High levels of acid found in Concord city water

CONCORD, N.C. — Concord city officials said its drinking water may have an unsafe level of a dangerous contaminant.

The standard for total haloacetic acids is 0.060 mg/L.

Water samples were collected during the second quarter sampling period ending June 30 and showed that the contaminant concentration from one sampling location exceeded the standard, or maximum contaminant level.

The level of total haloacetic acids concentration at that location was 0.0624 mg/L.

Concord city officials said they're flushing the water system and boosting treatment efforts.

Channel 9 asked city officials where the problem came from, but they wouldn't say. They said the water comes from another city that Concord buys two million gallons of water from a day. But officials said that city doesn't have a problem in their water. The haloacetic acides were developed along the way in transfer and that's why the city of Concord won't name the source.

Prolonged exposure to high levels of haloacetic acids can increase the risk of cancer, but city officials say this is not an emergency and water customers do not need to boil your water.

However, if you are pregnant, have an infant, are elderly or have immune system concerns, you should talk to your doctor immediately.

Concord water supervisor Rusty Campbell said that language comes straight from the Environmental Protection Agency and doesn't mean there's any danger. He said anyone with health concerns should talk to their doctor.

"We don't want to take the place of your health care provider, that's not who we are. So that's why it's written that way," Campbell said.

The city tests the water for the acid four times a year. Despite the high levels, the EPA isn't pushing for additional testing.

City officials expect the level to be within normal range by the end of next quarter, which is the end of September.

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