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2010 Water Quality Report | Pompano Beach Utilities Department

Dear Customers, We’re very pleased to provide you with this year’s Annual Water Quality Report. We want to keep you informed about the excellent water and services we have delivered to you over the past year.

Except where otherwise indicated, this report is based on the results of our water monitoring for the period of January 1 st, 2010 through December 31 st, 2010. Data obtained before January 1 st, 2010, and presented in this report are from the most recent testing done in accordance with laws, rules, and regulations.

Our goal is, and always has been, to provide to you a safe and dependable supply of drinking water. With over 80 compounds tested, as required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as local and state agencies, the compounds listed are the only regulated compounds detected in the drinking water. We are pleased to report that our drinking water meets all federal and state requirements.

Economic impacts as well as water shortages have made this a difficult time for all of us. The silver lining during tough situations is that we all have a better focus on what is truly important. We have been working to not only bring you safe drinking water meeting all regulatory requirements, but also for ways to improve service and provide you with programs to help you conserve water within your home or business. Safe drinking water is one of the greatest improvements to human health, and is our commitment to you. Thank you for allowing us to serve you for the past 85 years and to continue to serve you in the future.

Sincerely,

A. Randolph Brown, Utilities Director

Source Water Assessment & Protection Program In order to ensure that your drinking water is safe, not just at the tap, but at its source, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) conducts potential contamination studies of all source water. These studies are conducted by evaluating the travel time to the source water (5 years in our case), the hydrology of the area, and determining what businesses or operations use possible contaminants within that area such as dry cleaners, auto repair shops and gas stations.

The contaminant susceptibility levels only describe potential contamination due to nearby activity and is not based on monitoring data. The assessment is conducted to provide information about any potential sources of contamination in the vicinity of our wells. The 2009 assessment identifies 38 potential sources of contamination, from low to high susceptibility levels, for 21 assessed wells.

The Source Water Assessment potential contaminant information, in conjunction with our own continuous source water monitoring program, which tests for organics, nutrients, metals and microbiological parameters quarterly, ensures that our source water remains safe. You may review the Source Water Assessment results on the FDEP Source Water Assessment and Protection Program website at www.dep.state.fl.us/swapp.

Why Are Contaminants in Drinking Water?

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:

(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 stormwater runoff, industrial

or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming.

(C) Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, 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, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.

(E) 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, the EPA prescribes regulations, which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 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.

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 (1-800-426-4791).

While your drinking water meets EPA’s standard for arsenic, it does contain low levels of arsenic. EPA’s standard balances the current understanding of arsenic’s possible health effects against the costs of removing arsenic from drinking water. EPA continues to research the health effects of low levels of arsenic, which is a mineral known to cause cancer in humans at high concentrations and is linked to other health effects such as skin damage and circulatory problems.

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 City of Pompano Beach Utilities 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.

W AT E R Q U A L I T Y T E S T I N G R E S U LT S TA B L E

Total Coliform Bacteria:

M I C R O B I O L O G I C A L C O N TA M I N A N T S Contaminant & Unit of Measurement

Dates of Sampling (mo/yr)

MCL Violation Y/N

01/10 Through 12/10

N

Dates of Sampling (mo/yr)

MCL Violation Y/N

01/10 Through 12/10

N

Total Coliform Bacteria (positive samples)

Contaminant & Unit of Measurement Fecal Coliform and E.Coli in the distribution system (positive samples)

Contaminant E. coli (at the ground water source)

Contaminant & Unit of Measurement

MCL Violation Y/N

Dates of Sampling (mo/yr)

Highest Monthly

Total Number Of Posi

Total Number Of Posi

N

01/10 Through 12/10

MCL Violation Y/N

Level Detected

Range of Results

04/08

N

ND

NA

04/08

N

0.1+/-0.6

NA

Dates of Sampling (mo/yr)

MCL Violation Y/N

Level Detected

Range of Results

Dates of Sampling (mo/yr)

R A D I O L O G I C A L C O N TA M I N A N T S Alpha emitters (pCi/L) Radium 226+228 or Combined Radium (pCi/L)

Contaminant & Unit of Measurement

I N O R G A N I C C O N TA M I N A N T S Arsenic (ppb)

04/10, 09/10

Cyanide (ppb)

04/10, 11/10

N N

6.24 2.0

ND - 6.24 ND - 2.0

Fluoride (ppm)

01/10 Through 12/10

N

0.78

0.63 - 0.99

Nitrate (as Nitrogen) (ppm)

04/10

N

0.330

NA

Nitrite (as Nitrogen) (ppm)

04/10, 09/10

N

0.029

ND-0.029

Sodium (ppm)

04/10

N

18.1

NA

S TA G E 1 D I S I N F E C TA N T S & D I S I N F E C T I O N B Y- P R O D U C T S

For bromate, chloramines, or chlorine, the level detected is the the highest running annual average (RAA), computed quarterly, of monthly aver of all samples collected if the system is monitoring quarterly or is the average of all samples taken during the year if the system monitors less Initial Distribution System Evaluation (IDSE) results as well as Stage 1 compliance results.

Disinfectant or Contaminant & Unit of Measurement

Dates of sampling (mo/yr)

MCL or MRDL Violation Y/N

Chloramines (ppm)

01/10 Through 12/10

N

Haloacetic Acids (five) (HAA5) (ppb)

07/10

N

TTHM [Total Trihalomethanes] (ppb)

07/10

N

Contaminant & Unit of Measurement

Dates of sampling (mo/yr)

AL Violation Y/N

90 th Percentile Result

Leve

No. of Samp

L E A D A N D C O P P E R ( TA P WAT E R ) Copper (Tap Water) (ppm)

06/08-07/08

N

0.0426

Lead (Tap Water) (ppb)

06/08-07/08

N

4.30

Definitions of Terms in the Table In the Water Quality Table you may find unfamiliar terms and abbreviations. To help you better understand these terms we’ve provided the following definitions:

MRDLG

Maximum residual disinfectant level goal or 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 contaminants.

MCL

Maximum Contaminant Level or MCL: 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 or MCLG: 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 or MCL: 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.

: Highest Monthly Percentage/Number is the highest monthly percentage of positive samples for systems collecting at least 40 samples per month.

y Percentage/Number

MCLG

MCL

Likely Source Of Contamination

0

For systems collecting at least 40 samples per month: presence of coliform bacteria in > 5% of monthly samples.

Naturally Present in the Environment

MCLG

MCL

Likely Source Of Contamination

0

0

Human & Animal Fecal Waste

MCLG

MCL

Likely Source Of Contamination

0

0

Human & Animal Fecal Waste

1.9

itive Samples For The Year 0

itive Samples For The Year 0

s

s

MCLG

MCL

Likely Source of Contamination

0

15

Erosion of Natural Deposits

0

5

Erosion of Natural Deposits

MCLG

MCL

Likely Source of Contamination

0 200

10 200

4

4.0

Erosion of natural deposits; discharge from fertilizer & aluminum factories. Water additive which promotes strong teeth when at optimum levels between 0.7 - 1.3 ppm

10

10

Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits

1

1

Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits

NA

160

Salt water intrusion, leaching from soil

Erosion of Natural Deposits; Runoff From Orchards; Runoff From Glass and Electronics Production Wastes Discharge of steel/metal factories; discharge from plastic & fertilizer factories

rages of all samples collected. For haloacetic acids or TTHM, the level detected is the highest RAA, computed quarterly, of quarterly averages frequently than quarterly. Range of Results is the range of individual sample results (lowest to highest) for all monitoring locations, including

el Detected

Range of Results

MCLG or MRDLG

MCL or MRDL

3.32

0.67 - 4.99

MRDLG = 4.0

MRDL = 4.0

18.17

16.83 - 18.93

NA

MCL = 60

15.43

13.9 - 18.2

NA

MCL = 80

MCLG

AL (Action Level)

0

1.3

1.3

0

0

15

plings Sites Exceeding the AL

Likely Source of Contamination Water Additive Used to Control Microbes By-Product of Drinking Water Disinfection By-Product of Drinking Water Disinfection

Likely Source of Contamination

Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives Corrosion of Household Plumbing Systems, Erosion of Natural Deposits

MRDL

Maximum residual disinfectant level or 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.

IDSE

Initial Distribution System Evaluation (IDSE): An important part of the Stage 2 Disinfection Byproducts Rule (DBPR). The IDSE is a one-time study conducted by water systems to identify distribution system locations with high concentrations of trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). Water systems will use results from the IDSE, in conjunction with their Stage 1 DBPR compliance monitoring data, to select compliance monitoring locations for the Stage 2 DBPR.

AL

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

ND

“ND” means not detected and indicates that the substance was not found by laboratory analysis.

ppb

Parts per billion (ppb) or Micrograms per liter (µg/l) - one part by weight of analyte to 1 billion parts by weight of the water sample.

ppm

Parts per million (ppm) or Milligrams per liter (mg/l) - one part by weight of analyte to 1 million parts by weight of the water sample.

pCi/L

Picocurie per liter (pCi/L) - measure of the radioactivity in water.

Pompano Beach Utilities Department

PRESORT STD US

1205 NE 5 th Avenue Pompano Beach, Florida 33060

POSTAGE PAID FT. LAUD FL PERMIT No. 1146

Where does our Water Come From?

Our water source is the Biscayne Aquifer. This aquifer is an underground geologic formation where water is stored, extending from a few feet to approximately 200 feet below the land surface. The water is pumped from the aquifer to the land surface at two wellfield sites and is transported to the water treatment plant. At the plant, the water is membrane/lime

softened,

filtered,

fluoridated

and

disinfected prior to entering the water distribution system.

Additional Information If you have any questions about this report or concerning your water quality, please contact A. Randolph Brown, Utilities Director at 954-545-7043 or 1205 NE 5 th Avenue, Pompano Beach, Florida 33060. For questions regarding your water bill call Customer Service, 954-786-4637.

The Pompano Beach City Commission conducts regular city commission meetings on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month at 7:00 p.m.

To receive meeting schedules and agendas, contact City Hall at 954-786-4600 or visit us on the web at www.mypompanobeach.org.

The Utilities Department is a partner with WaterSense, a conservation program and information clearing-house sponsored through the Environmental Protection Agency. This program will assist the City in determining the best technologies and education strategies to implement in reaching our water conservation goals.

For more ideas on water conservation please visit us online at www.mypompanobeach.org/utilities and the WaterSense website at www.epa.gov/watersense.