The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality reported Thursday that Temple's drinking water has exceeded the maximum contaminant level for a potentially hazardous substance.

The City of Temple issued the following press release Thursday afternoon:

Public Notification for City of Temple Water System

(TEMPLE, TX – March 31, 2016) The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has notified the CITY OF TEMPLE TX0140005, that the drinking water being supplied to customers had exceeded the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for total trihalomethanes (TTHMs). 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 level above the MCL. Analysis of drinking water in your community for total trihalomethanes indicates a compliance value in:

Quarter four 2015
1. 0.090 mg/L for DBP2-01
2. 0.093 mg/L for DBP2-02
3. 0.092 mg/L for DBP2-03
4. 0.083 mg/L for DBP2-04
5. 0.086 mg/L for DBP2-05
6. 0.085 mg/L for DBP2-06
7. 0.092 mg/L for DBP2-07
8. 0.089 mg/L for DBP2-08

Quarter one 2016
1. 0.098 mg/L for DBP2-01
2. 0.103 mg/L for DBP2-02
3. 0.102 mg/L for DBP2-03
4. 0.093 mg/L for DBP2-04
5. 0.096 mg/L for DBP2-05
6. 0.095 mg/L for DBP2-06
7. 0.105 mg/L for DBP2-07
8. 0.099 mg/L for DBP2-08
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.
Customers do not need to use an alternative water supply. However, if an individual has health concerns, they may want to talk to their doctor to get more information about any potential impacts.

The City of Temple is taking the following actions to address this issue:

· Optimizing the effective use of alternative disinfection for the removal of natural organic material prior to introduction into the treatment process flow stream.
· Additional internal process sampling and system flushing on a regular basis will be used to determine best management practices.

City of Temple Public Works Director, Nicole Torralva, P.E., states that it is important to understand that the safety of our drinking water is always a primary focus and at no time has our water been unsafe to drink.

“We will continue to treat and monitor all water continuously to insure our customers receive the highest quality of water available. Water customers will receive an official notification by mail within the next few days.”

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, 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 concerning this notice, you may contact Damon B. Boniface or Willie Childress at (254) 298-5940.

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