Tests show Youngstown’s water had raised levels of a contaminant

By DAVID SKOLNICK

skolnick@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

The city’s water system had more than the maximum contaminant level for a chemical byproduct used for disinfecting, but Youngstown and Mahoning Valley Sanitary District officials say it didn’t pose a health risk.

“The dangers of drinking soda are much greater than drinking this water,” Eugene Leson Jr., the city water department’s chief engineer, told The Vindicator on Wednesday. “You’d have to consume a high volume of water a day for several years to have an impact on your health.”

However, the state Environmental Protection Agency issued a “notice of violation” requiring the city to send letters to all its customers – about 54,000 in Youngstown, Austintown, Boardman, Liberty, North Jackson and Canfield city – notifying them of the high levels of trihalomethanes.

The letter will be mailed to customers Friday or Tuesday, said Harry L. Johnson III, the city’s water commissioner.

A draft of the letter given to the city by the EPA tells customers: “You do not need to use an alternative [e.g. bottled] water supply. However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.” It also states: “The levels detected do not pose an immediate risk to your health. However, some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL – maximum contaminant level – over many years may experience problems with their liver, kidneys or central nervous system and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.”

Lab results from an Aug. 4 test of city water showed that it had 89 parts per billion of total trihalomethanes [TTHM], city water officials said. The federal and state EPAs consider any amount more than 80 parts per billion to be a violation.

TTHM consists of chloroform, bromoform, bromodichloromethane and dibromochloromethane with chloroform being the only chemical that exceeded the limit, said Anthony Vigorito, chief engineer of the MVSD, which sells bulk water to Youngstown, Niles and McDonald from the Meander Reservoir. Youngstown and Niles then resell the water to other communities.

Vigorito compared 89 parts per billion to “one human hair; it’s such a small amount.”

The MVSD typically has about 40 to 50 parts per billion of TTHM in its system – the main water source for Mahoning and Trumbull counties – and changes made at the agency’s facility in Mineral Ridge are keeping the level to about 45 parts per billion, Vigorito said.

There is no fine for this infraction, but a letter from the EPA to Leson reads: “Continued noncompliance may lead to additional enforcement actions.”

Under state law, the city tests quarterly for TTHM. It opens fire hydrants and takes a small sample of about two to three ounces that are sent to EPA-

approved labs, Leson said.

“When the lab sent the results to us, it was a shock,” he said. “We had a slightly elevated level in November, but we were good in February and May.”

Johnson added: “We’re not happy we received this violation. But I’m not concerned because it doesn’t pose a health risk, and the management team at the MVSD assured me the problem has been resolved. I’m satisfied with that.”

The problem originated at the MVSD where water is treated with chlorine, Vigorito said.

“We’ve sped up the chlorine and ammonia mixing with the organic matter [in the water], which lowers the [TTHM] levels,” he said. “We’re also treating the water at the reservoir. This is an isolated problem.”

The district is also purchasing equipment – at a cost of $39,700 – to take samples of the water and provide results about 30 minutes later, Vigorito said. It usually takes a lab about two weeks to provide samples, he said.