Falls Water Company, Inc. 2007 Drinking Water Report-2006 Sampling Results
During
recent years we have sampled for over 80 different chemicals and have found
very little contamination. Contamination
is anything other than pure water. We
sample total coliform bacteria monthly as an indicator of microorganisms that
should not be present. The table below lists all the drinking water contaminants that we
detected during the 2006 calendar year or in our most recent test as noted. 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 a health risk. To obtain more information about contaminants
and potential health effects call our office at (208) 522-1300, or the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Safe Drinking Water Hotline
(1-800-426-4791).
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, if
exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements, which a water system must
follow.
|
Regulated |
MCLG |
MCL |
Our
Water |
Range
of Detection |
Sample
Date |
Violation |
Typical
Source of Contaminant |
Comments |
|
|
Total coliform bacteria |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
Monthly |
NO |
Naturally occurring |
Tested monthly |
|
|
Nitrate as N (ppm) |
10 |
10 |
3.3 |
1.7–3.3 |
Sep 2006 |
NO |
Run off from fertilizer |
Tested annually |
|
|
Lead (ppb) |
0 |
15 AL |
6 |
ND - 6 |
Dec 2006 |
NO |
Corrosive water & home
plumbing |
Tested once every three
years |
|
|
Copper
(ppm) |
1.3 |
1.3 AL |
0.19 |
0.19 |
Dec 2006 |
NO |
Corrosive water & home
plumbing |
Tested once every three
years |
|
|
Beta/photon
emitters (mrem/yr) |
N/A
|
4 |
4.1 |
2.6-4.1 |
Jan 2002
|
NO |
Decay of natural and man-made
deposits. |
Tested once every four
years
|
|
|
TTHMs
[Total trihalomethanes] (ppb) |
N/A
|
100/80 |
.71 |
.71 |
Sep 2006 |
NO |
By-product of drinking water
disinfection. |
Tested annually
|
|
|
Haloacetic
Acids (HAA) (ppb) |
N/A
|
60 |
.43 |
ND-.43 |
Sep 2006 |
NO |
By-product of drinking water
disinfection. |
Tested annually
|
|
|
Alpha/Radiation(pCi/L) |
0 |
15 |
1.7 |
0.3-1.7 |
Jan 2002 |
NO |
Erosion of natural
deposits |
Tested once every four
years |
|
|
Fluoride (ppm) |
4 |
4 |
0.3 |
0.2-0.3 |
Dec 2005 |
NO |
Natural occurring |
Tested once every three
years |
|
|
Nickel (ppm) |
100 |
100 |
1.4 |
0.6-1.4 |
Dec 2004 |
NO |
Natural occurring |
Tested once every three
years |
|
|
Barium (ppm) |
2 |
2 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
Dec 2005 |
NO |
Natural occurring |
Tested once every three
years |
|
|
Arsenic (ppb) |
N/A |
10 |
7.2 |
1.0-7.2 |
Dec 2006 |
NO |
Erosion of natural
deposits |
Tested once every three
years |
|
n/a: not applicable nd: not detectable at testing limit ppm:
parts per million or milligrams per liter
ppb: parts per billion or micrograms per
liter pCi/1: picocuries per liter (a Measure of
radiation)
mrems/yr: millirems per year (a measure of radiation
absorbed by the body).
Total
Coliform: Coliform are bacteria that are naturally present in the environment and
are used as an indicator that other potentially harmful bacteria may be
present. Coliform
bacteria found in two or more samples is a warning of potential problems
and usually triggers a precautionary boil notice.
About
Nitrate: Nitrate in
drinking water at levels above 10 ppm is a health risk for infants less than
six month of age. When levels approach
10 ppm, ask for advice from your care provider about blue baby syndrome. Nitrate levels may rise quickly for short
periods of time because of well construction, usage, rainfall, and local
contamination.
About Arsenic: While your drinking water meets the
current standard for arsenic, it does contain low levels of arsenic. The standard balances the current
understanding of arsenic’s possible health effects against the costs of
removing arsenic from drinking water.
USEPA 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.
About Lead: 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.
About Copper: 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.
About Beta/photon emitters: Certain
minerals are radioactive and may emit forms of radiation known as photons and
beta radiation. Some people who drink
water containing beta and photon emitters in excess of the MCL over many years
may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
About Alpha/Radiation: Certain
minerals are radioactive and may emit a form of radiation known as alpha
radiation. Some people who drink water
containing alpha emitters in excess of the MCL over many years may have an
increased risk of getting cancer.
About Fluoride: Some
people who drink water containing fluoride in excess of the MCL over many years
could get bone disease, including pain and tenderness of the bones. Fluoride in drinking water at half the MCL or
more may cause mottling of children’s teeth, usually in children less than nine
years old. Mottling, also known as
fluorosis, may include brown staining and/or pitting of the teeth, and occurs
only in developing teeth before they erupt from the gums.
About Barium: Some
people who drink water containing barium in excess of the MCL over many years
could experience an increase in their blood pressure.
About Haloacetic
Acids (HAA): Some people who drink
water containing haloacetic acids in excess of the MCL over many years may have
an increased risk of getting cancer.
About TTHMs
[Total trihalomethanes]: Some people
who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL over many years
may experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous systems,
and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
About
Chlorine: Some people who use water
containing chlorine well in excess of the MRDL could experience irritating
effects to their eyes and nose. Some
people who drink water containing chlorine well in excess of the MRDL could experience
stomach discomfort.
Violations: None.
Sources of drinking water, both tap water and bottle water
originate as surface water from rivers and lakes or as ground water from
springs and wells. As water travels over
the surface of land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring
minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material. Water picks up wastes from both human and
animal activities. Surface water must be
carefully filtered and disinfected to remove bacteria, viruses, and
protozoa. Ground water is usually
filtered naturally.
Contaminants that may be
present include:
Microbial contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoa
are very small living creatures that may be natural and harmless, or harmful if
originating from septic systems, agricultural livestock operations or wildlife.
Inorganic contaminants such as heavy metals,
can be naturally-occurring or result from urban storm water runoff, industrial
or domestic wastewater discharges.
Pesticides and herbicides may come from agriculture and residential uses.
Radioactive contaminants are naturally occurring.
Organic chemical contaminants are usually man-made (synthetic) and
vaporize easily (volatile). Petroleum
products and degreasers are examples of gas station and dry cleaner waste
transported by storm water and sewers.
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 Crypto
sporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe
Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791.
EPA ensures that tap water
is safe to drink, by
writing regulations that limits both natural and man made contaminants. We treat our water according to both Idaho
and EPA’s regulations. The U.S. Food and
Drug Administration regulates Interstate bottled
water.
Your drinking water comes from the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer. We have seven (7) wells, located throughout our service area.
The state has performed an assessment of our source water
including a map of where it comes from (delineation), a map of near by possible
pollution sources (sources of contamination), and a review of the chance for
contamination (susceptibility). The
Source Water Assessment was completed on Dec. 21, 2001. Let us know if you would like a copy of this
report.
If you want to further
protect yourself: Remember
that bacteria can grow on the end of your faucet and lead can dissolve from
your home plumbing. Flush your system by
running your water for about ten seconds or until cold before drinking.
If you detect problems or have a question please call: Falls Water
Company, Inc. at (208) 522-1300.