Full Text
TOWN OF MINDEN Consumer Confidence Report – 2022 Covering Calendar Year – 2021 This brochure is a snapshot of the quality of the water that we provided last year. Included are the details about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state standards. We are committed to providing you with information because informed customers are our best allies. It is important that customers be aware of the efforts that are continually being made to improve their water systems. To learn more, please attend any of the regularly scheduled meetings. For more information please contact Jeff Cady at [PHONE REDACTED]. Your water comes from the following sources: Source Name WELL 9 1330 BUCKEYE RD 1613 WATER ST WELL 1 REPLACEMENT WELL 11 1800 HEYBOURNE RD WELL 8 1745 BUCKEYE ROAD WELL 4 1769 IRONWOOD DR WELL 3 1648 COUNTY RD WELL 2 1573 COUNTY RD WELL 5 1715 BOUGAINVILLEA WELL 7 1730 U ORBIT WAY WELL 10 1800 HEYBOURNE We take great care to protect your water from several chemical contaminants and we add disinfectant to protect wholesale water against microbial contaminants. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) requires states to develop a Source Water Assessment (SWA) for each public water supply that treats and distributes raw source water in order to identify potential contamination sources. The state has completed an assessment of our source water. For results of the source water assessment, please contact us. Message from EPA Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno- compromised persons, such as those 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 and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline ([PHONE REDACTED]). 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 EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline ([PHONE REDACTED]). The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) included 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. Contaminants that may be present in source water before disinfection include: Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations and wildlife. Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, 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 may come from a variety of sources such as storm water run-off, agriculture, and residential users. Radioactive contaminants, can be naturally occurring or the result of mining activity Organic contaminants, including and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, may also come from gas stations, urban storm water run-off, and septic systems. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulation which limits 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. Our water system is tested a minimum of 5 samples per month in accordance with the Total Coliform Rule for microbiological contaminants. Coliform bacteria are usually harmless, but their presences in water can be an indication of disease-causing bacteria. When coliform bacteria are found, special follow-up tests are done to determine if harmful bacteria are present in the water supply. If this limit is exceeded, the water supplier must notify the public by newspaper, television or radio. Water Quality Data The tables following below list all of the drinking water contaminants that were detected during the 2021 calendar year. The presence of these contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. Unless noted, the data presented in this table is from testing done in 2021. The state requires us to monitor for certain contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from year to year. Some of the data, though representative of the water quality, is more than one year old. The bottom line is that the water provided is safe. ---PAGE BREAK--- Terms & Abbreviations Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): the “Goal” is the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to human health. MCLG’s allow for a margin of safety. Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): the “Maximum Allowed” MCL is the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCL’s are set as close to the MCLG’s as feasible using the best available treatment technology. Action Level (AL): the concentration of a contaminant that, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow. Treatment Technique (TT): a treatment technique is a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water. 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 contaminants. Non-Detects (ND): laboratory analysis indicates that the constituent is not present. Parts per Million (ppm) or milligrams per liter (mg/l) Parts per Billion (ppb) or micrograms per liter (µg/l) Picocuries per Liter (pCi/L): picocuries per liter is a measure of the radioactivity in water. Millirems per Year (mrem/yr): measure of radiation absorbed by the body. Million Fibers per Liter (MFL): million fibers per liter is a measure of the presence of asbestos fibers that are longer than 10 micrometers. Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU): nephelometric turbidity unit is a measure of the clarity of water. Turbidity in excess of 5 NTU is just noticeable to the average person. Testing Results for TOWN OF MINDEN Microbiological Result MCL MCLG Typical Source COLIFORM (TCR) 4 positive results. 1 in July and 3 in November MCL: Systems that Collect Less Than 40 Samples per Month - No more than 1 positive sample 0 Naturally present in the environment Lead and Copper Date 90TH Percentile Unit AL Sites Over AL Typical Source COPPER 2017 - 2019 0.053 0.022 - 0.066 ppm 1.3 0 Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching from wood preservatives. 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 an assessment(s) to identify problems and to correct any problems that were found during these assessments. During the past year, we were required to conduct one Level 1 assessment. Level 1 assessment was completed. In addition, we were required to take corrective action and corrective action was completed. The event was isolated to the Amber Way tank, and no water containing the bacteria was detected in the Town’s system. The positive result was determined to have been caused by a sampling error. During the past year we were required to conduct one Level 2 assessment. Level 2 assessment was completed. In addition, we were required to take corrective actions and corrective actions were completed. The event involved Amber Way tank, sample station 1, and sample station 2. The tests were positive for the presence of bacteria, and absent for E. coli. The positive results were determined to have been caused by sampling errors. ---PAGE BREAK--- Regulated Contaminants Collection Date Highest Value Range Unit MCL MCLG Typical Source ARSENIC 9.9 5 – 9.9 ppb 10 0 Erosion of natural deposits; Runoff from orchards; Runoff from glass and electronics production wastes. BARIUM 6/13/2019 0.11 0.08 - 0.11 ppm 2 2 Discharge of drilling wastes; Discharge from metal refineries; Erosion of natural deposits. CHROMIUM 8/22/2019 3 1 - 3 ppb 100 100 Discharge from steel and pulp mills; Erosion of natural deposits. NITRATE-NITRITE 9/16/2021 2.6 0.7 – 2.6 ppm 10 10 Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposits. Radionuclides Collection Date Highest Value Range Unit MCL MCLG Typical Source COMBINED RADIUM (-226 & -228) 3/13/2018 0.9 0.9 pCi/L 5 0 Erosion of natural deposits COMBINED URANIUM 11/7/2018 6 5 - 6 µg/L 30 0 Erosion of natural deposits GROSS ALPHA, INCL. RADON & U 6/11/2018 5.9 4.3 - 5.9 pCi/L 15 0 Decay of natural and man-made deposits GROSS BETA PARTICLE ACTIVITY 9/13/2018 4.2 3.7 - 4.2 pCi/L 50 0 Decay of natural and man-made deposits RADON 8/3/2015 557.6 365 - 557.6 pCi/L Secondary Contaminants Collection Date Highest Value Range Unit SMCL MCLG ALKALINITY, BICARBONATE 8/22/2016 160 120 - 160 mg/L ALKALINITY, CACO3 STABILITY 8/22/2016 130 99 - 130 mg/L ALKALINITY, TOTAL 11/1/2016 110 100 - 110 Mg/L ALUMINUM 8/22/2019 0.069 0.021 - 0.069 mg/L 0.2 BICARBONATE AS HCO3 11/1/2016 130 130 mg/L BORON, TOTAL 12/12/2016 0.2 0.1 - 0.2 mg/L CALCIUM 8/22/2016 37 37 mg/L CALCIUM 7/5/2016 41 26 - 41 mg/L CHLORIDE 8/22/2019 7 6 - 7 mg/L 400 CONDUCTIVITY @ 25 C UMHOS/CM 8/22/2016 330 250 - 330 UMHO/CM HARDNESS, CALCIUM MAGNESIUM 8/22/2016 130 130 mg/L HARDNESS, TOTAL (AS CACO3) 7/5/2016 140 94 - 140 mg/L MAGNESIUM 6/13/2019 10 5 - 10 mg/L 150 PH 5/1/2019 8.41 8.19 - 8.41 PH 8.5 SILICA 11/1/2016 47 30 - 47 mg/L SODIUM 8/22/2019 20 15 - 20 mg/L 200 20 SULFATE 8/22/2019 26 16 - 26 mg/L 500 TDS 6/13/2019 240 170 - 240 mg/L 1000 Health Information About Water Quality While your drinking water meets EPA's standard for arsenic, it does contain low levels of arsenic. EPA's standard balances the current understanding of arsenic's possible health effects against the costs of removing arsenic from drinking ---PAGE BREAK--- water. EPA continues to research the health effects of low levels of arsenic, which is a mineral known to cause cancer in humans at high concentrations and is linked to other health effects such as skin damage and circulatory problems. While your water meets the EPA's standard for Lead, if present at elevated levels this contaminant 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. Your Water System is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but 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 drinking 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. Violations During the 2021 calendar year, TOWN OF MINDEN is required to include an explanation of the violation(s) in the table below and the steps taken to resolve the violation(s) with this report. Type Category Analyte Compliance Period No violations occurred in the calendar year 2021