High levels of atrazine found in Drexel water; restriction lifted

Subsequent testing of drinking water samples in Drexel have found only trace amounts of atrazine well below the maximum contaminant level, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources announced last Friday. This following a release from DNR last Wednesday, June 23rd, for high levels of the herbicide atrazine having been found in the city of Drexel’s public water supply. Atrazine is a common herbicide used to control broadleaf and grassy weeds. Atrazine is mainly applied to corn and soybean crops, but is also used on sorghum, sugarcane and Christmas tree farms. It is likely that high rain amounts in early spring caused the herbicide to wash into the city lake, thus causing the contamination.
The maximum contaminant level for atrazine is 3 parts per billion.  Results of a routine quarterly drinking water sample collected on May 26, 2010 at Drexel showed a level of 31.2 micrograms per liter, equivalent to 31.2 parts per billion. This spike in the atrazine level was 10 times the maximum amount allowed in drinking water of 3 parts per billion. Neither the U.S. Environment Protection Agency (EPA), the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, nor the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) expected to see any significant acute health effects as a result of the
monitoring spike. DHSS recommended neither using the water for drinking nor using it to cook, wash dishes or to
make ice.
Due to recent heavy rains....
Read the complete story in the July 1st edition.