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1. I’ve never heard of disinfection byproducts before, so why am I hearing about this now?

Technological advances in laboratory analytical methods allow us to detect and report constituents we did not know existed as recently as the 1970s. Federal and State drinking water regulations continue to become more stringent. The requirement to notify you directly is similar to the Prop 65 state requirement to post ‘this building contains chemicals dangerous to your health’ signs at convenience stores or other businesses. All efforts are in an effort to protect public health.

2. Why do we need to add chlorine to the water?

Chlorine in drinking water has prevented the spread of waterborne diseases and pathogens such as cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery and hepatitis A. At the turn of the 20th century, typhoid fever alone killed 1 person per 3,500. Drinking water chlorination and filtration have helped to virtually eliminate these diseases in the U.S. and other developed countries.

3. What is a THM and how is it formed?

A THM, or trihalomethane, is a chemical compound that often occurs in drinking water as a result of the reaction of chlorine treatment for disinfection purposes and natural organic matter present in the water. Often formed in areas of heavy rainfall, especially after a drought or extended period where sediment and debris have not been washed from the earth, THMs are colorless, volatile and readily dissolve in water. The four common THMs are chloroform, dibromochloromethane, dichlorobromomethane, and bromoform. A new water quality regulation (DBPR-II, or Stage II of the Disinfection Byproduct Rule) requires our water to comply with a Total THM maximum contaminant level of 80 ug/l, based on a running annual average at each monitoring location. All locations within the City of Napa Water System are meeting the regulatory standard and have been in full compliance since April 2016.

4. How much is a ug/l?

A ug/l is one part per billion. It equates to one minute in two thousand years, one aspirin dissolved in an Olympic swimming pool, or a single penny in $10,000,000.

5. What about other water systems?

This new regulation has been a challenge to water systems all over the state of California. Three other agencies that treat the same State Water Project water we use, which is high in organics, have already exceeded this new regulatory limit.

6. What can I do to lower the THMs at my tap?

THMs are volatile organic compounds. That means they desire to release from the water into the air, similar to the way carbonation in a carbonated beverage such as soda or seltzer water releases into the air when you first open the bottle. The City of Napa performed a small experiment at the treatment facility and analyzed several samples after they had been handled the common ways a customer might fill a glass of water to drink it in their home. This is only one experiment, but shows the nature of the reduction of THMs.

Each entry below was handled as described, then poured into a sample bottle with no head space per analytical protocols and analyzed for THMs.

FROM FAUCET DIRECT	87.6
FROM FAUCET INTO GLASS, SITTING FOR 5 MINUTES	67.7
FROM FAUCET THROUGH A BRITA FILTER	64.8
THROUGH A REFRIGERATOR FILTER	54.4	carbon filter for GE Model #PSC3RGXCFSS, Filter #WF282 GE MSWF
THROUGH AN INLINE FILTER UNDER THE SINK FROM FAUCET	2.7	4 filter (GAC) R/O system, Sierra Model NS-1N30-00 by Nimbus Water Systems

Note this is one side by side study employing standard laboratory sample techniques. The City of Napa does not recommend one filter manufacturer over another, nor does it guarantee the effectiveness of any home filter devices. All home water filter systems need regular maintenance to operate effectively. The effectiveness of filter brands is tested by the National Science Foundation (NSF). For specific information about your filter, contact the manufacturer.

7. Are personal home filters effective?

Although City water is clean and safe to drink, we understand that many customers choose to use In-home filters.  If you do so, please consider these tips to ensure your water remains safe:

• All filters require maintenance. Typically it’s as simple as removing and replacing the filter cartridge.
• Brita filters that sit in your refrigerator remove the residual chlorine that is in the water. Be aware that when the chlorine has been removed, just like food in your refrigerator, bacteria and other organisms can grow in the water. Be sure to thoroughly clean your filter and container on a consistent basis.

8. Should I drink bottled water instead?

Bottled water is not regulated to the same level that tap water in California is regulated, but producers spend high dollars on advertising. The cost of bottled water ($1 per 12 oz) is more than 250 times higher than the water that is delivered to your tap at less than a penny per gallon (0.764 cents/gallon) or $0.0007 per 12oz). Bottled water is reasonably expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. If bottled water is bottled in a different state, it may not meet the standards set by the State of California that are more stringent than USEPA requirements for some constituents. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the USEPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.