Local News - December 2003

County sends second notice to water customers

Published December 15, 2003

By ALICE SMITH, Staff Writer

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For the second time in three months, county water customers will be sent letters notifying them of excessive levels of haloacetic acids in their water, but officials say the numbers have actually decreased.

A public notice will be sent this week informing customers that the Lincoln County Water Treatment Plant has levels of total haloacetic acids above drinking water standards.

The same notice went out in September.

Public Utilities Director Steve Gilbert said the high levels of haloacetic acids found earlier this year have affected the most recent test, and the levels have actually dropped more than 100 percent since August.

In August the concentration was reported as .085 milligrams per liter. The maximum allowable average concentration is .06 mg/l.

November’s average was reported as .036 mg/l, well below the requirement.

While the water is currently in compliance, test results for samples collected during the period of Oct. 1, 2002 and Sept. 30, 2003 show high levels — .07018 mg/l. The results from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2003 also exceed the maximum level.

“The higher concentrations we had in May and August are still affecting the average,” Gilbert said. “Levels are currently well below the maximum level.”

Haloacetic acids are a byproduct of disinfection, Gilbert said. A part of the treatment process at the plant includes adding chlorine to the untreated water to kill unwanted bacteria.

Because of the excessive rainfall and runoff this year, an increased amount of sediment and organic matter is present in Lake Norman, the county’s water source.

When chlorine interacts with that material, haloacetic acids are formed.

Officials said the presence of haloacetic acids is not an immediate risk. However, drinking water containing excess amounts of the acid over many years may cause an increased risk of cancer, the notice states.

Since the first notice went out, utilities workers have changed the treatment process at the plant, according to the notice.

Instead of chlorinating at the beginning of the process, filters are now chlorinated. The November tests show that the new process is working, Gilbert said.

The county is also planning an expansion of the water plant which includes the installation of a different type of disinfection process that doesn’t use chlorine.

The county’s water treatment plant, located on Tree Farm Road, treats up to 3 million gallons per day and distributes the water through more than 200 miles of water lines.

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For more information, call the water department at 704-483-7070.

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© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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