Ohio EPA: Galion's water still not compliant with federal regulations, but safe to drink
The water in Galion is still not compliant with federal regulations, but a spokesperson for the Ohio EPA says "customers can continue to safely drink the water."
The city notified customers in June that levels of total trihalomethanes — TTHM — had exceeded acceptable levels, according to Dina Pierce, a media coordinator for the Ohio EPA.
"Galion has had multiple violations for exceeding the maximum levels of disinfection byproduct chemicals known as total trihalomethanes," Pierce explained. "The city received a violation for this in the first quarter of 2022 and again in the second quarter of 2023."
'Occasionally going over this standard is not uncommon'
The water can only contain TTHM if it has been treated with disinfectants to kill germs.
"These byproducts can form when disinfectants, such as chlorine used to treat drinking water, react with organic substances, such as trace amounts of plant material in the water," Pierce said. "They can develop when treated water ages in the storage tank or waterlines."
Federal law states that water systems are allowed to contain up to 80 parts per billion of TTHM — if quarterly testing shows an amount above that number, the water system's manager must notify customers.
"Occasionally going over this standard is not uncommon," Pierce said.
This spring, Galion's water tested at 83 parts per billion of TTHM.
"Galion water customers can continue to safely drink the water," Pierce said.
What are the health effects of TTHM?
Literature provided by the Ohio EPA shows that many studies have been done on the health effects of exposure to disinfection byproducts.
Results of those studies have been mixed. Some suggest potential for both long-term and short-term concerns, while others do not.
"Some potential health effects include cancer, as well as reproductive and developmental disorders," the fact sheet reads. "There is still a lot of uncertainty regarding any one individual's risk when exposed to levels of disinfection byproducts above the maximum contaminant level."
Plan is in place to improve Galion's water quality
Galion officials have told the Ohio EPA they will complete several steps to bring the city's water supply back to within compliance.
"Ohio EPA is working with the city on a general plan for water treatment plant improvements to reduce the TTHM levels," Pierce said.
Those steps include: increasing storage tank turnover to reduce water age, continuing to flush waterlines to reduce water age in low-use areas, evaluating installation of aeration and venting in the water plant storage tank, rehabilitating a clarifier at the water plant, hiring a consultant to study TTHM formation at the water plant, continuing to evaluate the removal of organics in the raw (untreated) water, and evaluating water quality in the distribution system to determine if additional line flushing is necessary.
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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Ohio EPA: Galion's water still testing noncompliant, but safe to drink
