Public Notice

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has notified the CITY OF ATLANTA TX0340001 that the drinking water being supplied to customers had exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for total trihalomethanes.  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 (LRRA), and has determined that it is a health concern at levels above the MCL.  Analysis of drinking water in your community for total trihalomethanes indicates a compliance value in quarter four 2019 of 0.095 mg/L for DBP2-01 and 0.081 mg/L for DBP2-02.

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.

You do not need to use an alternative water supply.  However, if you have health concerns, you may want to talk to your doctor to get more information about how this may affect you.

We are taking the following actions to address this issue:

Atlanta’s water is treated by the Graphic Packaging Mill.  We are working with the water plant operators asking them to improve and enhance their filtration processes in order to remove higher levels of naturally occurring organic matter.

Please share this information with all people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (i.e., 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 questions regarding this matter, you may contact Becky Allen at 903-796-7153.

Posted/Delivered on: January 29, 2020