2012 Water Quality ReportCity Of Blair
3EI
Annual Water Quality Report
For January 1 to December 31, 2012
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 informacion muy importance sobre el
agua que usted bebe. Traduzcalo o hable con alguien que
to entienda bien.
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 City Council. If you would like to
participate in the process, please contact the City Clerk to
arrange to be placed on the agenda of the meeting of the
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 is 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.deg.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 and young children 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 Department of
Health and Human Services /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-
ethyl hexyl)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.
Note: 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 more
than one year old.
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.
ppm: parts per million ppb: parts per billion
ppt: parts per trillion pCi /I: picoCuries per liter
ug /I: micrograms per liter (Measurement of Radioactivity)
Wed,4 Sep 2013 10:34:57
t
City Of Blair
TEST RESULTS
Date Printed: 9/4/2013
NE3117905
Microbiological
Highest No. of Positive Samples
MCL
MCLG
Likely Source Of Contamination
Violations Present
Sites
Over AL
In the month of June, 3 sample(s) were
MCL: Systems that Collect Less Than 40
2008-2010
0.434
0.0508-
COLIFORM (TCR)
positive
Samples per Month - No more than 1
0
Naturally present in the environment
Yes
0.0254
0.978
positive monthly sample
2
2
household plumbing.
Lead and Copper
Monitoring
Period
90 percentile
Range
Unit
AL
Sites
Over AL
Likely Source Of Contamination
COPPER, FREE
2008-2010
0.434
0.0508-
ppm
1.3
0
Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching from wood preservatives; Corrosion of
BARIUM
07/06/2010
0.0254
0.978
ppm
2
2
household plumbing.
LEAD
2008-2010
2.56
1.17 - 5.14
ppb
15
0
Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching from wood preservatives; Corrosion of
CHROMIUM
07/06/2010
2.84
2.84
ppb
100
100
household plumbing.
Regulated Contaminants
Collection
Highest
Range
Unit
MCL
MCLG
Likely Source Of Contamination
192
Date
Value
ALKALINITY, TOTAL
01/11/2010
204
188-204
BARIUM
07/06/2010
0.0254
0.0254
ppm
2
2
Discharge from drilling wastes; Discharge from metal refineries; Erosion of natural
ACIDS (HAA5)
3/31/2012
0.00222
26.6
mg /I
0.1
SULFATE
deposits.
CHROMIUM
07/06/2010
2.84
2.84
ppb
100
100
Discharge from steel and pulp mills; Erosion of natural deposits.
FLUORIDE
03/07/2011
0.806
0.806
ppm
4
4
Erosion of natural deposits; water additive which promotes strong teeth; Fertilizer
discharge.
NITRATE- NITRITE
02/05/2012
0.69
0.69
ppm
10
10
Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural
deposits
Disinfection Byproducts
Monitoring
Highest
Range
Unit
MCL
MCLG
Likely Source Of Contamination
192
Period
RAA
ALKALINITY, TOTAL
01/11/2010
204
188-204
TOTAL HALOACETIC
4/1/2011 -
19.525
14.9-
ppb
60
0
By- product of drinking water disinfection.
ACIDS (HAA5)
3/31/2012
0.00222
26.6
mg /I
0.1
SULFATE
07/06/2010
TTHM
4/1/2011 -
3/31/2012
53.975
31'8
70.9
ppb
80
0
By- product of drinking water disinfection.
Unregulated Water Quality Data
Collection Date
Highest Value
Range
Unit
Secondary MCL
ALKALINITY, CARBONATE
12/10/2012
192
60-192
mg /I
ALKALINITY, TOTAL
01/11/2010
204
188-204
mg /I
CARBON, TOTAL
05/30/2012
5.1
2.6-5.1
ppm
NICKEL
07/06/2010
0.00222
0.00222
mg /I
0.1
SULFATE
07/06/2010
220
220
mg /I
250
During the 2012 calendar year, we had the below noted violation(s) of drinking water regulations.
Type Category Analyte Compliance Period
MCL (TCR), MONTHLY Maximum Contaminant Level Violation COLIFORM (TCR) 06/01/2012 - 06/30/2012
The City Of Blair has taken the following actions to return to compliance with the Nebraska Safe Drinking Water Act:
Blair has conducted an evaluation of the procedures used to collect coliform samples and the area of the positive coliform samples to make a determination as to the cause of the positive samples. While
the city was not able to make a final determination as to the cause of the positive results Blair has taken steps to make sure their staff understands the proper procedures for taking coliform samples.
Subsequent sampling of the area have been negative for coliform.
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.
Wed,4 Sep 2013 10:34:57