Annual Drinking Water Quality Report 2014
TOWN OF GRANT TOWN
P. O. BOX 40
Grant Town, WV 26574
PWS# WV3302507
March 31, 2015
Why am I receiving this report?
In compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments, the Town of Grant Town is providing its customers with this annual water quality report. This report explains where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to standards set by regulatory agencies. The information in this report shows the results of our monitoring for the period of January 1st to December 31st, 2014 or earlier if not on a yearly schedule.
If you have any questions concerning this report, you may contact Robert D Riggs, Jr., 304-278-7381.
Where does my water come from?
Your drinking water is purchased from the City of Fairmont which is surface water from the Tygart River.
Source Water Assessment
A Source Water Assessment was conducted in 2008 by the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health (WVBPH). The intake that supplies drinking water to the City Of Fairmont has a higher susceptibility to contamination, due to the sensitive nature of surface water supplies and the potential contaminant sources identified within the area. This does not mean that this intake will become contaminated only that conditions are such that the surface water could be impacted by a potential contaminant source. Future contamination may be avoided by implementing protective measures. The source water assessment report which contains more information is available for review or a copy will be provided to you at our office during business hours or from the WVBPH 304-558-2981.
Why must water be treated?
All drinking water contains various amounts and kinds of contaminants. Federal and state regulations establish limits, controls, and treatment practices to minimize these contaminants and to reduce any subsequent health effects.
Contaminants in Water
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. FDA regulations establish limits of 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 these 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 Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).
The source of drinking water (both tap and bottled water) includes rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, 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, 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, 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 the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
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 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).
Water Quality Data Table
Definitions of terms and abbreviations used in the table or report:
• 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, or 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 technique.
• MRDLG – Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal, or the level of drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect benefits of use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.
• MRDL – Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level, or the highest level of disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of disinfectant is necessary to control microbial contaminants.
• 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.
Abbreviations that may be found in the table:
• ppm – parts per million or milligrams per liter
• ppb – parts per billion or micrograms per liter
• NTU-Nephelometric Turbidity Unity, used to measure cloudiness in water
• NE- not established
N/A- not established
The City Of Fairmont and Town of Grant Town routinely monitors for contaminants in your drinking water according to federal and state laws. The tables below show the results of our monitoring for contaminants.
Table of Test Results – Regulated Contaminants – City Of Fairmont
Contaminant Violation Level Unit of MCLG MCL Likely Source of
Y/N Detected Measure Contamination
Microbiological Contaminants
Turbidity N 0.05 NTU 0 TT Soil runoff
100{4ceb532c6f579389df471c6c1e832caf2346b74dc60fcbf6aabd4d29df3baf9c} of
monthly
samples
<0.3
Inorganic Contaminants
Copper* N 0.0604 ppm 1.3 AL=3 Corrosion of house
0.058 plumbing
Fluoride N 0.69 ppm 4 4 Erosion of
natural deposits;
water additive
that promotes
strong teeth
Lead* N 1.0 ppb 0 AL=15 Corrosion of
Fairmont 0.4 Household
Rayford Acres plumping
Nitrate N 0.35 ppm 10 10 Runoff from fertilizer use;
leakage from septic
tanks,sewage;erosion
of natural deposits
Radioactive Contaminates
Gross Alpha N 0.105 PCI/I 0 15 Erosion of natural
deposits
Uranium 238 N 0.108 PCI/I 0 30 Erosion of nautual
deposits
Combined radium N 0.457 PCI/I 0 5 Erosion of nautual
(226 & 228) deposits
Volatile Organic Contaminants
Chlorine N Annual ppm 4 4 Water additive
Fairmont Avg.
Rayford Acres 1.4 MRDLG MRDL used to
1.1 control microbes
Range
0.90-1.6
0.8-1.3
Haloacetic acids N Annual ppb NA 60 By-product
(HAAC5) Avg.
Site 1 30.25
Site 2 32.5 of drinking
Site 3 25.5 water
Site 4 31.25 disinfection
Range
Site 1 21-57
Site 2 27-39
Site 3 5-48
Site 4 16-53
Total N Annual ppb NA 60 By-product
trihalomethanes Avg
(TTHMs) 47.5
Site 1 55.5
Site 2 35.5 of drinking
Site 3 46.25 water
Site 4
Range chlorination
Site1 23-68
Site2 33-86
Site3 14-59
Site4 22-75
*Copper and lead samples were collected from 30 Fairmont area residences and 5 Rayford Acres area residences on September 5, 2013. Only the 90th percentile is report. None of the samples exceeded the MCL.
Table of Test Results – UnRegulated contaminants
Contaminant Violation Level Unit MCLG MCL Likely Source of
Y/N Detected of Measure Contamination
Sodium N 9.63 ppm NE 20 Erosion of natural
Deposits
Sulfate N 26.8 ppm 250 250 Erosion of natural
Deposits
The City of Fairmont conducted monitoring of contaminates under the unregulated contaminate motoring rule 3 (ucmr3) from 2013. This additional monitoring helps the EPA determine which unregulated contaminants are present in the environment and may in the future require standards. Test results from this monitoring are available from the City of Fairmont by calling Lewis West 304-366-1461
Table of Test Result – Regulated Contaminants – Town of Grant Town
Contaminant Violation Level Detected Unit of MCLG MCL Likely Source of
Measure Contamination
Volatile Organic
Contaminants
Chlorine N 0.93 ppm 4 4 Water additive
Annual avg. MRDLG MRDL used to
Range control microbes
0.31-1.47
Haloacetic acids N 68.52 ppb NA 60 By-product
(HAAC5) Annual avg. of drinking
Range water
40.5-108.8 disinfection
Total N 41.37 ppb NA 80 By-product
trihalomethanes Annual avg. of drinking
(TTHMs) Range water
16-73.3 chlorination
Some people who drink water containing haloacetic acids in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
WE ARE PLEASED TO REPORT THAT THE TOWN OF GRANT TOWN MET ALL FEDERAL AND STATE
WATER STANDARDS FOR THE REPORTING YEAR 2014.
Additional Information
All other water test results for the reporting year 2014 were all non-detects.
Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness in drinking water. We monitor it because it is a good indicator of the effectiveness of our filtration system.
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. The Town of Grant Town 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 drinking 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.
This report will not be mailed. A copy will be provided to you upon request at our office during regular business hours.
Times: April 10, 2015