2OO6 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report
(Consumer Confidence Report)
CITY OF COLUMBUS
Phone No: 979-732-2366
Special Notice for the ELDERLY, INFANTS, CANCER PATIENTS, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune problems:
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. The EPA/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbia! contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).
Date: Time: Location:City Hall
Public Participation Opportunities
Every 2nd and 4th Monday of
the month
6:30 p.m.
Council Chambers, 2nd floor
605 Spring St. Columbus. TX 78934 Phone No: 979-732-2366
To learn about future public meetings (concerning your drinking water), or to request to schedule one, please call us.
Our Drinking Water
Meets or Exceeds All Federal (EPA)
Drinking Water Requirements
This report is a summary of the quality of the water we provide our customers. The analysis was made by using the data from the most recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) required tests and is presented in the attached pages. We hope this information helps you become more knowledgeable about what's in your drinking water.
WATER SOURCES: 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 before treatment include: microbes, inorganic contaminants, pesticides, herbicides, radioactive contaminants, and organic chemical contaminants.
En Espanol
Este informe incluye informacion importante sobre el agua potable. Si tiene preguntas o comentarios sobre este informe en espanol, favor de llamar al tel. (979 )732-2366 - para hablar con una persona bilingtue en espanol.
j04500001
Where do we get our drinking water?
Our drinking water is obtained from GROUND water sources. It comes from the following Lake/River/Reservoir/Aquifer: EVANGELINE. A Source Water Susceptibility Assessment for your drinking water sources(s) is currently being updated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and will be provided to us this year. The report will describe the susceptibility and types of constituents that may come into contact with your drinking water source based on human activities and natural conditions. The information contained in the assessment will allow us to focus our source water protection strategies. For more information on source water assessments and protection efforts at our system, please contact us.
ALL drinking water may contain contaminants.
When drinking water meets federal standards there may not be any health based benefits to purchasing bottled water or point of use devices. 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 that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).
Secondary Constituents
Many constituents (such as calcium, sodium, or iron) which are often found in drinking water, can cause taste, color, and odor problems. The taste and odor constituents are called secondary constituents and are regulated by the State of Texas, not the EPA. These constituents are not causes for health concern. Therefore, secondaries are not required to be reported in this document but they may greatly affect the appearance and taste of your water.
About The Following Pages
The pages that follow list all of the federally regulated or monitored contaminants which have been found in your drinking water. The U.S. EPA requires water systems to test for up to 97 contaminants.
DEFINITIONS
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL)
The highest permissible level of a contaminant in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected health risk. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL) The highest level of disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG)
The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contamination.
Treatment Technique (TT) A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
Action Level (AL)
The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.
ABBREVIATIONS
NTU - Nephelometric Turbidity Units
MFL - million fibers per liter (a measure of
asbestos)
pCi/L -picoctiries per liter (a measure of
radioactivity)
ppm - parts per million, or milligrams per liter
(mg/L)
ppb - parts per billion, or micrograms per liter
ppt - parts per trillion, or nanograms per liter
ppq - parts per quadrillion, or picograms per liter
Inorganic Contaminants
|
Year or Range
|
Contaminant
|
Average Level
|
Minimum Maximum Level Level
|
MCL MCLG Measure Source of Contaminant
|
|
2005
|
Barium
|
0.292
|
0.292 0.292
|
2 2 ppm Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits.
|
|
2005
|
Fluoride
|
0.3
|
0.3 0.3
|
4 4 ppm Erosion of natural deposits; water additive which promotes strong teeth; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories.
|
|
2006
|
Nitrate
|
0.01
|
0 0.02
|
10 10 ppm Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits.
|
|
2005
|
Combined Radium 226 & 228
|
1.37
|
0 2.8
|
5 0 pCi/L Erosion of natural deposits.
|
|
2005
|
Gross beta emitters
|
4.4
|
2.7 7.6
|
50 0 pCi/L Decay of natural and man-made deposits.
|
|
2005
|
Gross alpha
|
5.33
|
1.5 10.6
|
15 0 pCi/L Erosion of natural deposits.
|
Organic Contaminants
|
_ , Average Minimum Contaminant ^ LevQ|
|
Maximum MCL MCLQ Unit of Source ot Contaminant Level Measure
|
||||||
|
2002
|
Xylenes 1.4 0
|
4.2 10000 10000 ppb
|
Discharge from petroleum factories; discharge from chemical factories.
|
|||||
|
2002
|
Ethyl benzene 0.6 0
|
0.9 700 700 ppb
|
Discharge from petroleum refineries.
|
|||||
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level
Systems must complete and submit disinfection data on the Disinfection Level Quarterly Operating Report (DLQOR). On the CCR report, the system must provide disinfectant type, minimum, maximum and average levels.
Afraf Level
Year Disinfectant
Minimum Maximum MRDL MRDLG
Unit of Sourca of Chemica|
Level Level Measure
2006 Disinfectant Average level of CCR Minimum result
Maximum tesutt ^ Q <4
Q Disinfectant used to
used year's quarterly single sample single
sample ' ' ^"
control
microbes.
Disinfection Byproducts
|
Year
|
Contaminant
|
Average Level
|
Minimum Level
|
Maximum Level
|
MCL
|
Unit ot Measure
|
Source of Contaminant
|
|||
|
2004
|
Total
|
Haloacetic
|
Acids
|
9.1
|
5.9
|
12.2
|
60
|
ppb
|
Byproduct of drinking
|
water disinfection.
|
|
2004
|
Total
|
Trihalomelhiines
|
14.3
|
8.6
|
20.1
|
80
|
ppb
|
Byproduct of drinking
|
water disinfection.
|
|
Unregulated Contaminants
|
Bromoforrn, chloroform, dichlorobromomethane, and dihromochloro methane are disinfection byproducts. There is no maximum contaminant level for these chemicals at the entry point to distribution.
|
||||||
|
Year or Range
|
Contaminant
|
Average Level
|
Minimum Level
|
Maximum Level
|
Unit of Measure
|
Source of Contaminant
|
|
2002
|
Bromoform
|
1.47
|
0
|
2.9
|
ppb
|
Byproduct of drinking water disinfection.
|
|
2002
|
Dibromochloromethane
|
0.67
|
0
|
1.2
|
ppb
|
Byproduct of drinking water disinfection.
|
0450001
2006 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report
Lead and Copper
|
Year
|
Contaminant
|
The 90th Percentile
|
Number ot Sites Exceeding Action Level
|
Action Level
|
Unit of Measure
|
Source ot Contaminant
|
|
|
2004
|
Lead
|
2.1
|
0
|
15
|
ppb
|
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion
|
of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
natural deposits.
|
|
|
2004
|
Copper
|
0.183
|
0
|
1.3
|
ppm
|
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion
|
of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives
|
|
NOT REQUIRED
Turbidity Total Coliform
Total cotiform bacteria are used as indicators of microbial contamination of drinking water because testing for them is easy. While not disease-causing organisms themselves, they are often found in association with other microbes that are capable of causing disease. Coiiform bacteria are more hardy than many disease-causing organisms; therefore, their absence from water is a good indication that the water is microbiologicallv safe for human consumption.______________________
Source of Contaminant
Year
Contaminant Highest
Monthly Number of MCL Unit of Measure Source of
contaminant
Positive Samples
2006 Total Coliform Bacteria 1 * Presence Naturally present in the environment.
*Two or mure coliform found samples in any single month.
Fecal Coiiform REPORTED MONTHLY TESTS FOUND NO FECAL COLIFORM BACTERIA.
0450001
2006 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report
Secondary and Other Constituents Not Regulated
(No associated adverse health effects)
|
Year or Range
|
Constituent
|
Ausraga Lovel
|
Minimum Level
|
Maximum E Level
|
econdary Limit
|
Unit of Measure
|
Source ot Constituent
|
|
2005
|
Bicarbonate
|
312
|
312
|
312
|
NA
|
ppm
|