The Fayette County Water System has flunked one part of a quarterly inspection, but not to worry, says system Director Tony Parrott.

The excess stuff in the water won’t hurt you, Parrott said, and besides, April numbers show the system is back in compliance.

The system 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.

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 readings 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 — producing 6 million gallons per day — that is out of compliance. The Crosstown plant in Peachtree City — with a daily production of 13.5 MGD — is within acceptable limits, he said.

The system has two water treatment plants fed by three reservoirs, four wells and 4 MGD pumped from the city of Atlanta.

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.

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 is 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 ppm 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.