Legal
0511
2015 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report
City of Parsons
341 Second Street
Parsons, West Virginia 26287
PWS No. 3304707
May 3, 2016
Why Am I Receiving This Report?
In compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments, the City of Parsons 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 tor the period of January 1 to December 31, 2015, or earlier if not on a yearly schedule.
If you have any questions concerning this report, you may contact John E. Lipscomb, Chief Water Treatment Plant Operator, at (304) 478-4120. If you have any further questions, comments, or suggestions, you may address the Mayor and City Council at one of their meetings held on the first and third Tuesday of every month at 6:00 P.M. (EDT) in the Council Chambers, located on the first floor of the Charles W. “Bill” Rosenau Municipal Building, 341 Second Street, Parsons, West Virginia.
Where does my water come from?
Your water source is surface water from the Shavers Fork of Cheat River.
Source Water Assessment
A Source Water Assessment was conducted by the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health (WVBPH). The intake that supplies drinking water to the City of Parsons 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 your review and/or a copy can be provided to you at the Parsons Business Office, located at the address mentioned above, during normal 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, the 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 tor 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 (1-800-426-4791). 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 (1-800-426-4791).
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 the 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:
• pCi/1 – picocuries per liter
• ppm – parts per million or milligrams per liter
• ppb – parts per billion or micrograms per liter
• NTU – Nephelometric Turbidity Unit, used to measure cloudiness in water
• NE – not established
• NA – not applicable
The City of Parsons routinely monitors tor contaminants in your drinking water according to federal and state laws. The tables below show the results of our monitoring for different contaminants.
Table of Test Results -Regulated Contaminants
Violation Level Unit of MCLG MCL Likely Source of
Contaminant Y/N Detected Measure Contamination
Microbiological
Contaminants
Turbidity N 0.12 NTU 0 TT Runoff from natural
100{4ceb532c6f579389df471c6c1e832caf2346b74dc60fcbf6aabd4d29df3baf9c} of soil.
monthly
samples
<0.3
Total Organic Carbon N 1.23 ppm NA TT Naturally present in
the environment.
Inorganic
Contaminants
Barium N 0.0196 ppm 2 2 Discharge from drilling
waste; erosion of
natural deposits.
Fluoride N 0.66 ppm 4 4 Erosion of natural
deposits; water
additive that promotes
strong teeth.
Nitrate N .023 ppm 10 10 Runoff from fertilizer
use; leakage from
septic tanks; sewage;
erosion of natural
deposits.
Volatile Organic
Contaminants
Chlorine N 1.9 ppm 4 4 Water additive used
Annual MRDLG MRDL to control microbes.
avg.
Range
1.4-2.4
Haloacetic Acids N 35.9 ppb NA 60 By-product of
(HAAC5) drinking water
disinfection.
Total Trihalomethanes N 53 ppb NA 80 By-product of
(TTHMs) drinking water
disinfection.
Table of Test Results- Unregulated Contaminants
Violation Level Unit of MCLG MCL Likely Source of
Contaminant Y/N Detected Measure Contamination
Sodium* N 32.2 ppm NE 20 Erosion of natural
deposits.
Sulfate N 5.06 ppm 250 250 Erosion of natural
deposits.
*Sodium is an unregulated contaminant. Our sodium level exceeds the guidance MCL. Anyone having concern over the sodium should contact their primary health care provider.
WE ARE PLEASED TO REPORT THAT THE CITY OF PARSONS MET ALL FEDERAL AND STATE WATER STANDARDS FOR THE REPORTING YEAR 2015.
Additional Information
All other water test results for the reporting year 2015 were all non-detects.
Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness in 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 City of Parsons 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 Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
This report will not be mailed to customers; however, it will be posted at the Parsons Business Office for your review and/or a copy can be provided to you during normal business hours.