2007 Water Quality Data
WATER QUALITY DATA REQUIREMENTS: The following is presented in compliance with the EPA’s format and content requirements. Terms and abbreviations used in the following tables:
Minimum Detectable Level (MDA): the level of contaminant in drinking water that can be reliably detected by the laboratory.
Maximum Contamination Level Goal (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 Contamination Level (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.
Action Level (AL): the concentration of a contaminant which, when exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.
ND: not detectable at testing limit. N/A: not applicable. mfl: million fibers per liter. ppb: parts per billion or micrograms per liter. ppm: parts per million or milligrams per liter. pCi/l: picocuries per liter (a measure of radiation)
Contaminants detected in 2006 with designated Maximum Contaminant Levels |
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| Compound | MCL | MCLG | Highest Level | Range of Detection | Year | Typical Source of Contamination |
Regulated at Source |
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| Fluoride | 4 | 4 | .02 | ND-0.2 | 2006 | Additive for teeth, erosion of soils, mining. |
| Nitrate | 10 | 10 | 4.8 | ND-4.8 | 2006 | Runoff from fertilizer use: Leaching from from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposit |
Regulated in Distribution System |
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| Volatile Organic Chemicals (all in ppb): | ||||||
| Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) | 80* | 80 | 17.6 | ND-17.6 | Qtr’ly/2006 | By-product of drinking water chlorination |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 60* | 60 | 8.1 | ND-8.1 | Qtr’ly/2006 | By-product of drinking water chlorination |
| * Compliance is determined by running annual average of quarterly sampling for sub components of TTHMs and HAA5s. | ||||||
| Total Coliform | 0 | 0 | Zero Positive Samples | 2006 | Naturally occurring throughout the environment. | |
| E. coli | 0 | 0 | Zero Postive Samples | 2006 | Animal Wastes | |
| Chlorine | 4 | 1.01 | 0.34-1.01 | Recorded Daily | Water additive used to control microbes. | |
Radionuclides |
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| Analyte: | ||||||
| Gross Beta (pCi/I) | 50 | 50 | ND | ND-ND | 2006 | Erosion of natural deposits. |
| Radium-228 (pCi/l) | -- | 0.8 | ND | ND-ND | 2006 | Erosion of natural deposits. |
Regulated at Consumer's Tap |
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| Copper (ppm) | 1.3 | 1.3 | ND-0.39 | 0 | 11/04 | Corrosion of household plumbing systems. |
| Lead (ppb) | 15 | 0 | ND - 5 | 0 | 11/04 | Corrosion of household plumbing systems. |
About Water Sources and contaminants: 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 the 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.
Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife. Inorganic chemical contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban storm water 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 storm water runoff, and residential uses. Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, can also come from gas stations, urban storm water 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. Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.