Officials at Idaho National Engineering Laboratory say employees at one location no longer have to drink bottled water because a new treatment system is operating.

Employees at the Technical Support Facility used bottled water after earlier tests showed unhealthy levels of trichloroethlyene in the water. Officials said the concentration was slightly above the 5 parts per billion considered safe.Sampling since the treatment system was installed indicate levels of the organic compound have been reduced to well within national standards proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency.

INEL officials said with the treatment system in operation, bottled water will be used as a backup drinking water supply if any problems affect the regular system.

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