Water Quality Report - American Water

Water Quality FactsTo assure high quality water, individual water samples are taken each year for chemical, physical and microbiological tests. Testing canpinpoint a potential problem so that preventive action may be taken.Tests are done on water taken from the well (“raw water”), water within our treatment facilities, water exiting our treatment plants at thepoint-of-entry to the distribution system, and from sites located throughout our distribution system after treatment. These tests areconducted in the company’s state certified laboratory, by the Nassau County Health Department Laboratory, and by independent,certified laboratories approved by the state, who report results simultaneously to the company and to the Health Department.New York State allows us to monitor for certain contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of thesecontaminants are not expected to vary significantly from year-to-year. Some of the data, though representative of the water quality, aremore than one year old.For a copy of the Water Supplement containing detailed data on testing at the source water wells before treatment, call usat 516-596-4824 and request a copy.Water Quality Table – Table of Detected Contaminants 2011REGULATED SUBSTANCESContaminant (units)DateSampledMicrobiologicalTotal Coliform (% positive samples inany given month)12/111MCLMCL = >5%samples positiveMCLGMaximumAmount DetectedRange:Low-HighComplianceAchievedTypical Source0 0.00% ND = 0.0% Yes Naturally present in the environmentRadiological 2Gross Alpha Activity (pCi/L) 11/10 15 0 5.22 ND – 5.22 Yes Erosion of natural depositsRadium-228 (pCi/L) 11/10 5 0 4.56 ND – 4.56 Yes Erosion of natural depositsGross Beta Activity (pCi/L) 3 11/10 50 0 4.04 0.47 – 4.04 YesDecay of natural deposits andman-made emissionsDisinfection By-productsTTHM’s [Total Trihalomethanes] (ppb) 4 12/11 80 0 13.9 0.5 – 13.9 Yes By-product of drinking water disinfectionDibromoacetic Acid (ppb) 12/11 60 0 2.2 ND – 2.2 Yes By-product of drinking water disinfectionDisinfectantsChlorine (ppm) 12/11 MRDL = 4.0 MRDLG = 4.0 1.45 ND – 1.45 Yes Water additive used to control microbesLead and Copper Rule (Tap water samples were collected from 50 homes in the service area)Contaminant (units)DateSampledActionLevelMCLGAmount Detected(90th %tile)Range: Low-HighHomes AboveAction LevelViolation Typical SourceCopper (ppm) 9/11 1.3 1.3 0.146 5 ND – 0.239 0 No Corrosion of household plumbing systemsLead (ppb) 9/11 15 0 6.0 6 ND – 37.0 1 No Corrosion of household plumbing systemsMetals & Inorganic SubstancesContaminant (units)DateSampledMCL MCLGMax. Amount Range:DetectedLow-HighTypical SourceBarium (ppb) 12/11 2000 2000 7 ND – 7.0 Naturally occurringChlorides (ppm) 12/11 250 N/A 22.9 8.0 – 22.9 Naturally occurring or indicative of road salt contaminationIron (ppb) 7 12/11 300 N/A 630 140 – 630 Naturally occurringManganese (ppb) 8 12/11 300 N/A 37 ND – 37 Naturally occurringNitrates as N (ppm) 12/11 10 10 0.07 ND – 0.07 Erosion of natural deposits; Runoff from fertilizers and septic tanksNickel (ppb) 12/11 100 N/A 3.8 ND – 3.8 Naturally occurringSodium (ppm) 9 12/11 None N/A 15.2 9.8 – 15.2 Naturally occurring; Road salt; Water softenersSulfate (ppm) 12/11 250 N/A 45 7.6 – 45.0 Naturally occurringOrganic SubstancesContaminant (units) Date Sampled MCL MCLG Maximum Amount Detected Range: Low-High Typical SourceDacthal (ppb) 10 12/11 50 N/A 3 ND – 3 Agricultural herbicide