level for large
surface water public water systems from 100 parts per billion
(ppb) to 80 ppb. The 80 ppb limit goes into effect for small surface
water and all ground water systems in December 2003.

What health problems can occur because of exposure
to trihalomethanes? Are certain groups of people at a
greater risk than others?

Some studies have suggested a small increase in the risk of
bladder and colorectal cancers.

Other investigations have found
that chlorination by-products may be linked to heart, lung, kidney,
liver, and central nervous system damage.
Of the different trihalomethanes, dibromochloromethane has
been most closely associated with cancer, followed in order by
bromoform, chloroform, and bromodichloromethane.
Pregnant women appear to be at the greatest risk, as some
studies have linked trihalomethanes to reproductive problems,
including miscarriage.

Are solid chlorine forms just as likely to form
trihalomethanes as the liquid form?

Yes. Either form of chlorine—the liquid or hypochlorites (a
salt)—can form a free chlorine residual in water, and any free
residual can react with compounds to form trihalomethanes.
Are there treatment methods for trihalomethanes?
There are several methods that people can use in their homes
to reduce the trihalomethanes. Water well owners should always
discuss these methods with a professional water well contractor
before deciding to use one. Among the methods are:

● Filters
● Aeration or boiling
● Distillation
● Activated carbon


Where can I get more information?
For more information on your private water well, contact your
local contractor. Also, visit the Web site of the National Ground
Water Association, www.ngwa.org, and its site just for well owners,
www.wellowner.org
.
Trihalomethanes
What You Need to Know
Copyright ©2002
National Ground Water Association
www.NGWA.org
www.wellowner.org

[etherealtruth]

1. Certainly converting to water sanitation methods ...

...that create little or no toxic or carcinogenic byproducts should be the goal of all water treatment facilities. New water treatment facilities (and old updated) are using ozonation, more and more, for sanitization of drinking water. This tends to NOT eliminate the use of chlorine (but does allow treatment to use significantly less cl) in the water treatment process; ozone does not remain in water (as ozone) long enough to insure water safety from treatment to faucet.

Keep in mind: you may receive far greater exposure to these compounds(trihalomethanes) using household cleaners containing "bleach."

Chlorination of public drinking water has given us far safer drinking water and has stopped the transmission of a multitude water borne diseases ... I feel less of a risk from trihalomethanes than I do from the threat of waterborne illness.

I would like to see continuous improvement and the development of safer and safer technology associated with our water supply, but am realistic about the risks...

[jus_the_facts]

2. this is just one of several recent warnings in my area....

....this one just happened to have affected me directly...the local news in the past couple months reported that the city's water supply was literally making people sick and to not drink it...my sister told me they've gotten many notices since they moved out into the country of which fecal matter was present in their water...sigh. :(

[etherealtruth]

3. The other contaminants may be more problematic ...

... Are they issuing "boil water" alerts?

The trihalomethanes form as by-products from water disinfection processes ... I'm guessing the "fecal material" you refer to is e.coli (?) which would be present if there was inadequate sanitization or if contamination occurred during the water delivery process.

I forget the exact reg's regarding reporting, but water departments are required by law to report (some) contaminants that exceed certain limits.

I don't know where you live but it sounds as if you are having some infrastructure problems(?). I would be concerned in the short term about the other contaminants (vs. the trihalomethanes).

[jus_the_facts]

4. yeah they did issue boil alerts..definitely many infrastructure problems..

....which includes them dumping raw sewerage in the river in massive amounts....seems the infrastructure problems and most of our problems stem from mass ignorance and your basic wait till there is a major crisis before anything gets done...I live in Northeast Louisiana....a repuke hellhole where they're NOT GONNA PAY NO MORE DAMN TAXES FOR 'NUTHIN...schools are closing...police and firemen tax renewals were voted down...our very own Chamber of Commerce advertised for them to be voted down too...ugh idiots... :puke:

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. lovely

[jus_the_facts]

6. kick

[AngryAmish]

7. Most water also contains dangerous DHMO

[jus_the_facts]

8. doom doom doom dooooom.......

x(

[etherealtruth]

9. Oh my God ...

Frozen DHMO was directly responsible for a foot fracture I sustained last year.

That said, I can understand why someone receiving a report that the trihalomethane levels in his/her drinking water exceeded the mcl's would question what their risks were.

I'll take the by-products of chlorination every time over an untreated public water supply ... but it's not always readily apparent to consumers what ALL the risks are.