Fall 2003 Edition 

Fair Lawn's Water Quality   Below is a response from Ken Garrison, Fair Lawn's Borough Engineer, regarding  tests conducted on Fair Lawn's water.     The DEP report prepared by the Division of Science, Research and Technology that Fair Lawn was a part of concerned "The Characterization of Tentatively Identified Compounds (TICs) in samples from Public Water Systems".  A TIC is a compound that can be seen by a testing method, but its identity and concentration cannot be confirmed without additional investigation. This study was done to address the presence of TICs in water, identify them and possibly quantify them. It must be understood that part of the study was not just to characterize the TICs but also to try to establish analytical methods for their detection. Currently there are no "approved" analytical methods for the detection of TICs.   The NJDEP is responsible for regulating public water systems. Therefore the DEP conducts studies to investigate the occurrence of "unregulated" contaminates to determine if additional contaminates should be considered for regulation. This is one of those studies. The testing of Fair Lawn water in this study was conducted in 1998. We were one of the first systems to be sampled.   The testing results for the TICs can most certainly change depending on the day or even hours that the sampling is conducted. The study is nothing more than a snapshot of what occurs at any given instance. The TICs are compounds that may be altered by various treatment techniques. In our case the addition of chlorine for disinfection. Chlorine may react with a number of other naturally occurring compounds that may produce other compounds. The most prominent is the creation of thrihalomethanes, which are a product of the disinfection process. This is a regulated contaminate that the Borough monitors for and has always fell well below the Maximum Contaminate Levels (MCL) as regulated by the DEP. As stated in the article approximately 160 TICs were detected in the water. However this number represents those compounds detected in our raw or untreated water. Our treated water detected approximately 30 TICs in the treated or finished water. A great reduction realized through the treatment process. Additionally, those TICs that were detected were very low in concentrations, most being below a part per billion. (the equivalent of 1 second in 32 years) . As a side note the study also sampled bottled water. In five samples 32 TICs were detected. As part of the analytical sampling procedure trip blank samples are taken from the lab. These are water samples taken from the lab and carried through the sampling process. TICs were also detected in the trip blank samples.   Fair Lawn's water system is a mixed system with our wells providing a daily flow from 35% to 55% of the Borough's water usage. It is strictly a function of the time of year and demand. The well treatment process has not changed. We have packed tower aeration for the removal of VOC's and chlorine for disinfection. The Borough does not further treat with granulated active carbon (GAC). Most ground water systems treat with one or the other. In the Borough's case pilot plant studies were conducted and found that the best treatment for our wells was aeration. The purchase of water from our bulk sources i.e., Passaic Valley Water Commission and United Water have either undergone plant modifications our in the case of the PVWC undergoing a 70 million dollar treatment plant upgrade.   Fair Lawn is taking steps to improve the quality of its water. As case in point by participating in the study for TIC's that started in 1998. Additionally the Borough is testing for other unregulated contaminates as part of the NJDEP Unregulated Contaminate Monitoring Rule (UMCR). This is another study to further identify, quantify and characterize other unregulated contaminates. The data generated by both studies will be used to evaluate and consider for new drinking water standards. This data will help to ensure that decisions on drinking water standards are based on sound science. As stated in the Borough's annual water quality report we continue to collect over a thousand water samples and perform more than 5000 analyses in both our raw water and finished water every year to ensure the water supply meets all safety standards.   Fair Lawn tests for a variety of volatile organics as well as organics, inorganics and some pesticides. All tests that are required by the Bureau of Safe Drinking Water and the EPA are conducted.   Fair Lawn's Water supply meets or exceeds standards set buy the NJDEP. As the Licensed Operator my opinion is that the water is safe to drink for all members of the community. I see no need for residents to use a "Brita" type filter. The use of these types of filters are subjective and mostly used for taste considerations and not quality. Additionally, the use of the filters if not properly maintained may do more harm than good.