The City of Topeka water system received notice on February 16th from Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) stating that we went out of compliance on haloacetic acids (HAA), which is 1 of the 87 contaminants that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates for drinking water quality.
When disinfection (such as the use of chlorine) is used in the treatment of drinking water, disinfectants combine with organic and inorganic matter present in water to form compounds called disinfection byproducts (DBP). The EPA sets standards for controlling the levels of DBP in drinking water, including HAA. Compliance is based on the four-quarter average of sample results for each of the eight locations where HAA samples are collected in Topeka, called a locational running annual average (LRAA). The LRAA standard for any one location is 60 micrograms/liter. We received results on February 7th that showed 60.6 micrograms/liter at one location—all other locations were within the standard. According to our records this is the 1st time that The City of Topeka has been out of compliance for any drinking water standard.
This is not an emergency and customers do not need to seek an alternative water source such as bottled water. However, if you have specific health concerns please consult your doctor.
We are working with our consultant to evaluate and modify our water treatment process to avoid any future violations. The modifications to the treatment processes we are examining include the use of powdered activated carbon (PAC) and changes in our polymer. With the use of PAC and changes to the polymer we would be able to improve the removal of organics that cause the formation of HAA and provide improved taste and odor control. These process modifications would allow the City’s water treatment operators better control of the quality of water that is being delivered to our customers.
The City of Topeka Utilities Department is dedicated to providing clean and safe water to every customer, and we anticipate resolving this issue within 180 days. We will continue to keep you, the customer, informed as we move forward.
Please go to our City of Topeka website Topeka.org where we have crafted some FAQ’s.
If you have any other concerns regarding this incident please call
City of Topeka: 785-368-3111