United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
(4606)
EPA816-R-99-002
March 1999
&EPA Preparing
Your Drinking Water
Consumer Confidence
Report
Guidance for water suppliers
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Notice
This document provides guidance to water suppliers on EPA' s current interpretation of
the Consumer Confidence Report Rule. The guidance is designed to implement national policy
on these issues. The document does not, however, substitute for EPA's regulations; nor is it a
regulation itself. Thus, it cannot impose" legally-binding requirements on EPA, states, or water
suppliers, and may not apply to a particular situation based upon its circumstances. EPA and
state decisionmakers retain the discretion to adopt approaches on a case-by-case basis that differ
from this guidance where appropriate. EPA may change this guidance in the future.
Contents
Introduction [[[ 1
I. What is a consumer confidence report? ......................................... 1
n. Who must prepare a consumer confidence report? ................................ 1
HI. When must a water system distribute its report? .................................. 2
IV. What content is required in the report? ......................................... 2
Item 1 : Water system information 3
Item 2: Source(s) of water 4
Item 3: Definitions 4
Item 4: Detected contaminants 5
Reporting on Cryptosporidium and radon ............................... 7
Reporting on additional monitoring ....... r ................ , ........... 8
Item 5 : Compli ance with other drinking water regulations 9
Item 6: Educational information 9
Special requirements for Nitrate, Lead, Arsenic, and Trihalomethanes ....... 10
V. What should the report look like? ..... . ................... , , ................. 11
VI. How must a water system distribute its report? ................................. 12
Appendix A- Regulated contaminants ............................................ 13
Unregulated contaminants 20
ICR microbial contaminants 20
ICR disinfection by-products 20
Appendix B-U.S. EPA's Minimum Detection Limits ................................. 21
Appendix C-Interpreting monitoring data ................ .......................... 23
Appendix D-Certification Form ................................................. 25
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Introduction
This document is for water suppliers who
are preparing the new drinking water Consumer
Confidence Reports [40 CFR part 141 Subpart
O]. This guide explains all of the requirements
for report content, format, and distribution that
the U.S. EPA established in the Consumer
Confidence Report Rule, published in the
FEDERAL REGISTER on August 19,1998.
The rationale for consumer confidence
reports (CCRs) is that consumers have the right
to know what is in their drinking water and
where that water com.es from. The reports will
help consumers to make informed choices that
affect the health of themselves and their fami-
lies. They also will encourage consumers to
consider the challenges of deli vering safe drink-
ing water. Educated consumers are more likely
to help protect their drinking water sources and
to understand the true costs of safe drinking
water.
Water suppliers, states, and EPA are all
working to educate consumers about the
sources and quality of their drinking water, and
to increase their involvement in decisions about
it. EPA is revising its public notification re-
quirements to speed up notification of serious
health threats and simplify notification of other
violations. Systems and states are including
citizens in decisions regarding use of the drink-
ing water state revolving fund and in planning
source water assessment programs. Consumers
who are familiar with the basic drinking water
information in CCRs will be able to participate
more effectively in these processes.
I. What is a consumer confidence report?
In 1996, Congress amended the Safe Drink-
ing Water Act. It added a provision requiring
that all community water systems deliver to
their customers a brief annual water quality
report. CCRs summarize information that your
water system already collects to comply with
regulations. You will not need to engage in
any new monitoring just for the CCR.
The CCR includes information on your
source water, the levels of any detected contami-
nants, and compliance with drinking water
rules, plus some educational material. Most
reports will fit on a few sheets of paper. A
report that contains too much information or is
full of technical jargon can discourage consum-
ers from learning about their drinking water.
II. Who must prepare a consumer confidence report?
Every community water system that has at
least 15 service connections serving year round
residents must prepare and distribute a report.
These systems typically include cities, towns,
homeowners associations, and trailer parks.
A water wholesaler that sells water to an-
other water system must provide the retailer
with monitoring data and other information that
will enable the retailer to produce a CCR,
unless the two systems make a different con-
tractual agreement. Wholesalers are not respon-
sible for creating the report for the retailer, nor
are they responsible for providing data on
contaminants that the retailer monitors (such as
lead or trihalomethanes). Regardless of who
produces the report, the retail system is respon-
sible for ensuring that its customers receive a
report containing all required content.
In some cases, a retailer will contract with
the wholesaler to produce the report. There are
several options in this relationship. If the
retailer had no new data to add, it could simply
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send out the wholesaler's CCR with a cover
letter explaining their relationship. If the re-
tailer did need to add data, it might choose to
reprint the wholesaler's CCR with a new ti-
tle/letterhead and extra data. Either of these is
acceptable.
When must a water system distribute its report?
You must deliver your first report to con-
sumers by October 19, 1999. The reports are
based on calendar-year data, so your first report
will include data collected between January-
December 1998. In 2000 and the years
following, your system must deliver its report to
consumers by July 1.
Wholesalers must deliver information to
their buyers by April 1999 (unless there is a
separate agreement), and annually thereafter. A
new community water system must deliver its
first report by July 1 of the year after its first
full calendar year in operation, and annually
thereafter.
IV. What content is required in the report?
This guidance describes EPA's require-
ments for a CCR and suggests (using the words
"we encourage," "should," and "may") other
sections or explanations that will help your
customers understand the report. Your state's
CCR rule may require more information, so be
sure to check with your state drinking water
program.
basic Consumer Confidence Report requirements
(please read on for details and recommended enhancements)
water system information
• name/phone number of contact person
• information on public participation opportunities
• information for non-English speaking populations, if applicable
sources of water
• type, name, and location of water sources
• availability of source water assessment
• information on significant sources of contamination, if available
definitions: MCL, MCLG, others as needed
detected contaminants
• table summarizing data on detected regulated & unregulated contaminants
• known or likely source of each detected contaminant
• [for MCL violations] health effects language and explanation
• information on Cryptosporidium, radon, and other contaminants, if applicable
compliance with other drinking water regulations
• explanation of violations, potential health effects, and steps taken to correct the
violations
• explanation of variance/exemption, if applicable
required educational information
• explanation of contaminants and their presence in drinking water
• warning for vulnerable populations about Cryptosporidium
• informational statements on arsenic, nitrate, and lead, if necessary
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EPA encourages you to tailor the content of
your CCR to local conditions. If you think that
an added picture or graph would help your
customers to understand your report, add it. If
your customers would benefit from an explana-
tion of your need for new treatment facilities,
tell them. As long as any additional educational
information is consistent with, and not detract-
ing from, the purpose of the report, you may
add it. For example, the CCR rule does not
require a title for your report. However, you
should give your report a title to catch the cus-
tomer's attention. You may call the report, a
"consumer confidence report," a "water quality
report," or choose another title.
Customers are most interested in a clear
statement of whether or not their drinking water
meets all EPA and state standards. Although it
is not required by 1jhe regulations, you will help
your customers if you tell them whether their
water met all drinking water standards. Be
cautious in using the word "safe" since water
that meets standards and is safe for most people
might not be safe for infants, chemotherapy
patients, or people with HIV/AIDS.
EXAMPLE-Last year, as in years past, your tap
water met all EPA and state drinking -water health
standards. Local Water vigilantly safeguards its
water supplies and once again -we are proud to
report that our system has never violated a maxi-
mum contaminant level or of any other water
quality standard, [or, if you had a violation,
begin with: Last year, -we conducted more than
tests for over 80 contaminants. We only detected
of those contaminants, and found only at a level
higher than EPA allows. As we told you at the time,
our water temporarily exceeded drinking water
standards. For more information, see the para-
graph marked Violation on the back.} This bro-
chure is a snapshot of last year's water quality.
Included are details about where your water comes
from, what it contains, and how it compares to EPA
and state standards. We are committed to provid-
ing you with information because informed custom-
ers are our best allies.
Item 1: Water system information
Identify the name of your system, and
provide the following information about it:
• The name and telephone number of a person
at the water system who can answer ques-
tions about the report.
• A list of known opportunities for public
participation in decisions that affect drink-
ing water quality (e.g., time and place of
regularly-scheduled water board or city/
county council meetings). If you do: not
have regularly-scheduled meetings, tell
customers how to get information when
meetings are announced.
Systems that have a large proportion of non-
English speaking residents must include infor-
mation in the appropriate language expressing
the importance of the report or offering addi-
tional information in that language. The state
will make the final determination of which
systems need to include this information.
EXAMPLE— This report contains important infor-
mation about your drinking water. Translate it, or
speak with someone who understands it.
—Spanish— Este informe contiene informaci6n muy
importante sobre su agua beber. Tradiizcalo 6 hable con
alguien que lo entienda bien.
-Korean-
-Chinese-
-French-Ce rapport contient des informations
importantes sur votre eau potable. Traduisez-le ou parlez
en avec quelqu'un qui le comprend bien.
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Item 2: Sourcefs) of water
Describe your water (ground water, surface
water, or a blend), and the commonly-used
name(s) (if such a name exists) and locations of
your water source(s). We encourage you to
provide a simple map of your system's sources.
Explaining your various interconnections
and back-up sources may be difficult, but it is
important that consumers understand that the
source of their water may vary during the year.
Remember to include in your table of detected
contaminants monitoring data for these "extra"
sources if you use water from them. If your
situation is complex, you may need to work
with someone from your state drinking water
program to decide what information belongs in
your report.
If a source water assessment has been
completed, tell customers where to get a copy.
If you have received your source water assess-
ment, include in the report a brief summary of
your source water's susceptibility to contamina-
tion based on the findings of the source water
assessment. The state should develop this
summary as part of the source water assessment
process and provide it to you, or you may write
it yourself.
If you do not have information from the
source water assessment, we encourage you to
include any other information about potential
sources of contamination that is readily avail-
able to you; for example, information contained
in a sanitary survey. This is your opportunity to
educate your customers about the impacts that
they and others have on the quality of their
source water. You may want to provide pollu-
tion prevention tips or information on local
watershed cleanup activities.
Item 3: Definitions
Every CCR must include definitions of key
terms that consumers will need to understand
the contaminant data. You must use the defini-
tions listed below.
• Maximum Contaminant 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.
» Maximum Contaminant Level Goal
(MCLG): The level of a contaminant in drink-
ing water below which there is no known or
expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a
margin of safety.
Include the following definitions only if
your report contains information on a detected
contaminant that is regulated by an action level
(e.g., lead) or a treatment technique (e.g., tur-
bidity):
• Treatment Technique: A required process
intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in
drinking water.
• Action Level: The concentration of a contami-
nant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or
other requirements which a water system must
follow.
Include the following definition only if your
water system operated under a variance or
exemption during the calendar year that the
report describes:
• Variances and Exemptions: State or EPA
permission not to meet an MCL or a treatment
technique under certain conditions.
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Item 4: Detected contaminants
An essential part of the report is the table
that shows the highest level of each detected
contaminant (this is usually the value you report
to the state to determine compliance) and the
range of levels of that contaminant you found
during the year, if compliance is based on an
average of several samples.
A detected contaminant is any contaminant
detected at or above its minimum detection
limit (MDL). (See Appendix B) If you are
unsure of the MDL for a contaminant, and your
lab reports a value greater than zero, include
that in the report. Your state may have lower
MDLs that take precedence over EPA's. Do
not include in the table contaminants that are
not detected or are detected below the MDL. If
you sometimes distribute water from emergency
or back-up sources, you generally need to
include monitoring results from these sources in
the ranges of detections that you report in the
table, unless the source's contribution is
insignificant (e.g., one day per year).
The main table of detected contaminants
must contain only data about regulated contami-
nants (contaminants subject to a MCL, treat-
ment technique (TT), or action level (AL)), and
unregulated contaminants for which EPA or the
state requires monitoring under 40 CFR141.40
or the Information Collection Rule (ICR). See
below for special instructions about Crypto-
sporidium and radon. You may make several
tables to separate regulated contaminants from
those that do not have MCLs, such as ICR
contaminants. You may want to organize your
table(s) by contaminant type (e.g., microbial,
inorganic) or sampling site (e.g., treatment
plant, distribution system). Report any addi-
tional monitoring data in another section of the
CCR, separated from the regulated contaminant
data. If you want to list all the contaminants
which you monitored but did not detect, you
must do so outside of the table of detected
contaminants. If you choose to report on sec-
ondary MCLs, or if your state requires this
reporting, do so outside of the main table.
To ensure that consumers can easily com-
pare detected contaminant levels to their MCLs,
your table must display the MCL for each
contaminant in units that express it as a number
greater than 1.0. Report the MCLG and level of
the detected contaminant in the same units as
the MCL. For example, atrazine is usually
reported in mg/1. It is easier for customers to
see that your water contains atrazine at a level
10 times lower than the MCL if you report the
MCL as 3 ppb and the detected level as 0.3 ppb
than if you were to report the MCL as 0.003
mg/1 and the detected level as 0.0003 mg/1. In
this case, you convert by multiplying the de-
tected level and MCL by 1000. Appendix A
shows the conversion factor for each contami-
nant. When you round results to determine
compliance, round before multiplying the
results by the factor listed in Appendix A.
The CCR includes data from monitoring
completed during the past calendar year. How-
ever, if you have monitoring waivers, or for
another reason monitor less than once per year,
use your most recent data. For example, if you
monitor once every three years for lindane and
detect lindane in a sample, report the same
detection level each of the three years until you
take a new sample. If the report contains detec-
tion data that is not from the calendar year
indicated, the table must show the date of
monitoring and the report must contain a brief
statement explaining that the data presented is
from the most recent monitoring done in com-
pliance with regulations.
EXAMPLE-The state allows us to monitor for some
contaminants less than once per year because the
concentrations of these contaminants do not change
frequently. Some of our data, though representa-
tive, are more than one year old.
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You do not need to report monitoring re-
sults that are more than five years old. Report
the results of Information Collection Rule
monitoring only for five years from the date of
the last sample or until the detected contami-
nant becomes regulated and subject to regular
monitoring, whichever comes first.
The table must contain, for each detected
contaminant:
(1) the MCL, expressed as a number greater
than 1.0 (see Appendix A). If the contami-
nant is regulated by a TT, put the letters
"TT" in place of the MCL. If the contami-
nant is regulated by an AL, specify the
applicable Action Level.
(2) the MCLG, expressed in the same units as
the MCL (see Appendix A).
(3) the level of that contaminant expressed in
the same units as the MCL and MCLG:
*• if compliance is determined annually or less
frequently (many inorganic and chemical
contaminants), include the highest detected
level at any sampling point and the range of
detected levels, if applicable.
»• if compliance is determined by a running
annual average of all the samples taken from a
sampling point (for example, chemical contami-
nants), include the highest average (as reported
to the state for compliance purposes) and the
range of detections. (See Appendix C)
»• if compliance is determined by a running
annual average of all samples at all sampling
points (for example, TTHMs), include the
highest average and the range of detected
levels. (See Appendix C)
> for turbidity (when reported pursuant to 40
CFR 141.13-turbidity as a MCL for systems
that must install filtration but haven't), include
the highest monthly average.
> for turbidity (when reported pursuant to 40
CFR 141.71-turbidity as aTT for systems that
have met criteria for avoiding filtration), in-
clude the highest single measurement found in
any month. You should explain the reasons for
measuring turbidity.
EXAMPLE—Turbidity is a measure of the
cloudiness of the water. We monitor it because
it is a good indicator of water quality. High
turbidity can hinder the effectiveness of
disinfectants.
> for turbidity (when reported pursuant to 40
CFR 141.73 -turbidity as a TT for systems that
filter and use turbidity as an indicator of filtra-
tion performance), include the highest single
measurement and the lowest monthly percent-
age of samples meeting the turbidity limits
specified in 141.73 for the relevant filtration
technology. (See Appendix C) Beginning
with your 2003 report, report turbidity based
on the revised requirements in 141.173. You
should explain the reasons for measuring
turbidity.
EXAMPLE-Turbidity is a measure of the
cloudiness of the water. We monitor it because
it is a good indicator of the effectiveness of our
filtration system.
* for lead and/or copper, include the 90th
percentile value from the most recent sampling
(if it is a number greater than zero) and the
number of sites that exceeded the action level.
Do not report related parametric data.
> for total coliforms (systems that collect
fewer than 40 samples per month), include the
highest number of positive samples collected
in any one month.
>• for total coliforms (systems that collect 40
or more samples per month), include the high-
est percentage of positive samples collected in
any one month.
»• for fecal coliforms and E. coli, include the
number of positive samples taken that year.
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> If you detect beta particles in your water at or
below 50 pCi/1, you should report the detected
level in pCi/1. So that consumers may have a
standard against which to compare that detected
level, include "50*" in the MCL column (rather
than the actual MCL of 4 mrem/year) and
include a footnote to the table that says "*EPA
considers 50 pCi/1 to be the level of concern for
beta particles." If you detect beta particles
above 50 pCi/1, you must determine the actual
radioactive constituents present in the water to
calculate the dose exposure level in mrem/ year,
and must report both the detected level and
MCL as mrem/year.
(4) the likely source of that contaminant, to the
best of your knowledge. If you have reli-
able information, the report should identify
a specific point source, such as "Al's chick-
en houses" or the "Super-shiny Paper Mill".
If you lack reliable information on the
specific source of a contaminant, include
one or more of the typical sources listed in
Appendix B that is most applicable to your
situation.
(5) for any contaminant detected in violation of
a MCL or a TT, or exceeding an AL, clearly
highlight in the table the violation or
exceedence. This indication could, for
example, take the form of a different color
type, a larger or bolder font, or a large star.
Near, but not in, the table, include an expla-
nation of the length of the violation/
exceedence, the potential adverse health
effects (from Appendix A), and actions you
took to address the violation/exceedence.
(6) If you've detected unregulated contaminants
for which state or federal rules require
monitoring (for example, the ICR or 40
CFR 141.40), except Cryptosporidium,
include the average of all of the year's
monitoring results and the range of detec-
tions. See Appendix A for a list of these
contaminants.
We encourage you to include more informa-
tion on the potential health effects of these
contaminants if the results may indicate a
health concern. We consider any detection
above a proposed MCL or health advisory
level to indicate concern. You can call the
Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-
4791) for this information or find it on
EPA's web site at www.epa.gov/safewater/
hfacts.html. For these contaminants, EPA
recommends that the report contain an
explanation of the significance of the re-
sults, noting the existence of the health
advisory or proposed MCL.
You may wish to explain the reasons for
unregulated contaminant monitoring with a
statement like the following.
EXAMPLE-Unregulated contaminant moni-
toring helps EPA to determine where certain
contaminants occur and -whether it needs to
regulate those contaminants.
Multiple distribution systems
If your system supplies water through two
or more distribution systems that use different
raw water sources and are not physically inter-
connected, you may want to include in the table
a separate column of detection data for each
service area. Describe the area that each distri-
bution system serves.
Reporting on Cryptosporidium and radon
If you monitored for Cryptosporidium
and/or radon and did not detect them, you do not
need to discuss the monitoring or the results in
your report.
If your system has performed monitoring
that indicates the presence of radon in its fin-
ished water, include in the report:
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• the results of monitoring (the analytical
values reported by the lab).
• an explanation of the significance of the
results. Tell customers if they need to be
concerned by the information that the CCR
provides.
EXAMPLE—Radon is a radioactive gas that you
can't see, taste, or smell. It is found throughout
the U.S. Radon can move up through the ground
and into a home through cracks and holes in the
foundation. Radon can build up to high levels in
all types of homes. Radon can also get into in-
door air when released from tap water from show-
ering, washing dishes, and other household activi-
ties. Compared to radon entering the home
through soil, radon entering the home through
tap water will in most cases be a small source of
radon in indoor air. Radon is a known human
carcinogen. Breathing air containing radon can
lead to lung cancer. Drinking water containing
radon may also cause increased risk of stomach
cancer. If you are concerned about radon in your
home, test the air in your home. Testing is inex-
pensive and easy. Fix your home if the level of
radon in your air is 4 picocuries per liter of air
(pCi/L) or higher. There are simple ways to fix a
radon problem that aren 't too costly. For addi-
tional information, call your state radon program
or call EPA's Radon Hotline (800-SOS-RADON).
If your system has performed monitoring that
indicates the presence of Cryptosporidium either
in its source water or its finished water, include
the following information in your report:
Reporting on additional monitoring
• a summary of the results of the monitoring.
You may choose whether or not to report
the actual analytical results as a part of this
summary.
• an explanation of the significance of the
results. Tell customers if they need to be
concerned by the information that the CCR
provides.
EXWPLE-Cryptosporidium is a microbial path-
ogen found in surface water throughout the U.S.
Although filtration removes Cryptosporidium, the
most commonly-used filtration methods cannot
guarantee 100 percent removal. Our monitoring
indicates the presence of these organisms in our
source water and/or finished water. Current test
methods do not allow us to determine if the or-
ganisms are dead or if they are capable of caus-
ing disease. Ingestion of Cryptosporidium may
cause cryptosporidiosis, an abdominal infection.
Symptoms of infection include nausea, diarrhea,
and abdominal cramps. Most healthy individuals
can overcome the disease within a few weeks.
However, immuno-compromised people are at
greater risk of developing life-threatening ill-
ness. We encourage immuno-compromised indi-
viduals to consult their doctor regarding appro-
priate precautions to take to avoid infection.
Cryptosporidium must be ingested to cause dis-
ease, and it may be spread through means other
than drinking water.
If your system has performed voluntary
monitoring that indicates the presence of non-
regulated contaminants in the finished water,
we strongly encourage you to report any results
that may indicate a health concern. Public
knowledge of potential problems is in the
interest of you and your customers. We con-
sider any detection above a proposed MCL or
health advisory level to indicate concern. Call
the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or visit EPA's
web site for this information. For these con-
taminants, EPA recommends that the report
contain:
• the results of monitoring
• an explanation of the significance of the
results, noting the existence of the health
advisory or proposed MCL.
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Item 5: Compliance with other drinking water regulations
If your water system violated one of the
following rules during the year covered by the
report, your CCR must describe the violations).
Just as you must explain the potential health
effects of any MCL violation, you must provide
a clear and readily understandable explanation
of any other violation, potential adverse health
effects (if any), and the steps the system has
taken to correct the violation.
• Treatment techniques
(1) Filtration and disinfection (Surface
Water Treatment Rule requirements).
If the violation was a failure to install
adequate filtration or disinfection
equipment or processes, or there was
a failure of that equipment or process,
include the following language:
Inadequately treated water may contain
disease-causing organisms. These or-
ganisms include bacteria, viruses, and
parasites, which can cause symptoms
such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and
associated headaches.
(2) Lead and copper control requirements.
If the violation was a failure to meet
corrosion control treatment, source
water treatment, or lead service line
requirements, include the health ef-
fects language for lead or copper list-
ed in Appendix A.
(3) Acrylamide and Epichlorohydrin~If
you violate either treatment technique,
you must include the relevant health
effects language from Appendix A.
• Monitoring and reporting of compliance
data. If your system failed to take the sam-
ple on time, the report should say "health
effects unknown". If your system took the
samples accurately and on-time, but mailed
the results late, you don't need to discuss
health effects.
• Record keeping requirements
• Special monitoring requirements
• Violation of a variance, an exemption, or an
administrative or judicial order
Variances and Exemptions
If your system operated under a variance or
exemption at any time during the year covered
by the report, include an explanation of the
variance or exemption, the date that it was
issued, why it was granted, when it is up for
renewal, and a status report on what the system
is doing to remedy the problem. Also, tell your
customers how they may participate in the
review of the variance or exemption.
Item 6: Educational information
Your CCR must prominently display the
following statements:
(1) 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 (1-800-426-4791).
(2) Some people may be more vulnerable to con-
taminants in drinking water than the general
population. Immuno-compromised persons
such as persons with cancer undergoing che-
motherapy, 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 infec-
tions. These people should seek advice about
drinking water from their health care provid-
ers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate
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means to lessen the risk of infection by Crypto-
sporidium and other microbial contaminants
are available from the Safe Drinking Water
Hotline(l-800-426-4791).
Your report must contain basic information
about drinking water contaminants. Use the
following language, or you may write your own
comparable language that better fits your spe-
cific local situation:
TJie 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.
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 opera-
tions, 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
byproducts 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. Food and Drug Adminis-
tration regulations establish limits for contaminants
in bottled water which must provide the same
protection for public health.
Special requirements for Nitrate, Lead. Arsenic, and Trihalomethanes
If your water contains:
• Nitrate above 5 ppm (50 % of the MCL),
but below 10 ppm (the MCL);
• Arsenic above 25 ppb (50 % of the MCL),
but below 50 ppb (the MCL); and/or
• Lead above 15 ppb (the Action Level) in
more than 5%, but fewer than 10%, of sites
sampled [if your system samples fewer than
20 sites and has even one sample above the
AL, you'll need to include the standard
explanation for an AL exceedence ],
you must include in your report the relevant
special educational statement listed below
about that contaminant.
Nitrate: Nitrate in drinking water at levels above
JO ppm is a health risk for infants of less than six
months of age. High nitrate levels in drinking
water can cause blue baby syndrome. Nitrate levels
may rise quickly for short periods of time because
of rainfall or agricultural activity. If you are
caring for an infant, you should ask for advice from
your health care provider.
Arsenic: EPA is reviewing the drinking water
standard for arsenic because of special concerns
that it may not be stringent enough. Arsenic is a
naturally-occurring mineral known to cause cancer
in humans at high concentrations.
Lead: Infants and young children are typically
more vulnerable to lead in drinking water than the
general population. It is possible that lead levels at
your home may be higher than at other homes in the
community as a result of materials used in your
home's plumbing. If you are concerned about
elevated lead levels in your home's water, you may
wish to have your water tested and flush your tap
for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using tap water.
Additional information is available from the Safe
Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).
If you believe that the language above is not
relevant to your situation, you may adjust the
language in consultation with your state.
10
-------
Trihalomethanes
If your system has a running annual average
for trihalomethanes above 80 ppb (the new
MCL set by the Stage 1 Disinfectant/ Disinfec-
tion Byproducts Rule that is not in effect till
Other educational information
2001) but below the current MCL of 100 ppb,
you must include the health effects statement
for TTHMs contained in Appendix A. You
should explain to your customers how you plan
to reduce this level.
You are not limited to providing only the
required information in your report. You may
use the report to explain (or include a diagram
of) your treatment processes, source water
protection efforts, or the costs of your making
water safe to drink. You may include a state-
ment from the mayor or general manager. Or
you could educate your customers about water
conservation, taste and odor issues, affiliations
with programs such as the Partnership for Safe
Water, and so forth. You may want to provide
the address for EPA's drinking water web site
(www.epa.gov/ safewater/X The only limitation
on this information is that it must not interfere
with the educational purpose of the report.
V. What should the report look like?
You don't need a fancy computer or a
graphic designer to produce a CCR that is easy
to read and inviting to your customers. The
best way to design your report is to spend some
time looking at other reports. See what catches
your eye, and copy it. A few things to consider:
* Write short sentences.
graphs short, too.
Keep your para-
* Don't make your text size too small. You
might want to squeeze a few extra sentences
in your report, but if you add too much,
people might ignore the entire report.
* Give a draft of your CCR to relatives or
friends who aren't drinking water experts
and ask them if it makes sense. Ask cus-
tomers for their comments when you pub-
lish the report.
Don't distract from your main message with
graphics and/or pictures that don't comple-
ment your message.
Be as simple and straight forward as possi-
ble. Avoid acronyms, initials, and jargon.
Consider printing the report on recycled
paper and taking other steps to make the
report "environmentally friendly". If you
hope to get your customers involved in
protecting source water, set a good example
for them.
11
-------
VI. How must a water system distribute its report?
You must mail or deliver a copy of your
consumer confidence report to each of your
customers, and make a good faith effort to get
reports to non-bill-paying consumers. Deliver
your first report by October 19,1999, and your
reports in years after that by July 1. You may
include the reports with water bills, if feasible,
or you may send the reports as separate mailers.
Keep your report on file for five years, and
make it available to the public upon request.
Send a copy to the director of the state
drinking water program when you mail it to
customers. Within three months of the report's
due date, submit to the state a certification (see
Appendix D) that you distributed the report, and
that its information is correct and consistent
with the compliance monitoring data previously
submitted to the State. Send a copy to any other
state agency that the state drinking water pro-
gram director identifies. We also encourage
you to send copies to state and local health
departments, as well as local TV and radio
stations and newspapers. Systems that serve
100,000 or more people must post their reports
on the Internet.
It is in your system's interest to spread the
word about the quality of its water. Since many
consumers of your water may not receive bills
(people such as apartment renters), you must
make serious and "good faith" efforts to reach
non-bill paying consumers. A "good faith"
effort means selecting the most appropriate
method(s) to reach those consumers from a
menu of options that your primacy agency
recommends. Those options include but are not
limited to:
• posting the report on the Internet
• mailing the report to all postal patrons
* advertising the availability of the report in
newspapers, TV, and radio
• publishing the report in a local newspaper
• posting the report in public places such as
cafeterias of public buildings, libraries,
churches, and schools
• delivering multiple reports for distribution
by single-biller customers such as apartment
buildings or large private employers
• delivering the report to community organi-
zations
Your Governor (or Tribal leader or EPA
Regional Administrator in some cases) can
waive the mailing requirement for water sys-
tems that serve fewer that 10,000 people. You
may choose to mail the report even if the Gov-
ernor has issued a waiver. If you decide to use
the waiver, take the following steps:
• Publish the report in one or more local
newspapers
• Inform customers, either by notification in
newspapers or by other means approved by
the State, that reports will not be mailed
• Make the reports available upon request
If your system serves 500 or fewer people
and the Governor waives the mailing require-
ment for small systems, you do not have to
publish the report in the newspaper, though you
may want to do so. At least once a year, you
must notify customers through a mailed, deliv-
ered, or posted notice that the report is available
from your water system upon request.
Systems that serve 100,000 or more people
must post their reports on the Internet. EPA
encourages other systems to post their reports as
well. Many local governments have sites where
you could post your report, even if your system
itself does not have a site. EPA will make links
from its website (www.epa. gov/safewater/) to
all the reports of which it is aware.
12
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-------
APPENDIX C-INTERPRETING MONITORING DATA
•$• 1 sampling site/1 sampling date:
March 1998-.003
rangej
•$• multiple sampling sites/1 sampling date:
Barium
welll
well 2
Feb 1998
0.60
0.46
well 3
n/d
1 sampling site/multiple sampling dates:
Atrazine
welll
1st quarter
1998
0.8
2nd quarter
1998
3.8
3rd quarter
1998
2.1
4th quarter
1998
0.9
•$• multiple sampling sites/multiple sampling dates:
total trihalomethanes
site #1
site #2
site #3
site #4
quarterly average
rolling annual average
2nd quarter
1997
-
-
-
-
55
-
3rf quarter
1997
-
-
-
-
125
-
4th quarter
1997
-
-
-
--
65
-
1st quarter
1998
45
49
45
50
45
73
2nd quarter
1998
60
55
60
65
60
11
3ri quarter
1998
125
115
105
MS
120
73
4th quarter
1998
70
60
70
80
70
74
Notes: — The last 3 quarters of the 1997 are shown because you need them to compute the rolling annual
average. The range would include only detection data from 1998, unless one of the values from the
previous year was so extraordinary that consumers would need it to understand the reported annual
average.
— If your rolling annual average exceeds 80 (the revised MCL effective in 2001), your report must
include the health effects language for TTHMs, even though your system was not technically in
violation yet.
23
-------
Lead:
"^""" '-\
July 1998
site 1
n/d
site 2
n/d
site 3
8
site 4
12
site 5
19
site 6
3
site?
n/d
siteS
n/d
site 9
4
site 10
22
Notes: —
y°!l "' i'.I37S$?F- "'' " fr-'"««$f^f'-«~<0.5 NTU
MCLG
-
level
found
INTO
96%
range
-
-
sample
date
-
violation
no
typical source
soil runoff
24
-------
APPENDIX D-CERTIFICATION FORM (suggested format)
CWS name:
PWSLD.no: ___^_
The community water system named above hereby confirms that its consumer confidence report has
been distributed to customers (and appropriate notices of availability have been given). Further, the
system certifies that the information contained in the report is correct and consistent with the
compliance monitoring data previously submitted to the primacy agency.
Certified by: Name
Title
Phone # Date
*** You are not required by EPA rules to report the following information, but you may want to
provide it to your state. Check all items that apply.
_CCR was distributed by mail or other direct delivery. Specify other direct deli very methods:
"Good faith" efforts were used to reach non-bill paying consumers. Those efforts included
the following methods as recommended by the primacy agency:
posting the CCR on the Internet at www.
.mailing the CCR to postal patrons within the service area, (attach zip codes used)
.advertising availability of the CCR in news media (attach copy of announcement)
.publication of CCR in local newspaper (attach copy)
_posting the CCR in public places (attach a list of locations)
.delivery of multiple copies to single bill addresses serving several persons such as:
apartments, businesses, and large private employers
.delivery to community organizations (attach a list)
.(for systems serving at least 100,000 persons) Posted CCR on a publicly-accessible Internet
site at the address: www.
.Delivered CCR to other agencies as required by the primacy agency (attach a list)
25
-------
APPENDIX E-EXAMPLES OF CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORTS
EPA is providing the following consumer confidence reports as examples of
report format. In providing these reports, EPA is not endorsing the views nor
judging the accuracy of the information contained in the reports. These examples
do not necessarily meet all current federal and state CCR requirements. Be sure
to check with your state drinking water program since your state may have
different requirements from those under which these reports were created.
The first report is a hypothetical example created by EPA.
The second report is provided courtesy of SERCO Labs, St Paul, MN.
The third report is provided courtesy of Des Moines Water Works, Des
Moines, IA.
26
-------
Sampletown Water Quality Report - 1999
Last year, we conducted more than 500
tests for over 80 drinking water contaminants. We only
detected 7 contaminants, and found only atrazine at a
level higher than the state allows. As we told you in a
letter at the time, our water was temporarily unsafe. For
more information, see the paragraph on the back mark-
ed Violation. This brochure is a snapshot of the
quality of the water that we provided last year. Included
are 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. For more
information about your water, call 867-5309 and ask for
Joe Sampson.
Some people may be more vulnerable to
contaminants 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 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).
Your water comes from three municipal
wells sunk about 500 feet into an underground source
of water called the Low Plain Aquifer. These wells are
located west of town behind the municipal garage. The
town owns the land around these wells and restricts any
activity that could contaminate them. After the water
comes out of the wells, we treat it to remove several
contaminants and we also add disinfectant to protect
you against microbial contaminants. The state is
performing an assessment of our source water that it
complete by January 2001. We will report the results to
you and tell you how to get a copy of the report when it
is available.
Our Water Board meets on the first Tuesday of
each month at 7:30 pm in the Town Hall. Please feel
free to participate in these meetings.
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 (800-426-4791).
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, radio-
active 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 we treat it include:
^Microbialcontaminants, 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 and residential
uses.
~kRadtoactive contaminants, which are naturally
occurring.
•fcOrganic 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.
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to
drink, EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amou-
nt of certain contaminants in water provided by public
water systems. We treat our water according to EPA's
regulations. Food and Drug Administration regulations
establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which
must provide the same protection for public health.
-------
WATER QUALITY DATA
The table below lists all the drinking water contaminants that we detected during the 1998 calendar year.
The presence of these contaminants in the water does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk
Unless otherwise noted, the data presented in this table is from testing done January 1-December 31,1998. 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.
Terms & abbreviations used below:
• Maximum Contaminant 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 Contaminant 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.
* n/a: not applicable • nd: not detectable at testing limit • ppb: parts per billion or micrograms per liter • ppm:
parts per million or milligrams per liter • pCi/1: picocuries per liter (a measure of radiation)
j,I*
^^nantij1* MCL . '''ictl^ s™&jl»™i "Jffln&S^:/Samp: ~$$$^
•: * HiiiJniFir'iH •«••«¥ JL !,„ uny",. 'r , JffllHK!ir.,...i!itJI,, ' -Winter ' = HOTOOTIAne . !!«**» . --. ' M • • -' ' ''. '-'
18-
Fluorido (ppm)
Nitrala as nitrogen (ppm)
i§fe3?.n*^^^ffl|ffl^^'
Atrazirm (ppb)
Total TrihaJomethanes
(TTHMs) (ppb)
2'
10
ants
'
3
100
Beta/photon emitters (pCl/L) 50 **
Sift; ffiffit i-'-ift at AL f:
15
4
10
3
n/a
0.98
6
if ,„.' " '•"
3.275
73
10
nd-9
""ii, '"'''" ••'ir"Ti::ri
-mi. .J -m .'J.n" ,3-.h
.1-10
40-135
•*^^^M+^.--A
water additive which promotes strong teeth
runoff from fertilizer use
*YES*
runoff from herbicide used on row crops
by-product of drinking water chlorination
'"jf-y'C3?''"'^ '**. It w ht *r«T^™^~*
;MCL|S" ^fI°Wn # of sites found afovi the AL
i;«' iii:^'11;!!' "ji* Walci
•L tf ^ rtri&U&jt i, 4 "^1^*
erosion of natural deposits
r*&* wn
Lead (ppb)
Unragulated Contaminants
if i1 'if"* "• Kip, Jims-Jin "i«" ' " ' «j»"» *nimi,
CWoromothana (ppb)
not regulated
0.205
0.07
1 site above AL out of 20 sites
sampled
May 1995
~ k i "*!,).
corrosion of household plumbing systems
EPA regulations require us to monitor this
contaminant while EPA considers setting a limit on
it.
* EPA's MCL for fluoride is 4 ppm. However, our state has set a lower MCL to better protect human health.
* * The MCL foe beta particles is 4 mrem/year. EPA considers 50 pCi/1 to be the level of concern for beta particles.
o q|^:;watej7cor^ning. atrazine,well in
About Nitrate: Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 10 ppm is a health risk for infants of less than six months
of age. High nitrate levels in drinking water can cause blue baby syndrome. Nitrate levels may rise quickly for short
periods of time because of rainfall or agricultural activity. If you are caring for an infant, you should ask for advice
from your health care provider.
Is our water system meeting other rules that govern our operations? The state and EPA require us to test our
\yater on a regular basis to ensure its safety. In February and May of this year, we took the samples at the required
time but failed to submit the results of this monitoring to the state in. a timely manner. We are reviewing our
procedures to ensure that this paperwork will be submitted in a timely manner in the future.
-------
Champlin Water System Annual Drinking Water fteport
C —
City of Champlin
11955 Champlin Drive
Champlin, Minnesota 55316-2399
U.S. POSTAGE
'PAID
Champlin, MN
Permit No. 4
Resident-
City of Champlin
_Minnes~ota 55316
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-------
A Closer
iDOkAt
Water
\\ Quality
Our Commitment To You:
Safe, Reliable Drinking Water
Since 1919, water quality has been
Des Moines Water Work's primary
commitment. We supply Des Moines
and the communities listed above with the
highest quality drinking water.
*Des Moines Water Works believes that
the best way to assure you that your drinking
water is safe and reliable is to provide you
with accurate facts. This Consumer Confi-
dence Report will explain where your water
comes from arid the treatment process. The
chart contained in this report shows that all
contaminants detected In your water are
within Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
guidelines.
*There are three sources of water fulfilling
the needs of Des Moines Water Works cus-
tomers. Approximately two-thirds is supplied
by either the Raccoon or Des Moines Rivers.
The remaining one-third comes from the in-
filtration gallery system (shallow ground wa-
ter).
^Powdered activated carbon is fed Into
the river water for removal of man-made
and natural organic chemicals. The water is
then pretreated to remove dirt and debris
and combined with water from the infiltra-
tion gallery system. The combined water
then flows Into softening basins. The pH of
the water is adjusted before the final filtering
process. The water is passed through layers
of sand and various sizes of gravel to re-
move any remaining particles. Des Moines
Water Works activates its nitrate removal fa-
cility to remove this contaminant from your
water during periods of possible nitrate level
increases. After this final phase, fluoride is
added to aid in the prevention of tooth de-
cay and chlorine is added as a disinfectant
to kill bacteria, The clean water is stored in a
clear well until pumped Into the pipes of the
distribution system,
*Des Moines Water Works laboratory and
water production staff collect and test water
samples from throughout the system several
times a day. These tests ensure that the
proper chemical levels are maintained and
that the water remains free of unwanted
contaminants.
CHLORINATION &
FLUORIDATION
Des Moines and Raccoon River
Watersheds
-------
MOINES WATER WORKS 1997 DRINK1NQ WATER QUALITY REPORT
•HflUrTANOt
tnOHEST LEVEL
ALLOWED CHCL)
DMWWmOHEST
DETECTED LEVEL
DMWWAVEKAOE
DETECTED LEVEL
EPAMCLC
CEPACOAL)
BOURCECOF
CONTAMINANT
Told Colfotm Bacteria
Turbidity
MICROBIOLOGICAL CONTAMINANTS
5% positive I <1% positive I <1% positive
0.5 NTU 0.18 NTU 0.04 MTU
0 positive I Animal waste
N/A Agriculture, Geology
Gfoa Alpha Excluding Uranium
15.0
pCW
RADIONUCIXDBS
11.0 DCI/I I N/A
N/A
Geology
INORGANIC CHEMICAL*
FJuotWa
Nfftate(a$N)
Sockjm
4.0
10.0
N/A
mg/1
mg/I
1,1
9.7
44.0
mg/I
mg/1
mg/I
1.1
4.5
16.0
mg/I
mg/I
mg/I
4.0
10.0
N/A
mg/I
mg/I
Additive
Agriculture, Geology
Geology
Told Wtatoroathana
fbyprodU3*{rfcrtbrti««fcSTSa
MctotocNor
•UMtTANCX
100.0
70*
ORGANIC CONTAMINANTS
43.0 mg/1 I 37.0
0.3
mg/1
N/A
I N/A
IN/A
ACTION
LEVEL**
DMWWKAxnam
DETECTION
DKWWVO*
•AMPLE*
EPAMCLC
CEPAOOAL)
Treatment Process
AgricuHure
SOURCES OF
CONTAMINANT
Copper
Lead
1.3
15.0
mg/I
-COPPER AND LEAD > Regulated at Customer Tap-
N/A
N/A
0.04 mg/I
undetected
IN/A
N/A
Home Water Pipes
Home Water P^es
• Me/ton Level - 90% of sorrptes musf be betow /Ws teve/.
NOTEi The EPA requires monitoring of over 80 drinking water contaminants. Those listed above are the only contaminants detected
in your drinking water. For a complete list, contact Des Molnes Waterworks or your local water utility.
'yl Hu&*umC«*t»mbua*tVe ji|;ir>|icj^
'1JP _ psctose ADtifeK^Gscjjj&asi ^uslng^fl&'l^j^^j^^^ij^^^^p^^^ Ml'4-^'*'r"!;r:: ''•'^'^"'V'".-.t^'-jtJ|f&
•IWl — "-^- -—-.^ ., "-'ii..tei\v:i^J|^^l^^iff^|fSM^iSfe,^^
M*
-:,f,1.5'.r4.',;is;,i~¥;sj'ife ^AS.S;,, •.,.
ifcw^/A,v>«>uirrln>»™;«^*'aWAJ«i'^cMn^S^>^^/S/n/i"i^^ ;'..,>;
it».- Naturally-occurring^
- m/crac>tsTOSpef.tfrec-p^pir:.cc)nr^
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Des Mc*ies Water
Works has a nitrate
removal faculty to
remove this
contaminant from
your drinking water.
During periods of
Increased nitrate
levels, the nitrate
removal facBty Is
operated.
Lab personnel test
your drinking
water dally to
ensure putty and
quality.
-------
Treatment and
Distribution Violations
We ore pleased to report that all water
utilities listed below had no treatment or
distribution violations in 1997.
CITYOFANKENY
CITY OF CLME WATER DEPARTMENT
GITV OF GUMMING
DES MOINES WATER WORKS
JOHNSTON WATER DEPARTMENT
CITYOFNORWALK
CITY OF PLEASANT HILL
POLK COUNTY RURAL WATER DISTRICT #1
SOUTHEAST POLK RURAL WATER DISTRICT
URBANDALE WATER DEPARTMENT
WARREN WATER DISTRICT
CITYOFWAUKEE
WEST DES MOINES WATER WORKS
CITY OF WINDSOR HEIGHTS
XENIA RURAL WATER DISTRICT
[krip* • to • spor • id' • e *um]
Cryptosporidlum is a
microscopic organism
found in rivers and
streams that can
cause diarrhea, fever
and gastrointestinal
symptoms.-If Ingested.
It finds its way into the
watershed through
animal wastes. Cryptosporidium is effec-
tively eliminated by a treatment process
that includes filtration, sedimentation and
disinfection,
In four
years of test-
ing for cryp-
tosporidium, <
it has NEVER
been found
In your drink-
ing water.
lessen the risk of infection by cryptosporid-
ium and other microbial contaminants are
available from the Safe Drinking Water Hot-
line.
Nitrate in drinking water at levels
above 10 mg/l is a health risk for infants of
less than six months of age. High nitrate
Inadequately treated water may
contain disease-causing. organisms. These:
dfganisrfis Iriclude toacteriq, viruses, and
parasites;:which can cause; symptoms.such
as riauseg, ctamps, diarrhea, and asspci-
•dfed hea^dgches. Some people may be
:rtriOre vulnerable to, contaminants in drinking
wo^erthOtt the general pojDulatlpn.
Imffiiuno-cpmpromised persons
such.as, persons with edneer undergoing.
ipefspns, yvho have underi-
• gone organ tfdns-
I plants, people
I with HIV7 AiDS:'or
JOther Immune
(systems disorders,
:j;some elcterly, and
J Infants can be
IfDgrticulariy at risk
|.from infections.
Iliiese people
I should seek ad?
I.vi6e about dririk-
water from
Ijfieir heatth care
'providers.- EPA /
CDC guidelines on appfopridte means to
levels in drinking water can cause blue
baby syndrome. Nitrate levels, may rise
quickly for short" periods of time -due to
rainfall or agricultural activity, Des Moines
Water Works has a nitrate removal facility to
remove these nitrates from your drinking
water. During periods, of possible nitrate
level Increases, the levels are monitored
dally. If you are caring for an Infant, you
should consult with your health care
provider.
In order to ensure that tap water is
safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations,
which limit the amount of certain contami-
nants in water provided by public water
systems. FDA regulations establish limits for
contaminants In bottled water that must
provide the same protection for public
hearth. Any bottled water that is labeled
"drinking water" has to meet EPA's drinking
' water ^regulations. Drinking water, including
bottled water, may reasonably be ex-
pected:fo Contain at least smdll.-'amounfs
of some contaminants. The presence of
contaminants does not necessarily indicate
that water poses a health risk,
More Information about contami-
nants and potential hearth effects can be
obtained by calling the Environmental Pro-
tection Agency's (EPA) Safe Drinking Water
Hotline.
Safe Drinking
Water Hotline
1-800-426-4791
www.epa.gov/OGWDW
3
-------
I
Follow a drop of water through the pipe*
from the Raccoon River to your hotuel
(CIRCLE) THE CORRECT WOJ
1, Water in rivers or lakes may look
cteon muddy
2. People work all day and all night in the _
wafer treatment plant school
3. Germs can make us very.
heatihy
THE SENTENCE.
when it is not.
dirty
river
sick
smart
4. Water treatment plants clean our
electricity water
in a special way.
gasoline
JOJDM > )pis -E (UDid 4ueuup©J( jepM 'S uoep • i
•••nzznd aaoM QL S&MSNV
We encourage a& customers to oltend
and partlcipale In tire meetings of their lo-
cal water utility. Meeting Information for
ecjchutwyte listed betow.
ANKENY
Antony City Counc*
1 rt and 3rd Monday ol each month
410 West 1U Street • Antony. VK 50021
CUVE
CKveCHyCouwl
1st, 3rd and tost Thursday oJ each monlh
1900 NW U4lh St, •CRvg.lA50325
GUMMING
Cumnrtng Ctty Council
2nd ond 4)h Monday each monlh
Ctty Hoi • Cummlng, IA 50061
DES NONES
Bead o< Wate< Works Trustees
Dei MolrfflS Wqtof Works
4th Tuesday each month
2201 Valtey Drive • Des Molnes, IA 50321
JOHNSTON
Johnston Ctty CouocI
Moe!$ twice monlhiy - col for Information
CHyHc*. Johnston, IA 50131
NCKWALK
NorwafcCSyCoundl
1 st and 3
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