Public Notice -- Community Water System -- Turbidity
June 23, 2025
PUBLIC NOTICE
The COMMUNITY WATER SYSTEM is a public water system subject to regulation under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act Those regulations require the notification of customers whenever a violation occurs and is the basis for this notice.
Finished water turbidity must not exceed 1 NTU in any reading. This requirement was not met on one or more days during March 2025.
Turbidity, or cloudiness, of drinking water is a measure of the minute particles suspended in the water that can interfere with disinfection and with the testing of bacteria. Turbidity is required to be tested at least one or more times each day for water systems utilizing a surface water source or groundwater that is directly influenced by surface water. Excessive turbidity may allow disease causing micro-organisms, if present, to enter the water system. EPA sets national drinking water standards and has determined that the presence of microbiological contaminants is a health concern at certain levels of exposure. If water is inadequately treated, microbiological contaminants in that water may cause disease.
Turbidity has no health effects. However, turbidity can interfere with disinfection and provide a medium for microbial growth. Turbidity may indicate the presence of disease causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea and associated headaches. These symptoms, however, are not just associated with disease-causing organisms in drinking water but also may be caused by a number of factors other than your drinking water.
EPA has set enforceable requirements for treating drinking water to reduce the risk of these adverse health effects. Treatment such as proper filtering and disinfecting of the water removes or destroys microbiological contaminants. Drinking water which is treated to meet EPA requirements is associated with little to none of this risk and should be considered safe. Failure to meet this requirement does not necessarily mean that the water is unsafe or that alternate sources of water should be used.
The water system has added redundant alarm response systems to help fortify on call staff and alarm responses.
Should you have any questions concerning this notice, contact the water system at 501- 825-7294 or the Engineering Section of the Department of Health at 501-661-2623.
- 1
