Water testing by Memphis Light, Gas & Water revealed trace amounts of benzene and other compounds in tap water that originated from the Allen Water Pumping Station at 709 East Dison.

That station serves customers in the surrounding communities.

Water Quality Assurance Laboratory experts detected the compounds in tap water originating from the well at Allen Station in December. The levels are lower than the levels that require federal reporting, but the wells were immediately taken out of service as a precaution. One of the wells that was identified as the primary source of the compounds will no longer be used to supply drinking water to the public.

MLGW will now conduct weekly tests to ensure that there are no detectable levels of benzene and other volatile organic compounds in tap water. The water has traditionally been tested once a year for volatile organic compounds.

MLGW has more than 170 drilled wells in Shelby County that tap into the Memphis Sands and Fort Pillow aquifers, which contain more than 100 trillion gallons of naturally filtered water. As part of the treatment process, MLGW adds fluoride, sodium hypochlorite (which kills bacteria) and phosphate (which inhibits corrosion) to water as required by local, state and federal regulations.