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2006 Table of Detected Contaminates: Inorganics

  Contaminant Any MCL or TT violation? Sample Date (of highest detected) Max Level Detected Unit MCLG MCL Range Likely Source of Contamination
Entry Point BARIUM No 4/17/06 0.018 ppm 2 2 N/A  Erosion of natural deposit. Discharge from: drilling waste & metal refineries
CHROMIUM No 4/17/06 1.1 ppb 100 100 N/A Discharge from steel and pulp mills; Erosion of natural deposits
FLUORIDE No 1/13/06 1.12 ppm N/A 2.2 0 - 1.12 Erosion of natural deposit; water additive that promotes strong teeth; Discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories
NICKEL No 4/17/06 1.5 ppb 100 100 N/A Naturally-occurring mineral
**SODIUM No 4/17/06 9.8 ppm N/A ** N/A Naturally-occurring; Road salt; Water softeners; Animal waste
SULFATE No 4/17/06 22.0 ppm N/A 250 N/A Naturally-occurring mineral

2006 Table of Detected Contaminates: Radioactive

  Contaminant Any MCL or TT violation? Sample Date (of highest detected) Max Level Detected Unit MCLG MCL Range Likely Source of Contamination
Entry Point Co60 No 9/29/03 3.1 p\Ci/L 0 50 0 - 3.1 Decay of natural products and man-made emissions
Cs134
 		 No 3/31/03 7.5 50 0 - 7.52
Cs137 No 3/31/03 1.4 50 0 - 1.38
*Gross β No 9/29/03 2.3 50 1.3 - 2.3
Gross α No 12/9/03 0.400 15 0 - 0.4 Erosion of natural deposits
Ra226 No 12/9/03 0.3 5 0 - 0.3
Ra228 No 12/9/03 2.5 5 0 - 2.5

 

2006 Table of Detected Contaminates: Lead and Copper

  Contaminant Any MCL or TT violation? Sample Date (of highest detected) Max Level Detected Unit MCLG MCL Range Likely Source of Contamination
 

 

 

 COPPER(1)

No:

90%=.055ppm

 7/6/05 0.21 ppm 1.3 1.3 ND - 0.21  Corrosion of household plumbing; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives.
LEAD(1)

No:

90% = 3.9ppb

 8/25/05 21 ppb 0 15 ND - 21 Corrosion of household plumbing; erosion of natural deposits.

2006 Table of Detected Contaminates: Microbiological

  Contaminant Any MCL or TT violation? Sample Date (of highest detected) Max Level Detected Unit MCLG MCL Range Likely Source of Contamination
Distribution Heterotrophic Bacteria No 12/18/06 266 count / ml N/A N/A 0 - 266  Naturally occurring
Turbidity(2) No 2/1/06 2.92 NTU N/A TT >5.0 NTU 0.06 - 2.92  soil runoff, naturally occurring
Entry Point 3/16/06 0.38 TT: 95% samples not ≤0.5NTU 0.03 - 0.38
Heterotrophic Bacteria No 5/8/06 3 count / ml N/A N/A 0 - 3  Naturally occurring

2006 Table of Detected Contaminates:

Disinfection By-products formed by chlorination of tap water, and their precursors
 

 

 Contaminant Any MCL or TT violation? Sample Date (of highest detected) Max Level Detected Unit MCLG MCL Range Likely Source of Contamination
Entry Point Total Chlorine No 10/25/06 1.79 ppm N/A N/A 1.26 - 1.79  Water additive used to control microbes
Free Chlorine No 8/8/06 1.5 ppm

(MRDLG)

= 4.0

(MRDL)

 = 4.0
 

 0.71 - 1.5
Distribution Free Chlorine No 11/21/06 1.24 ppm 0.01 - 1.24
TTHM(3)

No:

RAA= 31.9ppb

 8/10/06 45.8 ppb N/A TT=80ppb
 		 22.4 - 45.8

By-product of drinking water chlorination needed to kill harmful microorganisms.

TTHM's are formed when source water contains large amounts of organic matter.
HAA

No:

RAA= 22.2ppb

 2/23/06 26.3 ppb N/A TT=60ppb 15.6 - 26.3 By-product of drinking water disinfection needed to kill harmful microorganisms
Entry Point TOC No 8/10/06 2.5 ppm N/A TT = TOC & SUVA >2.0 1.8 - 2.5 Precursors to by-products of drinking water chlorination
SUVA No 2/23/06 1.11 L/mg-m N/A 0.58 - 1.11
Footnotes for Table of Detected Contaminants:
*The State considers 50 pCi/l to be the level of concern for beta particles. Our highest reading was 2.3 pCi/l on 9/29/03
** Water containing more than 20 mg/l of sodium should not be used for drinking by anyone on severely restricted sodium diets. Water containing more than 270 mg/l of sodium should not be used for drinking by people on moderately restricted sodium diets.
(1) Out of 55 homes tested, in 2005 only one was above the AL of 15 ppb for Lead (21 ppb). The TT employed by the Buffalo Water Authority, intended to reduce lead contamination of drinking water is the addition of a poly/ortho-phosphate blend as a part of water treatment. This chemical serves to coat water lines, to prevent lead from leaching into the drinking water. Infants & children who drink water containing lead in excess of the AL could experience delays in their physical or mental development. Children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning disabilities. Adults who drink this water over many years could develop kidney problems or high blood pressure. Infants & young children are more vulnerable to lead in drinking water then the general population. Lead levels in your home might 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, and you should flush your tap for 30 seconds – 2 minutes before using your tap water. Additional information is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).
(2) Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of the water. We monitor it because it is a good indicator of the effectiveness of our filtration system. Our highest single distribution measurement for 2006 occurred on 2/1/06 (2.9 NTU). State regulations require that distribution turbidity must always be below 5.0 NTU. The regulations also require that 95% of the effluent turbidity samples collected have measurements below 0.5 NTU. Although March was the month that had the highest effluent measurements, all measurements met TT for turbidity (0.5 ntu), all levels recorded were in the acceptable range allowed and did not constitute a violation.
(3) Representative testing for TTHM included 4 samples collected through 2006 (site tested quarterly). Our highest detected reading occurred in Aug. It was 46 ppb, well below the MCL of 80 ppb. Some people who drink water containing TTHM in excess of the MCL over many years experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous systems, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
The EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline is: (800-426-4791).
 

What does this information mean?
As you can see by the table, our system had no violations. We have learned through our testing, that some contaminants have been detected; however, these contaminants were detected below the level allowed by the State.
 

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