Consumer Confidence Report CITY OF LAWRENCE UTILITIES
PWSID# 5249005
2010 CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT
CUSTOMER SERVICE
For billing information, to start or stop service, and emergency service, call 317-542-0511. For general information please visit our website at www.cityoflawrence.org.
LAWRENCE WATER SUPPLY
Lawrence Utilities provides safe, reliable drinking water to about 14,200 service connections. Due to the dedicated efforts of our employees, Lawrence Utilities is pleased to report, once again, that it is in compliance with all federal, state and local drinking water regulations. This report provides information concerning where your water comes from, how it compares to standards and how you can learn more about drinking water.
The water supply for Lawrence originates from wells (ground water). There are 11 such wells located throughout the City of Lawrence.
WATER CONTAMINANTS
The sources of drinking water (both bottled water and tap water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. As water travels through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and may also pick up substances resulting from the presence of animal or human activity. Contaminants that may be 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 be from a variety of sources, such as agricultural activity, urban storm water runoff, commercial and residential uses.
Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and may also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff and septic systems.
Radioactive contaminants may 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 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prescribes regulations that 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 water poses a health risk. More information 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. Immunocompromised persons, such as those with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants may be particularly at risk from infections. People having such conditions should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. The EPA and The Center for Disease Control provide guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants and are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline.
LEAD AND DRINKING WATER
If present, elevated levels of lead may be a cause of 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. Lawrence Utilities is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When water has been sitting for several hours, the potential may be reduced for lead exposure by flushing the tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If there is a concern about lead in the water, testing methods and steps that may be taken to minimize exposures is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or at www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
OUR WATERSHED PROTECTION EFFORTS
The water utility is working with the community to increase awareness of better waste disposal practices to further protect the sources of water. The utility works with other agencies and with local watershed groups to educate the community on ways to keep our water safe.
DEFINITIONS
Below are some definitions to terms and abbreviations used on the following chemical analysis pages. These definitions may help better understand the results of testing.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal or MCLG: The level of contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow a margin of safety.
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.
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 allow for a margin of safety. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contamination.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level or MRDL: The highest level of disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that the addition of disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
Action Level or AL: The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.
Treatment Technique: A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
ppm: One part per million
ppb: One part per billion
ND: Not Detected. The result was not detected at or above the analytical method detection level.
N/A: Either not available or not applicable.
Click Here to display the table of Contaminants Detected.
PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES:
If there are any questions regarding the contents of this report, please contact Tom Speer at 317-542-0511. Anyone may attend the Utility Service Board meetings, which are regularly held on the second and fourth Mondays of every month, unless otherwise noted, at the George Keller Public Assembly Room located at the Lawrence Government Center, 9001 E. 59th Street at 4:30pm. Subscribers to Comcast cable television may view the meeting from the comfort of home on Comcast Channel 28. AT&T U-verse subscribers may view the meetings on channel 99.
2011 UTILITY SERVICE BOARD MEETING DATES:
May 9 September 12
May 23 September 26
June 13 Tuesday, October 11
June 27 October 24
July 11 November 14
July 25 November 28
August 8 December 12
August 22 Tuesday, December 27
PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION:
Large water volume customers (such as apartment complexes, hospitals, schools and/or industries) are encouraged to post copies of this report in conspicuous locations or to distribute copies to tenants, residents, patients, students and employees. This good faith effort may allow non-billed customers to learn more about the quality of the water consumed.
Remember: Wise Water Use Reduces Bills!
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