City of Thomson Water System Reports Disinfection Byproduct Violation
The City of Thomson's public water system has notified residents of a violation of a federal drinking water standard. Routine testing found that levels of total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), a disinfection byproduct, slightly exceeded the maximum contaminant level. Officials state this…
Augusta Aiken, GA, September 18, 2026 —
The City of Thomson’s public water system has issued a notification to its residents regarding a violation of a federal drinking water standard. The violation concerns the presence of total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) in the water supply.
Routine testing conducted by the water system revealed that TTHM levels slightly exceeded the established maximum contaminant level (MCL) set by federal regulations. TTHMs are a group of chemicals that are often found in drinking water as a result of disinfection processes. They are formed when disinfectants like chlorine react with organic matter naturally present in the water.
While the presence of TTHMs above the MCL is a detected violation, city officials have stressed that this situation does not constitute an immediate public health emergency. According to the notification, residents are not required to take any special precautions, such as boiling their water, before consumption or use.
The specific amount by which the TTHM levels exceeded the MCL was not detailed in the provided summary. Similarly, the duration of the exceedance or the specific dates of the routine testing were not disclosed. The contractor responsible for conducting the testing was also not identified.
The City of Thomson is expected to take corrective actions to address the elevated TTHM levels and ensure future compliance with federal drinking water standards. Further information regarding the corrective actions and any additional testing results will likely be provided by the water system to affected residents. The summary did not specify the actions the city plans to take or the timeline for remediation.
Federal regulations, such as the Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule, aim to limit exposure to disinfection byproducts like TTHMs, which have been associated with potential long-term health effects in studies. However, officials emphasized that short-term exposure at the reported levels is not considered an acute risk, hence the advisory that no immediate action is necessary for residents.
Story summarized from the original created by Staff on www.wrdw.com, see more information here.
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