DETROIT – The Great Lakes Water Authority released a statement Monday night to update the quality of Downriver communities' water.
Here's the full statement:
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"Taste and odor are associated with a spike in turbidity in the source water. When taste and odor issues were raised in a number of Ddownriver communities, the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) expanded its testing, increasing the number of samples being taken at the Southwest Water Treatment Facility (which serves the communities affected) and within the distribution system. Results of this increased testing have all shown that the water meets the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Act regulatory standards and is safe.
"Testing has also been completed for bacteria, and all results have returned negative for bacteria in the water. In addition we tested the Southwest Water Treatment Facility source and tap for volatile organic chemicals. The results indicated nothing unusual about the source or tap water. Furthermore, we collected and monitored for hardness, alkalinity, turbidity, fluoride, taste and odor in sample sites within the distribution system and monitored toxicity. Results indicate the water meets water quality criteria except for taste and odor.
"As taste and odor complaints increased, the treatment plant began feeding powdered activated carbon to mitigate taste and odor issues.
"The Authority is testing water for treatment 24/7 to ensure water quality. Typically, when we receive complaints we will increase testing to investigate cause and ensure water quality. With that in mind, all Downriver communities were tested last Thursday and/or Friday. With an increase in calls, additional samples are being collected in the distribution system in those communities that have had an increase in the number of complaints.
"Concerned residents should contact their local municipality with questions or to report an issue." --Cheryl Porter, COO, GLWA.
Kristina Bacon, of Trenton, is hesitant to drink her own tap water after her cats and dogs got sick last week.
"(My) big dog started vomiting and so did (my) little dog, so we said, 'No. no. We're switching to bottled (water),'" Bacon said.
Q&A: What we know about Downriver's water quality concerns
Sarah Nitz's dog, "Chloe," also had a scare in Taylor.
"She absolutely refused to drink water, and any time she hadn't been drinking water, she was getting sick," Nitz said.
Nitz said the vet found a lot of bacteria in her dog's system, but the link to the water is unclear.
"The only common thing is the water," Bacon said.
The Great Lakes Water Authority said all Downriver communities were tested and met the EPS's safe drinking water requirements. But cities like Gibraltar, Trenton and Woodhaven looked into the water for themselves.
"We started getting our sample kits together and started sampling on Saturday to send to an independent laboratory for testing," said Tim Neighbors. "All the tests came back negative."
That information wasn't enough to convince residents.
"It's really hard to always trust everything, especially after the Flint water crisis," Nitz said. "You have to go with your gut, and my gut was saying no."
Nitz and Bacon said they will keep stocking up on bottled water, and Bacon said her family ordered the materials to do their own testing to make sure it isn't a bigger problem.
"I wouldn't doubt there's a bacteria out there or something they're not catching," Bacon said.
The Water Authority said the samples were also tested to see if the water is toxic, and the tests came back negative. They said the water is safe, but bottled water is a personal choice if residents want to do that.
Anyone with questions is asked to contact their local water department.
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