Regional Service Through Unity… Meeting our Region’s Needs Today and Tomorrow DELIVERING SAFE WATER YEAR ROUND Tom Kula, Executive Director Billy George, Assistant Deputy - Water Plano City Council Update – February 11, 2019
WHO IS NTMWD? Regional Service Through Unity • For over 60 years, we have provided affordable, safe and reliable water to the people we serve. • 800+ people working with you to provide essential services – water, wastewater and solid waste • We live here too – safe drinking water is important to all of us. 2
SAFE DRINKING WATER IS TOP PRIORITY • Regional water system operated in partnership with cities • Temporary change in disinfectant (also known as chlorine maintenance) is critical to deliver safe drinking water year round • NTMWD performs over 250,000 tests each year to ensure safe water that meets or surpasses state and federal public health standards • TCEQ rates NTMWD public water system as “superior” Kristen S. – • Information posted on NTMWD.com – monthly and annual NTMWD Chemist water quality reports and • Working with cities to inform customers about treatment Plano mom and water quality testing 3
KEEPING WATER SAFE ON JOURNEY TO HOMES AND BUSINESSES • Chlorination has been a proven treatment process for over a century. • Prevents diseases such as Cholera, Typhoid, and Dysentery from spreading through our water supply. • These diseases cause millions of deaths each year in countries that do not have a safe water supply. • Maintaining disinfection in water is critical to keep it safe as it travels to your homes and businesses. 4
WHAT’S DIFFERENT DURING TEMPORARY CHANGE • One month each spring, ammonia is removed from treatment process – March 4 - April 1, 2019 • Common and accepted best practice • Helps maintain safe high water quality year-round • Chlorine levels consistent with rest of year – but may be more noticeable • Water quality testing continues 5
WE LISTENED TO CITIZEN CONCERNS What we’ve learned from 2018: • Chlorine levels leaving Wylie plants were similar to previous years • Rainfall at beginning of maintenance period temporarily reduced demand • Mixing of chloramines and free chlorine at start and end of maintenance causes more noticeable odor – not harmful • Working with cities to move water more quickly through system, increase hydrant flushing • May 2018 TCEQ report: No violations During 2018 chlorine maintenance, TCEQ collected 117 samples from 31 ‒ “…concentrations measured in the water quality public water systems that deliver samples collected by TCEQ would not be expected NTMWD water with NO VIOLATIONS to cause short-or long-term adverse health effects.” 6
RESPONDING TO CONCERNS Testing Above What’s Required • Reporting daily and weekly chlorine levels online during maintenance period • Testing and reporting monthly Disinfection By Products (DBP) levels ‒ On top of 300+ samples of NTMWD water tested for DBPs each year within city systems ‒ We must comply with standards set by scientific and medical experts. ‒ If some question those standards, that’s for regulating agencies to address. Medical Facts Online Resources • Medical fact sheet to address questions • Video interviews with toxicologist 7
RESPONDING TO CONCERNS Developed New Information Resources: • Shared with cities and posted online at NTMWD.com • Answers to Frequently Asked Questions • Tips for those sensitive to Chlorine • Videos, infographics • Links to TCEQ, EPA, CDC, AWWA information 8
NTMWD DELIVERS SAFE WATER 24/7 • We take our mission and responsibility seriously • We live in the communities we serve – families, neighbors and friends drink and use our water • We follow national best practices and comply with state and federal regulations • We’ve listened and additional testing, reporting and resources should go a long way to address concerns – recognize we’ll never get 100% agreement on any issue • We pledge to continue working with you to deliver safe, reliable water 24/7 to support public health and quality of life for our citizens 9
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