POTEAU VALLEY IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY

What this violation means

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) are the second major group of disinfection byproducts after TTHMs. They form by the same mechanism — chlorine reacting with organic matter — and pose similar long-term cancer risks. Utilities are required to test quarterly at distribution-system locations to track HAA5 levels.

Recommended precautions

• →Activated carbon filtration removes most HAA5.
• →Reverse osmosis is highly effective.
• →Unlike TTHMs, HAA5 do not significantly off-gas. Use treatment rather than aeration.
• →Long-term ingestion is the primary concern, not short-term skin contact.

What this violation means

E. coli detection is an EPA Tier 1 acute violation, requiring same-day public notification. It confirms that fecal matter has entered the drinking water supply, posing immediate health risks — particularly to children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals.

Recommended precautions

• →Do not drink the water until the utility has lifted the advisory.
• →Boil water for at least one minute (three minutes at elevations above 6,500 ft).
• →Disinfect dishes and surfaces that touched contaminated water.
• →Seek medical attention if you develop bloody diarrhea or persistent vomiting.

What this violation means

Lead is a potent neurotoxin with no safe exposure level. In drinking water it primarily enters via corroded lead service lines, lead-soldered copper pipes, and brass fixtures. Children under 6 and pregnant women face the highest risk because lead disrupts developing nervous and skeletal systems.

Recommended precautions

• →Run cold tap water 30–120 seconds before drinking or cooking, especially after the tap has been unused for hours.
• →Never cook with hot tap water — heat increases lead leaching from pipes.
• →Use an NSF/ANSI 53 certified filter for lead removal (carbon block or reverse osmosis).
• →If you have children, get blood lead levels tested by your pediatrician.

What this violation means

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) form when chlorine reacts with naturally occurring organic matter — leaves, soil, algae — in source water. They are among the most commonly reported violations because utilities pulling from surface water (rivers, lakes, reservoirs) struggle to balance disinfection with byproduct formation. Long-term exposure has been linked to bladder cancer and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Recommended precautions

• →Activated carbon filters (pitcher, faucet, or under-sink) effectively reduce TTHMs.
• →Letting water sit uncovered allows TTHMs to off-gas — leave a pitcher in the fridge for several hours.
• →Shower with the bathroom fan on; TTHMs can volatilize into the air during hot showers.
• →Boiling reduces TTHMs through volatilization, but only after extended boiling.