13
Jul
Water Quality Report
Annual Drinking Water Quality Report 2022
This report shows our water quality and what it means. If you have any questions about this report or concerning your water utility, please contact Larry McIntosh, Manager at 812-358-3654. We want our valued customers to be informed about their water utility. Please call to arrange an appointment Monday through Friday if you would like to learn more about Jackson County Water Utility, Inc. Jackson County Water Utility, Inc. routinely monitors for constituents in your drinking water according to Federal and State laws. Tables provided show the results of our monitoring for the period of January 1st to December 31st, 2022. In cases where the most recent monitoring date was prior to January 1st 2022, the actual test year is noted. Monitoring data for the Red-dington Service Area is provided in Table 2. Monitoring Data for the Crothersville Service Area is provided in Table 3. Only contaminants that were detected are shown on the tables. None of the detected contaminants are in violation. All infor-mation regarding testing results for Indiana-American Water Company, Inc., and Crothersville Water Utility has been provided by the respective utility.
Why are there contaminants in my drinking water?
The sources of drinking water (both tap 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, radi-oactive 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, 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 runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas productions, mining or farming.
- Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, stormwater runoff, and residential uses.
- Organic chemicals, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.
- Radioactive materials, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
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. We are required to treat our water according to EPA’s regulations. Moreover, Food & Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health.
Do I need to take special precautions?
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised people, such as people with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, people who have undergone organ transplant, people with HIV/AIDS or other kind of 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 has set guidelines with appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants which are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.
Public Involvement Opportunities
If you have any questions about the contents of this report, please contact Mr. Larry McIntosh at 812-358-3654. Or you can join us at our Water Board Meetings which are regularly held on the 1st Thursday of each month at 7:30 PM, at the Jackson County Water Utility Office, 1119 West Spring St., Brownstown, Indiana. We encourage you to participate and to give us your feedback.
Watershed Protection Efforts
Jackson County Water Utility has developed a Wellhead Protection Plan to help protect the groundwater supply. The Wellhead Protection Plan is available for review at the Water Utility Office. The Indiana Department of Environmental Man-agement (IDEM) conducted a Source Water Assessment in 2008. Please contact Larry McIntosh at 812-358-3654 if you have any questions regarding the Wellhead Protection Plan or Source Water Assessment.
Lead in Drinking Water
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 Jackson County Water Utility 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 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.
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 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.
The Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR) seeks to prevent waterborne diseases caused by E. coli. E. coli are bacterial whose presence indicates the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Human pathogens in these wastes can cause shortterm effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a greater health risk for infants, young children, the elderly and people with severely compromised immune systems.
TTHM’s and HAA5’s: Some people who drink water containing Haloacetic Acids in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increase risk of getting cancer. 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 system, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
Definitions
Action Level (AL) – the concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow
Parts per million (ppm) – Milligrams per liter (mg/L)
Parts per billion (ppb) – Micrograms per liter (ug/L)
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.
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 Residual Disinfection Level (MRDL): The highest level of disinfection allowed in drinking water.
Maximum Residual Disinfection Level Goal (MRDLG): The level of drinking water disinfection below which there is no known or expected health risk.
Treatment Technique (TT): A treatment technique is a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminate in drinking water.
Parts per million (ppm) – Milligrams per liter (mg/L)
Parts per billion (ppb) – Micrograms per liter (ug/L)
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.
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 Residual Disinfection Level (MRDL): The highest level of disinfection allowed in drinking water.
Maximum Residual Disinfection Level Goal (MRDLG): The level of drinking water disinfection below which there is no known or expected health risk.
Treatment Technique (TT): A treatment technique is a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminate in drinking water.
