The Ellsworth Water Treatment Plant recently experienced a level of total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) of 4 parts per billion (PPB) above the allowable limit, which is equivalent to 4 drops of water in a 10,000-gallon swimming pool.
See the official Drinking Water Notice for more details.
- The most recent February 2024 water test revealed lower levels of total trihalomethanes. For more information on the test results contact the Water Department.
What you should do:
- There is nothing you need to do other than to be aware that the water has total trihalomethanes above the allowable level and to take any precautions your doctor advises if you have specific health problems (see Drinking Water Notice for possible health effects information).
- You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions. If a situation ever arises where the water is no longer safe to drink, you will be notified within 24 hours.
How people are exposed to Disinfection By-products (DBPs):
- Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), a disinfection by-product (DBP), are formed in drinking water during disinfection when chlorine (the disinfectant) reacts with naturally occurring organic materials in surface water sources such as rivers and lakes.
- Disinfectants are added to drinking water to protect the public from pathogens and viruses.
- People are exposed to DBPs by drinking chlorinated water.
Steps Ellsworth Water Treatment Plant operators have taken to reduce DBPs:
- Installed ultraviolet disinfection as a strategy to reduce chlorine use.
- Installed facilities at the two storage tanks in the system to provide for the ability to rechlorinate at the tank, which increased the flexibility to minimize chlorine doses at the treatment plant.
- Routine testing is conducted at the water treatment plant to ensure the filters are removing as much organic material as possible prior to disinfection.
- The City and their engineering consultants are currently in the preliminary planning stages for the construction of a new water treatment plant.
Building a new Water Treatment Plant will help reduce DBPs by:
- Implementing treatment techniques that will reduce organic materials in water that react with chlorine to form DBPs.
- Implementing treatment techniques that will reduce chlorine doses needed at the plant.
For more information, please contact:
Reggie Winslow, Water Department Superintendent
(207)667-8632
