Health & wellness
BY ERIC WEILBACHER & JARRETT WHITENER
NBU water maintains superior rating; post-tap filtration options available
2023 NBU Water Quality Report samples The 2023 report shows of the 15 main contaminants tested for—including the residual levels of the additives chloramine and fluoride—none of the contaminants posed a health risk and clocked in below maximum contaminant levels.
What are the options? Some residents might still want to further filter the water they consume, including the removal of additives, despite their safety but due to other concerns, including taste, odor and sensitivity. Eric Yeggy, director of technical affairs for the Water Quality Association, a trade group that certifies home and commercial water filtration systems, said the main reason a homeowner would install a personal filter or any form of water alteration is due to the physical qualities of the water. Another reason homeowners may purchase water softeners is to reduce the risk of hard water—which is predominant in Central and South Texas—clogging pipes or causing complications with household equipment, such as water heaters and dishwashers. Yeggy said that hard water usually does not come with any health concerns when consuming it. For people looking to remove any water addi- tives, filtration options are available, but Yeggy said it is important to ensure that the product actually filters the specific contaminants
One more thing Recent research has led to concerns about a class of chemicals called polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAs. According to WQA documents, these are not regulated federally and are not part of the current required testing regimen for utilities, but are being studied, and some options to reduce them through filtration are certified and available. As for alternative forms of drinking water, such as alkaline water or hydrogen water, Yeggy men- tioned that the EPA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Food and Drug Administration, and other organizations have not yet determined whether alkaline water has any health benefits or not, and the WQA finds the scientific data inconclusive. According to information from TCEQ, the three primary sources for bottled water are regulated municipal water suppliers, standalone wells/ springs or from an approved rainwater collection system. Overall, water quality requirements from state and federal organizations ensure that municipal utility water is safe to consume.
Maximum contaminant level/action level
Date of sample test
Contaminant
Sample level
Violation
Coliform bacteria
N/A
0
N/A N/A N/A
No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
To ensure water quality, local utilities have processes to disinfect water from wells, rivers, aquifers and other sources, and regularly collect data from samples collected throughout the year. What you need to know The most recent water quality report from New Braunfels Utilities demonstrates the utility has maintained its superior public water system rating from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Utilities are regulated through the TCEQ and the Environmental Protection Agency. The 2023 report shows that of the 15 main con- taminants tested for—including the residual levels of the additives chloramine and fluoride—none of the contaminants posed a health risk and clocked in below maximum contaminant levels. NBU uses chloramines—commonly formed
when combining ammonia with chlorine according to the EPA—which have a longer lifespan than free chlorine, said Reagan Peña, director of enterprise communications for the utility. Fluoride is added and dosed to optimal levels as prescribed by regulatory agencies, which is well below the regulatory maximums, Peña said. “At New Braunfels Utilities, we take our role seriously and prioritize delivering safe, high-qual- ity water to our customers. Our water comes from multiple public sources, all subject to stringent regulations set by the EPA and the TCEQ,” said Brent Lundmark, NBU water treatment and compliance manager. “NBU’s treatment processes and systems meet or exceed these regulatory standards, ensuring our water remains safe and reliable.”
Lead
15 ppb 1.3 ppm 60 ppb 80 ppb
1.7 ppb
Copper
0.118 ppm
Halocetic acids Trihalomethanes
35 ppb 79 ppb
2023 2023 2023 2023 2023 2023 2023 2023 2023 2023
Barium Cyanide Fluoride Nitrate
2 ppm
0.0517 ppm
200 ppb 4 ppm 10 ppm 5 pCi/L 6 ppb 10 ppm 4 ppm
10 ppb
0.6 ppm
3 ppm
Combined radium 226/228 Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate
1.5 pCi/L
1 ppb
Xylenes
0.0017 ppm
Total chlorine
2.77 ppm 0.8 NTU
Highest turbidity level
1 NTU
N/A
NOTE: MEASUREMENTS USED INCLUDE PARTS PER MILLION (PPM), PARTS PER BILLION (PPB), PICOCURIES PER LITER (PCI/L), NEPHELOMETRIC TURBIDITY UNITS (NTU) SOURCE: NBU/COMMUNITY IMPACT
CREEKSIDE TOWN CENTER 263 Creekside Crossing (830) 608-1969
NEW BRAUNFELS 1671 IH-35 S (830) 629-0434
LIVE OAK 14623 IH-35 N (210) 651-1911
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