January 19, 2007
Contact: Todd Walker, Arizona American Water
623-815-3112; mobile 602-388-2841
todd.walker@amwater.com
Tap water in Paradise Valley approved for all normal uses;
residents MAY return to normal water use habits
(Paradise Valley, AZ – January 19, 2008) – Arizona American Water notified customers in Paradise Valley today that their tap water now meets or surpasses all standards for drinking water. Arizona American Water conducted tests throughout the water system. The test results were reviewed and approved by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and The Maricopa County Health Department.
On Wednesday, January 16, Arizona American Water notified the community and its customers about the potential of elevated levels of TCE (Trichloroethylene) in the local tap water and issued an alert to customers to stop using tap water for drinking or food preparation purposes. That alert is now lifted and customers can return to normal use of their water. Customers with storage tanks on their property should drain and refill their tanks.
Approximately 5,000 customers were affected in Paradise Valley and a small part of Scottsdale (south of Indian Bend, north of Camelback and west of the Arizona Canal). Impacted customers may wish to run their water briefly to flush their systems, as well as remove water from their hot water tanks. Hot water tanks could contain affected water.
Earlier in the week, Arizona American Water took its treatment plant offline, and then flushed the system to reduce the levels of TCE in the water. Robust sampling has confirmed that the water now meets or surpasses all standards for drinking water. The company is investigating what the malfunction was at the plant and will take all corrective measures.
Arizona American Water is notifying customers today via automated phone calls that the water is now acceptable to drink. Customers with questions may e-mail infoaz@amwater.com or call 800 383 0834.
Arizona American Water
Arizona American Water is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state of Arizona, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to more than 323,000 people. In addition to its regulated operations, American Water provides a variety of operation and maintenance services to the water and/or wastewater systems for the town of Cave Creek, the city of Surprise and the city of Phoenix’s Lake Pleasant Water Treatment Plant, serving an additional 287,000 people.
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