Chlorine reacts in water with naturally occurring organic material such as decaying leaves to produce chemicals called trihalomethanes, or THMs. These disinfection byproducts include a variety of compounds.
Chloroform is one such compound.
Scientific research today concludes that these byproducts could possibly, in the long run increases a person s risk of cancer. Due to this potential risk, THMS are regulated. State and federal standards currently allow trihalomethanes of up to 100 parts per billion. New, proposed federal regulations are expected to make this standard even more stringent, reducing the level of THMS to 80 parts per billion. Theses compounds have always been at levels of 60 parts per billion or less in our water.