Consumer Confidence Report
2008 ANNUAL DRINKING WATER
QUALITY REPORT
City of New Castle
Municipal Services Commission
216 Chestnut Street
New Castle, Delaware 19720
Public Water System ID # DE0000634
June 1, 2008
The Municipal Services Commission is pleased to present a summary of the quality of the water provided to you during the past year January 1 to December 31, 2007. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) requires that utilities issue an annual "Consumer Confidence" report to their customers in addition to other notices that may be required by law. This report details where our water comes from, what it contains, and the risks our water testing and treatment are designed to prevent. The Municipal Services Commission is committed to providing you with the safest, most reliable water supply available.
Informed consumers are our best allies in maintaining safe drinking water.
'Municipal Services Commission'
DRINKING WATER MEETS
OR SURPASSES ALL FEDERAL AND STATE
DRINKING-WATER STANDARDS
YOUR WATER SOURCE
The Municipal Services Commission's drinking water comes from the Potomac Aquifer. The Commission draws its water from two groundwater wells that are located inside the city. Our wells draw from a confined aquifer who's natural filtering characteristics help to protect our customers from contaminants.
The Division of Public Health in conjunction with the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has conducted a source water assessment for the City of New Castle's community water system. Please contact Chip Patterson of the Municipal Services Commission (302) 323-2330 regarding how to obtain a copy of this assessment.
REQUIRED HEALTH INFORMATION
To insure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes limits on the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. FDA regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water.
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 Environmental Protection Agency'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 wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and 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:
(A) Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
(B) Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban storm runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming
(C) Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, storm water runoff, and residential uses.
(D) Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organics, which are by products of Industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff and septic systems.
(E) 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 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 is the general population. Immune-comprised persons such as persons with cancer under going 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 health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).
ARSENIC
While your drinking water meets USEPA's standard for arsenic, it does contain low levels of arsenic. USEPA's standard balances the current understanding of arsenic's possible health effects against the costs of removing arsenic from drinking water. USEPA continues to research the health effects of low levels of arsenic, which is a mineral known to cause cancer in humans at high concentrations and is linked to other health effects such as skin damage and circulatory problems.
UNREGULATED CONTAMINANTS
The EPA and the State of Delaware have not set standards for monitoring Radon at this time none the less the Commission has tested for radon in its source water and found minimal traces.
OTHER MONITORING
The Commission has tested or has had its water tested by others to look for contaminants which may not be a regulated substance. the Commission is participating in a Research Foundation project looking for the occurrence of MTBE (a gasoline additive) in drinking water. Recently MTBE has appeared in the Commission's wells. The Commission had DNREC test for contaminants which may have leaked from landfills in proximity to its wells. There are no violations reported and additional information can be found on the Commission's web site or by contacting the Secretary
MONTHLY MEETINGS
The Municipal Services Commission holds monthly meetings which are open to the public. The Commission meets at 216 Chestnut Street, New Castle. Please contact the Secretary for further information.
If you should have any question about this report or concerning your water utility, please contact:
Chip
Patterson
Tel: (302) 323-2330, Fax: (302) 323-2337
E-mail pattersonc@newcastlecity.com
Or look for us on the city web page www.ci.new-castle.de.us
This report is based upon tests conducted by the Office of Drinking Water, Division of Public Health, State of Delaware. The state allows us to monitor for some contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently. Some of our data, though representative, are more than one year old.
REGULATED SUBSTANCES
|
Unit of |
Highest Level |
Not to Exceed |
Highest Level |
Annual |
Date |
|||
|
Regulated Substances |
Measure |
Allowed (MCL) |
Goal (MCLG) |
Detected |
Range |
Violations |
Major Sources of Regulated Substance |
|
|
Arsenic |
ppb | 10 | 0 | 2 | nd-2.0 | 2007 | no | Erosion of natural deposits. |
| Gross Alpha Particle, Total |
pCi/l |
15 |
0 |
8.10 |
3.80-8.10 | 2007 |
no |
Erosion of natural deposits of certain minerals thate radioactive and may emit a form of radiation known aspha radiation |
|
Fluoride |
ppm |
2 |
1 |
1.5 |
0.3-1.5 |
2007 |
no |
Erosion of natural deposits; water additive which promotes strong teeth; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories |
| Methy-t-butyl Ether (MTBE) | ppb | 10 | 0 | .53 | nd-0.53 | 2005 | no | Octane enhancer used in gasoline: leaching from underground storage tanks |
|
Nitrate |
ppm |
10 |
10 |
3.8 |
3.5 - 3.8 |
2007 |
no |
Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits |
| Barium | ppm | 2 | 2 | 0.1155 | nd-0.1155 | 2007 | no | Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits |
| Chromium | ppm | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0012 | nd-0.0012 | 2007 | no | Discharge from steel and pulp mills; erosion of natural deposits |
| Nickel | ppm | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0082 | nd-0.0082 | 2007 | no | Nickel occurs naturally in soils, ground water and surface waters and is often used in electroplating, stainless steel and alloy products |
|
Radium, Combined |
pCi/l |
5 |
0 |
4.70 |
4.60 - 4.70 |
2007 |
no |
Erosion of natural deposits. |
| Trihalomethanes | ppb | 80 | 0 | 5.10 | nd-5.10 | 2007 | no | By-product of drinking water chlorination |
| Bromodichloromethane | ppb | n/r | 0 | 1.04 | nd-1.04 | 2007 | no | By-product of drinking water chlorination |
| Bromoform | ppb | n/r | 0 | 1.89 | nd-1.89 | 2007 | no | By-product of drinking water chlorination |
| Chloroform | ppb | n/r | 0 | 0.00 | nd | 2007 | no | By-product of drinking water chlorination |
| Chlorodibromomethane | ppb | n/r | 0 | 2.17 | nd-2.17 | 2007 | no | By-product of drinking water chlorination |
Results of the Commission's Lead and Copper Testing (2005 data)- under this rule the Commission is required to sample for these contaminates every three years. No samples exceeded the (MCL) Maximum Contaminant Level requiring action. The Commission will be collecting new samples for monitoring in the summer of 2008.
| Copper 90th percentile |
ppm |
1.3 |
1.3 |
0.174 |
.012-.0174 |
2005 |
no |
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits |
|
Lead 90th percentile |
ppm |
.015 |
0 |
0.003 |
nd - .003 |
2005 |
no |
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives. |
UNREGULATED SUBSTANCES
| Alkalinity | ppm | n/r | n/a | 16 | nd - 16 | 2007 |
| Chloride | ppm | n/r | 250 | 61.2 | nd - 61.2 | 2007 |
| Chlorine, Free | ppm | n/r | 0.8 | 1.8 | 0.8 - 1.8 | 2007 |
| Hardness, Total | ppm | n/r | n/a | 27.9 | nd - 27.9 | 2007 |
| Iron | ppm | n/r | 0.3 | 0.05 | nd-0.05 | 2007 |
| pH Field (3) | 0-14 scale | n/r | 7.3 | 8.7 | 6.5 - 8.7 | 2007 |
| Sodium | ppm | n/r | 50 | 23.6 | nd-23.6 | 2007 |
| Temperature | Deg-C | n/r | n/a | 16 | 12 - 16 | 2007 |
| Solids, Total Dissolved | ppm | n/r | 500 | 170 | nd -170 | 2007 |
MICROBIOLOGICAL CONTAMINANTS - Total Coliform Bacteria
| 120 coliform samples,
approximately 10 per month were collected during 2007. All samples
collected were absent of Coliform Bacteria Major Sources: Naturally present in the environment |
Annual Average Readings
(1) - Average Fluoride reading was 0.99 ppm
(2) - Average Chlorine reading was 1.03 ppm
(3) - Average pH reading was 7.54 on the 0-14 scale
Averages are based upon the daily water quality readings taken at the Commission's School Lane Treatment facility
Municipal Services Commission Water System Facts
Metered Customers 2080
Annual Water Supply 162,885,700 Gallons
Miles of Water Main 26
Average Daily Water Demand 446,262gpd
Peak Day Water Demand 711,700gpd
Active Wells 2
Treatment Facilities 1
Storage Capacity 1.6 Million Gallons
Public Fire Hydrants 154
Average Cost per day (residential) $0.95
DEFINITIONS:
90th Percentile- the ninth highest reading (of ten samples), which is used to determine compliance with the Lead and Copper Rule
Action Level (AL)- the concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL)- the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCL's are set as close to the MCLG's as feasible
Maximun 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.
Non-Detect (N/D)- laboratory analysis indicates that the constituent is not present.
Not Regulated (N/R)- no MCL is identified because these substances are unregulated.
Parts Per Million (PPM)- 1 part per million corresponds to 1 minute in 2 years, or a single penny in $10,000.
Parts Per Billion (PPB)- 1 part per billion corresponds to 1 minute in 2,000 years, or a single penny in $10,000,000.
Parts Per Trillion (PPT)- 1 part per trillion corresponds to 1 minute in 2 million years, or a single penny in 10 billion.
Picocuries Per Liter (PCI/L)- a measure of the radioactivity in water.
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