Annual Drinking Water Quality Report

June 2008

The City is pleased to provide you with the 2007 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report.  We want to keep you informed about the water and services we have delivered to you over the past year.  Our goal is to provide you a safe and dependable supply of drinking water.  Our water source in 2007 was an aquifer, or underground body of water, accessed by two City wells.

SOURCES OF DRINKING WATER

The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include river, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells.  As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring materials 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:

-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 and residential uses.

-Radioactive contaminants, which are naturally occurring.

-Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can, also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff, and septic systems.

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.  Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that provide the same protection for public health.

Our drinking water met all federal and state requirements except in the area of arsenic.

The City of West Branch routinely monitors for contaminants in your drinking water according to Federal and State laws.  This table shows the results of our monitoring for the period of January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2007.  As water travels over the land or underground, it can pick up substances or contaminants such as microbes, inorganic and organic chemicals, and radioactive substances.  All drinking water, including bottled drinking water, may be reasonably expected to contain at least small amounts of such constituents.  It’s important to remember that the presence of these constituents does not necessarily pose a health risk.

In the following table you will find many terms and abbreviations you might not be familiar with.  To help you better understand these terms we have provided the following definitions:

Maximum Contaminant Level – The “Maximum Allowed” (MCL) is 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.

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal – The “Goal” (MCLG) is 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.

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal – The level of 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.

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (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.

The arsenic MCL was lowered from 50 ppb to 10 ppb on January 23, 2006.  As of that date, our wells exceed the arsenic MCL.  The City is studying alternate well fields.  In February 2008 the City shut down our two wells and are using water from West Branch Township’s wells.

Some people who drink water-containing arsenic in excess of the MCL over many years could experience skin damage or problems with circulatory system, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.

Copper and lead levels were required to be monitored between June 1 and September 30, 2004.  During this time ten samples were required to be collected.  All of the ten samples collected met the acceptable limits.

Copper 90^th percentile = 90 ppb, action level (The concentration of contaminant, that, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.) of 1300 ppb, none of our ten sites exceeded action level.

Lead 90^th percentile = 4 ppb, action level of 15 ppb, none of our ten sites exceeded action level.

We are further required to report to you that testing revealed the presence of Sodium at 11 ppm.

We are not aware of health risks associated with this element; however, those with dietary concerns may wish to consult with their physician.

As you can see by the table above, our system did not meet the arsenic levels.  In all other areas your drinking water meets or exceeds all Federal and State requirements.  The arsenic levels were discovered through our monitoring and testing.

All sources of drinking water are subject to potential contamination by substances that are naturally occurring and manmade.  These substances can be microbes, inorganic or organic chemicals and radioactive substances. Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population.  Immune-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.  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.

The State of Michigan has completed a source water assessment report (SWAR) for our water system.  Included in the SWAR is susceptibility ranking for our wells.  The ranking is based on several factors, including well location, construction, water quality, and land use.  Based on the report, our wells have a high susceptibility to contamination; however, we routinely test for a large number of contaminants that have never been detected in the water system.  If you would like to review a copy of the complete report, contact Jane Tennant at (989) 345-0500.

If you have any questions about this report or concerns about your water, please contact Richard Dack at (989) 345-0408 or Jane Tennant at (989) 345-0500.  This years report will not be mailed to customers but copies are available at City Hall, 121 N. Fourth St., West Branch, MI  48661.

Jane Tennant

Acting City Manager/Clerk/Treasurer