2005 Consumer Confidence Report
Jericho Underhill Water District
Consumer
Confidence
Report
2005
Containing Results of 2004
Water Quality Testing
Jericho Underhill Water District
WSID # 5096
Water Quality Report - 2005
Our goal is to provide you with a safe and dependable supply of drinking water. This report is a snapshot of the quality of water that we provided for January 1 through December 31, 2004. It also includes the date and results of any contaminants that we detected within the past five years tested less than once a year. Any contaminants detected within the past five years are listed along with the date of detection and concentration. This report is designed to inform you about the water quality and services we deliver to you every day.
Water Source Information
The source of your drinking water is:
Vermont Source Type:Gravel Screened well
EPA Source Type:Groundwater, non-purchased
Source Name:WELL 1
Vermont Source Type:Gravel Screened well
EPA Source Type:Groundwater, non-purchased
Source Name:WELL 2
Source Protection Plan: We have a source protection plan available from our office that provides more information such as potential sources of contamination. The Water Supply Division approved our source protection plan on: 7/23/96; the plan was most recently updated on March 21, 2005.
Our System's susceptibility to potential sources of contamination is low due to two impeding layers of compacted till and clay that lie between the surface and the aquifer from which we draw our water. The Source Protection Plan identifies potential sources of contamination and the District works with land owners to limit the risk of contamination.
Sources of Drinking Water and Contaminants
The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include surface water (streams, lakes)
and ground water (wells, springs). As water travels over the land's surface or through the ground,
it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals. It also picks up substances resulting from the presence of animals and human activity. Some "contaminants" may be harmful. Others, such as iron and sulfur, are not harmful.
Public water systems treat water to remove contaminants, if any are present.
In order to ensure that your water is safe to drink, we test it regularly according to regulations established
by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the State of Vermont. These regulations limit the
amount of various contaminants:
i Microbial organisms (viruses and bacteria) may come from sewage treatment plants,
septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
i Inorganic chemicals (salts and metals) can be naturally-occurring or result from urban
stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, or farming.
i Synthetic Organic chemicals (pesticides and herbicides) may come from agriculture,
urban stormwater runoff, residential uses, and careless disposal of household chemicals.
i Volatile Organic chemicals (gasoline and solvents) may come from gas stations, urban
stormwater runoff, septic systems, industrial process, and careless disposal of household chemicals.
i Naturally occurring radioactivity
W A T E R Q U A L I T Y D A T A
The table below lists all the drinking water contaminants that we detected during the 2004 calendar year. It also includes the date and results of any contaminants that we detected within the past five years tested less than once a year. The presence of these contaminants in the water does not necessarily show that the water poses a health risk.
Terms and abbreviations - In this table you may find terms you might not be familiar with. To help you better understand these terms we have provided the following definitions:
• Maximum Contamination Level Goal (MCLG): 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.
• Maximum Contamination Level (MCL): 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.
• Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG): The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of disinfectants in controlling microbial contaminants.
• Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in
drinking water. Addition a disinfectant may help control microbial contaminants.
• Action Level: The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.
• 90th Percentile: Ninety percent of the samples are below the action level. (Nine of ten sites sampled were at or below this level).
• Treatment Technique(TT): A process aimed to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
• Parts per million (ppm) or Milligrams per liter (mg/l): (one penny in ten thousand dollars)
• Parts per billion (ppb) or Micrograms per liter (Fg/l): (one penny in ten million dollars)
• Picocuries per liter(pCi/L): a measure of radioactivity in water
• N/A: Not applicable
Level of Detected Contaminants
Contaminant Detected Level Detected Units MCL MCLG Sample Date Violation Y or No Likely source of detected contaminant
Arsenic 3.000 ppb 10.000 N/A 4/09/03 N Erosion of natural deposits; runoff from orchards; runoff from glass and electronics production wastes.
Bromodichloromethane 1.100 ppb N/A N/A 5/03/00 N Produced as a by-product of chlorination.
Chlorodibromomethane 0.600 ppb N/A N/A 5/03/00 N Produced as a by-product of chlorination.
Chloroform 1.800 ppb N/A N/A 5/03/00 N Produced as a by-product of chlorination.
Fluoride 1.100 ppm 4.000 4.000 5/03/00 N Erosion of natural deposits; water additive which promotes strong teeth; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories.
Manganese 0.139 mg/L 0.050 N/A 4/09/03 N Erosion of Natural Deposits. No adverse health effects but can cause staining of fixtures.
Lead and Copper Action Levels
Contaminant Detected Action Level 90th Percentile Sampling Date # of sites that exceeded the Action Level Total # of sites sampled Likely source of detected contaminant
Copper 1.3 mg/L 0.13 2003 0 11 Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits.
Lead 15 ppb < 1.000 2003 0 11 Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits.
Violation(s) that occurred during the year
We had no violations occur during the year 2004.
Additional information
We maintain chlorine at approximately 0.2 parts per million as a health precaution. We add polyphosphate to sequester excess iron and manganese to improve the aesthetic quality of the water. We add fluoride to our water supply to promote public health through the prevention of tooth decay.
Information and historic data pertaining to the District is available at the District website at http://water.jerichounderhill.com
Health information regarding drinking water
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-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 EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).
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 Safe Drinking Water Hotline.
Owner/Operator and Public Participation Opportunities
If you have any questions about this report or concerning your water quality or the Water District, please contact the person(s) listed below. We want our customers to be informed about their water quality. If you want to learn more, please attend any of our regularly scheduled meetings.
Owner/Official Peter H. Mitchell
PO Box 174
Underhill VT 05489
Phone Number: (802)-899-3038
Chief System Operator
Marc Maheux
PO Box 236
Underhill VT 05489
Phone Number: (802)-899-2660
Regularly scheduled meetings are held on:
Date: 1st Saturday of the month
Time: 8:00 AM
Location: Basement of United Church of Underhill on Park Street., Underhill, VT 111111