Legal Notice 2003 CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT We are currently operating with both wells. Well #3 is in full operation since January of 2004. The current water supply has only trace amounts of primary contaminants, which do not bring about adverse health effects. Our supply contains high levels of iron and manganese, which do cause discoloration and/or sedimentation. Our water treatment plant removes the majority of the iron and manganese. The remainder is gradually deposited in the distribution system. We have developed a hydrant flushing plan to help remove any settled deposits. Please help by reporting water quality problems to City Hall. Your comments will help us target problem areas and provide the best quality water for our residents. Sincerely, Jill Holte Public Works This report will not be mailed to consumers. It is available upon request at City Hall. city of kimball 2003 drinking water report The City of Kimball is issuing the results of monitoring on its drinking water for the period from January 1 to December 31, 2003. The purpose of this report is to advance consumers’ understanding of drinking water and heighten awareness of the need to protect precious water resources. Source of water The City of Kimball provides drinking water to its residents from a groundwater source: two wells ranging from 50 to 58 feet deep, that draw from the Quaternary Water Table aquifer. The Minnesota Department of Health has determined that one or more sources of our drinking water is susceptible to contamination. If you wish to obtain the entire source water assessment regarding our drinking water, please call (651) 215-0800, or (800) 818-9318 (and press 5) during normal business hours. Also, you can review the assessment online at . Call Jill at (320) 398-8991 if you have questions about the City of Kimball drinking water, or if you would like information about opportunities for public participation in decisions that may affect the quality of the water. Results of monitoring No contaminants were detected at levels that violate federal drinking water standards. However, some contaminants were detected in trace amounts that were below legal limits. The table that follows shows the contaminants that were detected in trace amounts last year. Some contaminants are sampled less frequently than once a year; as a result, not all contaminants were sampled for 2003. If any of these contaminants were detected the last time they were sampled for, they are included in the table along with the date that the detection occurred. Key to abbreviations MCLG-Maximum Contaminant Level Goal: 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. MCL-Maximum Contaminant Level: 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. AL-Action Level: The concentration of a contaminant, which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirement that a water system must follow. 90th Percentile Level: This is the value obtained after disregarding 10 percent of the samples taken that had the highest levels. For example, in a situation in which 10 samples were taken, the 90th percentile level is determined by disregarding the highest results, which represents 10 percent of the samples. Note: In situations in which only five samples are taken, the average of the two with the highest levels is taken to determine the 90th percentile level. pCi/l – PicoCuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity). ppb – Parts per billion, which can also be expressed as micrograms per liter (ug/l). ppm – Parts per million, which can also be expressed as milligrams per liter (mg/l). N/A – Not applicable (does not apply). Compliance with National Primary Drinking Water Regulations 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: o Microbial contaminants such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife. o Inorganic contaminants such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring, or can result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming. o Pesticides and herbicides which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff and residential uses. o 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. o Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally-occurring or be the results of oil and gas production and mining activities. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (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. Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-comprised 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 infection. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. More information about contaminants, potential health effects, and EPA/ Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium are available from the EPS’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791. Published in the Tri-County News June 24, 2004.
