Aberdeen warns of ‘increased chance of ‘disease-causing organisms’ in drinking water
Aberdeen issues public notice on turbid drinking water Argus Leader
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The City of Aberdeen Warns Residents of Water Quality Issues
The City of Aberdeen has issued a public notice, informing residents about the increased chance of disease-causing organisms in the drinking water. This warning comes after the town’s water system filters failed to properly clean the water, making it potentially unsafe for consumption.
Water Quality Issues and Health Risks
The Aberdeen Water Works Treatment Plant experienced mechanical malfunctions in two filters used to remove impurities from the water. As a result, a water sample taken on July 10 showed a high level of turbidity, indicating the presence of soil runoff and other sediments. While turbid water itself does not pose health risks, it can provide a breeding ground for disease-causing microorganisms such as bacteria, parasites, and viruses.
The City of Aberdeen emphasizes that boiling water or other decontamination efforts are not necessary. However, residents with compromised immune systems, infants, or the elderly are at an increased risk and should consult their healthcare providers before consuming the water.
Actions Taken by the City
Upon detecting the water quality problems, the city took multiple contributing filters offline. One of the malfunctioning filters has been repaired, while the other remains offline until it can be fixed.
The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources’ Public Notice Handbook states that the public must be notified within 24 hours whenever the maximum allowable turbidity level in a single sample exceeds 1 NTU. However, due to the limited impact of the malfunctions on the entire filtration system, the city was allowed to report the issue within 30 days.
Previous Water Quality Issues in Aberdeen
This is not the first time the Aberdeen Water Works Treatment Plant has faced water quality issues. In the past, incidents of high turbidity levels and sediments exceeding standards have occurred. These issues were attributed to a lack of staff at the plant. Transparency and timely communication regarding water quality issues have been raised as concerns by former superintendent Robert Braun.
Braun believes that the recent water restriction issued by the city was directly related to the malfunctions at the plant. He also mentioned a shortage of chlorine gas and carbon for water disinfection, as well as a noticeable odor in the water.
Braun emphasized the importance of transparency when addressing water quality problems and expressed his concerns about the city’s lack of honesty with the public and council members.
Dominik Dausch is the agriculture and environment reporter for the Argus Leader and editor of Farm Forum. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook @DomDNP and send news tips to ddausch@gannett.com.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
The article discusses issues related to the quality of drinking water, which is directly connected to SDG 6. It also mentions the potential health risks associated with disease-causing microorganisms in the water, which relates to SDG 3.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
- SDG 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater, and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.
- SDG 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
The article highlights the issue of water quality and the need for safe drinking water for residents. This aligns with the targets under SDG 6.1 and SDG 6.3. Additionally, the presence of disease-causing microorganisms in the water raises concerns about potential health risks, which relates to SDG 3.9.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- NTUs (nephelometric turbidity units): The article mentions that the water sample taken on July 10 tested at 5.35 NTUs, which is more than five times the 1 NTU standard. This indicator measures the turbidity of water and can be used to assess water quality.
The article explicitly mentions the NTU measurement as an indicator of water quality. A higher NTU value indicates higher turbidity, which can be an indication of the presence of sediments and particles in the water.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation | 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. | NTUs (nephelometric turbidity units) |
| SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation | 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater, and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally. | NTUs (nephelometric turbidity units) |
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination. |
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Source: argusleader.com
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