During certain times of the year, you may notice your water has a peculiar smell. The odor is a result of discharges from upstream lakes which supply the Green River. As temperatures change, organic materials (leaves, soil, etc.) at the bottom of the lakes rise and are in the water at more-than-normal levels. These materials continue their natural decomposition as they discharge into the river and let off a strong smell. Although the water is treated to alleviate some of the odor, sometimes the scent remains. However, the water remains entirely safe to drink, and fortunately this small inconvenience is short-lived.

The natural presence of minerals in water, particularly calcium and magnesium, can cause it to become ‘hard.’ The more minerals there are in the water, the ‘harder’ it will become.

Water with less than 4 grains per gallon is considered to be ‘soft,’ anything between 4 and 7 is considered ‘medium-hard,’ and anything beyond 7 grains per gallon is considered ‘hard.’ Water supplied by Butler Water has hardness of 8.4 grains.

 

 

Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) form when chlorine and other disinfectants react with naturally occurring materials in the Green River.

The term “disinfection byproducts” covers a host of compounds that may be formed after water is treated. Depending on the substances present in the water, a wide range of byproducts may be created. But the only reliable approach to protecting against bacteria in drinking water is to add a disinfectant, which must travel with the water, in small amounts, all the way to your tap.  Any disinfectant creates disinfection byproducts. There is little evidence that these chemicals are dangerous at the level they occur in treated water, but research on the potential effects of specific compounds raised concerns with the EPA.

Like many problems, there is no easy answer. As the EPA report says, “Decreasing disinfection byproduct risk could increase risks from disease-causing microorganisms.” The paradox is as old as the use of fire to keep warm: It keeps you from freezing, but it also produces ash and carbon monoxide.

The treatment process is critical to controlling the formation of haloacetic acids in water. Butler Water works diligently to maintain disinfection byproducts levels below EPA requirements. While these improvements will take time, Butler Water will continue to optimize our system performance. Butler Water continually performs numerous tests to ensure your drinking water is safe. Butler Water tests the purity of the water over 1,000 times a year to ensure the safety of your drinking water.