2013 Consumer Confidence Report Data
MARION WATERWORKS, PWS ID: 46903967

Water System Information

If you would like to know more about the information contained in this report, please contact John A Bork at (715) 754-2616.

The Marion Utility Board meets the first Wednesday of the month at 4:30 PM at City Hall.

Health Information

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 Environmental Protection Agency's safe drinking water hotline (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 systems 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 microbial contaminants are available from the Environmental Protection Agency's safe drinking water hotline (800-426-4791).

Source(s) of Water

Source ID

Source

Depth (in feet)

Status

1

Groundwater

97

Active

2

Groundwater

76

Active

To obtain a summary of the source water assessment please contact, John A Bork at (715) 754-2616.

Educational Information

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:

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. FDA regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which shall provide the same protection for public health.

Definitions

Term

Definition

AL

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

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.

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.

MFL

million fibers per liter

MRDL

Maximum residual disinfectant level: 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.

MRDLG

Maximum residual disinfectant level goal: 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 contaminants.

mrem/year

millirems per year (a measure of radiation absorbed by the body)

NTU

Nephelometric Turbidity Units

pCi/l

picocuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity)

ppm

parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/l)

ppb

parts per billion, or micrograms per liter (ug/l)

ppt

parts per trillion, or nanograms per liter

ppq

parts per quadrillion, or picograms per liter

TCR

Total Coliform Rule

TT

Treatment Technique: A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

Detected Contaminants

Your water was tested for many contaminants last year. We are allowed to monitor for some contaminants less frequently than once a year. The following tables list only those contaminants which were detected in your water. If a contaminant was detected last year, it will appear in the following tables without a sample date. If the contaminant was not monitored last year, but was detected within the last 5 years, it will appear in the tables below along with the sample date.

Disinfection Byproducts

Contaminant (units)

Site

MCL

MCLG

Level Found

Range

Sample Date (if prior to 2013)

Violation

Typical Source of Contaminant

TTHM (ppb)

80

0

14.6

14.6

9/12/2011

No

By-product of drinking water chlorination

HAA5 (ppb)

60

60

1

1

9/12/2011

No

By-product of drinking water chlorination

Inorganic Contaminants

Contaminant (units)

Site

MCL

MCLG

Level Found

Range

Sample Date (if prior to 2013)

Violation

Typical Source of Contaminant

ARSENIC (ppb)

10

n/a

2

2

6/14/2011

No

Erosion of natural deposits; Runoff from orchards; Runoff from glass and electronics production wastes

BARIUM (ppm)

2

2

0.054

0.054

6/14/2011

No

Discharge of drilling wastes; Discharge from metal refineries; Erosion of natural deposits

CHROMIUM (ppb)

100

100

0

0

6/14/2011

No

Discharge from steel and pulp mills; Erosion of natural deposits

FLUORIDE (ppm)

4

4

0.6

0.6

6/14/2011

No

Erosion of natural deposits; Water additive which promotes strong teeth; Discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories

NICKEL (ppb)

100

2.7000

2.7000

6/14/2011

No

Nickel occurs naturally in soils, ground water and surface waters and is often used in electroplating, stainless steel and alloy products.

NITRATE (N03-N) (ppm)

10

10

4.10

4.10

No

Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposits

 

Contaminant (units)

Action Level

MCLG

90th Percentile Level Found

# of Results

Sample Date (if prior to 2013)

Violation

Typical Source of Contaminant

COPPER (ppm)

AL=1.3

1.3

0.1600

0 of 10 results were above the action level.

No

Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching from wood preservatives

LEAD (ppb)

AL=15

0

3.40

0 of 10 results were above the action level.

No

Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits

Radioactive Contaminants

Contaminant (units)

Site

MCL

MCLG

Level Found

Range

Sample Date (if prior to 2013)

Violation

Typical Source of Contaminant

GROSS ALPHA, EXCL. R & U (pCi/l)

15

0

9.4

9.4

4/13/2009

No

Erosion of natural deposits

GROSS ALPHA, INCL. R & U (n/a)

n/a

n/a

9.4

9.4

4/13/2009

No

Erosion of natural deposits

Additional Health Information

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. Marion Waterworks 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 is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Information on Monitoring for Cryptosporidium and Radon

Our water system did not monitor our water for cryptosporidium or radon during 2013. We are not required by State or Federal drinking water regulations to do so.