Fayette County Water System has released a public notice indicating that the system was out of compliance for Total Organic Carbon (TOC) during the last quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009. System Director Tony Parrott said the compliance status poses no health hazard, adding that since the numbers are compiled on a quarterly basis for a one-year period the system is expected to return to compliance level status by the end of the year. Figures for April have returned to acceptable levels, Parrott said.

Parrott said state and federal regulations require that water systems filter out 35 percent or more of the TOC entering the system, the equivalent of 2.0 ppm (parts per million). Parrott said readings from the last quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009 showed the out-of-compliance levels of 2.1-2.3 ppm.

Parrott said it is not currently known why the levels had not been reduced sufficiently to remain in compliance, adding that it is the south Fayette plant that is out of compliance. The Crosstown plant is within acceptable limits, he said.

Parrott said that while TOC has no adverse health effects, it provides a medium for the formation of byproducts such as haloacetic acids and trihalomethanes that can have adverse health effects such as liver, kidney and neurological problems and an increased cancer risk. Tested quarterly for those byproducts, Parrott said the system is in compliance for those and all other chemicals required for testing.

Raw water is customarily treated in the United States with chemicals such as alum, lime and potassium permanganate. Parrott said Monday that water system staff are looking at changing the dosage of the chemicals during pre-treatment, before the water goes through the filter.

“The water system is aggressively pursuing different options of ensuring compliance with the TOC removal requirements,” Parrott said in letter to water customers. “These options include alternative testing methods, obtaining assistance from the state in researching and analyzing the root cause of the non-compliance as well as identifying alternative treatment methods.”

Parrott said the aim is to reduce the TOC by 35 percent or more to come back into compliance with state and federal regulations so that the levels will be at 2.0 pmm or less. While TOC levels for April have tested in the acceptable range, Parrott said it could be the end of the year before compliance is reached since the monthly samples are configured on a quarterly basis over a one-year period.

For more information contact Tony Parrott at (770) 461-1146 ext. 6016.