2018 Water Quality ReportCity Of Blair
Annual Water Quality Report
For January 1 to December 31, 2018
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 Espariol: Este informe contiene
informacibn muy importante sobre el ague que usted bebe.
Traduzcalo o hable con alguien que to entienda bien.
For more information regarding this report, or to request a hard copy, 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 conta-
minants. 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, 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) 471-3376 or go to http://deo.ne.gov.
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. Immunocompromised
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) or the Department of Health and Human
Services, Division of Public Health, Office of Drinking Water at
402-471-2186.
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.
All Community water systems are 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 you 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 (800-426-4791), at
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead or at the DHHS/DPH/Office of
Drinking Water (402-471-1008). '
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-ethylhexyi)- phthalate, Diquat, 2,4-
D, Endothall, Endrin, Ethylene dibromide, Glyphosate, Heptachlor,
Heptachlorepoxide, Hexachlorobenzene, Hexachlorocyclopentadiene,
Lindane, Methoxychlor, Oxamyl (Vydate), Pentachlorophenol, Picloram,
Polychlodnated biphenyls, Simazine, Toxaphene, Dioxin, Silvex, Benzene,
Carbon Tetrachloride, o-Dichloro- benzene, 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-Tdchloro- benzene, 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, Bromofonn,
Chiorobenzene, m -Dichlorobenzene, 1,1-Dichloropropene,1,1-
Dichioroethane, 1,1,2,2-Tetrachlorethane, 1,2-Dichloropropane,
Chloromethane, Bromomethane, 1,2,3-Tdchloropropane, 1,1,1,2 -Tetra-
chloroethane, Chloroethane, 2,2-Dichloropropane, o-Chiorotoluene, p-
Chlorotoluene, Bromobenzene, 1,3-Dichloropropene, Aldrin, Butachlor,
Carbaryl, Dicamba, Dieldrin, 3-Hydroxycarbofuran, Methomyl, Metolachlor,
Metdbuzin, 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 conta-
minant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLS are setas 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.
NIA — Not applicable.
Units in the Table:
NO — Not detectable.
ppm (parts per million) — One ppm corresponds to 1 gallon of
concentrate In 1 million gallons of water.
mg/L (milligrams per liter) — Equivalent to ppm.
ppb (parts per billion) — One ppb corresponds to 1 gallon of concentrate
in 1 billion gallons of water.
ug/L (micrograms per liter) — Equivalent to ppb.
pCi/L (Picocuries per liter) — Radioactivity concentration unit.
RAA (Running Annual Average) —An ongoing annual average
calculation of data from the most recent four quarters.
LRAA (Locational Running Annual Average)—An ongoing annual
average calculation of data from the most recent four quarters at each
sampling location.
901" 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.
City Of Blair
TEST RESULTS Date Printed: 3/12/2019 NE3117905
Microbiological
Highest No. of Positive Samples
MCL
MCLG
Likely Source Of Contamination
Violations Present
COLIFORM (TCR)
In the month of July, 1 sample(s) were
positive
17.435
N/A
Naturally resent in the environment
uray p
No
Lead and Copper
Monitoring
cn
90 Percentile
Range
Unit
AL
Sites
Likely Source Of Contamination
17.435
Period
Value
By-product of drinking water disinfection.
TTHM
1/112018-
12/31/2018
Over AL
19'8 ppb
64.5
ATRAZINE
7/5/2016
0.128
0.0159-
ppb
3
3
Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching from wood preservatives; Corrosion of
COPPER, FREE
2014-2016
0.0593
0.0774
ppm
1.3
0
household plumbing.
BARIUM
7/5/2016
0.0296
0.242-
ppm
2
2
Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching from wood preservatives; Corrosion of
LEAD
2014-2016
0.589
1.61
ppb
15
0
household plumbing.
Regulated Contaminants
Collection
Highest
Range
unit
MCL
MCLG
Likely Source Of Contamination
17.435
Date
Value
By-product of drinking water disinfection.
TTHM
1/112018-
12/31/2018
44.675
19'8 ppb
64.5
ATRAZINE
7/5/2016
0.128
0.128
ppb
3
3
Runoff from herbicide used on row crops
Unregulated Water Quality
Data
Collection Date
Hi hest Value Range Unit Seconds MCL
ALKALINITY, CARBONATE
Discharge from drilling wastes; Discharge -from metal refineries; Erosion of natural
BARIUM
7/5/2016
0.0296
0.0296
ppm
2
2
deposits.
CHROMIUM
7/5/2016
1.43
1.43
ppb
100
100
Discharge from steel and pulp mills; Erosion of natural deposits.
DINOSEB
7/31/2018
2.82
2.82
ppb
7
7
Runoff from herbicide used on soybeans and vegetables
8/8/2016
300
300 m /L 250
Erosion of natural deposits; water additive which promotes strong teeth; Fertilizer
FLUORIDE
7/5/2016
0.854
0.854
ppm
4
4
discharge.
Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion
NITRATE -NITRITE
2/26/2018
0.901
0.901
ppm
10
10
deposits
777ld
SELENIUM
7/5/2016
3.77
3.77
ppb
50
1 50
Erosion of natural deposits
Disinfection Byproducts
Monitoring
Period
Highest
RAA
Range Unit
MCL MCLG
Likely Source Of Contamination
TOTAL HALOACETIC
ACIDS HAA5
111/2018-
12/31/2018
17.435
8.44
25 5 ppb
60 0
By-product of drinking water disinfection.
TTHM
1/112018-
12/31/2018
44.675
19'8 ppb
64.5
80 0
By-product of drinking water disinfection.
Unregulated Water Quality
Data
Collection Date
Hi hest Value Range Unit Seconds MCL
ALKALINITY, CARBONATE
1/16/2018
220
178-220 m /L
CARBON, TOTAL
3/5/2018
9.78
2.24-9.78 ppm
METOLACHLOR
7/5/2016
0.168
0.168 ppb
NICKEL
8/8/2016
0.00127
0.00127 m /L 0.1
SULFATE
8/8/2016
300
300 m /L 250
Durina the 2018 calendar year, we had the below noted violation(s) of drinking water regulations.
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.
There are no additional required health effects violation notices.