LIMA, OH (WLIO) - A letter received by Lima water customers has many consumers concerned.
The Lima Utilities Department assures residents that the water is safe to consume. The Environmental Protection Agency requires water departments to report if any levels are higher than the EPA standards found in normal testing of the water. The water department found that there was a slight increase in one specific chemical that can form during the water treatment process.
"We actually violated an EPA standard for what they call Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM). The standard for that is 0.08 parts per million. We had 0.087, which was just almost miniscule. But we did violate an EPA standard. We had to do a public notice. There is no risk. No one is being told not to drink their water, boil their water, or any of that stuff," explained Mike Caprella, Lima Utilities Department.
Caprella says that the increase in TTHMs can happen when chlorine and organic matter meet and sit in the distribution system for a period of time. They are not in the water when it leaves the treatment plant. They are working to see why it happened.
"We are working with the EPA. We're looking at what we do at the plant. There's probably not a whole lot of changes that will be made. We'll look at the reservoirs to make sure we don't have any issues there. We'll be fine," added Caprella.
The department tests for TTHMs quarterly, and an average of the results determines the results. Again, the City of Lima Utilities Department says your drinking water is safe to consume.
