The Arlington Water Utilities Department has received recognition from the state for effectively monitoring bacteria in the City’s water system.

The Public Drinking Water Section of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality awarded the utility with a Certificate for Outstanding Performance in Bacteriological Monitoring.

"Your public water system is being recognized for an outstanding level of compliance in monthly monitoring related to the ‘Total Coliform Rule,’" Buck Henderson, manager of the Drinking Water Section, stated in a letter that accompanied the certificate. "For the five year period, from 1997 to 2001, your public water system had no monitoring or maximum contaminant level violations of the ‘Total Coliform Rule.’"

Coliform bacteria, if present, indicate that other, possibly harmful bacteria may also be present, and water supplies must be tested for it in accordance with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Arlington’s Water Utility samples 180 sites a month and runs tests on these samples looking for Coliform.

"We have been doing tests since 1974 and have never had unsafe levels of Coliform," said Star Birch, laboratory services manager. "What these tests tell us is that the City’s drinking water is safe and free of harmful bacteria."

Water Utilities Director Charles Anderson said that he was pleased to receive the recognition.