Nearly a week after public concern began swelling regarding the North Texas Municipal Water District’s use of chlorine and chloramine to disinfect water, the district provided an update to the Plano City Council maintaining the city's water is safe to use.

Plano Mayor Harry LaRosiliere addressed recent social media posts made by environmental activist Erin Brockovich that criticized the quality of the NTMWD’s water.

“If there is a problem with our water, we’ll fix it," LaRosiliere said. "If there is not, please hold your judgment and accusations until the facts come out."

Other council members raised questions about the district’s water testing procedures, as well as a recent chlorine taste and smell in Plano water.

Council Member Rick Smith said he has heard from citizens who asked if there was anything different in this year’s chlorine maintenance.

Tom Kula, executive director of the NTMWD, said the district is pulling current data and comparing it with previous years to determine if there are any discrepancies in the chlorine maintenance periods.

Council Member Anthony Ricciardelli asked if the district had considered efforts to mitigate the effects of the chlorine maintenance that caused the chlorine taste and smell of the water.

Billy George, assistant deputy director of water for the NTMWD, said the water district plans to address the chlorine taste and smell side effects on a future agenda.

“Everything we have heard today makes me very comfortable about the safety of the water,” Ricciardelli said.

Public concern over the quality of water provided by the NTMWD started March 14 when, over Facebook, Brockovich criticized the district’s practice of using two disinfecting chemicals, chlorine and chloramine.

Brockovich claims the practice of using chlorine causes toxic byproducts to form in the water, including one called trihalomethanes, and that they are “just not yet regulated.”

George, assistant deputy director of water for the NTMWD, said the district does not test for trihalomethanes. That testing is conducted by the state, he said.

Gerald Cosgrove, director of public works for the city of Plano, said his department would be conducting tests for trihalomethanes before the chlorine maintenance period ends.

Leigh Wilcox, an administrator of a Facebook group that organized at Tuesday’s council meeting, said Brockovich’s comments on social media inspired her and other area residents to organize.

“[Brockovich] kind of was a catalyst to get the group moving and kind of getting people to come together,” Wilcox said.

According to a city press release dated Feb. 19, the district began a chlorine maintenance period Feb. 26 that is expected to end March 26.

The chlorine maintenance is a routine, annual procedure the water district conducts as a preventative measure to protect water quality, according to the presentation provided by the water district.