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2004 Water Quality Report (published June
2005)
PSW ID#0818004
We are please to present to you this year's Annual Water Quality
Report. The table that follows shows the results of our monitoring for
the period January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2004. This report is designed to inform you about the water quality
and services we deliver to you every day. Our constant goal is to
provide you with a safe and 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 and I'm pleased to report that our
drinking water is safe and meets all federal and state requirements.
We, at the Washington Twp. MUA work around the
clock to provide top quality water to every tap. 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.
If you have questions about this report or
concerning your water utility, please contact Matt Mallon, Supt. or Chuck Chew,
Asst. Supt at 227-0880. 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 meetings.
They are held on the second and last Monday of every month, at 7:00pm, at the
WTMUA office on Whitman Drive.
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SUBSTANCE
|
V
I
O
L
A
T
I
O
N
Y/N
|
L D
E E
V T
E E
L C
T
E
D
|
RANGE
OF
DETECTED
LEVELS
|
U
N
I
T
S
|
M
C
L
G
|
MCL
|
LIKELY SOURCE
OF CONTAMINATION
|
HEALTH
EFFECTS
|
RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINANTS
| Alpha
Emitters |
N |
4.4 |
0.9
- 4.4 |
pCi/L |
0 |
15 |
Erosion
of natural deposits |
Certain
minerals are radioactive and may emit a form of radiation known as alpha
radiation. Some people who drink water containing alpha emitters
in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of
getting cancer. |
| RA
226/228 |
N |
4.39 |
1.8
- 4.39 |
pCi/L |
0 |
5 |
Erosion
of natural deposits |
Some
people who drink water containing radium 226 or 228 in excess of the
MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer. |
INORGANIC CONTAMINANTS
| Barium |
N
|
.0891
|
0
- .0891 |
ppm
|
2
|
2
|
Discharge
of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; erosion of
natural deposits |
Some
people who drink water containing barium in excess of the MCL over
many years could experience an increase in their blood pressure. |
| Fluoride |
N
|
2.11
|
0.2
- 2.11 |
ppm
|
4
|
4
|
Erosion
of natural deposits; water additive which promotes strong teeth,
discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories |
Some
people who drink water containing fluoride in excess of the MCL
over many years could get bone disease, including pain and
tenderness of the bones. Children may get mottled teeth. |
| Mercury |
N
|
.0002
|
0
-
.0002 |
ppm
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-
|
.002
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Nitrate
|
N
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4.6
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0
- 4.6
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ppm
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10
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10
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Runoff
from fertilizer use, leaching from septic tanks, sewage;
erosion of natural deposits
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Nitrate
in drinking water 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 advice from your health care provider. |
SECONDARY CONTAMINANTS
| Sodium |
N |
102 |
20.6
- 102 |
ppm |
50 |
RUL
50 |
Naturally
occurring in underground aquifers
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For
healthy individuals, the sodium intake from water is not
important because a much greater intake of sodium takes
place in the diet. However, sodium levels above the
Recommended Upper Limit may of concern to individuals on
sodium restricted diet. |
| Chlorides |
N
|
12.2
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<5 - 12.2
|
ppm
|
-
|
-
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| Sulfate |
N |
13.7 |
7.37
- 13.7 |
ppm |
250 |
RUL
250 |
Occurs
naturally in waters as a result of leaching from gypsum
and other common materials. Can also be a result of many
different types of industrial waste |
The
Recommended Upper Limit for sulfate is based on salty
taste and possible laxative effects to the drinking water.
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VOLATILE ORGANICS
| M.T.B.E. |
N |
1.18 |
0
- 1.18 |
ppb |
70 |
70 |
Leaking
underground gasoline and fuel oil tanks, gasoline and fuel oil spills. |
Some people who drink water containing
MTBE in excess of the MCL's over many years could experience problems
with kidneys. |
| THM |
N |
1.83 |
0
- 1.83 |
ppb |
- |
80 |
By-product
of drinking water containing trihalomethanes |
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 systems, and may have an increased risk of
getting cancer. |
LEAD AND COPPER (Samples were collected from 30 homes)
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SUBSTANCE
|
V
I
O
L
A
T
I
O
N
Y/N
|
A L
C E
T V
I E
O L
N
|
AMOUNT DETECTED 90th
PERCENTILE
|
M
C
L
G
|
UNIT
MEAS.
|
SITES ABOVE ACTION LEVEL
|
HEALTH
EFFECTS
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| Lead |
N
|
15
|
3
|
0
|
ppb
|
1
|
Corrosion
of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching
of wood preservatives |
| Copper |
N
|
1.3
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0.579
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1.3
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ppm
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0 |
Corrosion
of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits |
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The New Jersey Department
of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has completed and issued the Source
Water Assessment Report and Summary for this public water system, which
is available at www.state.nj.us/dep/swap
or by contacting the NJDEP, Bureau of Safe Drinking Water at
609-292-5550. (see important
notice about people more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking
water)
The source water assessment performed on our 16
sources determined the following:
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Pathogens |
Nutrients |
Pesticides |
Volatile
Organic Compounds |
Inorganics |
Radio-
nuclides |
Radon |
Disinfection
Byproduct
Precursors |
| Sources |
H |
M |
L |
H |
M |
L |
H |
M |
L |
H |
M |
L |
H |
M |
L |
H |
M |
L |
H |
M |
L |
H |
M |
L |
| Wells - 16 |
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1 |
15 |
4 |
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12 |
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4 |
12 |
3 |
|
13 |
|
11 |
5 |
4 |
10 |
2 |
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6 |
10 |
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16 |
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| GUDI - 0 |
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| Surface
Water Intakes -0 |
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The table above illustrates the susceptibility
rating for the seven contaminant categories (and radon) for each source in the
system. The table provides the number of wells and intakes that
rated high (H), medium (M), low (L) for each contaminants category. For
susceptibility ratings of purchased water, refer to the specific water system's
source water assessment report.
If a system is rated highly susceptible for a contaminant
category, it does not mean a customer is or will be consuming contaminated
drinking water. The rating reflects the potential for contamination of source
water, not the existence of contamination. Public water systems are
required to monitor for regulated contaminants and to install treatment if any
contaminants are detected at frequencies and concentrations above allowable
levels. As a result of the assessments, DEP may customize (change
existing) monitoring schedules based on the susceptibility ratings.
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