Erin Brockovich, Water Utility At Odds Over Disinfection Byproducts

The world-renowned environmental activist Erin Brockovich recently called out a water utility in the city of Tyler, TX, for what she saw as a failing to level with the public on a potential threat in the drinking water.

Brockovich’s criticism “came after it was revealed the city received a drinking water violation from the state. It had to with the amount of haloacetic acids in the water. Those acids are a by-product of the water treatment process and created when the chemicals used to clean drinking water react with organic material,” according to KYTX.

Brockovich, who became a household name when Julia Roberts played her on the silver screen, took to social media to call out Tyler Water Utilities. She criticized a notice issued by the utility about “free chlorine conversion,” analyzing the flyer and adding her own commentary.

The notice from the utility reads as follows: “Why is Tyler Water Utilities implementing a ‘free chlorine conversion’? To improve the overall water quality in our distribution system.”

Brockovich added this commentary in a Facebook post: “FALSE... Tyler is doing it to correct the failure of its disinfection process which lead to system nitrification and bio fouling.”

In her post, Brockovich “accused Tyler Water Utilities of downplaying the seriousness of a contaminant violation in the press and in a notification mailed to its customers,” according to the Tyler Morning Telegraph.

Bob Bowcock, an environmental investigator on Brockovich’s team, argued that the situation should not be taken lightly. “In the shower it can cause upper respiratory problems,” he said. “Dermal, you know, skin contact problems. Those are immediate health effects."

City officials disputed Brockovich’s characterization. "I don't think we're downplaying it. I think we're putting the information out, making it available to the consumer,” said Greg Morgan, Managing Director of Utilities and Public Works for the City of Tyler, per KYTX.

Haloacetic Acids are disinfection byproducts, according to the EPA. They occur when “naturally-occurring organic and inorganic materials in the water react with the disinfectants, chlorine and chloramine. Some people who drink water containing haloacetic acids in excess of the [maximum contaminant level] over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer,” the agency says.

For more information on potentially dangerous disinfection byproducts, visit Water Online’s Drinking Water Disinfection Solutions Center.