CITY MAILS OUT LETTERS ABOUT WATER QUALITY VIOLATION
The city of Brenham has mailed out letters to its utility customers stating that water samples in March tested higher than the State limit for both chlorite and haloacetic acids. The letter states that samples tested in March had 1.49 parts per million of chlorite. That is above the EPA limit of 1 part per million. Brenham Water Treatment Plant Manager Matthew Monfreda explains how this happened:
The letter from the city explains that this is not an immediate risk, and if it had been, customers would have been notified immediately. It goes on to explain that some infants and young children who drink water containing chlorite in excess of the maximum level could experience nervous system effects and that some people may experience anemia. Monfreda explained that this is mandatory language and that water in the system now has been tested and is safe to drink. The water samples in March also slightly exceeded the maximum level for haloacetic acids. Those contaminates are formed when chlorine reacts with naturally-occurring organic matter in the water. The city has changed where the chlorine is added to the water to reduce the amount of haloacetic acids. Monfreda explains what was changed:
Persons with further questions about the water quality can contact Matthew Monfreda, Brenham Water Treatment Plant Manager, directly at 252-220-1862 or by email: mmonfreda@cityofbrenham.org
I didn’t receive a letter stating this. My son who is two has been extremely sick because of the tainted water. Needs to get fixed soon.
It sounds like the mayor, city manager and assistant city managers need to be sued personally. Those who don’t learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. They have placed everyone on the city of Brenham water area in danger that uses the water and it was entirely preventable with proper management. We are also expected to pay for this dangerous water.
First thing I tell first time visitors , is don’t drink the city water. Feel sorry for school and nursing home water drinkers. The schools should provide safe drinking water for students, or allow them to bring to school. City has plenty of cash for new administrative positions, but not enough to attract concientious, capable, water plant personnel. How many council members drink and have city water in their homes? How many city administrators? You elected them, based on what criteria? Last name? Gender?
I read the letter and finally started using Google to understand what they were telling us. I am not sure why the letter could not have been written in plain simple English so that the average reader could understand what they were saying and how they could be impacted without having to do research themselves.
I can’t believe that the leadership is failing us to the extent that our drinking water is dangerous for our children to drink. Our city manager and his assistant city manager is responsible for our local government failing to provide us safe water. And to say it is simply mandatory language. It is mandatory obviously since the State has deemed it dangerous and unsafe. The city council, mayor, elected officials need to hire responsible people who know what they are doing so this does not occur. They acted too late in Flint, Michigan and I don’t want to see that happen in Brenham next.
This is why we don’t drink the city water. This has happened twice since we moved to town last July.