2015 Water Quality Reportso
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City Of Blair
Annual Water Quality Report
For January 1 to December 31, 2015
This report is intended to provide you with important information
about your drinking water and the efforts made by the City Of
Blair water system to provide safe drinking water.
Para Clientes Que Hablan Espanol: Este informe contiene
informaci6n muy importante sobre el agua que usted bebe.
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For more information regarding this report, contact:
ALLEN R SCHOEMAKER
402-426-4191
If you would like to observe the decision-making processes that
affect drinking water quality, please attend the regularly
scheduled meeting of the Village Board/City Council. If you
would like to participate in the process, please contact the
Village/City Clerk to arrange to be placed on the agenda of the
meeting of the Village Board/City Council.
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 EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline
(800-426-4791).
Source Water Assessment Availability:
The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) has
completed the Source Water Assessment. Included in the
assessment are a Wellhead Protection Area map, potential
contaminant source inventory, vulnerability rating, and source
water protection information. To view the Source Water
Assessment or for more information please contact the person
named above on this report or the NDEQ at (402) 471-6988 or
go to www.deo.state.ne.us .
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes
regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in
water provided by public water systems. FDA regulations
establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must
provide the same protection for public health.
Sources of Drinking Water:
The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water)
include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and
groundwater 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.
The source of water used by City Of Blair is surface water
Contaminants that may be present in source water include-
* Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which
may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems,
agricultural livestock operations and wildlife.
* 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, mining, or farming.
* Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of
sources such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff, and
residential uses.
* 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 storm water runoff, and septic systems.
* Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally -occurring or
be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
Drinking Water Health Notes:
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 microbial contaminants are available from the Safe
Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).
Infants, young children, and pregnant women are typically more
vulnerable to lead in drinking water than the general population.
It is possible that lead levels at your home may 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. Flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before
using your tap water will clear the line of any lead that may have
leached into the water while the line was idle. Additional
information is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline
(800-426-4791) or the DHHS/Division of Public Health/Office of
Drinking Water (402-471-2541).
The City Of Blair is required to test for the following contaminants:
Coliform Bacteria, Antimony, Arsenic, Asbestos, Barium, Beryllium,
Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, Cyanide, Fluoride, Lead, Mercury,
Nickel, Nitrate, Nitrite, Selenium, Sodium, Thallium, Alachlor,
Atrazine, Benzo(a)pyrene, Carbofuran, Chlordane, Dalapon, Di(2-
ethylhexyl)adipate, Dibromochloropropane, Dinoseb, Di(2-
ethyl hexyl)phthalate, Diquat, 2,4-D, Endothall, Endrin, Ethylene
dibromide, Glyphosate, Heptachlor, Heptachlor epoxide,
Hexachlorobenzene, Hexachlorocyclopentadiene, Lindane,
Methoxychlor, Oxamyl (Vydate), Pentachlorophenol, Picloram,
Polychlorinated biphenyls, Simazine, Toxaphene, Dioxin, Silvex,
Benzene, Carbon Tetrachloride, o -Dichlorobenzene, Para -
Dichlorobenzene, 1,2-Dichlorethane, 1,1-Dichloroethylene, Cis-1,2,-
Dichloroethylene, Trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene, Dichloromethane, 1,2-
Dichloropropane, Ethylbenzene, Monochlorobenzene, 1,2,4-
Trichlorobenzene, 1,1,1 -Trichloroethane, 1,1,2 -Trichloroethane,
Trichloroethylene, Vinyl Chloride, Styrene, Tetrachloroethylene,
Toluene, Xylenes (total), Gross Alpha (minus Uranium & Radium
226), Radium 226 plus Radium 228, Sulfate, Chloroform,
Bromodichloromethane, Chlorodibromomethane, Bromoform,
Chlorobenzene, m -Dichlorobenzene, 1,1-Dichloropropene, 1,1-
Dichloroethane, 1,1,2,2-Tetrachlorethane, 1,2-Dichloropropane,
Chloromethane, Bromomethane, 1,2,3-Trichloropropane, 1,1,1,2 -
Tetrachloroethane, Chloroethane, 2,2-Dichloropropane, o-
Chlorotoluene, p-Chlorotoluene, Bromobenzene, 1,3-
Dichloropropene, Aldrin, Butachlor, Carbaryl, Dicamba, Dieldrin, 3-
Hydroxycarbofuran, Methomyl, Metolachlor, Metribuzin, Propachlor.
How to Read the Water Quality Data Table:
The EPA and State Drinking Water Program establish the safe
drinking water regulations that limit the amount of contaminants
allowed in drinking water. The table shows the concentrations of
detected substances in comparison to the regulatory limits.
Substances not detected are not included in the table. The state
requires monitoring of certain contaminants less than once per year
because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change
frequently. Therefore, some of this data may be older than one year.
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.
AL (Action Level) — The concentration of a contaminant which, if
exceeded triggers treatment or other requirements which a water
system must follow.
MRDL (Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level) — The highest level
of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water.
N/A — Not applicable.
Units in the Table:
ND — Not detectable.
ppm (parts per million) = mg/L (milligrams per liter) — One ppm or
one mg/L corresponds to 1 gallon of water in 1,000,000 gallons of
water.
ppb (parts per billion) — One ppb corresponds to 1 gallon of water
in 1,000,000,000 gallons of water.
pCl/L (Picocuries per liter) — Radioactivity concentration unit.
ug/L ( micrograms per liter) — Measurement of radioactivity.
RAA (Running Annual Average) —An ongoing annual average
calculation of data from the most recent four quarters.
90th Percentile — Represents the highest value found out of 90% of
the samples taken in a representative group. If the 90th percentile is
greater than the action level, it will trigger a treatment or other
requirements that a water system must follow.
TT (Treatment Technique) —A required process intended to reduce
the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
NOTICE — This report will not be mailed to individual water
customers. Please contact the City of Blair, 218 S. 16th St., Blair,
NE 68008 at (402) 426-4191 or at cityofblair(@ci.blair.ne.us to
request a copy.
City Of Blair TEST RESULTS Date Printed: 3/30/2016 NE3117905
Microbiological
Highest No. of Positive Samples
MCL
Range
Unit Secondary MCL
ALKALINITY, CARBONATE
I MCLG
Likely Source Of ContaminationrNo
iolations Present
m /L
In the month of August, 1 sample(s) were
MCL: Systems that
Collect Less Than 40
2.2 - 4.5
ppm
METOLACHLOR
COLIFORM (TCR)
positive
0.116
ppb
Samples per
Month - No more than 1
0
Naturally present in the environment
m /L 0.1
SULFATE
07/08/2013
232
232
positive monthly sample
Lead and Copper
Monitoring
Period
901" Percentile
Range
Unit
AL
Sites
Over AL
Likely Source Of Contamination
COPPER, FREE
2011 -2013
0.0594
0.00556-
ppm
1.3
0
Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching from wood preservatives; Corrosion of
0.159
household plumbing.
LEAD
2011 -2013
2.04
2.04-2.68
ppb
15
0
Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching from wood preservatives; Corrosion of
household plumbing.
Regulated Contaminants Collection
Date
Highest
Value
Range
Unit MCL
MCLG
Likely Source Of Contamination
ATRAZINE
07/13/2015
0.129
0.129
ppb
3
3
Runoff from herbicide used on row crops
BARIUM
07/15/2013
0.0196
0.0196
ppm
2
2
Discharge from drilling wastes; Discharge from metal refineries; Erosion of natural
deposits.
CHROMIUM
07/15/2013
1.58
1.58
ppb
100
1 100
Discharge from steel and pulp mills; Erosion of natural deposits.
FLUORIDE
07/15/2013
0.953
0.953
ppm 4
4
Erosion of natural deposits; water additive which promotes strong teeth; Fertilizer
discharge.
NITRATE -NITRITE
01/20/2015
0.591
0.591
ppm
10
10
Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural
deposits
Disinfection Byproducts Monitoring
Period
Highest
RAA
Range
Unit MCL
MCLG
Likely Source Of Contamination
TOTAL HALOACETIC
ACIDS HAA5
7/1/2014-
6/30/2015
21'1
15.9-
30.6
ppb 60
0 By-product of drinking water disinfection.
TTHM
7/1/2014-
6/30/2015
50.9125
38'1
69.9
ppb 80
0 By-product of drinking water disinfection.
Unregulated Water Quality Data
Collection Date
Highest Value
Range
Unit Secondary MCL
ALKALINITY, CARBONATE
12/14/2015
216
178 - 216
m /L
CARBON, TOTAL
06/02/2015
4.5
2.2 - 4.5
ppm
METOLACHLOR
07/13/2015
0.116
0.116
ppb
NICKEL
07/08/2013
0.00161
0.00161
m /L 0.1
SULFATE
07/08/2013
232
232
m /L 250
During the 2015 calendar year, we had the below noted violation(s) of drinkinq water requlations.
iance Period
No Violations Occurred in
The City Of Blair has taken the following actions to return to compliance with the Nebraska Safe Drinking Water Act:
Additional Required Health Effects Language:
Coliforms are bacteria that are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other potentially harmful bacteria may be present. Coliforms were found in more
samples than allowed and this was a warning of potential problems.
Published in the Blair Enterprise, Tuesday, April 5, 2016.