(Published in the McAlester News-Capital March 30, 2016.) IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER We routinely monitor for the presence of drinking water contaminants. Our water system recently violated drinking water standards. Although this was not an emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we did to correct this situation. McAlester PWA Has Levels of Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Above Drinking Water Standards Testing results we received for January 2015 through December 2015 show that our system exceeds the standard, or maximum contaminant level (MCL), for total trihalomethanes. The standard or MCL for total trihalomethanes is 0.080 mg/L. It is determined by averaging all the samples collected at each sampling location for the past 12 months. The level of total trihalomethanes averaged at one of our systemâs locations was 0.083 mg/L. WHAT SHOULD I DO? There is nothing you need to do unless you have a severely compromised immune system, have an infant or are elderly. These people may be at increased risk and should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified immediately. However, some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL over many years may experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous system, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer. McAlester PWA Has Levels of Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Above Drinking Water Standards Testing results we received for January 2015 through December 2015 show that our system exceeds the standard, or maximum contaminant level (MCL), for haloacetic acids. The standard o MCL for haloacetic acids is 0.060 mg/l. It is determined by averaging all the samples collected at each sampling location for the past 12 months. The level of haloacetic acids averaged at two of our systemâs locations was 0.062 and 0.063 mg/L. WHAT SHOULD I DO? There is nothing you need to do unless you have a severely compromised immune system, have an infant or are elderly. These people may be at increased risk and should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified immediately. However, some people who drink water containing haloacetic acid in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer. WHAT HAPPENED? WHAT IS BEING DONE? TTHMs, four volatile organic chemicals, and HAA5s, five haloacetic acid compounds, are formed when disinfectants react with natural organic matter in the water. These violations did not occur in all of the locations tested and these results may not represent the entire distribution system. We are working to minimize the formation of TTHMs and HAA5s while assuring we maintain an adequate level of disinfectant. Several process changes have been made at the water treatment plant as well as implementation of maintenance operations in the distribution system. This has brought us very close to compliance. For further information contact: Pete Stasiak, City Manager at 918-423-9300 ext. 4933 Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, 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. This notice is being sent to you by McAlester PWA. PWSID#: OK1020609 NOV#: P-1020609-16-2 Date(s) distributed: 04/01/2016&04/15/2016 Signed: Pete Stasiak
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