VENUS - The Texas
Commission on Environmental Quality has notified the city of Venus the quality
of their drinking water contains high levels of fluoride.
According
to the mandatory notification issued by the city, the drinking water provided
to its residents has exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level for fluoride.
The
United States Environmental Protection Agency has established the MCL for
fluoride at 4 mg/L and has determined it’s a health concern at levels above the
MCL.
Analysis
of drinking water in Venus indicates a level of 4.7 mg/L.
Some
people who drink water containing fluoride ion excess for several years could
have side effects.
The
report issued from the city states this is not an emergency.Fluoride at half the MCL or more may cause
mottling of children’s teeth, usually in children less than nine years old.
Mottling,
also known as dental flourosis, may include brown staining and/or pitting of
the teeth and occurs only in developing teeth before they erupt from the gums.
The
city said they were workingon
correcting the problem and you do not need to use an alternative water supply.
The
Public Works department is currently looking to install two new valves located
at the downtown storage tanks to allow more efficient blending of treated surface
water from Midlothian with the Venus well water in order to reduce fluoride
levels.
If you
are a resident looking for further information you may contact Mearl Taylor,
director of public works ,at 972-336-3348.
