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The sources of drinking
water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams,
ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the
surface of land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring
minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up
substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human
activity.
Drinking water,
including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least
small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does
not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More
information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained
by calling the EPAs Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.
Contaminants that may be present in source water include:
Microbial Contaminants - such as
viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic
systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
Inorganic Contaminants - such as
salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban
stormwater runoff, industrial, or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and
gas production, mining, or farming.
Pesticides and Herbicides - which may come from a variety of sources such as
agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.
Organic Chemical Contaminants – including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which
are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can
also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.
Radioactive Contaminants – which can be naturally-occurring or be the result of oil
and gas production and mining activities.
In order to ensure that
tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by
public water systems. FDA regulations establish limits for contaminants in
bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.
Some people may be more
vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population.
Contaminants may be
found in drinking water that may cause taste, color, or odor
problems. These types of problems are not necessarily causes for
health concerns. For more information on taste, odor, or color of
drinking water, please contact the system's business office.
Immuno-compromised
persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who
have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune
system disorders, some elderly and infants can be particularly at risk from
infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their
health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to
lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial
contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline
(800-426-4791).
If present, elevated
levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant
women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from
materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing.
We are responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but we cannot
control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your
water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential
for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before
using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in
your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in
drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize
exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
In the tables below,
you will find many terms and abbreviations you might not be familiar
with. To help you better understand these terms, we’ve provided the
following definitions:
Action Level (AL): The
concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or
other requirements which a water system must follow.
Action Level Goal (ALG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there
is no known or expected risk to health. ALGs allow for a margin of safety.
Level 1 Assessment: A Level 1
assessment is a study of the water system to identify potential problems
and determine (if possible) why total coliform bacteria have been found in
our water system.
Level 2 Assessment: A Level 2
assessment is a very detailed study of the water system to identify
potential problems and determine (if possible) why an E. coli MCL violation
has occurred and/or why total coliform bacteria have been found in our
water system on multiple occasions.
Maximum Contaminant Level or MCL: The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in
drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the
best available treatment technology.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal or MCLG: The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which
there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of
safety.
Maximum residual disinfectant level goal or MRDLG: The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there
is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits
of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.
Maximum residual disinfectant level or MRDL: The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking
water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is
necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
Treatment Technique or TT: A required process intended to reduce the level of a
contaminant in drinking water.
Variances and Exemptions: State or EPA permission not to meet an MCL or a treatment
technique under certain conditions.
Avg: Average - Regulatory
compliance with some MCLs are based on running annual average of monthly
samples.
LRAA: Locational Running
Annual Average
mrem: millirems per year (a
measure of radiation absorbed by the body)
ppb: micrograms per liter
(ug/L) or parts per billion - or one ounce in 7,350,000 gallons of water.
ppm: milligrams per liter
(mg/L) or parts per million - or one ounce in 7,350 gallons of water
picocuries per liter (pCi/L): picocuries per liter is a measure of the radioactivity in
water.
na: not applicable.
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