Muscatine residents are being reassured about the safety of their water after a malfunction Monday at the City’s water treatment plant.

According to City Communications Manager Kevin Jenison, a gate limiting water flow through a UV disinfection system malfunctioned, posing a risk for damage to the expensive UV bulbs.

Since the malfunction was discovered mid-day Monday, the city has been bypassing the UV disinfection stage of water it discharges into the Mississippi River.

Jenison assures residents that the water being discharged now is 98 percent pure and equivalent to what was discharged before the City’s UV system was installed in 2010, and meets all current safety standards.

UV treatment targets bacteria and disrupts their DNA so they cannot reproduce.

The city is awaiting a part and expects to have the UV system back on line by Friday.