Officials identify chemical found at elevated levels in water system

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte officials stressed that they are taking steps to lower the level of the chemical and the water is safe to drink.

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Charlotte Water officials said the utility is in full compliance with federal and state water safety standards, but the state requires water utilities to notify users whenever chemicals reach a certain threshold.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s standard for notification does not apply with the chemical detected.

Even though Charlotte Water meets all clean water standards, officials say the chemical’s level was “beyond what they have seen in the past.”

Charlotte Water has not said where the water samples were taken with the elevated levels of the chemical found, but Deery was told the detection was not widespread.

Officials said hotter temperatures, the drought and Duke Energy most likely contributed to the elevated levels of THMs.

Duke started using a component of the chemical - calcium bromide - to clean coal and enhance air quality at its Marshall and Allen coal power plants.

“We've been able to discontinue the use of calicum bromide at those two coal plants which we believe could have a contributing factor to this phenomenon,” Erin Culbert, a Duke Energy spokeswoman, said.

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