TCEQ requires what percentage of Giardia removal?

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) sets stringent requirements for the removal of Giardia due to its potential health risks to humans. The requirement for a 99.9% removal rate indicates that a treatment process must be robust enough to effectively reduce the presence of this protozoan cyst in treated water. This percentage reflects the goal of providing a high level of public health protection, as Giardia can cause gastrointestinal illness.

Meeting the 99.9% removal standard means that, out of every 1,000 Giardia cysts present in the untreated water, only one cyst would remain in the treated water. This level of efficacy is crucial in ensuring that water systems deliver safe drinking water to consumers, minimizing the risk of waterborne diseases associated with Giardia infections.

Options that propose higher percentages of removal, such as 99.99% or 99.999%, indicate an even greater level of treatment but are not the mandated requirements set forth by TCEQ. The selected percentage strikes a balance between achieving safety and practicality in treatment processes.