The Trenton Times published the following article on April 15, 2013. To read the full article, click here.
Trenton Water Works says contaminant levels exceeded limits at Hamilton site
By Jenna Pizzi/The Times of Trenton
on April 15, 2013 at 2:36 PMTRENTON — Excessive levels of a potentially toxic water contaminant have been detected at the site of a Trenton Water Works customer in Hamilton, the city said.
In a letter sent to customers last week, Trenton’s public works department said that in the second half of 2012, levels of trihalomethanes or TTHM exceeded allowed levels and the state Department of Environmental Protection notified the city of a drinking water violation.
The incident did not constitute an emergency, but the city was required to notify water customers of steps being taken to correct the problem, the notice said.
“This is not an emergency. If it had been an emergency, you would have been notified within 24 hours,” the letter said. “There is nothing you need to do. You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions.”
People with severely compromised immune systems, who have an infant, are pregnant or are elderly may be at increased risk and should contact their health care provider for more information, the letter said.
TTHM consists of four volatile organic chemicals that form when disinfectants used to treat the water react with natural organic matter, according to the DEP.
Quarterly water tests at Capital Refrigeration in Hamilton showed increased levels of TTHM between May 2012 and February 2013, the letter said. The result for the first quarter of 2013 was below the mandated maximum but the running average was still above the threshold.
The levels of the chemicals averaged 95 parts per billion, exceeding the 80 parts per billion standard, the notice said. In early 2013 they were at an acceptable 69 parts per billion.
Trenton Water Works hired a consulting engineer to review steps to reduce the levels of TTHM, and is evaluating its options, the notice said. The city anticipates resolving the problem within two years, it said.