News
July 1, 2009
City's Drinking Water Is Safe; Not Impacted By Beaverdam Beach Closing
The quality of the City of Raleigh’s drinking water is not affected by the elevated levels of bacteria that have forced Wake County to ban swimming at Beaverdam Beach on Falls Lake off N.C. Highway 50. City Public Utilities Director Dale Crisp said Raleigh’s drinking water remains safe for human consumption.
Mr. Crisp pointed out that there is a difference between the raw water quality at Falls Lake and treated water from the City’s E.M. Johnson Water Treatment Plant (EMJWTP) in north Raleigh at Falls Lake. He said the City’s water customers sometimes falsely believe the two are the same. This explains why the Public Utilities Department received calls today from residents worried about the safety of the City’s drinking water.
“At anytime there is ever a risk to our finished drinking water quality coming from EMJWTP … we will of course notify our customers in advance,” Mr. Crisp said.
Last month, the City mailed its Annual Drinking Water Quality Report for 2008 to 150,000 water customers. The report said Raleigh’s drinking water meets all federal and state standards as required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). No violations occurred during all of 2008 and none has occurred so far this year, Mr. Crisp said.
The North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation closed Beaverdam Beach after a weekly test showed bacteria levels higher than allowed by EPA standards.
Regarding the raw water quality at Falls Lake, Mr. Crisp said the City of Raleigh has expressed concerns to the North Carolina Division of Water Quality that too many nutrients are being released into the lake. The City is recommending the state establish nutrient reduction goals of 30 percent for Falls Lake. Too many nutrients promote harmful algae that make water harder and more costly to treat for human consumption. That, in turn, could lead to future higher utility bills for the City’s water customers, Mr. Crisp said.
Prepared by:
John Boyette
Public Affairs Specialist
Public Affairs Department
For More Information Contact:
Dale Crisp
Director
Public Utilities Department
One Exchange Plaza, Suite 620
Raleigh, NC 27602
919-857-4540
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