Town of Wellton works to make its tap water safe to drink again
WELLTON, AZ (AZFamily) — The town of Wellton is working to improve its water system for its residents.
For the past six months, their water system has exceeded acceptable levels of contaminants. Test data shows the town’s drinking water is above the maximum accepted level for byproducts from chemical disinfectants.
Acceptable total trihalomethanes (TTHM) levels are 0.0080 mg/l, and the town’s average is 0.082, just a few points above the threshold.
Some residents have complained about water, while others have installed their own water systems at home to ensure their water has no traces of contaminants. While frustration grows, the town assures them they are doing everything possible to resolve the issue.
Tim Burns, Wellton’s water system operator, says he and his team have been working to improve the town’s water system, adding new pipes and installing water quality improvement systems.
However, Wellton’s aging infrastructure is compounding the harsh water from the Colorado River.
Randy Matas with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality says the water can be used for showering and washing dishes, but drinking it could be risky.
He said TTHM found in the water is a byproduct formed when chlorine is used to disinfect drinking water.
“I wouldn’t recommend drinking this water until such time. When the water returns to meeting all the safety water standards. It’s something that has the potential to be deleterious to health over a long period of time,” Matas said. He recommends that residents use the free water kiosk in town.
“The town doesn’t have the money to spend to do these infrastructure upgrades that we need to do as we grow,” said Wellton mayor Michelle Jones.
That’s why the town asked for outside assistance and secured a grant to provide residents with free drinking water from the town kiosk.
Wellton was also granted $1.5 million to build a new water clarifier. Burns said the clarifier will be a giant step toward removing contaminants from the town’s water.
“It comes straight from the canal into here and you add different chemicals to it. We’re so close to passing I’m hoping this will put us over the edge,” said Burns.
Burns said the clarifier should be up and running by the end of May, and he’s confident it will make the water safe for residents to drink again.
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