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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07 Water Quality Report 2007 CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS 1416',c oak Park BIN N.• Box 2007 • Oak Park Hei,hts. MN 330 {2 • (6� 1(-139 -44 39 • Fax 439-0 74 PWSID: 1820020 2007 Drinking Water Report The City of Oak Park Heights is issuing the results of monitoring done on its drinking water for the period from January 1 to December 31, 2007. The purpose of this report is to advance consumers' understanding of drinking water and heighten awareness of the need to protect precious water resources. Source of Water The City of Oak Park Heights provides drinking water to its residents from a groundwater source: two wells ranging from 290 to 310 feet deep that draw water from the Jordan aquifer. The water provided to customers may meet drinking water standards but the Minnesota Department of Health has determined that one or more of the sources of water is potentially susceptible to contamination. If you wish to obtain the entire source water assessment regarding your drinking water, please call 651 -201- 4700 or 1- 800 - 818 -9318 (and press 5) during normal business hours. Also, you can view it on line at www.health.state.mn.tis/divs/eh/water/swp/swa. Call Tom Ozzello, Public Works Director, at 651- 439 -4439 if you have questions about the City of Oak Park Heights drinking water or would like information about opportunities for public participation in decisions that may affect the quality of the water. Results of Monitoring No contaminants were detected at levels that violated federal drinking water standards. However, some con- taminants were detected in trace amounts that were below legal limits. The table that follows shows the con- taminants that were detected in trace amounts last year. (Some contaminants are sampled less frequently than once a year; as a result, not all contaminants were sampled for in 2007. If any of these contaminants were detected the last time they were sampled for, they are included in the table along with the date that the detection occurred). Key to abbreviations: MCLGCMaximum Contaminant Level Goal: 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. MCLCMaximum Contaminant Level: 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. AL— Action Level: The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other re- quirement which a water system must follow. 2007 CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS Page 2 of 4 90th Percentile Level —This is the value obtained after disregarding 10 percent of the samples taken that had the highest levels. (For example, in a situation in which 10 samples were taken, the 90th percentile level is determined by disregarding the highest result, which represents 10 percent of the samples.) Note: In situa- tions in which only 5 samples are taken, the average of the two with the highest levels is taken to determine the 90th percentile level. pCi /1— PicoCuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity). ppb —Parts per billion, which can also be expressed as micrograms per liter (µg/1). ppm —Parts per million, which can also be expressed as milligrams per liter (mg /1). N/A —Not Applicable (does not apply). Level Found Contaminant (units) MCLG MCL Range Average/ Typical Source of Contaminant Fluoride (ppm) 4 4 L2 -1.5 1.11 State of Minnesota requires all municipal Nitrate (as Nitro- 10 10 .9 -5.� 5.� Runoff from fertilizer use: Leaching from gen) ( ppm) septic tanks, sew age: Erosion of natural Level Found Contaminant (units) Range Average/ Typical Source of Contaminant Radon (pCi /1) (10/04/2005) N/A 517 Erosion of natural deposits. *This is the value used to determine compliance with federal standards. It sometimes is the highest value detected and sometimes is an average of all the detected values. If it is an average, it may contain sampling results from the previous year. Radon is a radioactive gas which is naturally occurring in some groundwater. It poses a lung cancer risk when gas is released from water into air (as occurs during showering, bathing, or washing dishes or clothes) and a stomach cancer risk when it is ingested. Because radon in indoor air poses a much greater health risk than radon in drinking water, an Alternative Maximum Contaminant Level (AMCL) of 4,000 picoCuries per liter may apply in states that have adopted an Indoor Air Program, which compels citizens, homeowners, schools, and communities to reduce the radon threat from indoor air. For states without such a program, the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 300 pCi /1 may apply. Minnesota plans to adopt an Indoor Air Pro- gram once the Radon Rule is finalized. 2007 CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS Page 3 of 4 Contaminant 90% Level # sites over Copper (ppm) N/A 1.11 .25 0 out of 2() Corrosion of household plumbing systems: (08/25/2005) Erosion of natural deposits. Lead (ppb) N/A 15 4 0 out of 2() Corrosion of household plumbing systems: If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. City of Oak Park Heights 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 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. Some contaminants do not have Maximum Contaminant Levels established for them. These unregulated contaminants are assessed using state standards known as health risk limits to determine if they pose a threat to human health. If unacceptable levels of an unregulated contaminant are found, the response is the same as if an MCL has been exceeded, the water system must inform its customers and take other corrective actions. In the table that follows are the unregulated contaminants that were detected: Level Found Contaminant (units) Range Average/ Typical Source of Contaminant Sodium (ppm) (06/08/2004) 5 -6 6 Erosion of natural deposits. Sulfate (ppm) (06/08/2004) 5.)5 -7.32 732 Erosion of natural deposits. Compliance with National Primary Drinking Water Regulations The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reser- voirs, 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: _Uicrobiul contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife. Llorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally- occurring or result from urban stormwater rtmoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming. 2007 CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS Page 4 of 4 Pestieiales anal herbieiales, 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 by[] - products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems. Rat ioactiiv contaminralts, 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, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) pre- scribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water sys- tems. Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health. 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 Envi- ronmental Protection Agency's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1- 800 -426 -4791. Sonte people nuq be more vuhzer•able to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Int- rrturro- corttprorttised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV /AIDS or other inanune s stent disorders, some elderly, anal infants can be particularli at risk front infections. These people shoultl seek advice about drinking water front their health cane providers. EPA /CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lesser? the risk of infection U�. Cr7ptosporidiurrt are available front the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1 -800- 426 -4791.