Fortunately for our country chlorine disinfection technology has almost completely eliminated from our lives the risks of waterborne diseases such as typhoid fever, cholera, and dysentery. However, the health benefit of chlorination has introduced some possible risks from the byproducts of the disinfection process. The water of southwest Florida has always had these organics derived from decaying plant materials and thus, we have probably always had TTHM in our chlorinated water . A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency survey discovered that trihalomethanes are present in virtually all chlorinated water supplies. TTHM do not pose a high health risk compared to waterborne diseases, but they are among the most important water quality issues to be addressed in the U.S. water supply.
Some people are inclined to exaggerate risks while others completely discount potential problems.
While that statement may or may not be true, tests done on laboratory animals are helpful in protecting human health. These test results should not be ignored, nor should they be exaggerated. The Florida Center for Public Management at FSU ranks drinking water contaminants as a medium to low-level risk. Higher on the scale are indoor air quality, ambient air quality, and food quality . In the case of TTHM, it does seem prudent to take reasonable steps to reduce this contaminant from our water supply given that some legitimate scientific studies do suggest some health risk and given that the cost of fixing the problem is reasonable.