Basile water closer to the mark

The most recent monitoring for disinfectant by-product in the Basile water system indicates it is much closer to compliance levels.

The system in a required public notice recently noted the by-product level was 169 parts per billion in its most-recent certified monitoring period.

The by-product is a result of treating the drinking water supply with chlorine.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sets the accepting standard of the by-product at 80.

Bob Johannson, with the State Department of Environmental Quality, said testing done after the period subject to the public notice indicated the by-product level had dropped to 84 ppb.

“It’s a matter of getting the treatment process right, and Basile has it just about pegged,” he said, adding that the Basile system is among the better small water systems that DEQ works.

“They are diligent and are prompt responders,” Johannson said.

The notice advertised by the water system did not constitute any sort of emergency or immediate health threat.

Because long-term exposure, for example 20 years, to by-product levels over the accepted standard could lead to serious health problems, the town is required to post notice of considerable variance.