Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) MCL Violation at the Town of Belleair

Our water system recently violated a drinking water standard. Although this incident was not an emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened and what we are doing to correct this situation.

We routinely monitor for the presence of drinking water contaminants. Testing results from July 2022 through September 2023 show that our system exceeds the standard, or maximum contaminant level (MCL), for TTHM. The standard for TTHM is 0.080 mg/L (milligrams per liter or parts per million. It is determined by averaging all the samples collected at each sampling location for the past 12 months. The level of TTHM averaged at both of our system’s locations for July 2022 through September 2023 was 0.0955 mg/L and 0.0948 mg/L

What should I do?

• There is nothing you need to do. You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions. If a situation arises where the water is no longer safe to drink, you will be notified within 24 hours.
• If you have a severely compromised immune system, have an infant, are pregnant, or are elderly, you may be at increased risk and should seek advice from your health care providers about drinking this water.

What does this mean?

This is not an emergency. If it had been an emergency, you would have been notified within 24 hours. TTHM are four volatile organic chemicals which form when disinfectants react with natural organic matter in the water.
*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.*

What is being done?

We are working to minimize the formation of TTHM while ensuring we maintain an adequate level of disinfectant.

The Town has conducted an Operational Evaluation (OE) using US EPA guidance to identify conditions at the Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and in the distribution system that influence the formation of TTHM in the system. 

Several factors were identified and are being addressed.
• A chemical addition Pilot Study was conducted to eliminate certain naturally occurring organics in the raw water to reduce TTHM formation. The study was unsuccessful.
• Due to lack of success with the Pilot Study, the Town has entered into an agreement to become a wholesale water customer of Pinellas County Utilities.
• Two new interconnects will be constructed to facilitate the purchase of water from Pinellas County. Upon completion of the interconnect at Ponce de Leon Blvd, the Town’s water treatment plant will be taken out of service for further study.

We anticipate the completion of the first interconnect by December 31st, 2023. We will continue to collect compliance samples during the next sampling cycle, which occurs in November 2023.

For more information, please contact Gregory S. Turman, Interim Director of Water Utilities at 727-588-3769, Ext 403.

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 The Town of Belleair. State Water System ID#: 6520135.

 Date distributed:   09/14/2023