The Town of Monterey is taking the first steps toward addressing its Total Trihalomethane (TTHM) issue.
TTHM is a by-product of the disinfection treatment in water. The Board of Alderman voted Tuesday to approve bids toward leasing a generator that could cut TTHM levels in half. Water Plant Director Duane Jarrett said the city is slightly over the EPA’s 0.08 limit.
“What everybody is starting to work with is a deal called ‘chlorine dioxide,’” Jarrett said. “It’s a gas you generate on site. You can’t purchase it because it’s too dangerous to bottle and transport (it’s very explosive). But if you feed it on site, generate it on site and feed it right then-everybody has seen a 50 percent reduction.”
Jarrett said Byrdstown already has a chlorine dioxide generator and plans to meet with water plant officials later this month. He recommended the board should apply for a year lease to ensure compatibility with Monterey’s water and protection from a faulty system. The price tag could be between $45,000 to $70,000.
Consulting Engineer Nathaniel Green said Byrdstown and Crab Orchard have had success with chlorine dioxide so far.
According to the Tennessee Environment and Conservation Department, the water system treats the raw water with chlorine to kill bacteria and other harmful micro-organisms. As the chlorine reacts with the organic material in the water, disinfection by-product compounds are formed. Extended TTHM exposure could lead to cancerous conditions.
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