Notice of Drinking Water, Nitrate Violation Mandatory Language for a Maximum Contaminant Level Violation MCL

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice of Drinking Water, Nitrate Violation Mandatory Language for a Maximum Contaminant Level Violation MCL, SINGLE SAMPLE / NITRATE

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has notified the TURKEY MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM TX0960003 that the drinking water being supplied to customers had exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for nitrate. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) has established the MCL for nitrate to be 10 milligrams per liter (mg/L) based on a single sample and has determined that it is a health concern at levels above the MCL. Analysis of drinking water in your community for nitrate indicates a compliance value in quarter two 2026 of 16 mg/L for EP001.

Infants below the age of six months who drink water containing nitrate in excess of the MCL could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die.

Symptoms include shortness of breath and blue baby syndrome. If your child is under the age of six months, the child MUST be given an alternative water supply for any consumption. Boiling the affected water is NOT an effective treatment for nitrate removal. Most consumers do not need to use an alternative water supply. However, if you have health concerns, you may want to talk to your doctor to get more information about how this may affect you. At this time, the health effects to fetuses of pregnant women are unclear. If you are pregnant, you may also choose to use an alternative source of water for drinking and cooking purposes.

The City is taking the following actions to address this issue by searching for different water sources and studying more effective processes to implement that will assist in alleviating the high levels of nitrate. Bottled water is available at the Turkey City Hall located at 602 Lyles Street, at no cost to those needing alternative source of water supply. Please share this information with all people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this matter, you may contact the City Manager, Lynette Findley, at 806-423-1033. Thank you.

Posted/Delivered on: 7/1/26 Public Water System ID# 0960003.