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City of Bloomington Officials Report Decline in August 2016 Disinfectant Byproduct Levels

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2016

For more information please contact: Vic Kelson, City of Bloomington Utilities Director, kelsonv@bloomington.in.gov, 812.349.3650

City of Bloomington Officials Report Decline in August 2016 Disinfectant Byproduct Levels

Bloomington, Ind. - The monthly disinfectant byproduct (DBP) test results for August have been released, and the contaminant levels continue to be lower than the water-quality standard. The results of testing are comparable to last month's results, and well below summer measurements from July 2015 levels.

"We are pleased to see DBP levels that remain well within allowable concentrations, especially during these warm summer months that are historically the most concerning. These numbers are a big improvement from this general time last year," commented Mayor John Hamilton.

Monthly water testing was initiated in January of this year in an effort to better track water quality, specifically DBPs. Over the January - August 2016 period no individual sample has exceeded the maximum contaminant level (MCL).

The July 2016 findings revealed the concentration of haloacetic acid (HAA5) levels at the eight testing sites ranged from 38.7 to 46.8 parts per billion (ppb) and the trihalomethanes (THM) levels were between 52.6 and 64.9 ppb.

In August 2016, the most recent test month, findings showed the concentration of HAA5 at the eight testing sites ranged from 38.0 to 45.0 ppb and the THM levels were between 52.0 and 57.3 ppb. Since monthly testing began in 2016, there is no comparable data available for August 2015. Prior to Mayor Hamilton ordering monthly testing, it was done quarterly, in January, April, July and October.

Results from both July and August are well below 60 ppb for haloacetic acids and 80 ppb for trihalomethanes.

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Disinfectant byproduct levels are generally higher during the summer and fall, and CBU staff have responded accordingly.

CBU Director Vic Kelson stated, "The August DBP results indicate that our optimization efforts are paying off, but we still are working to manage operational changes in our treatment facility that resulted from changing the point where chlorine is added. We are stepping up our efforts to improve the facility for the long term."

Testing of CBU water is conducted by a private, independent laboratory. All water quality test results are available online at data.bloomington.in.gov under "Utilities."

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