CCR Water Quality Report 2009

BRISTOL Water Quality Report – 2009

What is the source of my drinking water? We have three wells in the Town of Bristol; there are two, Fowler Wells I & II, located on West Shore Road. Our third well is known as the Storm Center Well, this is located on Danforth Brook Road.

How can I get involved? A tour of our facilities is held once a year, this year it is scheduled for July 15^th, call Jeff Chartier or Juanita Gilman at 744-8411 during the hours of 7:00-3:30 for more details. Also, any questions or concerns can be discussed by calling the office or visiting the town website at www.townofbristolnh.org.

Why are contaminants in my water?

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of 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 US Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

Violations and Other information: There were no violations in 2008.

Do I need to take special precautions?

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 trans-plants, 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 (1-800-426-4791).

Definitions:

MCLG: Maximum Contaminant Level Goal, or 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.

MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level: The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. They are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

AL: Action Level, or the concentration of a contaminant which, when exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.

TT: Treatment Technique, or a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

MRDLG: Maximum residual disinfectant level goal or the level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLG’s do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants(for water systems that use chlorine).

MRDL: Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level or the highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that the addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants (for water systems that use chlorine)..

Abbreviations:

ppm: parts per million ppb: parts per billion ppt: parts per trillion ppq: parts per quadrillion pCi/L: pico curies per liter NTU: Nephelometric Turbidy Unit

NA – Not applicable nd: not detectable at testing limits AL: Action Level TT: Treatment Technique

Sample Dates: The results for detected contaminants listed below are from the most recent monitoring done in compliance with regulations ending with the year 2008. Results prior to 2008 will include the date the sample was taken. The State of New Hampshire allows water systems to monitor for some contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently. Thus some of the data present, though representative, may be more than one year old.

Turbidity: is a measure of the cloudiness of the water. It is monitored by surface water systems because it is a good indicator of water quality and thus helps measure the effectiveness of the treatment process. High turbidity can hinder the effectiveness of disinfectants.

DETECTED WATER QUALITY RESULTS-FOWLER RIVER
Contaminant (Units)	Level Detected	MCL	MCLG	Violation YES/NO	Likely Source of Contamination	Health Effects of Contaminant
Microbiological Contaminants
Total Coliform (2008) Bacteria	0	< 40 samples >1 is positive	0	No	Naturally present in the environment	Coliforms are bacteria that are naturally present and are used as an indicator that other, potentially-harmful, bacteria may be present. Coliforms were found in more samples than allowed and this was a warning of potential problems.
Fecal Coliform, E.Coli Bacteria	0	0	0	No	Human and animal fecal waste	Fecal coliforms and E.coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause short- term effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, and people with severely- compromised immune systems.
Radioactive Contaminants
Radon (2006) (pCi/L)	1500	None	0	No	Erosion of natural deposits	Presently the US Environmental Protection Agency is reviewing the setting of a standard for radon in drinking water.
Inorganic Contaminants
Barium (2008) (ppm)	.0286	2	2	No	Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits	Some people who drink water containing barium in excess of the MCL over many years could experience an increase in their blood pressure.
Copper (2007) (ppm)	.85	AL=1.3	1.3	No	Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives	Copper is an essential nutrient, but some people who drink water containing copper in excess of the action level over a relatively short amount of time could experience gastrointestinal distress. Some people who drink water containing copper in excess of the action level over many years could suffer liver or kidney damage. People with Wilson’s Disease should consult their personal doctor.
Lead (2007) (ppb)	0	AL=15	0	No	Corrosion of household plumbing systems, erosion of natural deposits	(15 ppb in more than 5%) Infants and young children are typically more vulnerable to lead in drinking water than the general population. Additional information is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791). (above 15 ppb) Infants and children who drink water containing lead in excess of the action level could experience delays in their physical or mental development. Children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. Adults who drink this water over many years could develop kidney problems or high blood pressure.
Nitrate (2008) (as Nitrogen) (ppm)	.082	10	10	No	Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits	(5ppm through 10ppm) 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. (Above 10ppm) Infants below the age of six months who drink water containing nitrate in excess of the MCL could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blue baby syndrome.

DETECTED WATER QUALITY RESULTS-STORM CENTER
Contaminant (Units)	Level Detected	MCL	MCLG	Violation YES/NO	Likely Source of Contamination	Health Effects of Contaminant
Microbiological Contaminants
Total Coliform (2008) Bacteria	0	< 40 samples >1 is positive	0	NO	Naturally present in the environment	Coliforms are bacteria that are naturally present and are used as an indicator that other, potentially-harmful, bacteria may be present. Coliforms were found in more samples than allowed and this was a warning of potential problems.
Fecal Coliform, E. Coli Bacteria (2008)	0	0	0	NO	Human and animal fecal waste	Fecal coliforms and E.coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause short- term effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, and people with severely- compromised immune systems.
Radioactive Contaminants
Radon (2006) (pCi/L)	2200	None	0	NO	Erosion of natural deposits	Presently the US Environmental Protection Agency is reviewing the setting of a standard for radon in drinking water.
Inorganic Contaminants
Barium (2008) (ppm)	.0286	2	2	NO	Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits	Some people who drink water containing barium in excess of the MCL over many years could experience an increase in their blood pressure.
Copper (2007) (ppm)	.85	AL=1.3	1.3	NO	Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives	Copper is an essential nutrient, but some people who drink water containing copper in excess of the action level over a relatively short amount of time could experience gastrointestinal distress. Some people who drink water containing copper in excess of the action level over many years could suffer liver or kidney damage. People with Wilson’s Disease should consult their personal doctor.
Lead (2007) (ppb)	0	AL=15	0	NO	Corrosion of household plumbing systems, erosion of natural deposits	(15 ppb in more than 5%) Infants and young children are typically more vulnerable to lead in drinking water than the general population. Additional information is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791). (above 15 ppb) Infants and children who drink water containing lead in excess of the action level could experience delays in their physical or mental development. Children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. Adults who drink this water over many years could develop kidney problems or high blood pressure.
Nitrate (2007) (as Nitrogen) (ppm)	.82	10	10	NO	Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits	(5ppm through 10ppm) 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. (Above 10ppm) Infants below the age of six months who drink water containing nitrate in excess of the MCL could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blue baby syndrome.

Description of Drinking Water Contaminants:

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 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 operations, and wildlife.

Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which 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, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water 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 storm water 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. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

Radon: Radon is a radioactive gas that you can’t see, taste or smell. It can move up through the ground and into a home through cracks and holes in the foundation. Radon can also get into indoor air when released from tap water from showering, washing dishes, and other household activities. It is a known human carcinogen. Breathing radon can lead to lung cancer. Drinking water containing radon may cause an increased risk of stomach cancer. Presently the EPA is reviewing a standard for radon in water.

Lead: 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. This water system is responsible for high quality drinking water, but can not control the variety of materials used in your plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing cold water your tap for at least 30 seconds before using water for drinking or cooking. Do not use hot water for drinking and 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.