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Annual Drinking Water Quality Report for 2024 Town of Owasco 2 Bristol Avenue, Auburn, New York 13021 Public Water Supply ID#0501721 INTRODUCTION To comply with State regulations, the Town of Owasco will be annually issuing a report describing the quality of your drinking water. The purpose of this report is to raise your understanding of drinking water and awareness of the need to protect our drinking water sources. Last year, we conducted tests for over 50 contaminants. This report provides an overview of last year’s water quality. Included are details about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to State standards. If you have any questions about this report concerning your drinking water, please contact John Carter, Water Supervisor at [PHONE REDACTED]. We want you to be informed about your drinking water. If you want to learn more, please attend any of our regularly scheduled town board meetings. The meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month at 4:00 p.m. at the town hall on 2 Bristol Avenue. WHERE DOES OUR WATER COME FROM? In general, 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 activities. Contaminants that may be present in source water include microbial contaminants; inorganic contaminants; pesticides and herbicides; organic chemical contaminants; and radioactive contaminants. To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the State and the EPA prescribe regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The State Health Department and the FDA’s regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health. Our water source is Owasco Lake and is located in Cayuga County. During 2024, our system did not experience any restriction of our water source. The water flows to the lower pump station from a line that is 450 feet out into the lake. The intake structure is located at a depth of 45 feet. The Town also protects its’ raw water intake pipe from zebra mussels by adding potassium permanganate. From the lower pumping station, the water is pumped from a 16 inch or 8-inch line to the filter plant where it is pre-chlorinated, and polymer is added (ED461). It then goes to the Microfloc Trident System (TR-210 there it is post chlorinated prior to distribution. During the 2017 season, a Granular Activated Carbon filter system was built to help treat microcystin, the toxin associated with Harmful Algae Blooms (HAB). The NYS Department of Health has completed a source water assessment for the Town of Owasco, based on available information. Possible and actual threats to this drinking water source were evaluated. This source water assessment includes a susceptibility rating based on the risk posed by each potential source of contamination and how easily contaminants can move through the sub-surfaces to the lakes. The susceptibility rating is an estimate of the potential for contamination of the water source. It does not mean that the water delivered to consumers is, or will become, contaminated. (See the section of this document “Are there contaminants in our drinking water?” for a list of the contaminants that have been detected in the drinking water.) ---PAGE BREAK--- As mentioned before, our water is derived primarily from Owasco Lake. The source water assessment has rated this source as having an elevated susceptibility to protozoa and phosphorus due to the amount of agricultural land in the assessment area and the quantity of wastewater discharged from municipal wastewater treatment plants to surface water. In addition, this source water assessment rated Owasco Lake as having an elevated susceptibility to pesticide contamination due to the amount of agricultural land. County and state health departments will use this information to direct future source water protection activities. These may include water quality monitoring, resource management, planning, and education programs. A copy of the complete assessment is available for review by calling the Cayuga County Health Department at [PHONE REDACTED]. FACTS AND FIGURES Our water system serves 3000 people in the Town of Owasco with 1623 service connections and our water serves the Town of Fleming. The total water produced in 2024 was 156,639,763 gallons. The daily average of water treated and pumped into the distribution system was 427,978 gallons per day. Our highest single day was 749,622 gallons. The amount of water delivered to customers was 117,185,157 gallons and the metered filtered/flushed backwash totaled 9,585,612 gallons and 100,000 gallons used for hydrant flushing. This leaves an unaccounted-for total of 26,163,671 gallons. This water was used to supply the splashpad, to flush mains, fight fires, the sewer Jetter, water main breaks and lost through leakage, accounting for the remaining water produced (17 percent of the total amount produced). In 2024, water customers in the Town of Owasco were charged an average of $4.50 per 1000 gallons of water and the annual average water charge was $235.18. ARE THERE CONTAMINANTS IN OUR DRINKING WATER? As the State regulations require, we routinely test your drinking water for numerous contaminants. These contaminants include total coliform, turbidity, inorganic compounds, nitrate, nitrite, lead and copper, volatile organic compounds, total trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids, radiological and organic compounds. The table presented below depicts which compounds were detected in your drinking water. The State allows us to test for some contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently. Some of our data, though representative, are more than one year old. It should be noted that all drinking water, including bottled drinking water, may be reasonably 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 EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline ([PHONE REDACTED]) or the Cayuga County Health Department at [PHONE REDACTED]. ---PAGE BREAK--- TOWN OF OWASCO Table of Detected Contaminants Contaminant Violation Yes/No Date of Sample Level Detected (Avg/Max) (Range) Unit Measurement MCL MCL/G Likely Source of Contamination BARIUM, TOTAL No 10/21/24 0.023 mg/L 2 2 Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries, Erosions of natural deposits CHLOROFORM No 10/21/24 9.1 ug/L 80 By product of drinking water chlorination needed to kill harmful organisms. BROMODICHLOROMETHANE No 10/21/24 3.7 ug/L 80 By product of drinking water chlorination needed to kill harmful organisms. DIBROMOCHLOROMETHANE No 10/21/24 1.2 ug/L 80 By product of drinking water chlorination needed to kill harmful organisms. SULFATE (AS SO4) No 4/5/23 11.2 mg/L 250 n/a Naturally occurring SODIUM No 12/17/21 16.2 mg/L No limit N/A Naturally occurring; road salt; water softeners; animal waste TRIHALOMETHANES No 5/13/24 8/12/24 11/13/24 Range 25-70.2 Average 535 ug/l 80 N/A By product of drinking water chlorination needed to kill harmful organisms. are formed when source water contains large amounts of organic matter Haloacetic Acids No 2/13/24 5/13/24 8/12/24 11/13/24 Range 32.93-64.4 Average 445 ug/L 60 N/A By product of drinking water chlorination needed to kill harmful organisms. Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) No 10/21/24 2.98 ng/L Chemical PH No Daily 7.09-8.41 SU ---PAGE BREAK--- COPPER No 8/31/22 0.762 0.062-0.93 mg/L AL -1.3 1.3 Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives LEAD No 8/31/22 53 <1-12 ug/L AL -15 0 Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits NITRATE – (AS N) No 11/13/24 0.90 mg/L 10 10 Run off from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposits GROSS ALPHA No 1/15/23 0.556 pCi/L 5 0 Erosion of natural deposits. Physical Owasco Lake Turbidity (NTU)1 No Daily 0.035-0.058 AVG-0.046 NTU TT=95% of samples less than 0.3 ntu N/A Soil Runoff Turbidity (NTU)1 (in distribution system) No Daily 0.244-0.296 AVG. 0.27 NTU TT=<5 NTU N/A Soil Runoff Cyanotoxin / Microcystin Finished water No 7/30/24- 10/31/24 <0.15 except for 10/8/24 (0.26) ppb N/A4 0 Naturally occuring due to algae blooms Microcystin Raw Water No 7/30/24- 10/31/24 <0.15-1.11 ppb N/A N/A Naturally occuring due to algae blooms The Tabl below lists contaminants that were tested for but not detected Contaminant\ Violation Yes/No Date of Sample Level Detected (Avg/Max) (Range) Unit Measurement MCL MCL/G Sources in Drinking Water ANTIMONY – TOTAL No 10/21/24 <0.001 mg/L ASBESTOS No 11/17/20 <0.69 MFL BERYLLIUM, TOTAL No 10/21/24 <0.001 mg/L CADMIUM, TOTAL No 10/21/24 <0.001 mg/L CHROMIUM - TOTAL No 10/21/24 <0.005 mg/L COLIFORM No 1/24/24 <0.01 ml ---PAGE BREAK--- 2/12/24 11/20/24 <1 col./100 ARSENIC No 10/21/24 <0.001 mg/L CYANIDE , Hydrolyzable No 12/9/24 <0.02 mg/L CYANIDE - TOTAL No 4/5/23 <0.004 Mg/L DALAPON No 12/9/24 <0.001 <0.001 <.0.001 <0.001 mg/L mg/L mg/L mg/L FLUORIDE No 10/21/24 <0.10 mg/L MERCURY, TOTAL No 10/21/24 <0.0002 mg/L NICKEL No 10/21/24 <0.001 mg/L SELENIUM, TOTAL No 10/21/24 <0.002 mg/L RADIUM 226 No 09/01/22 <1.0 pCi/L THALLIUM, TOTAL No 10/21/24 <0.001 mg/L RADIUM 228 No 09/01/22 <1 pCi/L 1,4-DIOXANE No 10/21/24 <0.1 ug/L PERFLUOROCTANE SULFONIC ACID (PFOS) No 10/21/24 <1.92 ng/L PERFLUOROCTANOIC ACID (PFOA) No 10/21/24 <2.00 ng/L BENZENE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l BROMOBENZENE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l BROMOCHLOROMETHANE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l BROMOFORM No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/L BROMOMETHANE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l N-BUTYLBENZENE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l sec-BUTYLBENZENE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l TERT-BUTYLBENZENE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l CARBON TETRACHLORIDE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l CHLOROBENZENE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l ---PAGE BREAK--- CHLOROETHANE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l CHLOROMETHANE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l 2-CHLOROTOLUENE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l 4-CHLOROTOLUENE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l ISOPROPYLBENZENE (Cumene) No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l 4-ISOPROPYLTOLUENE Cymene) No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l CIS-1,3- DICHLOROPROPENE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l DIBROMOMETHANE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l 1,2 -DIBROMOETHANE (EDB) No 10/21/24 <0.01 ug/l DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE No 10/21/24 <0.01 ug/l 1,2-DICHLOROBENZENE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l 1,3-DICHLOROBENZENE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l 1,4-DICHLOROBENZENE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l DICHLORODIFLUOROMETHAN E No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l CIS-1,2-DICHLOROETHENE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l 1,1-DICHLOROETHANE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l 1,2-DICHLOROETHANE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l 1,1-DICHLOROETHENE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l TRANS-1,2-DICHLOROETHENE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l 1,2-DICHLOROPROPANE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l 1,3-DICHLOROPROPANE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l 2,2-DICHLOROPROPANE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l 1,1-DICHLOROPROPENE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l TRANS-1,3- DICHLOROPROPENE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l HEXACHLOROBUTADIENE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l METHYLENE CHLORIDE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l Methyl-tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) No 10/21/24 <0.5 ug/l NAPHTHALENE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l ---PAGE BREAK--- N-PROPYLBENZENE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l STYRENE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l TOLUENE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l TRICHLOROETHENE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l TRICHLOROFLUOROMETHAN E No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l 1,1,1,2-TETRACHLOROETHANE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l 1,1,2,2-TETRACHLOROETHANE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l TETRACHLOROETHENE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l 1,2,3-TRICHLOROBENZENE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l 1,2,4-TRICHLOROBENZENE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l 1,1,2 -TRICHLOROETHANE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l 1,2,3-TRICHLOROPROPANE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l 1,1,1-TRICHLOROETHANE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l VINYL CHLORIDE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l M/P XYLENE No 10/21/24 <0.5 ug/l O-XYLENE No 10/21/24 <0.50 ug/l Aldicarb Sulfoxide No 10/21/24 <1.0 ug/l Aldicarb Sulfone No 10/21/24 <1.0 ug/l Oxamyl No 10/21/24 <1.0 ug/l Methomyl No 10/21/24 <1.0 ug/l 3 – Hydroxycarbofuran No 10/21/24 <1.0 ug/l Aldicarb (Temik) No 10/21/24 <1.0 ug/l Propoxur No 10/21/24 <1.0 ug/L Carbofuran No 10/21/24 <1.0 ug/l Carbaryl (Sevin) No 10/21/24 <1.0 ug/l Methiocarb No 10/21/24 <1.0 ug/L Hexachlorocyclopentadiene (C-56) No 12/12/24 <0.010 ug/L Propachlor No 10/3/19 01 mg/l Hexachlorobenzene No 12/12/24 <0.010 ug/L Gamma-BHC (Lindane) No 12/12/24 <0.020 ug/L ---PAGE BREAK--- Heptachlor No 12/12/24 <0.025 ug/L Aldrin No 12/12/24 <0.025 ug/L Heptachlor Epoxide No 12/12/24 <0.020 ug/L Dieldrin No 12/12/24 <0.050 ug/L Endrin No 12/12/24 <0.010 ug/L No 12/12/24 <0.10 ug/L PCB Screen No 12/12/24 <0.40 ug/L Toxaphene No 12/12/24 <1.0 ug/L Chlordane, (Technical) No 12/12/24 <0.20 ug/L Aroclor 1016 No 10/3/19 <0.0001 mg/l Aroclor 1221 No 10/3/19 <0.0001 mg/l Aroclor 1232 No 10/3/19 <0.0001 mg/l Aroclor 1242 No 10/3/19 <0.0001 mg/l Aroclor 1248 No 10/3/19 <0.0001 mg/l Aroclor 1254 No 10/3/19 <0.0001 mg/l Aroclor 1260 No 10/3/19 <0.0001 mg/l Dicamba No 12/9/24 <1.0 ug/l 2,4-D No 12/9/24 <0.5 ug/l Pentachlorophenol No 12/9/24 <0.2 ug/l Silvex (2,4,5-TP) No 12/9/24 <0.5 ug/l 2,4,5-T No 12/9/24 <0.5 ug/l Dinoseb No 12/9/24 <1.0 ug/l 2,4-DB (Butoxone) No 12/9/24 <2.0 ug/l Picloram (Tordon) No 12/9/24 <0.5 ug/l Acifluorfen No 12/9/24 <1.0 ug/l SURROGATE- Tetrachloro-m- xylene No 12/12/24 109 % SURROGATE- Decachlorobiphenyl No 12/12/24 105 % PESTICIDES ATRAZINE No 10/3/19 <0.1 ug/l ALACHLOR (Lasso) No 12/12/24 <0.1 ug/l ---PAGE BREAK--- METOLACHLOR No 10/3/19 <0.5 ug/l BUTACHLOR No 10/3/19 <0.5 ug/l No 10/3/19 <0.0006 mg/l No 10/3/19 <0.0006 mg/l METRIBUZIN No 10/3/19 <0.5 ug/l SIMAZINE No 10/3/19 <0.1 ug/l Benzo(a)pyrene No 10/3/19 <0.00002 mg/l Free Clorine No 9/19/22 <0.5 Mg/L Physical Color No Daily <5 Units Odor No Daily No Odor Present ---PAGE BREAK--- As per NELAC regulation, disclosure of the following condition is required: * The result of the laboratory control sample was less than the established limit. 1 – Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of the water. We test it because it is a good indicator of the effectiveness of our filtration system. Our highest single turbidity measurement (0.079 NTU) for the year occurred on December 17. State regulations require that turbidity must always be below 1 NTU. The regulations require that 95% of the turbidity samples collected have measurements below 0.3 NTU. 2 – The level presented represents the 90th percentile of the 10 sites tested. A percentile is a value on a scale of 100 that indicates the percent of a distribution that is equal to or below it. The 90th percentile is equal to or greater than 90% of the copper values detected at your water system. In this case, ten samples were collected at your water system and the 90th percentile value was the second highest value, 0.64 mg/l. The action level for copper was not exceeded at any of the sites tested. 3 – The level presented represents the 90th percentile of the 10 samples collected. The action level for lead was not exceeded at any of the 10 sites tested. 4 – The United States Environmental Protective Agency’s 10 day health advisory level for microcystin is 0.3 ppb for children less than or equal to 5 years of age and vulnerable populations and 1.6 ppb for all other people. 5- This level represents the highest locational running annual average calculated from data collected. 6- Microcystins were detected in the drinking water above the reported detection limit but below the EPA method reporting limit of 0.3ug/l, retested 10/9/24 <0.15 Definitions: Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the as feasible. Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (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 (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. Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal 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 contamination. Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow. Treatment Technique (TT): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water. Level 1 Assessment: A Level 1 assessment is an evaluation 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 an evaluation 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. Non-Detects (ND): Laboratory analysis indicates that the constituent is not present. Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU): A measure of the clarity of water. Turbidity in excess of 5 NTU is just noticeable to the average person. Milligrams per liter (mg/l): Corresponds to one part of liquid in one million parts of liquid (parts per million - ppm). Micrograms per liter (ug/l): Corresponds to one part of liquid in one billion parts of liquid (parts per billion - ppb). ---PAGE BREAK--- Nanograms per liter (ng/l): Corresponds to one part of liquid to one trillion parts of liquid (parts per trillion - ppt). Picograms per liter (pg/l): Corresponds to one part per of liquid to one quadrillion parts of liquid (parts per quadrillion – ppq). Picocuries per liter (pCi/L): A measure of the radioactivity in water. Millirems per year (mrem/yr): A measure of radiation absorbed by the body. Million Fibers per Liter (MFL): A measure of the presence of asbestos fibers that are longer than 10 micrometers. WHAT DOES THIS INFORMATION MEAN? As you can see by the table, our system had no violations. We have learned through our testing that some contaminants have been detected, however, these contaminants were detected below the level allowed by the State. We are required to present the following information on lead in drinking water: Lead can cause serious health effects in people of all ages, especially pregnant people, infants (both formula-fed and breastfed), and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and parts used in service lines and in home plumbing. Town of Owasco is responsible for providing high quality drinking water and removing lead pipes but cannot control the variety of materials used in the plumbing in your home. Because lead levels may vary over time, lead exposure is possible even when your tap sampling results do not detect lead at one point in time. You can help protect yourself and your family by identifying and removing lead materials within your home plumbing and taking steps to reduce your family's risk. Using a filter, certified by an American National Standards Institute accredited certifier to reduce lead, is effective in reducing lead exposures. Follow the instructions provided with the filter to ensure the filter is used properly. Use only cold water for drinking, cooking, and making baby formula. Boiling water does not remove lead from water. Before using tap water for drinking, cooking, or making baby formula, flush your pipes for several minutes. You can do this by running your tap, taking a shower, doing laundry or a load of dishes. If you have a lead service line or galvanized requiring replacement service line, you may need to flush your pipes for a longer period. If you are concerned about lead in your water and wish to have your water tested, contact The Town of Owasco at [PHONE REDACTED]. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available at IS OUR WATER SYSTEM MEETING OTHER RULES THAT GOVERN OPERATIONS? Aside from the aforementioned items, during 2024, our system was in compliance with applicable State drinking water operating, monitoring and reporting requirements. INFORMATION ON LEAD SERVICE LINE INVENTORY A Lead Service Line (LSL) is defined as any portion of pipe that is made of lead which connects the water main to the building inlet. An LSL may be owned by the water system, owned by the property owner, or both. The inventory includes both potable and non-potable SLs within a system. In accordance with the federal Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) our system has prepared a lead service line inventory and has made it publicly accessible by having residents check their pipes. If you are not able ---PAGE BREAK--- to check your water line pipe, you can call the Town of Owasco at [PHONE REDACTED] to make an appointment. Locate the water service line coming into the house. This is typically found in the basement and connects to the shut off valve before the meter. Next, identify a test area on the pipe. Expose a small area if it is covered. If a magnet sticks to the pipe, it is galvanized steel. If a magnet does not stick, carefully scratch the pipe with a coin or key. A copper pipe will be the color of a new penny. So far, we have had 743 people call in with their water line information. DO I NEED TO TAKE SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS? Although our drinking water met or exceeded state and federal regulations, some people may be more vulnerable to disease causing microorganisms or pathogens in drinking water than the general population. 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 from their health care provider about their drinking water. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Giardia and other microbial pathogens are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline ([PHONE REDACTED]). SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS The Town of Owasco continues to maintain and improve our water system. WHY SAVE WATER AND HOW TO AVOID WASTING IT? Although our system has an adequate amount of water to meet present and future demands, there are a number of reasons why it is important to conserve water: Saving water saves energy and some of the costs associated with both of these necessities of life; Saving water reduces the cost of energy required to pump water and the need to construct costly new wells, pumping systems and water towers; and Saving water lessens the strain on the water system during a dry spell or drought, helping to avoid severe water use restrictions so that essential firefighting needs are met. You can play a role in conserving water by becoming conscious of the amount of water your household is using, and by looking for ways to use less whenever you can. It is not hard to conserve water. Conservation tips include: Automatic dishwashers use 15 gallons for every cycle, regardless of how many dishes are loaded. So get a run for your money and load it to capacity. Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth. Check every faucet in your home for leaks. Just a slow drip can waste 15 to 20 gallons a day. Fix it and you can save almost 6,000 gallons per year. Check your toilets for leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank, watch for a few minutes to see if the color shows up in the bowl. It is not uncommon to lose up to 100 gallons a day from one of these otherwise invisible toilet leaks. Fix it and you save more than 30,000 gallons a year. Use your water meter to detect hidden leaks. Simply turn off all taps and water using appliances, then check the meter after 15 minutes. If it moved, you have a leak. ---PAGE BREAK--- CLOSING Thank you for allowing us to continue to provide your family with quality drinking water this year. We ask that all our customers help us protect our water sources, which are the heart of our community. Please call our office if you have questions.