For 4 years now, the city council of Blackwell, OK have sent out flyers saying that the water has levels of trihalomethanes in excess of EPA standards and that the community sholudn’t worry about it. But the fish and turtles in private ponds are dying and the dogs and cats will not drink the water sometimes.
What’s it doing to us and why won’t the city do anything about it?
I would like to know as well. I live in Moore, OK and I just received the flyer listing the contaminates in our water. It had VOC’s including Benzene in there which is a carcinogen. I also saw the trihalomethanes as well. I’m not sure what they do. Sounds to me like Oklahoma needs to get on the ball. I don’t think I will be drinking the tap water anytime soon!
Ok — after posting this, I looked up trihalomethanes and this is what I found. This comes from a New York site but I think it had some interesting info. I hope this helps – it didn’t give me fuzzy feelings!
Trihalomethanes
MHEL
Trihalomethanes (THM’s) are members of a group of organic chemicals that contain a single carbon atom, one hydrogen atom, and three atoms of either chlorine, bromine, or iodine, or a combination of their atoms. Of the many possible trihalomethanes, there are four that are prevalent in water supplies. They are: chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, and bromoform. The total trihalomethane (TTHM) concentration is the sum of the concentrations of these four regulated THM’s.
Chloroform
Bromo-
dichloromethane
Bromoform
Dibromo-
chloromethane
Trihalomethanes can be formed by the reaction of free chlorine with naturally occurring organic matter (precursors) in raw water. Factors that influence THM formation include the amount of precursors present, pH, temperature and treatment processes used.
Chloroform, which is generally, the THM found in the highest concentration, has been determined to be a carcinogen (cancer causing agent) in laboratory mice and rats. Therefore, chloroform is a potential human carcinogen although human studies to date have been inconclusive. Chloroform is known to cause liver damage following chronic exposure to high levels. The chemical similarities of the THM’s suggest the possibility they all may be hazardous to health.
The potential human carcinogenicity of chloroform raises the possibility that an individual’s risk of developing cancer will be increased by the long-term consumption of drinking water containing an elevated level of THM’s. The risk of liver damage is also increased. It must be realized, however, that each person’s susceptibility will vary depending on their general health, occupation, genetic history, use of alcohol and other drugs, smoking, nutritional habits, socioeconomic status as well as the ability of each person to deal with all the stresses placed upon them.
The standard established in Part 5 of the State Sanitary Code for THM’s is 0.10 milligrams per liter (mg/l). Compliance is determined from results of quarterly sampling on a running annual average basis. The Department of Health policy is that production of THM’s should be minimized to the greatest degree practical while maintaining disinfection benefits.
Preventative Measures: The level of exposure to THM’s is relatively low. The New York State and Dutchess County Departments of Health are not recommending that you stop drinking or using the water. However, some people may wish to take certain practical measures which will reduce their exposure. Since the chemical tends to evaporate into the air, use of kitchen or bathroom exhaust fans when using water will reduce the levels of the chemical in the air in your home. Use of less water for bathing or cleaning will reduce exposure through breathing the vapors and through skin contact. Other individuals may choose to use bottled water for drinking and cooking purposes or install point of use treatment devices.
Trihalomethanes, or just any halogen bearing compound runs the risk of causing cancer – or this is better known as carcinogens. Halides tend to be causer cancing because of its relative unstability, and its tendency to create free radicals. Free radicals in the blood stream = very bad. Free radicals are what eventually lead to enormous chain reactions that can become unstoppable.
takes money to fix things and somethings can’t be fixed. get a good filter system or drink bottled water