Falls Water Company, Inc. 2008 Drinking Water Report-2007 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 2007 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	2.87	1.3–2.87	Dec 2007	NO	Run off from fertilizer	Tested annually
Lead (ppb)	0	15 AL	8	8	Jan 2007	NO	Corrosive water & home plumbing	Tested once every three years
Copper (ppm)	1.3	1.3 AL	0.166	0.166	Jan 2007	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	.86	.86	Aug 2007	NO	By-product of drinking water disinfection.	Tested annually
Haloacetic Acids (HAA) (ppb)	N/A	60	3.6	3.6	Aug 2007	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	0.3	Dec 2007	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	1.0	1.0	Dec 2007	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 six (6) 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.

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