AURORA, OHIO
WATER DEPARTMENT
2007 CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT
PURPOSE:
The City of Aurora has prepared the following annual Consumer Confidence Report to provide information to you, the consumer, on the quality of our drinking water and raise awareness about what is involved with the production and delivery of safe water. This report is required as part of the Safe Drinking Water Act Re-authorization of 1996.
THE SOURCE OF YOUR WATER:
The City of Aurora purchases its water from Portage County Water Resources (PCWR). The water is derived from a well field located on Coit Road. The water is treated at the Shalersville Water Treatment Plant. Portage County Water Resources maintains a comprehensive Source Water Protection Program, to protect the area around the wells. Portage County supplies water to the cities of Aurora and Streetsboro, as well as Shalersville Township, from this plant. Since October 2003, PCWR has purchased water from the City of Ravenna to assure a constant water supply. The City of Ravenna water system uses surface water drawn from Lake Hodgson. Water was purchased at an average of 0.222 MGD. The City of Aurora also has access to an emergency water connection with the City of Cleveland. Both Cleveland and Ravenna are surface water supplies and meet all state and federal standards.
WHAT ARE SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION TO DRINKING WATER?
The sources of drinking water both tap water and bottled water includes; 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 can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.
Contaminants that may be present 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 water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, farming, or mining; (C) Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources, including agriculture, urban storm run-off, and residential uses; (D) 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, 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.
To ensure the safety of our tap water, the EPA regulates contaminant levels in water provided by public water systems. The FDA regulates contaminant limits 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 800-426-4791.
WHO NEEDS TO TAKE SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS?
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons - such as persons with cancer and undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, as well as some elderly persons and infants - can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their healthcare providers. The Environmental Protection Agency and Centers for Disease Control offer guidelines on the appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium. This information is available by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.
LEAD AWARENESS:
“Infants and young children are typically more vulnerable to lead in drinking water than the general population.” It is possible that lead levels at your home will be higher than at other homes in the community, as a result of materials used in your home’s plumbing. If you are concerned about elevated lead levels in your home’s water, you may wish to have your water tested by a laboratory at your expense. Flush your tap for 30 seconds to two minutes before using tap water. Additional information is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.
ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER:
The EPA requires public water systems to perform routine testing to ensure the safety and quality of its drinking water. The City of Aurora conducts routine bacteria sampling monthly, taking a total of 209 samples in 2007. All sampling done for the year proved negative for coliform bacteria. Daily chlorine residual samples are conducted to ensure that the water distribution system is maintaining an acceptable level to control bacteria. In 2007 the city performed 732 samples. All sampling met the Ohio EPA standards.
LEAD AND COPPER ACTION LEVEL:
In 2006, 30 samples were collected and tested. All tested within the acceptable range: Lead concentration levels ranged from < 2 to 39 micrograms per liter. The 90th percentile of lead levels was 3 PPB. Copper concentration levels ranged from 10 to 870. The 90th percentile of copper levels was 540 PPB. Thirty samples will be collected again in 2009.
ASBESTOS LEVEL:
The City of Aurora tested for Asbestos in drinking water in 2004. There were no detectable levels in the samples.
DISINFECTANT BYPRODUCTS:
With the Aurora system receiving a blend of well and surface water, the city falls under the Disinfectant / Disinfectant Byproducts Rule. Disinfectant byproducts are a group of compounds formed when certain organic compounds react with chlorine used for disinfection. Four groups of samples were taken quarterly in 2007. The running annual average totals for TTHM and HAA5 is 70.1 and 14.0 respectively. Results range from 6.5–30.9 for HAA5 and 30.1–82.8 for TTHM.
DEFINITIONS:
PPB: Parts Per Billion PPM: Parts Per Million TTHM: Total Trihalomethanes HAA5: 5 Haloacetic Acids
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, using the best available treatment technology.”
Maximum 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.”
Action level: “The concentration of a contaminant, which if exceeded, triggers a treatment or other requirement which a water system must follow.”
2007 Shalersville Treated Water Quality – Table A 2007 Detected Contaminants
|
SUBSTANCE / YEAR |
UNIT |
MCL |
EPA MCLG’S |
LEVEL
DETECTED |
RANGE |
SOURCES OF
CONTAMINANTS |
VIOLATION |
|
FLOURIDE (2007) |
PPM |
4 |
4 |
1.07 |
0.14 – 1.34 |
Natural Geology & Supplement |
NO |
|
LEAD (2006) |
PPB |
AL=15 |
0 |
2.7 90% |
0.0 – 3.1 |
Customer Plumbing & Service Connections |
NO |
|
COPPER (2006) |
PPM |
AL=1.3 |
1300 |
.765 90% |
0.150–0.940 |
Customer Plumbing & Service Connections |
NO |
|
BARIUM (2007) |
PPM |
2.0 |
2000 |
.025 |
N/A |
Erosion or drilling |
NO |
|
CHROMIUM (2007) |
PPB |
100 |
100 |
16 |
N/A |
Discharge from steel and pulp mills; Erosion of natural deposits |
NO |
|
NITRATE (2007) |
PPM |
10 |
10 |
< 0.10 |
N/A |
Fertilizer runoff Leaching from septic |
NO |
|
CHLORINE, TOTAL (2007) |
PPM |
4 |
4 |
1.17 |
0.2 – 2.1 |
Disinfection Byproduct |
NO |
|
BROMODICHLOROMETHAN
(2007) |
PPB |
N/A |
N/A |
6.4 |
N/A |
Byproduct of Chlorination |
NO |
|
BROMOFORM (2007) |
PPB |
N/A |
N/A |
2.2 |
N/A |
Byproduct of Chlorination |
NO |
|
CHLOROFORM (2007) |
PPB |
N/A |
N/A |
2.3 |
N/A |
Byproduct of Chlorination |
NO |
|
DIBROMOCHLOROMETHAN
(2007) |
PPB |
|
N/A |
8.6 |
N/A |
Byproduct of Chlorination |
NO |
|
TRIHALOMENTHANE
TTHM TOTAL (2007) |
PPB |
80 PPB |
80 ARA |
37.95 |
27.3 – 41.0 |
Disinfection Byproduct West of Shalersville & to Bulk Customers |
NO |
|
HALOACETIC ACID TOTAL (2007) |
PPB |
60 PPB |
60 ARA |
18.5 |
15.2 – 25.8 |
Disinfection Byproduct West of Shalersville & to Bulk Customers |
NO |
|
TRIHALOMENTHANE TTHM TOTAL (2007) |
PPB |
80 PPB |
80 ARA |
86.7 |
52.1 – 96.1 |
Disinfection Byproduct SR 303 & Turnpike |
NO |
|
HALOACETIC ACID TOTAL (2007) |
PPB |
60 PPB |
60 ARA |
52.6 |
11.5 – 69.3 |
Disinfection Byproduct SR 303 & Turnpike |
NO |
2007 Ravenna Treated Water Quality – Table B 2007 Detected Contaminants
|
SUBSTANCE / YEAR |
UNIT |
MCL |
EPA MCLG’S |
LEVEL
DETECTED |
RANGE |
SOURCES OF
CONTAMINANTS |
VIOLATION |
|
FLOURIDE (2007) |
PPM |
4 |
4 |
1.06 |
0.88 – 1.06 |
Natural Geology & Supplement |
NO |
|
LEAD (2006) |
PPB |
15 |
0 |
5.0 90% |