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DELIVERING SAFE WATER YEAR ROUND Tom Kula, Executive Director Billy - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Regional Service Through Unity Meeting our Regions 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


  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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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