2009 ANNUAL DRINKING WATER QUALITY REPORT

PWSID #: 1090057  Richlandtown Borough Water Department

Este informe contiene informacion muy importante sobre su agua de beber.Traduzcalo o hable con alguien que lo entienda bien. (This report contains very important information about your drinking water. Translate it, or speak to someone who understands it.)

SOURCE(S) OF WATER:

We want you to be informed about your water supply. This report shows our water quality and what it means. Our constant goal is to provide you with a dependable supply of drinking water. We want you to understand the efforts we make to continually improve the water treatment process and protect our water resources. We are committed to ensuring the quality of your water. Our water source is the Tohickon Creek Watershed which is underlain by the Brunswick Shale Rock Formation.

 We are pleased to report that our drinking water meets federal and state requirements.

WATER SYSTEM INFORMATION:

If you have any questions about this report or concerning your water utility, please contact John Wassmer, Water Superintendent at 215-536-7127. We want our valued customers to be informed about their water utility. Other questions and concerns can be brought to Borough Council, which meets on the second Monday of every month at 7pm in Benner Hall.

MONITORING YOUR WATER:

Richlandtown Borough routinely monitors for constituents in your drinking water according to Federal and State laws. This table shows the results of our monitoring for the period of January 1^st to December 31^st, 2009.  All drinking water, including bottled drinking water, may be reasonably expected to contain at least small amounts of some constituents.  It's important to remember that the presence of these constituents does not necessarily pose a health risk.

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 cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

In this table you will find many terms and abbreviations you might not be familiar with. To help you better understand these terms we've provided the following definitions:

DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS:

Not Applicable (N/A) – not applicable

Non-Detects (ND) - laboratory analysis indicates that the contaminant is not present at a detectable level.

Parts per million (ppm) or Milligrams per liter (mg/l) – parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/L)

Parts per billion (ppb) or Micrograms per liter - parts per billion, or micrograms per liter

Parts per trillion (ppt) or Nanograms per liter (nanograms/l) - one part per trillion or nanograms per liter

Parts per quadrillion (ppq) or Picograms per liter (picograms/l) - parts per quadrillion or picograms per liter 

Picocuries per liter (pCi/L) - picocuries per liter is a measure of the radioactivity in water.

Millirems per year (mrem/yr) - measure of radiation absorbed by the body.

Action Level (AL) – the concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.

Treatment Technique (TT) - A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

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 Disinfectant Level (MRDL) – The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water.  There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant in 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.

Contaminant (Unit of Measurement)	Violation Y/N	Highest Level Detected	Range	MCL in CCR units	MCLG	Sources of Contamination
Radioactive Contaminants
Alpha emitters (pCi/l)	N	6.66	1.19	15	0	Erosion of natural deposits
Combined radium (pCi/l)	N	1.36	.35	5	0	Erosion of natural deposits
Uranium (pCi/L) ** effective Dec 8, 2003	N	4.65	.37	30	0	Erosion of natural deposits
Inorganic Contaminants
Antimony (ppb)	N	0.001		6	6	Discharge from petroleum refineries; fire retardants; ceramics; electronics; solder
Arsenic (ppb)	Y	28.2		10***	0***	Erosion of natural deposits; Runoff from orchards; Runoff from glass and electronics production wastes
Barium (ppm)	N	0.141		2	2	Discharge of drilling wastes; Discharge from metal refineries; Erosion of natural deposits
Beryllium (ppb)	N	0.0005		4	4	Discharge from metal refineries and coal-burning factories; Discharge from electrical, aerospace, and defense industries
Cadmium (ppb)	N	0.006		5	5	Corrosion of galvanized pipes; Erosion of natural deposits; Discharge from metal refineries; Runoff from waste batteries and paints
Chromium (ppb)	N	0.004		100	100	Discharge from steel and pulp mills; Erosion of natural deposits
Nitrate (ppm)	N	1.7		10	10	Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposits
Thallium (ppb)	N	0.001		210	.5	Leaching from ore-processing sites; Discharge from electronics, glass, and drug factories
Volatile Organic Contaminants
Benzene (ppb)	N	0.0005		5	0	Discharge from factories; Leaching from gas storage tanks and landfills
Carbon tetrachloride (ppb)	N	0.0005		5	0	Discharge from chemical plants and other industrial activities
Chlorobenzene (ppb)	N	0.0005		100	100	Discharge from chemical and agricultural chemical factories
o-Dichlorobenzene (ppb)	N	0.0005		600	600	Discharge from industrial chemical factories
p-Dichlorobenzene (ppb)	N	0.0005		75	75	Discharge from industrial chemical factories
1,2-Dichloroethane (ppb)	N	0.0005		5	0	Discharge from industrial chemical factories
1,1-Dichloroethylene (ppb)	N	0.0005		7	7	Discharge from industrial chemical factories
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene (ppb)	N	0.0005		70	70	Discharge from industrial chemical factories
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene (ppb)	N	0.0005		100	100	Discharge from industrial chemical factories
Dichloromethane (ppb)	N	0.7		5	0	Discharge from pharmaceutical and chemical factories
1,2-Dichloropropane (ppb)	N	0.0005		5	0	Discharge from industrial chemical factories
Ethylbenzene (ppb)	N	0.0005		700	700	Discharge from petroleum refineries
Styrene (ppb)	N	0.0005		100	100	Discharge from rubber and plastic factories; Leaching from landfills
Tetrachloroethylene (ppb)	N	0.0005		5	0	Discharge from factories and dry cleaners
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene (ppb)	N	0.0005		70	70	Discharge from textile-finishing factories
1,1,1-Trichloroethane (ppb)	N	0.0005		200	200	Discharge from metal degreasing sites and other factories
1,1,2-Trichloroethane (ppb)	N	0.0005		5	3	Discharge from industrial chemical factories
Trichloroethylene (ppb)	N	0.0005		5	0	Discharge from metal degreasing sites and other factories
Toluene (ppm)	N	0.0005		1	1	Discharge from petroleum factories
Vinyl Chloride (ppb)	N	0.0005		2	0	Leaching from PVC piping; Discharge from plastics factories
Xylenes (ppm)	N	0.0005		10	10	Discharge from petroleum factories; Discharge from chemical factories
Lead and Copper Rule
Lead (ppb) violations  determined from 90^th percentile values	N	10.6 (25.7 max)		AL=15	0	Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits
Copper (ppm) violations  determined from 90^th percentile values	N	0.244 (0.289 max)		AL=1.3	1.3	Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits
Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs), Byproduct Precursors, and Disinfectant Residuals
Haloacetic Acids (HAA) (ppb)	N	0.0058		60	n/a	By-product of drinking water disinfection
TTHMs [Total trihalomethanes] (ppb)	N	0.0151		100/80	n/a	By-product of drinking water disinfection
Microbiological Contaminants
Total Coliform Bacteria	Y	3 Positive samples in 2009		1 sample	0	Naturally present in the environment
Fecal Coliform or E-coli	N	None	0	0	0	Human and animal fecal waste.

Arsenic Violations and Action Taken in 2009:  The arsenic violations occurred because D.E.P. lowered the acceptable level for Arsenic from .050 mg/l to .010 mg/l effective for the testing cycle starting 2009. This violation is a result of the water department voluntarily sampling the water in order to begin designing a removal process to bring the system into compliance.  Each time violations occurred we sent out a notification per the State DEP requirements to inform our water customers of the violation. Richlandtown Borough has contracted with GS Developers to install a system to remove arsenic from Richlandtown Water supply.  This $700,000.00 project is scheduled to be completed before the end of 2010.  For more information please contact Water Superintendent,  John Wassmer at 215-536-7127, or the Bucks County Health Department at 215-345-3893.

You do not need to use an alternative (e.g., bottled) water supply.  If you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.

Health Effects:  This is not an immediate risk. If it had been, you would have been notified immediately. However, some people who drink water containing Arsenic in access of the MCL over many years could experience skin damage or problems with their circulatory system, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.

Coliform Violation:   The coliform violation occurred as a result of work being done on the wells as part of the arsenic remediation project. The type of violation only required us to notify the commercial customers that are licensed by the Bucks County Health Department. Notifications were sent out as per DEP requirements.

Radon: We constantly monitor the water supply for various constituents. We have detected radon in the finished water supply in __4___ out of ___4__ samples tested.  Radon is a radioactive gas that you can’t see, taste, or smell.  It is found throughout the U.S.  Radon can move up through the ground and into a home through cracks and holes in the foundation.  Radon can build up to high levels in all  types  of homes.  Radon can also get into indoor air when released from tap water from showering, washing dishes, and other household activities.  Compared to radon entering the home through soil, radon entering the home through tap water will in most cases be a small source of radon in indoor air.  Radon is a known human carcinogen.  Breathing air containing radon can lead to lung cancer.  Drinking water containing radon may also cause increased risk of stomach cancer.  If you are concerned about radon in your home, test the air in your home.  Testing is inexpensive and easy.  Fix your home if the level of radon in your air is 4 picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L) or higher. There are simple ways to fix a radon problem that aren’t too costly.  For additional information, call your state radon program or call EPA’s Radon Hotline (800-SOS-RADON).

Information about Nitrate:  Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 10 ppm is a health risk for infants of less than six months of age.  High nitrate levels in drinking water can cause blue baby syndrome.  Nitrate levels may rise quickly for short periods of time because of rainfall or agricultural activity.  If you are caring for an infant, you should ask for advice from you health care provider

Information about Lead:  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.  Richlandtown Borough 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 hhtp://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION: 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 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 stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming.

-Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.

-Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts or industrial process and petroleum production and mining activities.

- Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

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 the 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)

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 for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

We at Richlandtown Borough work around the clock to provide top quality water to every tap, said John Wassmer. We ask that all our customers help us protect our water sources, which are the heart of our community, our way of life and our children’s future.