Annual Drinking Water Quality Report
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We are pleased to present to you this year's Annual Drinking Water Quality Report. This report is designed to inform you about the quality water and services we deliver to you every day. Our constant goal is to provide you with a safe and dependable supply of drinking water. Our water source is three wells. Our wells draw groundwater from the Piney Point Aquifer.
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 NJDEP's Bureau of Safe Drinking Water at (609) 292-5550. You may also contact your public water system to obtain information regarding your water system’s Source Water Assessment. This water system's source water susceptibility ratings and a list of potential contaminant sources is attached. We have a source water protection plan available from our office that provides more information such as potential sources of contamination.
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 the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).
EPA requires monitoring for over 80 drinking water contaminants. Those contaminants listed in the table are only contaminants detected in your water. This table shows the results of our monitoring for the period of January 1st to December 31st, 2008.
TEST RESULTS |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contaminant | Violation (Y/N) | Level Detected | Units of Measurement | MCLG | MCL | Likely Source of Contamination | |
| Radioactive Contaminants | |||||||
| Gross Alpha Test results Yr. 2006 |
No | Range = 0.5 – 1.4 Highest Average = 1.1 |
pCi/1 | 0 | 15 | Erosion of natural deposits | |
| Radium-226 Test results Yr. 2006 |
No | Range = ND – 0.2 Highest Average = 0.1 |
pCi/1 | 0 | 5 | Erosion of natural deposits | |
| Radium-228 Test results Yr. 2006 |
No | Range = 0.4 – 2.0 Highest Average = 0.9 |
pCi/1 | 0 | 5 | Erosion of natural deposits | |
| Uranium Test results Yr. 2006 |
No | Range = 0.002 Average = 0.002 |
ppb | 0 | 30 | Erosion of natural deposits | |
| Inorganic Contaminants | |||||||
| Copper Test results Yr. 2008 |
No | 0.5 No samples exceeded the action level. |
ppm | 1.3 | AL=1.3 | Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits | |
| Fluoride Test results Yr. 2008 |
No | 0.5 | ppm | 4 | 4 | Erosion of natural deposits; water additive which promotes strong teeth; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories | |
| Lead Test results Yr. 2008 |
No | < 2 No samples exceeded the action level. |
ppb | 0 | AL=15 | Corrosion of household plumbing systems, erosion of natural deposits | |
| Volatile Organic Contaminants / Disinfection By-products | |||||||
| TTHM Total Trihalomethanes Test results Yr. 2008 |
No | Average = 1 | ppb | N/A | 80 | By-product of drinking water disinfection | |
| Regulated Disinfectants | Level Detected | MRDL | MRDLG | ||||
| Chlorine Test results Yr. 2008 |
Range = 0.4 – 0.5 | 4.0 ppm | 4.0 ppm | ||||
| Secondary Contaminant | Level Detected | Units of Measurement | RUL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sodium* Test results Yr. 2008 |
Range = 76 – 95 Highest detect = 95 |
Ppm | 50 |
*The table shows that our system exceeded the Recommended Upper Limit (RUL) for sodium in 2008. We are continuing to monitor for sodium on a quarterly basis.
Sodium: For healthy individuals the sodium intake from water is not important, because a much greater of sodium takes place from salt in the diet. However sodium levels above the Recommended Upper Limit (RUL) may be of concern to individuals on a sodium restricted diet.
On the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m, the Borough of Buena MUA holds a board meeting at 616 Central Ave located inside the Borough Hall courtroom. These meetings are open to the public, and gives the public an opportunity to meet our board members. The board members will be happy to provide you with any further information you may request. If you are unable to attend the meetings, please contact Alan Zorzi, BBMUA superintendent at 697-0450, fax 697-1195 or email him at alzorz@verizon.net. Any questions pertaining to billing, call Gary Labo, treasurer at 697-1784, fax 697-1434.
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. The Safe Drinking Water Act Regulations allow monitoring wavers to reduce or eliminate the monitoring requirement for asbestos, volatile organic chemicals and synthetic chemicals. Our system received monitoring waivers for all of these. We only treat our water with chlorine for disinfection.
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 storm water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas projection, mining, or farming.
- Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff, and residential uses.
- Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can, also come from gas stations, urban storm water 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 which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health.
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.
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 Borough of Buena MUA is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but can not 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 and cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on leas in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water hotline or at http:www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
DEFINITIONS
In the following table you will find many terms and abbreviations you might not be familiar with. To help you better understand these terms we've provided the following definitions:
Non-Detects (ND) - laboratory analysis indicates that the constituent is not present.
Parts per million (ppm) or Milligrams per liter (mg/l) - one part per million corresponds to one minute in two years or a single penny in $10,000.
Parts per billion (ppb) or Micrograms per liter - one part per billion corresponds to one minute in 2,000 years, or a single penny in $10,000,000.
Picocuries per liter (pCi/L) - picocuries per liter is a measure of the radioactivity in water.
Action Level - the concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) - The "Maximum Allowed" is 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.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) - The "Goal" is 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.
Secondary Contaminant - Substances that do not have an impact on health. Secondary Contaminants affect aesthetic qualities such as odor, taste or appearance. Secondary standards are recommendations, not mandates.
Recommended Upper Limit (RUL) - Recommended maximum concentration of secondary contaminants. These reflect aesthetic qualities such as odor, taste or appearance. RUL’s are recommendations, not mandates.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL) - The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant 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 the use of disinfectants to control microbial contamination
We work hard 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. Please call our office if you have questions.
Page created: 25 Sep 2009 23:33
Last updated: 22 Feb 2010 17:21