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Last updated on Monday, April 10, 2017
(BLOOMINGTON) - The monthly disinfection byproduct (DBP) test results for March have been released. DBP concentrations have declined when compared to the values from February.
For March 2017, the measured concentration of haloacetic acid (HAA5) levels at the eight testing sites ranged from 19.1 ppb to 23.3 ppb and the total trihalomethane (TTHM) levels were between 23.2 ppb and 27.7 ppb. In February 2017, results indicated the concentration of HAA5 ranged from 56.4 ppb to 75.9 ppb, and the TTHM levels were between 51.4 ppb to 53.6 ppb. The attached graphs show how concentrations have changed over time.
Last spring, City of Bloomington Utilities changed the treatment process at the Monroe Plant to remove chlorine disinfectant from the treatment basins, adding it later in the process. In December, chlorine was again introduced in the basins in order to achieve proper disinfection in the colder water. However, each month the water is affected by changes such as temperature and precipitation, which led to the uptick in February. Utilities Director Vic Kelson said, "As we reported last month, the arrival of spring temperatures has allowed us to eliminate the addition of chlorine prior to the basins, which greatly reduced the formation of DBPs in March. We are now studying the data and developing a plan for preventing a short-term increase like the one in February."
Monthly water testing was initiated in January 2016 in an effort to better track water quality, specifically DPBs. Staff at City of Bloomington Utilities monitor the monthly water samples and adjust treatment procedures each month to optimize the process.
Regarding the report, Mayor John Hamilton said, "CBU staff is constantly working to provide the highest possible water quality for our customers throughout the county. We are committed to continuing monthly testing in order to make timely water treatment adjustments based on environmental influences."
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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