2008 Water Quality Report - Village of Romeoville

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What is Ion Exchange Softening Ion Exchange Softening is a BATT (Best Available Treatment Technology), which is a common approach to removing a variety of dissolved solids in water. It exchanges both cations (positively charged particles) and anions (negatively charged particles) depending on the application. For hardness and radium removal, a cationic exchange process is used. The process involves a pressurized vessel filled with coated synthetic material. The material is heavily loaded with sodium ions, but because the coating on the material has a higher affinity for other cations, the sodium is exchanged with calcium, magnesium and radium ions as they come in contact with the media. As the process continues, all available sodium ions are exchanged and the media will require regeneration. To accomplish this, a sodium chloride solution saturates the media. The saturation overrides the media’s affinity for the other cations and re-coats the surface with sodium ions for the next treatment cycle. The remaining solution is flushed from the vessels into a waste system. The regeneration process results in a 3 to 5 percent waste, which is favorable when compared to other radium treatment technologies, such as Reverse Osmosis treatment (up to 25% waste). The removal percentage of hardness and radium using ion exchange is 98% to 100%. However, treating all of the water supply with ion exchange softening can lead to aggressive water. To polish the water, experts recommend that operators bypass and blend a percentage of the water. In Romeoville, bypassing occurs in differing amounts depending on the radium, hardness levels in the raw water and the desired removal amount. The Ion Exchange Softening process produces high-quality water. The reduction of hardness reduces scale and lime build-up on fixtures and increases the life of water heaters and dishwashers. It results in slightly higher operation and maintenance costs due to the use of a brine solution for the regeneration process but municipalities would probably agree that the benefits of soft water, free of contaminants outweighs the slightly higher costs associated with the treatment process. 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 USEPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (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. Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised people with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, those who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune Water Quality Did you know... In a five minute shower 25 to 50 gallons of water are used. The Village of Romeoville tests over 1,300 water samples a year, for more than 120 different substances including microbial organisms, inorganic compounds, (including lead and copper), organic compounds (including pesticides and herbicides) and radioactive material. Our licensed staff, along with state and federal regulators, routinely monitor our operations, compliance, and testing protocols to ensure that we deliver safe, high quality drinking water to our customers. 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. USEPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the USEPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline 800-426-4791. The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and groundwater 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 pickup substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.
Source Water Possible contaminants consist of: • 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 may be naturally occurring or result from urban storm water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming; • Pesticides and herbicides, of 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; and • Radioactive contaminants, which may be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities. Source Water Assessment Based on information obtained in a Well Site Survey published by the Illinois EPA, eight potential sources or possible problem sites were identified within the survey area of Romeoville’s wells. Furthermore, information provided by the Leaking Underground Storage Tank and Remedial Project Management Sections of the Illinois EPA indicated several additional sites with ongoing remediations that may be of concern. The Illinois EPA has determined that the source water obtained from Romeoville’s Wells #4, #7, #9, #10, #11, and #13 is not susceptible to contamination. However, the source water obtained from Wells 1, #3, #5, #8, and #12 is susceptible to contamination. This determination is based on a number of criteria including; monitoring conducted at the wells; monitoring conducted at the entry point to the distribution system; and the available hydrogeologic data on the wells. To view a summary version of the completed Source Water Assessments, including: Importance of Source Water; Susceptibility to Contamination Determination; and documentation/recommendation of Source Water Protection Efforts, you may access the Illinois EPA website at http://www.epa.state.il.us/cgi-bin/wp/swap-fact-sheets.pl. Water Quality Table Definitions: Active Level (AL): The concentration of contaminants that, if exceeded, trigger treatment or other required actions by the water supply Action Level Goal (ALG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. ALG’s allow for a margin of safety Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCL’s are set as close to the Maximum Contaminant Level Goal 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. MCLG’s allow for a margin of safety.mg/l: milligrams per litre or parts per million - or one ounce in 7,350 gallons of water.ug/l: micrograms per litre or parts per billion - or one ounce in 7,350,000 gallons of water N/A: Not applicable Avg: Regulatory compliance with some MCLs are based on running annual average of monthly samples Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): The highest level of disinfectant allowed in drinking water Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG):The level of disinfectant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLG’s allow for a margin of safety Parts Per Billion (ppb): One part per billion (or micrograms per liter) Parts Per Million (ppm): One part per million (or milligrams per liter)
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2008 Water Quality Report - Village of Romeoville

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