AIMAN AMERUL MUNER/Stuff

Yvonne Lane, from Mosgiel, fills up water bottles at the Morven Hall for members of her family she is staying with in the Morven area.

Emergency drinking water supplies have been delivered to parts of the Waimate District as measured nitrate levels have risen past the Drinking Water Standards Maximum Acceptable Value (MAV).

Approximately 615 residents on the Lower Waihao Rural (including Waikakahi East) Water Scheme have been advised not to drink the water after the increased levels were detected by the Waimate District Council on Saturday.

Council has now placed water tanks at the Glenavy Hall and Morven Hall to ensure safe drinking water is available to all scheme users. The tanks will remain as an alternative source until the issue is resolved. A third supply at Victoria Park potable water tap on Hillary Street in Waimate is also available.

The council first advised residents on Saturday of the increased nitrate levels nearing the MAV of 50mg/L (milligrams per litre) and that it was expected to rise further.

READ MORE:
* Nitrate risk to unborn babies to be measured in $1.2 million study of drinking water
* Pollution in the well: ‘If you’re pregnant you should be told to get your water tested’
* Look beyond the shock-horror campaigns about nitrate in drinking water, cows and cancer

The council’s chief executive Stuart Duncan, on Wednesday said nitrate levels were exceeding the MAV by 1.3 mg/L at 51.3 mg/L of nitrate-NO3.

“At this level of nitrates, treatment is the only option at the moment. Council does have preliminary plans for a denitrification plant,” Duncan said.

“Elevated nitrate levels near 50mg/L (milligrams per litre) of nitrate NO3 (MAV) have been detected at the source of the water supply following recent weather events and are likely to rise further,” council has advised consumers.

“These have the potential to cause health issues, with an increased level of risk to pregnant women and infants under six months of age. The risk to a healthy adult is low but caution is advised.”

Water for the scheme is drawn from a “shallow bore next to the Waitaki River, six kilometres upstream from Glenavy”.

AIMAN AMERUL MUNER/Stuff

A water tank with emergency drinking supplies sits outside Morven Hall in the Waimate District after nitrate levels rose past the maximum acceptable value in the Lower Waihao Rural (including Waikakahi East) Water Scheme.

The council is also warning residents that the usual method of boiling of water does not remove nitrates.

Until nitrate concentrations return to compliant levels, the council has advised consumers to access drinking water from the tanks at the hall or the source in Waimate.

The council said they continuously monitor nitrates within the supply to ensure that prolonged exposure is managed.

“It is important to note, the rise in nitrate levels is primarily due to environmental factors and recent weather events. This is not due to a failure of the water scheme itself.”

The council said it will not be testing for nitrates at individual consumer points of supply/storage tanks.

However, the council does carry out online nitrate monitoring via telemetry at the source, and independent lab testing as well, so this situation is closely monitored at all times.

The council said, due to the environmental nature of this event, they are unable to confirm a timeframe for the nitrate concentrates to return to previous levels, but will monitor the situation closely and advise of any developments immediately.

Council, when asked whether it had found any other reasons for the elevated nitrate levels, apart from the weather, directed inquiries to Environment Canterbury. ECan has been approached for comment.

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Originally Appeared Here

NOTICE OF HEARING DRINKING WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND DRAFT 2022 BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW INTENDED USE PLAN AND PROJECT PRIORITY LIST NORTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY Notice is hereby given that the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (NDDEQ) will hold a public hearing at 10:00 a.m. on August 25, 2022. The public hearing will be held at the Normandy Building, 4201 Normandy Street, Bismarck, North Dakota and remotely via Microsoft Teams. Attendees may dial in by calling 701-328-0950 and entering phone conference ID 948 360 415#. To attend by computer or mobile app, visit deq.nd.gov/calendar.aspx and click on the event. The purpose of the hearing will be to present and receive comments on the draft 2022 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Intended Use Plan and Project Priority List developed by the NDDEQ as part of the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Amendments of 1996 authorized a DWSRF to assist public water systems in financing the costs of infrastructure improvements needed to achieve or maintain SDWA compliance. All interested parties are invited to appear and present comments. Additionally, written comments may be submitted to [email protected] or to the following address through September 22, 2022: North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Municipal Facilities, 4201 Normandy Street, Bismarck, ND 58503-1324. Copies of the draft Priority List and Intended Use Plan will be available on August 11, 2022 and may be obtained at deq.nd.gov/publications.aspx, by writing the above address, or calling 701-328-5211. The NDDEQ will consider every request for reasonable accommodation to provide an accessible meeting facility or other accommodation for people with disabilities, language interpretation for people with limited English proficiency (LEP), and translations of written material necessary to access programs and information. To request accommodations, contact Jennifer Skjod, Acting Non-discrimination Coordinator at 701-328-5226 or [email protected]. TTY users may use Relay North Dakota at 711 or 1-800-366-6888. Dated this 1st day of August, 2022 David J. Bruschwein, P.E. Director Division of Municipal Facilities (August 10, 2022) 88687

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Originally Appeared Here

NEWARK, NJ — Newark officials issued a boil water advisory for most of the city after a large water main break in Belleville near Branch Brook Park on Tuesday. Many residents saw their water pressure drop or cut out due to the break, although some have already had their service restored.

The break took place on Mill Street in Belleville early Tuesday morning, and also caused boil water advisories in Belleville and Bloomfield, authorities said. Read More: Water Main Break Wreaks Havoc In Newark, Belleville, Bloomfield

A boil water advisory remains in effect “until further notice,” Newark city officials said at 9:09 p.m.

Find out what’s happening in Newarkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Newark officials stated:

“A potential or actual threat to the quality of water being provided to you currently exists. As a precaution, we are implementing a Boil Water Advisory to the following areas that are impacted by the water main break until testing of the water supply is deemed satisfactory: North, South, West and Central Wards of Newark.”

“The Department of Water and Sewer Utilities has been working all day to restore service to the affected areas, and will continue to do so until the leaks are sealed and full service is back to normal. A number of residents have already had their water service restored,” officials said.

Find out what’s happening in Newarkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Newark officials shared the following information for local residents:

“What should you do if you live in the affected area? Effective immediately and until further notice, customers within the impacted service area are instructed to bring tap water to a rolling boil for one minute and allow the tap water to cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking; preparing foods; mixing baby formula, food, juices or drinks; washing vegetables and fruit; cooking; making ice; brushing teeth; and washing dishes. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.”

The following measures are also recommended, officials said:

• Throw away uncooked food, beverages, or ice cubes made with tap water during the day of the Boil Water Advisory.
• Keep boiled water in the refrigerator for drinking and cooking.
• Use boiled water when preparing drinks, such as coffee, tea, and lemonade.
• Do not swallow water while showering or bathing. Use caution when bathing babies and young children. Consider giving them a sponge bath to reduce the chance of them swallowing water.
• Rinse hand-washed dishes with a diluted bleach solution (one tablespoon of household bleach per gallon of tap water) or clean your dishes in a dishwasher using the hot wash cycle and dry cycle.
• Do not use home filtering devices in place of boiling or bottled water. Most home water filters will not provide adequate protection from microorganisms.
• Wash food preparation surfaces with boiled water.
• Prepare powdered or concentrated baby formula with bottled water. Use boiled water if you do not have bottled water.
• Use only boiled water to treat minor injuries.
• Provide pets with drinking water that has been boiled (and cooled).

“Please continue to boil your water or use bottled water until you are notified that the water quality is satisfactory,” officials said. “This advisory will remain in effect until repairs are completed and testing shows the water quality to be safe.”

City of Newark staff went door-to-door on Tuesday, distributing bottled water to residents in the affected areas. Residents who need bottled water until then should call these numbers by ward, officials said:

• Central Ward – 973-289-6687
• North Ward – 973-289-7218
• West Ward – 973-289-9949
• South Ward – 973-733-3013

Anyone experiencing a water emergency can contact 973-733-3654. Newark residents with questions can contact 973-733-4311, officials said.

The water main break took place amid a heat wave that has been lingering in Newark and New Jersey. Read More: Dog Days Of Summer Hit Newark; Residents Seek Relief From Heat

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Newark Boil Water Advisory: Here’s What You Should Do, Officials Say

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Originally Appeared Here

The process of turning ground and surface water into safe water for your home can be a complex process. By the time water reaches your tap, many factors can influence the water’s color, taste or smell. These aesthetics are typically harmless and do not cause health related issues.

Where your water is sourced is a factor that can impact color, taste and smell, but other factors such as your home’s plumbing and home treatment devices can also impact water quality. For these reasons, the water industry recognizes August as National Water Quality Month to encourage ways we can all ensure safe and clean drinking water. 

Water Source

Water providers monitor for hundreds of man-made and naturally occurring contaminants such as arsenic, radon and agricultural contaminants (pesticides and herbicides). You can learn about the source of your drinking water by reading your water system’s annual drinking water quality report, which will provide information on minerals or compounds in your water. Most water systems are required to provide this report to customers and post them by July 1 each year.

If you have groundwater, you may have hard water as a result of naturally occurring minerals, such as magnesium, calcium and iron. Hard water can cause spots on dishes, film on hands after washing them with soap, or a gradual decline in water pressure as it builds up in your pipes over months or years. Minerals such as manganese and iron can cause tinted yellow or orange water and can stain clothing and fixtures. 

Customers who receive treated surface water generally don’t have as many issues associated with the mineral content of the water, but may have issues with taste and odor compounds commonly found in surface water. In general, taste and odor issues are short lived and typically occur in the spring and late fall. 

Plumbing 

Water utilities monitor for lead and copper in drinking water, and if detected in the supply, immediate action is taken to correct the issue. However, water utilities are not responsible for a homeowner’s plumbing inside or outside your home. 

Black iron or galvanized pipe may react with chlorine used to disinfect drinking water and cause discoloration. If tap water is discolored every morning and clears after a few minutes, the discoloration is at one faucet, or the discoloration is in your hot water. 

Periodically flushing the hot water heater can resolve discoloration. Most hot water lines going into a washing machine have a wire strainer, which is designed to catch sediment. Cleaning the wire strainer to a washing machine’s hot water line once or twice a year can help prevent clothes from staining. 

Home treatment devices 

All home treatment devices, regardless of the technologies they use, require regular maintenance. Water quality problems may result if maintenance is not performed correctly. 

If you’re like most Texans and have hard water, you may have invested in a water softener system. These appliances replace calcium and magnesium with sodium and potassium, which can cause the water to taste salty. Most people who install these systems either wait too long before installing or don’t need them in the first place.

Many also abandon the system after a year or two of use. Water softeners must be maintained properly by changing out the filter or cartridge where bacteria can grow. 

Maintaining a typical water softener system also requires replacing salt, and how often salt is replaced depends on usage.

Home filtration systems that utilize carbon cartridges remove the disinfectant from the water, however this can promote bacteria growth in the home’s plumbing. 

The best place for a filter is in the refrigerator or at the tap, and it needs to be changed on a frequent basis. Water pitcher filters also work well to address taste and odor issues.

If you notice a sudden change in the quality of your water, check your home treatment device and check with your water utility provider on the status of your water system. A disruption in service can impact water quality, and a boil water notice may be issued. 

If there is no disruption in service, let the water run for a few minutes to see if the water’s appearance changes. Always check with your water utility provider if you have any questions.

JR Reavis is the director of water technology for Texas Water Utilities. August is National Water Quality Month.

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Originally Appeared Here

Audrey Korte
The Chippewa Herald

If you’re looking to entertain yourself or your family this week, head over to Chippewa Falls for Pure Water Days. It all starts starts on Wednesday and goes through Sunday, August 14.

“It’s a great celebration for our town, and of our town, and I really enjoy that part of it,” said Director of Chippewa Falls Main Street Teri Ouimette. “When everything kicks off and starts to happen, people begin to show up, there’s excitement in the air.”

Highlights this year include performances of The Music Man by the Eau Claire Children’s Theater at the Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds, visits to Irvine Park Petting Zoo, The Swampers “Curvin’ thru Irvine” and tours of Leinenkugel’s Leinie Lodge, the Historic Sunny Valley Schoolhouse and the Cook-Rutledge Mansion.

Friday evening enjoy live music at the Riverfront.

People are also reading…

Saturday is the busiest day of Pure Water Days and begins with Leinenkugel’s and the Chippewa Falls YMCA Pure Water Day races. Be there early to watch or participate.

Then checkout the Pickleball tournament before heading over to the Pure Water Days Parade with over 50  entries.

“This is the 45th annual Pure Water Days Parade. At one time Chippewa Falls was known for having the purest water in the world. They wanted to celebrate it. That is how it started,” Ouimette said.

The parade starts on Saturday at 1 p.m. on the corner of North Bridge and Cedar Streets (right past the Courthouse) and travels down to the corner of Bridge and Spring Streets.

Immediately after the parade hang around for the Cruise In Car Show before heading down the street to Riverfront Park for RiverFest which takes place from 2 – 8 p.m.

“It’s a huge festival. As you can see in our description, we have live music and then there’s food with nine food trucks,” she said. “We have games and we have free stuff. We have a free magic show. We have giant inflatables. We have face paint. You name it, we have it.”

Round out the week by stopping by the book sale at the Chippewa Falls public library and stop into Bernard Willi pool to take a dip.

“There’s so much to do in our small town. It’s action-packed. We want people to come, enjoy and want to return,” Ouimette said.

PHOTOS: 2021 Pure Water Days Parade

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2021 Pure Water Days Parade

The 45th annual Pure Water Days parade takes place on Saturday August 13th at 1 p.m. in downtown Chippewa Falls.

2021 Pure Water Days Parade

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2021 Pure Water Days Parade

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2021 Pure Water Days Parade

2021 Pure Water Days Parade

The 45th annual Pure Water Days parade takes place on Saturday August 13th at 1 p.m. in downtown Chippewa Falls.

2021 Pure Water Days Parade

Season of excellence

The Chippewa Valley Spirit all-star cheerleading team joined in the Pure Water Days parade, bedecked in their gear for the season, dubbed “A Season of Exce11ence.”

Want to submit your own photo for consideration for Photo of the Day? Upload your submission, along with a with caption and your contact information, at go.lacrossetribune.com/Photos.

Parker Reed
CHIPPEWA HERALD

2021 Pure Water Days Parade

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Pure Water Days Parade Grand Marshal Dick Hebert makes his way through downtown Chippewa Falls.

Parker Reed, the Herald

2021 Pure Water Days Parade

2021 Pure Water Days Parade

2021 Pure Water Days Parade

2021 Pure Water Days Parade

2021 Pure Water Days Parade

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Originally Appeared Here

A recent study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry found elevated levels of Per- and Poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in blood samples taken from residents of Martinsburg, West Virginia.

PFAS — also referred to as “forever chemicals” — were first detected in the city of Martinsburg’s Big Springs well in 2014. The source of the contamination is believed to be the Shepherd Field Air National Guard Base, where aqueous film-forming foam, which contains PFAS compounds, has been used to fight fires since the 1970s.

Shepherd Field Air National Guard Base is home to the 167th Airlift Wing, which since Sept. 11, 2001, has been deployed in various operations in support of the United States’ so-called “war on terror.” 

Because PFAS levels detected in 2014 did not exceed provisional health advisory levels established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the water contamination was disregarded and the city of Martinsburg took no action to address the issue. However, in 2016, when the EPA implemented a health advisory for the sum of two PFAS compounds — perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and perfluorooctanoic acid — at 70 parts per trillion, the Big Springs well was taken offline and fitted with a new treatment system intended to address the contamination issue. The well was reactivated in December 2017.

The study, conducted 3.5 years after the Big Springs well was reactivated, found that PFOS and PFOA levels in the city’s drinking water had indeed been reduced from 114 to 33 ppt and 46 to 13 ppt, respectively. However, perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), an unregulated PFAS compound, was detected at 63 ppt. Blood samples taken from residents living near the National Guard Base found that PFHxS levels were 2.5 times higher than the national average.

Generations of inaction by the U.S. military and government

The harmful effects of PFAS compounds on both the environment and human health have been known for decades. Numerous studies found that individuals exposed to high concentrations of PFAS are at risk of liver disease, kidney cancer, decreased fertility, heightened cholesterol levels and reduced antibody effectiveness. Despite these known health impacts, PFAS has been used in AFFF on military bases since the 1960s.

Today, over 700 military bases and former bases around the country are suspected to be contaminated with high concentrations of PFAS. This not only poses a health risk for military personnel, but has a significant, long lasting effect on the communities adjacent to military installations. The U.S. Department of Defense is currently working on phasing out the use of AFFF. However, this is not expected to be completed until the end of 2024.

In addition to AFFF, PFAS compounds can also be found in household products such as stain repellents, polishes, paints, coatings, and food packaging materials. These multi-billion dollar industries, driven by corporations such as 3M and DuPont, have become so prevalent that PFAS can now be detected in blood samples of nearly all Americans. However, true to the individualistic nature of capitalism, the study placed the burden on consumers by urging Martinsburg residents to eliminate or decrease potential exposure to household items containing PFAS compounds, such as stain-resistant products and food packaging materials.

A lawsuit has been filed in federal court in Martinsburg against seven defendants, including 3M and Dupont, for the damages and injury to Martinsburg residents who drank and used the city’s municipal water system.

The toll on the people and the planet

Unfortunately, the study conducted by the CDC and ATSDR failed to consider PFAS levels in Martinsburg’s groundwater, streams, creeks and rivers. Opequon Creek, a popular fishing and swimming area for local residents and a tributary stream of the Potomac River, lies just one mile east of the National Guard base. This is especially concerning given the long lasting and accumulative nature of PFAS compounds in wildlife such as fish.

Studies found that fish caught near similar military bases can contain up to 10 million ppt of PFAS compounds. Just an ounce of fish contaminated with this concentration of PFAS is equivalent to drinking 2 liters of water contaminated at 70 ppt, a concentration determined to be safe for consumption, for an entire lifetime.

The U.S. war machine, the largest carbon emitter on the planet, funded to the tune of nearly $1 trillion annually by the capitalist government that speaks in our name, is not only destructive to the global working class, but also to working class communities here at home. U.S. imperialism contaminates our drinking water, poisons our rivers and streams and pollutes the air we breathe — all in order to uphold the unjust, profit driven system of capitalism.

Martinsburg’s PFAS contamination highlights how struggles at home and abroad intersect. To save our communities and our environment requires fighting for an alternative system to that of capitalist imperialism. The alternative system is socialism.

Featured image is of the Potomac River. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

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Originally Appeared Here

The Head of Asset Operations with Irish Water has said that “modest interventions” are being taken to conserve the water supply.

Tom Cuddy said that demand for water is increasing, but the situation remains “relatively stable”.

Met Éireann has said heatwave conditions can be expected in Ireland from tomorrow onwards, with
temperatures of over 25 degrees likely.

In Europe, many countries are counting the cost of prolonged heatwaves this summer, with droughts and some areas left without safe drinking water.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Mr Cuddy said: “Across Europe and the UK, as we’re aware, there are significant water shortages. In Ireland, it’s relatively stable at this stage.

“At 13 of our 750 water supplies we have modest interventions ongoing, but it’s been a dry year so far, particularly in the south and the midlands.

“Our sources are dropping and demand is increasing.

“It’s increasing in general and in particular in holiday resort type areas and agricultural areas and so, we are taking some modest interventions.”

Mr Cuddy said that measures like these have “little or no impact on customers”.

“For example, we are tanking water to reservoirs. We are managing the pressure on the networks. We are bringing into supply back-up sources. We are cross connecting between adjacent water supply schemes.”

He added: “We’re able to manage with the assets we have at the moment for where we’ve come to at this stage.”

When asked if there is a danger that further measures will have to be introduced over the coming weeks, Mr Cuddy said: “At this stage, as I said, things are relatively stable and we have quite a number of measures in place.

“We have a significant watch list and we are monitoring all of our supplies, so we don’t anticipate in the near future having to take any drastic measures.

“But of course the more people help themselves, the more they will sustain the situation that’s there at the moment.”

Irish Water said people should reuse kitchen water in the garden

Mr Cuddy said that there is an annual seasonal trend of water supplies diminishing during the summer months.

“Every area is really under pressure because at this time of year,” he said.

“There’s an annual trend, a seasonal trend, where the supplies diminish right through until September, October, and really it’s only when the winter rains come that all of our supplies recover.”

Mr Cuddy said that Irish Water continues to encourage people to continue to use water responsibly.

“There’s a lot of measures that people can undertake. We have a lot of information on our website.

“In the house, they can minimise the running of taps and the duration of showers and flushing of toilets and it’s very important to use full loads in washing machines and dishwashers that will save water and save electricity and save money.

“In the garden, in particular, that’s where we would see big jumps when the weather improves, and really people can minimise the watering of plants.

“They can reuse water from the kitchen for example.”

Our three-word weather – warm and sunny ☀️🌡️. And after any early mist and fog, temperatures of 20-25 degrees. Mild again tonight before it gets even warmer tomorrow. Trev has the Tuesday details…#RTEweather pic.twitter.com/55qIgeR3l0

— RTE Weather (@WeatherRTE) August 9, 2022

Elsewhere, the UK Met Office has issued a four-day amber warning for extreme temperatures in parts of England and Wales as a new heatwave looms.

The warning, for Thursday to Sunday, comes as the forecaster predicted 35C in places, below last month’s record temperatures, which peaked above 40C in some spots.

The vulnerable are likely to experience adverse health effects, while the wider population could also be affected, the alert said.

Delays to travel are possible and there is an increased risk of water accidents and fires as more people visit coasts and beauty spots, the Met Office also warned.

The UK Health Security Agency has already issued an amber alert covering southern and central England from noon until 6pm on Saturday, with experts advising people to look out for those who are older or with existing health conditions, as well as young children.

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Originally Appeared Here

Imperial Oil Ltd. says it is still investigating the cause and impact of a pipeline spill in the Northwest Territories that has some residents downstream concerned about the potential impact.

The Calgary-based oil and gas company reported on July 27 that it discovered about 55,000 litres of produced water had spilled before it shut down the pipeline in Norman Wells, N.W.T.

Produced water is treated water that is pumped back to the surface during oil recovery and reused in operations, the company said. Transport Canada says the byproduct of oil and gas extraction is generally high in saline and can be contaminated with other substances.

Imperial said its investigation into the spill has included hiring a biologist to complete a bird nesting survey, as well as work to locate buried pipeline flanges and pressure test them with fresh water.

The company is trying to determine whether the produced water entered the Mackenzie River. It said water-quality monitoring indicates there is no risk to public health or wildlife.

Downstream in Fort Good Hope, however, some residents have removed their fish nets from the river as a precautionary measure after observing a sheen on the water.

“It’s that time of the year when people put their nets out for fish so that’s an impact right now on our traditional economy,” said Edwin Erutse, president of the Yamoga Land Corporation.

Erutse said he received an update from Imperial and is hoping to meet with the company to discuss the issue further. He said if there are any spills in future, downstream communities should be consulted and advised early so they can properly respond.

In response to concerns about a sheen on the water, Keri Scobie, a spokesperson for Imperial, said oil seeps can naturally occur on the Mackenzie River.

“It is a known natural phenomenon among the region’s Indigenous communities and it was how oil was discovered by Imperial here almost 100 years ago,” she wrote in a statement.

The Canada Energy Regulator said it has continued to follow up with Imperial to ensure people and the environment are protected. The regulator plans to complete an environmental inspection this month.

By Emily Blake

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Originally Appeared Here

JACKSON, Miss.—Capital-city residents could be dealing with rolling precautionary boil-water notices for up to another year, as the winterization process at the O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Plant continues. But Jackson’s mayor and an expert consultant from Cornerstone Engineering remain adamant that the water remains entirely safe to drink, even as the Mississippi State Department of Health disagrees.

In an afternoon press conference today, Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba acknowledged that the ongoing boil-water notices from the Mississippi State Department of Health were likely to continue, as the City has returned to using lime slurry to treat its water. But if the City of Jackson and MSDH can come to an agreement that modifies where the water is tested, Lumumba added, the winterization may continue without consistent boil-water notices.

“The soda ash tank (previously used to treat water) was removed because the humidity of Mississippi was leading to clumping in the distribution system. (With) this structure, along with the weatherization projects set to take place, we’ll be able to eliminate that clumping and have even distribution of soda ash into our system,” Lumumba said. 

“Until that happens, we will continue to use lime slurry as a treating chemical. We believe that is the main culprit in terms of our turbidity rate being high. In our position, and in our contractor’s position, that is not a registered public-health threat.”

In a statement to WLBT 3 this afternoon, MSDH Communications Director Liz Sharlot disputed the mayor’s claims. “This agency does NOT issue boil-water notices if the water is safe to drink,” Sharlot said. “Our goal will always be to protect the public health of our citizens.”

Winterization is already underway at O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Plant, intended to prevent another deep freeze now covering its membrane system. Photo by Nick Judin

Behind the mayor, a massive structure enveloped O.B. Curtis’ membrane treatment facility, covering the formerly open-air system. The winterized cover is an attempt to prevent a repeat of the worst days of Jackson’s ongoing water crisis. In early 2021, a freeze struck the plant, causing a month-long period in which many residents across the city had no water at all.

Despite the mayor’s conclusion that the water remains safe to drink even during such precautionary boil-water notices, it is unlikely that local restaurants and businesses may ignore MSDH-mandated health precautions. That can result in extensive additional operating costs at a time when the hospitality industry is already suffering.

‘That’s Not A Health Hazard’

Keith Allen, staff water resources engineer at one of the city’s consulting partners in the management of O.B. Curtis, spoke to the press alongside Lumumba to explain the ongoing boil-water notices. 

“The issues that we’ve had, especially last week, were due to lime turbidity. Lime turbidity is simply calcium carbonate,” Allen said. “When you treat (water) with lime, and you get the pH high enough, you’re gonna see the calcium carbonate. The calcium carbonate fools the turbidity meter … that’s what happened to us last week.”

“Lime turbidity does not cause any health hazard. It doesn’t interfere with disinfection. So, if it’s strictly lime turbidity, then that’s not really a health hazard issue.”

Regardless of the health risks—or lack thereof—of lime turbidity, the sediment still triggers a boil-water notice. “It is a technical violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act. When it occurred we reported it to (MSDH) and took the actions that we had to take under the law,” Allen concluded.

This reporter asked Mayor Lumumba directly if it is the position of the City of Jackson that the water is currently safe to drink? “Absolutely,” Lumumba responded. 

“We’ve had conversations with (MSDH),” he continued, “They’re not necessarily taking the position that they do think this is a public-health threat, but they recognize that they are a regulatory agency, and there’s limitations to even what they can do.”

 “Lime turbidity does not cause any health hazards,” Keith Allen of Cornerstone Engineering explained at a City of Jackson press conference on Aug. 8, 2022. “It doesn’t interfere with disinfection. So, if it’s strictly lime turbidity, then that’s not really a health hazard issue.”

To summarize the City’s argument, O.B. Curtis treats the water with either lime slurry or soda ash as part of the cleaning process. Mississippi’s humid summers and cold winters require a winterization process to protect the soda-ash treatment system. Until that process is complete, the City has switched back to a lime slurry process. The consequence of that lime slurry treatment is a greater variation in turbidity, or sediment in the water.

High turbidity, under federal law, mandates the state health department to issue a boil-water notice, as turbidity is a general catch-all sign of potentially unsafe water. This is despite the fact that the City can identify the source of the turbidity spike, and in the words of Allen, “(it’s) not a health hazard.”

Jackson’s solution, Lumumba told the Mississippi Free Press, is to change the location of the testing, putting more distance between the lime-slurry treatment and the turbidity test. Such a change would give the treatment chemicals distance to dissipate, and in the view of city officials, eliminate much of the variance in turbidity, allowing O.B. Curtis to complete its soda ash winterization process without a year of disruptive boil-water notices.

Lumumba told this reporter that he expected the Mississippi State Department of Health to respond to the city’s proposal for a different testing location within a week.

The Mississippi State Department of Health declined to comment to the Mississippi Free Press on the boil-water notices facing the city.

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RAYNHAM – Over the weekend, residents in Raynham received a notice saying that the John P. Lynn Treatment Plant serving the Center Water District, one of two in Raynham, had elevated levels of PFAS.

PFAS are also referred to as so-called “forever chemicals” because they do not break down in water, oil, or heat. They have been used in consumer products for decades in items such as food packaging, clothing, and firefighting foam. In some communities, the chemicals are leaching into the ground water supply.

In 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency released guidance recommending a PFAS limit of 70 parts per trillion in drinking water. Since then, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection started its own standard, saying PFAS levels should reach no more than 20 parts per trillion in public water supplies.

Just this year, the EPA released an advisory setting the health risk threshold for some PFAS at nearly zero.

According to MassDEP, studies in lab animals and people suggest that exposure to elevated levels of PFAS may cause developmental effects in babies during pregnancy and in breast fed infants. PFAS may also cause thyroid, liver, kidney, hormone, and immune system issues. Some studies also suggest that there is an increased risk of cancer.

Jon Chase, the Superintendent of Raynham’s Center Water District, says the PFAS standard change has been a challenge to navigate.

“They basically moved the goalpost and not in our favor,” Chase said.

Chase said the town is now pulling more water from its other wells and looking at a long-term solution which could be expensive.

“We’ve heard for one facility somewhere in the $25 million range for basically 3500 customers that’s a little bit of a back breaker,” Chase said.

The Raynham Center Water District is recommending that immunocompromised residents and residents with infants use bottled water while the PFAS levels are elevated.

Louisa Moller

Louisa Moller is a general assignment reporter for WBZ-TV.

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Originally Appeared Here