It is with great sadness that I write to tell you that my mentor, my role model, my dearest friend, Betty Olds, passed away on July 16th.

     I served as Betty's legislative aide for 16 years. Here is the piece published in Berkeleyside about Betty's enormous contribution to the City of Berkeley and her fascinating life.

 

    As many of you may remember, I have been actively engaged with EBMUD regarding water quality, and specifically THM contaminants being delivered to areas of the Berkeley Hills.  I have been waiting anxiously for the most recent test results for samples taken in July.  The news is good.  THM levels are down! Here is the press release that EBMUD sent out last week:

 

"As your water supplier, EBMUD is committed to providing information about water quality directly to you.  Most importantly, EBMUD drinking water quality continues to meet all state and federal standards.  These standards are developed to protect public health.  In June, we shared with you actions EBMUD was taking to address elevated levels of disinfection byproducts found in drinking water.  With the results of recent water quality tests, we have an important update for you.  Our latest tests show improvements in the levels of disinfection byproducts called trihalomethanes (THMs).  These compounds form when chlorine reacts with naturally-occurring organic matter in water and are found in all chlorinated drinking water systems.

 

"Tests conducted at 16 locations throughout EBMUD's service area in late July 2017 showed THM concentrations ranging from 30 parts per billion (ppb) to 57 ppb.  All sites are well below the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 80 ppb.  This standard was developed to limit long-term exposure to THMs while balancing the need to disinfect water to protect the public from disease-causing pathogens.

 

"EBMUD detected changes in water composition early and adjusted operations, made system improvements, and increased flushing.  The recently approved 2018-19 budget includes significant investments in capital improvements, which will also improve water quality.

 

"Improvements in the organic makeup of EBMUD's water source, Pardee Reservoir, combined with our strong corrective actions are moving the water quality needle in the right direction.  While the recent test results are a positive signal, EBMUD's team of water quality staff continues to take action to limit the formation of disinfection byproducts in drinking water. EBMUD will continue testing and communicating with the public on this important issue.

 

"Background

"Municipal water agencies like EBMUD are regulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the State of California Division of Drinking Water, under the state and federal Safe Drinking Water Acts.  We protect public health through a two-step process to filter and disinfect all water we deliver to remove pathogens that can cause serious illnesses.  Over the past few years, in our regular collection and analysis of water samples throughout the distribution system, EBMUD staff began to see a rise in the concentration of THMs, which form when chlorine reacts with naturally-occurring organic matter in water.  Concentrations of this compound in EBMUD drinking water don't exceed state and federal standards; however, they exceeded EBMUD's internal water quality goals.  This prompted EBMUD to take proactive actions.

 

To find out more about this issue, or to review our water quality report and data, click here."