Lake Geneva Utility Commission
2009 Consumer Confidence Report
The Water We Drink
The Lake Geneva Utility Commission is very pleased to provide you
with this year's Annual Quality Water Report for the City of Lake Geneva. We
want to keep you informed about the excellent water and services we have
delivered to you over the past year. Our goal is and always has been, to
provide to you a safe and dependable supply of drinking water. Our water
source is from four (4) wells drawing from underground aquifers ranging
in depth from 95’ to 203’. We have a source water protection plan available
from our office that provides more information such as potential sources of
contamination. This report shows our water quality and what it means.
The Lake Geneva Utility Commission routinely monitors for
constituents in your drinking water according to Federal and State
laws. 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.
If you have any
questions about this report or concerning your water utility, please contact
The Lake Geneva Utility Commission at 361 W. Main Street, Lake
Geneva, WI 53147, 262-248-2311.
We want our valued customers to be informed about their water utility.
If you want to learn more, please attend any of our regularly scheduled
Commission meetings. They are typically held on the second
Thursday of each month at 4:45PM at the Lake Geneva Utility Commission, 361 W.
Main Street, Lake Geneva, WI.
Our mission is to
endeavor to provide all Lake Geneva Citizens with cost effective, prompt, high
quality municipal services. We ask all of
our customers to join us in protecting this precious natural resource. Thank
you for allowing us to continue providing your family with clean, quality
water this year. In order to maintain a safe and dependable water supply we
sometimes need to make improvements that will benefit all of our customers.
These improvements are sometimes reflected as rate structure adjustments.
Thank you for understanding.
This report is on
hand at our office and will be mailed upon request only. Please call
262-248-2311 or visit us at 361 West Main Street, Lake Geneva. We also have a
website
www.lgutilitycommission.com, which contains our CCR as well as other
valuable information.
For your
convenience our drive-up window is available for bill payment. The hours are
the same as our regular office hours of Monday through Friday 7:30AM to
4:00PM. After hour payments can be made in our secure drop box next to our
drive-up window.
The following table shows the
results of our monitoring for the period of January 1st, 2005 to
December 31st, 2009.
En Espanol:
“Este informe contiene información
muy importante sobre su agua de beber. Tradúzcalo
o hable con alguien que lo entienda bien.”
The Lake Geneva Utility
Commission has filed for an EPA exemption from testing Trihalomethanes (TTHM)
and Halocetic Acids (HAA5). Our disinfection process produces a negligible
amount of those compounds.
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 also provided the following definitions:
Definition of Terms
|
Term |
Definition |
|
AL |
Action Level: The concentration of a
contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements
which a water system must follow. |
|
MCL |
Maximum Contaminant Level: 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. |
|
MCLG |
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal: 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. |
|
MFL |
million fibers per liter |
|
mrem/ year |
millirems per year (a measure of radiation
absorbed by the body) |
|
NTU |
Nephelometric Turbidity Units |
|
pCi/l |
picocuries per liter (a measure of
radioactivity) |
|
ppm |
parts per million, or milligrams per liter
(mg/l) |
|
ppb |
parts per billion, or micrograms per liter
(ug/l) |
|
ppt |
parts per trillion, or nanograms per liter |
|
ppq |
parts per quadrillion, or picograms per
liter |
|
TCR |
Total Coliform Rule |
|
TT |
Treatment Technique: A required process
intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water. |
Number
of Contaminants Required to be Tested
This table displays the number of contaminants
that were required to be tested in the last five years. The CCR may contain up
to five years worth of water quality results. If a water system tests
annually, or more frequently, the results from the most recent year are shown
on the CCR. If testing is done less frequently, the results shown on the CCR
are from the past five years.
|
Contaminant Group
|
# of Contaminants Tested For |
|
Disinfection
Byproducts |
2 |
|
Inorganic Contaminants |
16 |
|
Microbiological
Contaminants |
1 |
|
Radioactive
Contaminants |
3 |
|
Synthetic Organic
Contaminants including Pesticides and Herbicides |
23 |
|
Unregulated
Contaminants |
4 |
|
Volatile Organic
Contaminants |
20 |
Unregulated contaminants are those for
which EPA has not established drinking water standards. The purpose of
unregulated contaminant monitoring is to assist EPA in determining the
occurrence of unregulated contaminants in drinking water and whether future
regulation is warranted.
As authorized and approved by EPA, the
State has reduced monitoring requirements for certain contaminants to less
often than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants are
not expected to vary significantly from year to year. Some of our data for
radioactive, inorganic, unregulated and volatile organic contaminants, though
representative, is more than one year old.
Lead Testing: Some homes in this community
have elevated lead levels in their drinking water. Lead can pose a significant
risk to your health. In 2009 the Lake Geneva Utility Commission had nine (9)
detects out of 40 samples, and zero samples over the action level. The 90th
percentile value was 5.5 ppb. The detects are due to private lead services,
lead pipe home plumbing, or lead solder joints in household plumbing. To help
correct this situation we add polyphosphate to coat piping in our water
system. Polyphosphate forms a protective film on the inside of water pipes.
This aids in preventing the leeching of both lead and copper into the drinking
water.
Disinfection Byproducts
|
Contaminant (units) |
MCL |
MCLG |
Level Found |
Range |
Sample Date (if prior to 2009) |
Violation |
Typical Source of Contaminant |
|
HAA5 (ppb) |
60 |
60 |
2 |
nd - 2 |
09/17/2007 |
NO |
Compounds combining with chlorine in the
disinfection process. |
|
TTHM (ppb) |
80 |
0 |
.6 |
.5 - .6 |
09/17/2007 |
NO |
By-product of drinking water chlorination |
Inorganic Contaminants
|
Contaminant (units) |
MCL |
MCLG |
Level Found
|
Range |
Sample Date (if prior to 2009) |
Violation |
Typical Source of
Contaminant |
|
ARSENIC (ppb) |
10 |
n/a |
1 |
1 - 1 |
5/01/08 |
NO |
Erosion of natural deposits; Runoff from
orchards; Runoff from glass and electronics production wastes |
|
BARIUM (ppm) |
2 |
2 |
.062 |
.059 - .062 |
5/01/08 |
NO |
Discharge of drilling wastes; Discharge
from metal refineries; Erosion of natural deposits |
|
CADMIUM (ppb) |
5 |
5 |
.1 |
nd - .1 |
5/01/08 |
NO |
Corrosion of galvanized pipes; Erosion of
natural deposits; Discharge from metal refineries; Runoff from waste
batteries and paints |
|
CHROMIUM (ppb) |
100 |
100 |
3 |
2 - 3 |
5/01/08 |
NO |
Discharge from steel and pulp mills;
Erosion of natural deposits |
|
COPPER (ppm) |
AL=1.3 |
1.3 |
.64 |
0 of 40 results were above the action
level. |
|
NO |
Corrosion of household plumbing systems;
Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching from wood preservatives |
|
FLUORIDE (ppm) |
4 |
4 |
.2 |
.2 – .2 |
5/1/08 |
NO |
Erosion of natural deposits; Water additive
which promotes strong teeth; Discharge from fertilizer and aluminum
factories |
|
LEAD (ppb) |
AL=15 |
0 |
5.50 |
0 of 40 results were above the action
level. |
|
* |
Corrosion of household plumbing systems;
Erosion of natural deposits |
|
NICKEL (ppb) |
100 |
- |
2.9000 |
2.8000 – 2.9000 |
5/01/08 |
NO |
Nickel occurs naturally in soils, ground
water and surface waters and is often used in electroplating, stainless
steel and alloy products |
|
NITRATE (N03-N) (ppm) |
10 |
10 |
1.20 |
.97 – 1.20 |
|
NO |
Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from
septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposits |
|
SELENIUM (ppb) |
50 |
50 |
2 |
nd - 2 |
5/01/08 |
NO |
Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from
septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposits |
|
SODIUM (ppm) |
n/a |
n/a |
31.00 |
31.00 – 31.00 |
5/01/08 |
NO |
n/a |
*Systems
exceeding a lead and/or copper action level must take actions to reduce lead
and/ or copper in the drinking water. The lead and copper values represent the
90th percentile of all compliance samples collected. If you want
information on the NUMBER of sites or the actions taken to reduce these
levels, please contact us.
Unregulated Contaminants
|
Contaminant (units) |
MCL |
MCLG |
Level Found |
Range |
Sample Date (if prior to 2009) |
Violation |
Typical Source of Contaminant |
|
CHLOROFORM (ppb) |
n/a |
n/a |
.64 |
.46 – .64 |
09/17/2007 |
NO |
n/a |
Radioactive Contaminants
|
Contaminant (units) |
MCL |
MCLG |
Level Found |
Range |
Sample Date (if prior to 2009) |
Violation |
Typical Source of Contaminant |
|
RADIUM, (226 + 228) (pCi/l)) |
5 |
0 |
1.5 |
1.2 - 15 |
|
NO |
Erosion of natural deposits |
Health
Effects of Lead: Infants and children
who drink water containing lead in excess of the action level could experience
delays in their physical or mental development. Children could show slight
deficits in attention span and learning abilities. Adults who drink this water
over many years could develop kidney problems or high blood pressure.
Statement of Impact: Infants and young
children are typically more vulnerable to lead in drinking water than the
general population. It is possible that lead levels at your home may be higher
than at other homes in the community as a result of materials used in your
home’s plumbing. If you are concerned about elevated lead levels in your home’s
water, you may wish to have your water tested and flush your tap for 30 seconds
to 2 minutes before using tap water. Additional information is available from
the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).
Health Effects of Nitrate:
Infants below the age of six months who drink water containing nitrate in
excess of the MCL could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die.
Symptoms include shortness of breath and blue-baby syndrome. Statement of
Impact: Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 10ppm 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 advice from your health care provider.
Health Effects of Coliform:
Coliforms are bacteria, which are naturally present in the environment and are
used as an indicator that other, potentially-harmful, bacteria may be present.
Health Effects of Arsenic:
Some people who drink water containing arsenic in excess 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.
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 by-products of
industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas
stations, urban stormwater runoff and septic systems. Radioactive
contaminants, 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
that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water
systems. FDA regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water,
which shall provide the same protection for public health. MCL’s are set at
very stringent levels. To understand the possible health effects described for
many regulated constituents, a person would have to drink 2 liters of water
every day at the MCL level for a lifetime to have a one-in-a-million chance of
having the described health effect.
Lead:
Lead in drinking water is rarely the sole cause of lead poisoning, but it can
add to a person's total lead exposure. All potential sources of lead in the
household should be identified and removed, replaced or reduced.
Nitrates:
As a precaution we always notify physicians and health care providers in this
area if there is ever a higher than normal level of nitrates in the water
supply.
Total Coliform:
The Total Coliform Rule requires water systems to meet a stricter limit for
coliform bacteria. Coliform bacteria are usually harmless, but their presence in
water can be an indication of disease-causing bacteria. When coliform bacteria
are found, special follow-up tests are done to determine if harmful bacteria are
present in the water supply. If this limit is exceeded, the water supplier must
notify the public by newspaper, television or radio. To comply with the stricter
regulation, we have increased the average amount of chlorine in the distribution
system.
Arsenic: Arsenic
is a naturally-occurring mineral known to cause cancer in humans at high
concentrations. Arsenic is an inorganic contaminant with typical source of
contaminants being: erosion of natural deposits; runoff from orchards; runoff
from glass and electronics production wastes.
The new Federal standard for arsenic in drinking water has been lowered
from 50 ppb to 10 ppb.
Health Information:
“All sources of drinking water are subject to potential contamination by
constituents that are naturally occurring or is man made. Those constituents can
be microbes, organic or inorganic chemicals, or radioactive materials.” All
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 at 1-800-426-4791.
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the
general population. Immune-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 Environmental Protection
Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).
For people with water softeners,
our water hardness is approximately 17.1 grains per gallon and is moderately
hard.