MILL RIVER WATER TAKERS ASSOCIATION

P.O. BOX 15

MILL RIVER, MA 01244-0015

 

Contact: Alfred R. Lenardson, President

Edgar K. Zukauskas, Superintendent

 

Telephone: (413) 229-3164

 

 

2010 DRINKING WATER

QUALITY REPORT

CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT

 

YOUR DRINKING WATER

 

 

The source of the water supplied to the Mill River Water takers is a series of springs located off Church Street and Collins Hill southwest of the Mill River village center. The water flows from a spring-fed cistern located off Church Street and into two spring-fed cisterns located to the north on Collins Hill Road.

Water flows by gravity from the cisterns to the distribution system through a 4 inch main. The main runs north down Collins Hill and  through town on Great Barrington Road. It also crosses the river and runs south on Mill River-Clayton Road.

TREATMENT:

The system chlorinates all water entering the distribution system with a 12% sodium hypochlorite. The chlorine residual is maintained at 0.2 mg/l in the distribution system. A chlorine metering pump is activated by a timer designed to maintain a continuous chlorine residual in the cistern. There is also a stand-by pump available for emergencies.

TESTING:

The water is tested on a regular schedule and meets all state and federal requirements for safe drinking water.

PUBLIC MEETING:

             A public meeting is held each year and is open to all members of the Mill River Water Takers Association. Members are notified by mail of the date of annual meeting. All matters pertaining to the water company for the past year are discussed and all plans for the coming year as well.  Members of the association are encouraged to attend and to make any comments or suggestions for the betterment of the water company and its workings.

SUBSTANCES FOUND IN TAP WATER

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 mineral, and in some cases, radioactive material. It 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 agricultural, 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.

 

Lead/Copper:

 

If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing The Mill River Water Takers is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods and steps you can take to minimize exposure are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

 

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prescribes regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems.  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that must provide the same protection for public health.  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 water poses a health risk.  More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.

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 some infants can be particularly at risk from infections.  These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.  EPA/Centers for Disease Control guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.

 

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) – the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water.

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) – the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health.

Treatment Technique (TT) – A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

Action Level (AL) – The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.

PPM - Parts per million, or milligrams per liter.

PPB – Parts per billion, or micrograms per liter.

pCi/L – Picocuries per liter, (a measure of radiation absorbed by the body).

 Variances and Exemptions – State or EPA permission not to meet an MCL or a treatment technique under certain conditions.

 

Substance Units	Level Detected	MCL	MCLG	Violation (Y/N)	Possible Source of Contamination
Inorganic (Arsenic)	ND	0.010
Nitrate (ppm) Nitrite	0.21 ND	10	10	No	Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks; sewage
Lead & Copper*
Copper (ppm)	0.072	Al=1.3	1.3	No	Corrosion of household plumbing systems
Lead (ppb)	0.0041	Al=15	0	No
Alpha Emitters (pCi/l)	ND	5pCi/L	0	No	erosion of natural deposits
Substance Units	Level Detected	MCL	MCLG	Violation	Possible Source of Contamination
HAA5:
Dibromoacetic Acid	ND	0.50		No	By-product of disinfection
Dichloroacetic Acid	.00076	0.50		No	By-product of disinfection
Monobromoacetic Acid	ND	0.50		No	By-product of disinfection
Monochloroacetic Acid	ND	0.50		No	By-product of disinfection
Trichloroacetic Acid	.0011	0.50		No	By-product of disinfection
Total HAA5 (ug/L)	.00186	60		No
THM:
Bromoform	ND	0.50		No	By-product of disinfection
Bromodichloromethane	0.0015	0.50		No	By-product of disinfection
Chloroform	0.0057	0.50		No	By-product of disinfection
Dibromochloromethane	ND	0.50		No	By-product of disinfection
Total THM’s:	0.0072	0.50		No
Perchlorate (ug/L)	N/D	2.0		No
Sodium (ppm)   Sulfate (ppm)	4.50 ________ 9.7			No	** these are unregulated contaminants that we are required to monitor for.
Bromodichloromethane	ND			No	By-product of disinfection

 

 

SWAP

(Source Water Assessment & Protection Report)

 

The water system is subject to potential contamination due to runoff of from the roadway that passes next to the water system. Every effort is made to have the DPW limit the their activities around the water system by keeping existing drainage cleared above the water system and limiting the amount of road salt and sand that is used during the winter months.

 

The SWAP is available for review at the Mill River Water Takers Association main office by calling 413-229-3164 or on-line at: www.mass.gov/dep/water/drinking/weroreps.htm.