NOTICE TO CONSUMERS OF THE TOWN OF BERRYVILLE WATER SYSTEM

Levels of Haloacetic Acids Above Drinking Water Standards

In keeping with National Primary Drinking Water Regulations, we are obliged to inform you that we may be in violation of state regulations because drinking water being served to consumers at the Town of Berryville water system did not comply with the Primary Maximum Contaminant Level for Haloacetic Acids. 

We routinely monitor for the presence of drinking water contaminants. Testing results from samples collected on February 20, 2025 show that our system exceeded the standard, or maximum contaminant level (MCL), for Haloacetic Acids, with results of 0.032 mg/L and 0.036 mg/L at monitoring locations on Dunlap Drive and McNeil Drive, respectively. The standard for Haloacetic Acids is a four-quarter running average of 0.060mg/L. The average levels of Haloacetic Acids over the four-quarter period ending with the first quarter of 2025 were 0.062 and 0.060 mg/L.

You do not need to use an alternative (e.g., bottled) water supply. However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor. This is not an immediate risk. If it had been, you would have been notified immediately. 

Some people who drink water containing haloacetic acids in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer. 

For more information, please contact:

Jean Petti, Deputy Town Manager

At

540-955-1099 or tobpublicutilities@berryvilleva.gov

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly. You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail. 

This notice is being sent to you by Keith Dalton, Town Manager

Date distributed: April 20, 2025

Dear Water Customer,

The notice on the opposite side of this page was developed using a template provided by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). That template was utilized to ensure that the Town met notice requirements. This page was developed by the Town of Berryville to provide our customers with additional information about the details of this possible exceedance of primary maximum contaminant levels for haloacetic acids and the actions being taken to return to compliance. Although the most recent samples are in compliance, the four-quarter running average exceeds the MCL.

Effective December 31, 2024, the Town’s Waterworks is operating under Consent Order from VDH. The Consent Order notes the efforts of Town operators to reduce HAA5 levels, including: expanded testing or water quality parameters, distribution line flushing, cleaning and inspection of water storage tanks, a third-party review of chemical dosing and treatment protocols, and cleaning and repair of the surface wash systems and settling tubes at the water treatment plant. Isolation of each feature(s) of the treatment process for evaluation is the current focus of efforts to combat organics, though all best practices in treatment and distribution (as identified to-date) continue.

The Consent Order requires the Town to present a Corrective Action Plan to VDH. This plan must include: 

1. A timeline for submission of a preliminary engineering report (PER), developed by a Professional Engineer with expertise in disinfection byproduct control, which evaluates operations and proposes improvements, including:
   1. Optimized dosing of all treatment chemicals
   2. Best practices for frequency and duration of filter backwash and filter-to-waste (essential parts of routine filter cleaning and the discard of water following said cleaning)
   3. Reduction of water age in storage and distribution
   4. Identification of any additional options 
2. Assessment of the age and condition of the tube settlers and filter media
3. A timeline for submission of revisions to the PER for the planned Plant Upgrade currently underway by the Town.

The Town of Berryville recognizes that it is unacceptable to provide anything less than fully-compliant water to the community we serve. The Town remains committed, corporately and individually, to determining the cause of the exceedance, returning to compliance, and continuing to evaluate and improve.

Sincerely, 

Jean Petti, Deputy Town Manager