Little concern over haloacetic water
Staff writer
Residents in Peabody were notified last week haloacetic acid was in their water.
While, generally not considered dangerous, how it got in remains a question.
Morgan Marler, water superintendent for Hillsboro and contracted operator for Peabody, sent notices to residents, as required by the state.
Peabody receives its water from Hillsboro, which gets its raw water from Marion Reservoir.
For a few years the upper end of the reservoir was low, causing algae to grow there. Chlorine to treat for algae can cause haloacetic concentrations in water.
Hillsboro has not experienced the same problem because they take samples at different times.
“It could have been excessive organic materials from the reservoir or excessive flushing of the water lines,” Marler said.
Storage of water for periods of time might have caused a problem. In Hillsboro, water from towers are regularly drained and replaced with newer water.
“You don’t keep old water in storage,” she said.
Once Peabody receives water from Hillsboro, all it can do is use it
“Once that water gets there they can’t do anything,” she said.
The Environmental Protection Agency has not linked human health concerns to haloacetic acid, she said. There might be a slight chance for a person drinking three gallons of water with haloacetic acid a day for 70 years to have an increased cancer risk, she said.
The Kansas Department Health Department reported the acids are caused by salts or organic material in the raw water source, that when disinfected with chlorine, creates byproduct compounds that are regulated.
Long-term exposure is possibly carcinogenic to humans based on evidence in laboratory animals, the KDHE reported.
There is limited evidence with animals saying exposure had effects on the liver, kidneys, development, and the reproductive system.