Water Quality and Treatment
Water Quality
Drinking water treated by the Gulf Coast Water Authority meets or exceeds all standards set by the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and its amendments. Congress initially developed the SDWA in 1974 to protect public health and ensure that drinking water provided to the public is safe. The focus of the Act was primarily aimed at treatment. Amendments to the law in 1986 and 1996 expanded the focus to include source water protection, training of operators, funding of system improvements, as well as access to public information as important parts of safe drinking water. Every public water system in the United States must comply with the SDWA.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) is responsible for developing regulations and standards which conform to the provisions of the SDWA. The regulations are health-based standards and protect against contaminants found in drinking water that are naturally occurring or man-made. The US EPA also oversees the enforcement of the standards by the states, tribes, and water systems. In Texas, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) makes sure that water providers in the state follow the requirements of the SDWA. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) contracts with approved laboratories to analyze our drinking water produced by the Thomas S. Mackey Water Treatment Plant.
Treatment
Initial treatment begins with the application of powdered activated carbon to help eliminate taste and odors. The water is then disinfected with chlorine dioxide. The chlorine dioxide is a powerful disinfectant that destroys bacteria and microorganisms and helps to reduce taste and odor. The water is also treated for algae control.
Next, suspended particles in the water are combined together in a process called flocculation. The floc particles settle out and the remaining particles are removed through the filtration process. Our filters are composed of silica sand and granular activated carbon.
After filtration, the water is treated for corrosion control and fluoride is then added.
Thomas S. Mackey Water Treatment Plant Texas City, Texas
Chlorine and liquid ammonium sulfate are added to create chloramines in the final process of treatment to disinfect the water and protect it as it makes its way through the transmission systems to the end-user’s tap.
The Thomas S. Mackey Water Treatment Plant staff monitors and performs water quality tests daily to ensure a high-quality drinking water that meets or exceeds state and federal regulations is produced for our customers
