BY LISA STAYTON
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — A recent water sample collected from a residence on Newberry Lane in Inez exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s lifetime health advisory threshold for manganese, according to test results released July 22 by Alliance Water Resources, the management contractor for the Martin County Water District.

The sample, collected July 10 and analyzed by Pace Analytical Services, contained 0.305 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of manganese, just above the EPA’s 0.3 mg/L lifetime health advisory level. The EPA warns that sustained exposure to manganese above this threshold may pose neurological risks, especially for infants under six months of age.

Although the plant tap registered 0.057 mg/L, above the EPA’s aesthetic limit of 0.05 mg/L, it remained below the health advisory threshold. Manganese in the Crum Reservoir, the district’s raw water source, tested at 0.034 mg/L, safely within both guidelines.

Currently, there is no federal maximum contaminant level (MCL) for manganese in drinking water, meaning the EPA’s recommendations are advisories rather than enforceable regulations. However, the agency advises that even short-term exposures at or above 0.3 mg/L may be harmful to infants. For most individuals, the short-term (one-day or 10-day) health advisory level is 1.0 mg/L, but this does not apply to babies younger than six months.

Todd Adams, regional operations manager for Alliance Water Resources, responded to questions via email. He said the utility is reviewing the test results and awaiting additional data to help determine the source of the elevated manganese level.

“We expect the additional test results to provide more information to determine the root cause,” Adams said. “Please note that the 0.3 mg/L is a lifetime health advisory. The one-day and 10-day health advisory level for manganese is 1.0 mg/L.”

According to Adams, the Kentucky Division of Water did not require public notification of the elevated result at Newberry Lane. He also stated that it does not indicate contamination of the distribution system.

“We have no reason to believe we have any contamination in the distribution system,” said Adams. “We collected several samples from the system during flushing at the beginning and end of the flush and measured the manganese levels. All samples at the end of flushing were well below all advisory levels.”

Adams noted that the treatment plant is currently using sodium permanganate in the flash mix process to address manganese. This chemical oxidizes dissolved manganese, turning it into a solid that filtration can remove.

Despite these measures, the district continues to investigate the cause of widespread brown water across Martin County.

“Depending on the results, the district may consider an engineering study to determine the best way to proceed,” said Adams.

In addition to manganese, the Crum Reservoir showed elevated iron levels at 0.798 mg/L, more than double the EPA’s secondary maximum contaminant level of 0.3 mg/L. Although not a health risk, excessive iron can cause discoloration, staining and unpleasant taste. The testing detected no iron at the plant tap or Newberry Lane. This suggests that treatment is successfully removing iron before the water reaches customers.

Turbidity — or cloudiness — in the reservoir registered 2.56 NTU, well above the EPA’s limit of 0.3 NTU for filtered water systems. There was no turbidity in finished water samples.

All three sites recorded negative Langelier Index values, indicating corrosive water that may cause lead or copper to leach from plumbing. The index ranged from -1.95 at the reservoir to -1.57 at Newberry Lane.

Adams confirmed that the last lead and copper sampling took place in October 2023, with all results below federal action levels. The next testing cycle will be in 2026.

Other water quality indicators, including pH, total dissolved solids and alkalinity, were all within acceptable EPA ranges.

“We want to reassure the public that the water is safe and meets all state and federal standards,” Adams said. “The district is committed to doing whatever is necessary to provide the best drinking water possible for every customer. We have conducted a thorough flushing of the system, but if you are still experiencing discolored water, please call our office at 606-298-3885.”

This is a developing story.