Cindy DiFazio, Staff Writer

In the past few months two legal notices concerning the drinking water in the Town of Versailles have been published in local newspapers. An explanation of what these notices mean for Versailles residents is as follows:

Firstly, the violation mentioned in the legal notices has already been corrected.

Versailles Water Works water quality has never been better according to Clerk/Treasurer Ted Spurlock. Upgrades that have been completed in the past year remove more contaminants than ever.

Government guidelines have become more stringent in recent years, leading to the reported violation stemming from a slightly elevated level of total trihalomethanes. The 2006 annual average was 91.1 which exceeded the 80.0 standard set by the government.

It is important to note that the notice clearly states “You do not need to use an alternative (e.g. bottled) water supply. However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.”

The specific health concerns that the notice addresses are for people who have consumed excess trihalomethanes over a period of many years.

Within the next few months, work will be completed on Versailles Water Works improvements which will bring state-of-the-art technology to the area. According to a letter sent by engineers working on the project to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management on March 12, “The Town of Versailles has reached Substantial Completion on construction of their water treatment plant improvements project. They are currently in the final stages of training and adjustments to the water treatment operations.”

Ultra-violet light (UV rays) will be used to treat the water, greatly reducing the use of chlorine. A carbon filter system will also help to make Versailles water some of the cleanest drinking water available.

Spurlock was only half-joking when he told the newspaper, “Other places will want to bottle our water.”