Mandatory Language for a Maximum Contaminant Level Violation
MCL, LRAA/ TOTAL HALOACETIC ACIDS (HAA5)
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has notified the City of Marlin TX0730002 that the drinking water being supplied to customers had exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for haloacetic acids (group of five). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) has established the MCL for total haloacetic acids (group of five) to be 0.060 milligrams per liter (mg/L) based on a locational running annual average (LRAA), and has determined that it is a health concern at levels above the MCL. Analysis of drinking water in your community for total haloacetic acids (group of five) indicates a compliance value in quarter one 2024 of 0.065 mg/L for DBP2-02.
Haloacetic acids are a group of volatile organic compounds that are formed when chlorine, added to the water during the treatment process for disinfection, reacts with naturally‑occurring organic matter in the water.
Some people who drink water containing haloacetic acids in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
You do not need to use an alternative water supply. However, if you have health concerns, you may want to talk to your doctor to get more information about how this may affect you.
We are taking the following actions to address this issue:
We are currently using more free chlorine to address the previous manganese issue caused by the 2022 and 2023 drought. Our only current approved method readily available to oxidize the manganese is by using free chlorine. Recently the TCEQ has approved the City of Marlin to use sodium permanganate which will oxidize all naturally-occurring organic matter. Our engineers are working on the plans for construction and should be installed as soon as possible. Thank you for you patients as the City is working on this project.
Please share this information with all people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (i.e., people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
If you have questions regarding this matter, you may contact Richard Cohrs (Treatment Supervisor) or Scott Fornash (Public Works Director) at 254-883-3371.