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Page 1 of 6 2024 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report PWSID# MT0000136 91 East Central Avenue Belgrade MT, 59714 The City of Belgrade is pleased to present its 2024 Annual Water Quality Report. Our goal is to provide you with a safe and dependable supply of drinking water. This report is designed to provide details about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to standards set by regulatory agencies. We are committed to providing you with information because informed consumers are our best resources to aid in maintaining and improving water quality. We are happy to report that our drinking water is safe and meets federal and state requirements. If you have any questions about this report or concerning your water, please contact Belgrade Public Works at (406) 388-3566 or [EMAIL REDACTED]. You may also attend our regular City Council meetings. They are held on the first and third Monday of each month at 7:00 pm in the City Council Chambers at Belgrade City Hall, 91 East Central Avenue, Belgrade, Montana. We want our valued customers to be informed about their drinking water. Sources of Drinking Water 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. It can also 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 eƯects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) 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 naturally occur or result from urban stormwater runoƯ, 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 runoƯ, and residential uses. Organic chemical contaminants, including and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoƯ, and septic systems. Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities. ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 2 of 6 To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the EPA prescribes regulations that limit the number of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The Food and Drug Administration (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. Immuno- compromised individuals, such as people with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, people who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, and some elderly and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their healthcare providers. EPA and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (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. If 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 are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead. Source Water Information for City of Belgrade which is classified as a Ground Water system The source water assessment report for your water system provides additional information on your source water's susceptibility to contamination. Access this report directly at or by visiting and navigating to the interactive Montana Source Water Protection Viewer. The City of Belgrade utilizes the listed water sources below: Water Source Name Water Source Type WELL 3 STILES WELL GWIC 188780 Well WELL 4 SHOP WELL GWIC 132557 Well WELL 1 BROADWAY WELL GWIC 90835 Well WELL 7 GWIC 295423 Well WELL 5 YUKON LANE GWIC 202221 Well WELL 6 AIRPORT WELL GWIC 202225 Well WELL 2 LEWIS & CLARK WELL GWIC 90850 Well ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 3 of 6 Water Quality Test Results Definitions The following tables contain scientific terms and measures, some of which may require explanation. Action Level: The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow. Avg: Regulatory compliance with some MCLs is based on running an annual average of samples. 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 contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the 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. allow for a margin of safety. Maximum residual disinfectant level or MRDL: The highest level of disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that the addition of a disinfectant is necessary for the control of microbial contaminants. Maximum residual disinfectant level goal or The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants. N/A: Not applicable. ND: Not detectable at testing limit. Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU) − Measure of the clarity or cloudiness of water. Turbidity more than 5 NTU is just noticeable to the typical person. Picocuries per liter (pCi/L) − Measure of the radioactivity in water. ppb: micrograms per liter or parts per billion - or one ounce in 7,350,000 gallons of water. ppm: milligrams per liter or parts per million - or one ounce in 7,350 gallons of water. Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level (SMCL): are established as guidelines to assist public water systems in managing their drinking water for aesthetic considerations, such as taste, color, and odor. These contaminants are not considered to present a risk to human health at the SMCL. Treatment Technique or TT: A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water. The State of Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) requires us to monitor certain contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from year to year, or the system is not considered vulnerable to this type of contamination. Therefore, some of our data, though representative, may be more than one-year-old. ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 4 of 6 The following tables show the results of any detects in our monitoring for the period of January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024. For constituents that are not monitored yearly, we have reviewed our records back to the last five years. Results of regular monitoring are an indicator that drinking water has or has not met health standards. We conducted monitoring for asbestos in November 2021 and based on our analytical result, we have been granted a waiver by the DEQ. This waiver is eƯective from January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2028. Belgrade has also been issued a waiver for certain inorganic contaminants for Wells 1, 2, 3 and 4. This waiver allows our water system to sample only once every nine years for these regulated contaminants: barium, cadmium, chromium, mercury, selenium, fluoride. Past sampling for these contaminants has shown that they are not present in our water supply or occur in such small amounts that they are not considered health hazards. This waiver is in eƯect from January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2028. Lead and Copper Lead and Copper Date Sampled MCLG Action Level (AL) 90th Percentile # Sites Over AL Units Violation Likely Source of Contamination Copper 06-15- 2022 1.3 1.3 0.17 0 ppm N Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching from wood preservatives; Corrosion of household plumbing systems. Lead 06-15- 2022 0 15 1.03 0 ppb N Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits. Coliform Bacteria Maximum Contaminant Level Goal Total Coliform Maximum Contaminant Level Highest No of Positive Fecal Coliform or E Coli Maximum Contaminant Level Total No of Positive E Coli or Fecal Coliform Samples Violation Likely Source of Contamination 0 1 positive sample. 7 0 N Naturally present in the environment. Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR) Assessments Coliforms are bacteria that are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other, potentially harmful, waterborne pathogens may be present or that a potential pathway exists through which contamination may enter the drinking water distribution system. We found coliforms indicating the need to look for potential problems in water treatment or distribution. When this occurs, we are required to conduct assessment(s) to identify problems and to correct any problems that were found during these assessments. ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 5 of 6 Results for the 2024 Reporting Year During the past year we were required to conduct Assessment(s) Number of assessments required in the reporting year Number of assessments completed in the reporting year Number of corrective actions required Number of corrective actions completed Assessment Outcome Level 1 1 1 0 0 The assessment identified an illegal fire hydrant connection as the likely reason for the 1 positive coliform sample in 2024. Level II 0 N/A N/A N/A N/A Regulated Contaminants Contaminant Group: Inorganic Contaminants Regulated Contaminants Collection Year Highest Level Detected Range of Levels MCLG MCL Units Violation Likely Source of Contamination Arsenic 2023 1.08 .47 - 1.08 0 10 ppb N Erosion of natural deposits; RunoƯ from orchards; RunoƯ from glass and electronics production wastes. Barium 2020 0.15 .06 - .15 2 2 ppm N Discharge of drilling wastes; Discharge from metal refineries; Erosion of natural deposits. Nitrate [measured as Nitrogen] 2024 2 .87 - 2.39 10 10 ppm N RunoƯ from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposits. ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 6 of 6 Our system had no violations. Thank you for allowing us to continue providing your household with clean, quality water this year. We at the City of Belgrade are committed to ensuring the quality of your water, and work around the clock to provide top-quality water to every tap. We ask that all of our consumers help us protect our water sources, which are the heart of our community, our way of life, and our future. Paper copies of this report are available at Belgrade City Hall, 91 East Central Avenue, Belgrade, Montana and can be viewed online at: Copies will be posted at the Belgrade Library and Community Center, Belgrade Post OƯice, and Belgrade Senior Center, and will appear in the Belgrade News. Contaminant Group: Radioactive Contaminants Regulated Contaminants Collection Year Highest Level Detected Range of Levels MCLG MCL Units Violation Likely Source of Contamination Combined Radium 226/228 2020 2.1 ND - 2.1 0 5 pCi/L N Erosion of natural deposits. GROSS ALPHA, EXCL. RADON & Uranium 2020 1.4 ND - 1.4 0 15 pCi/L N Erosion of natural deposits. Uranium 2020 4.5 2.2 - 4.5 0 30 ppb N Erosion of natural deposits.