University of Iowa warning of contaminant in water system

IOWA CITY - The University of Iowa notified its campus on Thursday that its water system has violated a drinking water standard - although it adds 'this is not an emergency.”

'As our customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we are doing to correct this situation,” a notification to the campus reads.

The specific issue relates to trihalomethanes, a group of four chemicals formed when chlorine or other disinfectants used to control contaminants in drinking water react with naturally-occurring matter in water, according to national water research.

According to the UI notice, the campus routinely monitors for contaminants, and results on Feb. 1 showed the system exceeded the .08 standard for trihalomethanes. The average level of total trihalomethanes in the UI system over the last year was .081 to .110, according to the notice.

University officials were notified of the higher levels on Tuesday and were given 30 days to issue a notice, according to Wendy Moorehead, a spokeswoman for UI Facilities Management.

'Although this is not an emergency, we wanted our customers to know as soon as possible what happened and what we are doing to correct this situation,” she said.

According to the notice, the trihalomethanes level is calculated 'based on quarterly samples over the previous 12 months.”

'There is a possibility that even with reduced TTHM levels, the 12-month average may remain at or above the MCL until enough quarterly samples have been taken to lower the average,” according to the notice.

The advisory says UI community members don't need to use an alternative water supply, and UI Hospitals and Clinics disease prevention specialists report 'special precautions are not necessary.” However, the notice adds, anyone with specific health concerns can contact a health care provider.

The notice stressed the trihalomethanes levels do not pose an immediate risk. If they did, 'you would have been notified immediately,” according to the email.

Still the notice, citing language provided by the Environmental Protection Agency, reports 'some people who drink water-containing trihalomethanes in excess of the maximum contaminant levels over many years may experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous system and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.”

Moorehead said the university has not received any complaints, although she said users might notice an odor.

In explaining how the levels became elevated in the UI system, officials report 'above normal winter temperatures have increased the amount of naturally occurring organic material in the Iowa River, resulting in the need for additional chlorination.”

The extra chlorine induced higher trihalomethanes levels.

The university in October 2015 requested and received permission from the Board of Regents to move forward with an estimated $5.9 million project to install a 'reverse osmosis filtration system to address high nitrate levels in the Iowa River.”

That system, which also will reduce organic matter in the river, is being designed and could be online in the next 18 months, according to UI officials. In the immediate term, workers on Tuesday began flushing fire hydrants to 'lower the residence time of water in the distribution system.”

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