2012 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report

for the

Lititz Borough Water System PWSID# 7360126

Operated by Severn Trent Environmental Services, Inc.

We're pleased to present to you this year's Annual Drinking Water Quality Report. This report is designed to inform you about the water quality and services we deliver to you every day. Our goal is to provide you with a safe and dependable supply of drinking water. We want you to understand the efforts we make to continually improve the water treatment process and protect our water resources. We are committed to ensuring the quality of your water. Our water sources are wells located in Lititz Borough and Warwick Township.  Lititz Borough has an approved Wellhead Protection Plan.

We at Severn Trent Environmental Services, Inc. and the Lititz Water System are pleased to report that our drinking water meets all Federal and State requirements.

Este informe contiene información muy importante sobre su agua de beber. Tradúzcalo ó hable con alguien que lo entienda bien. (This report contains very important information about your drinking water. Translate it, or speak with someone who understands it.)

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants.  It is important to remember that the presence of contaminants does not necessarily pose a health risk.  More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

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.  USEPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791) or the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (717-705-4707).

The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and 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. As noted earlier, our source water is from wells but they have been identified as being influenced by surface waters.

A Source Water Assessment of the Lititz Borough wells, which supplies water to the Lititz Borough Water Treatment Plant, was completed in July 2004 by the PA Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP). The Assessment has found that the wells are potentially most susceptible to industrial, residential and agricultural activities, accidental spills along roads and railways, auto repair shop activities, and dairy/egg laying operations. Overall, the Lititz Run Watershed has a medium to high risk of significant contamination. A copy of the Executive Summary of the assessment report is available by writing to Sue Barry, Lititz Borough Manager, 7 South Broad Street, Lititz, PA 17543. In December 2012, the USEPA recognized Lititz Borough and Warwick Township with an award for their Source Water Protection efforts. 

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 byproducts 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.
• 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.  Lititz Borough and Severn Trent Environmental Services, Inc. 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 drinking water, you may wish to have your 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 or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead

In 2013 Severn Trent Environmental Services, on behalf of Lititz Borough, will again be conducting lead and copper testing.  Homes which meet the criteria for possible lead and copper contamination include:

Ø  Single-family residences (not apartments or offices)

a. Built between 1982 and 1985, with copper pipe

AND/OR

b. Have lead pipe, partial or complete lines – no requirement for     the age of the home. You may think that your home does not fit these criteria; but your water may still contain lead or copper because of a lead gooseneck connection to the water main in the street.

Lititz Borough residents who may be interested in participating in this year’s lead and copper testing may contact Brenda Malone, Severn Trent Environmental Services, Inc. at 717-626-2172 for more information.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, USEPA 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 which must provide the same protection for public health.

The Lititz Water System is routinely monitored for constituents in your drinking water according to Federal and State laws. This following table shows the results of our monitoring for the period of January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012 in addition to some historical data from the last five years.

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

Parts per billion (ppb) or micrograms per liter (µg/l) – one part per billion corresponds to one second in 31.7 years or one penny in $10,000,000.

Parts per million (ppm) or Milligrams per liter (mg/l) - one part per million corresponds to one second in 11.5 days or a single penny in $10,000.

TT – Treatment technique

Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU) - nephelometric turbidity unit is a measure of the clarity of water. Turbidity in excess of 5 NTU is just noticeable to the average person.

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 Disinfection Level (MRDL) – The highest level of disinfection that is allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.

Non-Detectable (ND) – Analysis for a particular contaminant was performed but was not detected as the concentration was below the reporting detection limit.

Action Level (AL) – The concentration of a contaminant that, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.

Secondary Contaminants - Contaminants such as taste, color and odor are not considered to present a risk to human health at the SMCL. Since these contaminants are not health threatening at the SMCL, public water systems only need test for them on a voluntary basis.

Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels (SMCL) - USEPA has established National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations that set non-mandatory water quality standards. They are established only as guidelines to assist public water systems in managing their drinking water for aesthetic considerations.

Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (SMCLG) – The USEPA has not established goals for the SMCL. USEPA believes that if these contaminants are present in your water at levels above these standards, the contaminants may cause the water to appear cloudy or colored, or to taste or smell bad. This may cause a great number of people to stop using water from their public water system even though the water is actually safe to drink. Secondary standards are set to give public water systems some guidance on removing these chemicals to levels that are below what most people will find to be noticeable.

TEST RESULTS

MICROBIOLOGICAL CONTAMINANTS
Contaminant (Unit of measurement)	Violation Y/N	Maximum Level Detected	Range	MCLG		MCL or MRDL	Likely Source of Contamination
Turbidity (NTU) Combined Filter Effluent 2012	N	0.082	0.024 to 0.082 (a)	n/a		TT=at least 95% of monthly  samples <0.3 NTU	Soil runoff
Maximum Turbidity (NTU) Single Filter Effluent 2012	N	0.130	0.0158to 0.130 (a)			TT=all samples must be <1.0 NTU for a single measurement
Maximum Turbidity (NTU) Finished Water 2012	N	0.065	0.020 to 0.065 (a)			TT=at least 95% of monthly  samples <0.3 NTU
Total Coliform Presence (No. col./100 ml) 2012	N	0	0  (b)	0		1 Positive Monthly Sample	Naturally present in the environment
INORGANIC CONTAMINANTS
Contaminant (Unit of measurement)	Violation Y/N	Maximum Level Detected	Range		MCLG	MCL	Likely Source of Contamination
Arsenic (ppb) 2008 - 2012	N	<0.003	<3.0		0	10	Erosion of natural deposits; Runoff from orchards; Runoff from glass and electronics production wastes;
Fluoride (ppm) 2008 - 2012	N	0.70	0.70 to 0.70		2	2	Erosion of natural deposits; water additive which promotes strong teeth; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories
Nitrate (as Nitrogen) (ppm) 2012	N	6.90	6.20 to 6.90		10	10	Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits
Nitrite (ppm) 2012	N	<0.1	<0.1		1	1	Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits
Copper (ppm) 2007 – 2010 Due 2013	N	1.25	<0.01 to 1.25(c)		1.3	AL=1.3	Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposit; leaching from wood preservatives
Lead (ppb) 2007 – 2010 Due 2013	N	9.8 (d)	<3 to 9.8(d)		0	AL=15	Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits
Asbestos 2011	N	<0.09	<0.09		0	7 mfL	Decay of asbestos cement in water mains; erosion of natural deposits

Disinfectants & disinfectant by-products
Contaminant (Unit of measurement)	Violation Y/N	Maximum Level Detected	Range	MCLG	MCL or MRDL	Likely Source of Contamination
TTHM  [Total trihalomethanes] (ppb)    2012	N	7.1	1.3  to 7.1	0	80	By-product of drinking water chlorination
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (ppb) 2012	N	<2.0	<1.0 to <2.0	0	60	By-product of drinking water chlorination
Chlorine (as Cl2) (ppm) 2012	N	1.44	0.85 to 1.44	4	4	Water additive used to control microbes.

OTHER ORGANIC CONTAMINANTS
Contaminant (Unit of measurement)	Violation Y/N	Maximum Level Detected	Range	MCLG	MCL or MRDL	Likely Source of Contamination
Synthetic Organic Chemicals (SOCs) (ppb) 2011	N	ND	All SOCs tested  except Atrazine were below detection limits	Various concentrations depending on chemical	Various concentrations depending on chemical	Potential residue from pesticides, herbicide, insecticide, discharge from chemical factories, discharge from petroleum factories
Atrazine (SOC) (ppb) 2012	N	<.0001	<.0001 to .<0001	.003	.003	Runoff from herbicides used in row crops
Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs) (ppb) 2011	N	ND	All VOCs tested were below detection limits	Various concentrations depending on chemical	Various concentrations depending on chemical	Potential discharge from industrial chemical factories, petroleum factories, textile-finishing factories, pharmaceutical factories, rubber/plastic factories, dry cleaners
SECONDARY CONTAMINANTS
Contaminant (Unit of measurement)	Violation Y/N	Maximum Level Detected	Range	SMCLG	SMCL	Noticeable Effects Above the SMCL
Total Dissolved Solids (ppm) 2012	N	458	416 to 458	NA	500	Hardness; Deposits; Colored Water; Staining; Salty Taste
Chloride (ppm) 2012	N	90.0	70.8 to 90.0	NA	250	Salty Taste
RADIONUCLIDES
Contaminant (Unit of measurement)	Violation Y/N	Maximum Level Detected	Range	MCLG	MCL	Likely Source of Contamination
Combined Uranium 2011	N	<1	<1	0	20.1	Erosion of natural deposits

(a)     In 2012 there was 100% compliance of the turbidity limits.

(b)     In 2012 there was 100% compliance with the total coliform limit. There was no total coliform present.

(c)     In 2010, no samples exceeded the action level. There was 100% compliance with the copper limits. Testing will be conducted again in 2013.

(d)     In 2010, no samples exceeded the action level. There was 100% compliance with the lead limits. Testing will be conducted again in 2013.

What does this mean?

As you can see under the ‘violations’ heading in the first table, our system had no violations. We have learned through our monitoring and testing that a very small amount of a few constituents have been detected.  All sources of drinking water are subject to potential contamination by constituents that are naturally occurring or man made.  Those constituents can be microbes, organic or inorganic chemicals, or radioactive materials.  MCL’s are set at very stringent levels for health effects. The USEPA has determined that your water is safe at these levels. To understand the possible health effects described for many regulated constituents, a person would have to drink 2 liters of water every day at the MCL level for a lifetime to have a one-in-a-million chance of having the described health effect. We’re proud that your drinking water meets or exceeds all Federal and State requirements.

In March 2011 the PADEP conducted a Filter Plant Performance Evaluation at the Lititz Water Treatment Plant. The 2011 evaluation included laboratory analysis of the filter media, filter effluent and microscopic analysis. The 2011 evaluation resulted in a satisfactory rating of the filter plant. In March 2012 the PADEP conducted a follow-up meeting to review ongoing activities that will further enhance filter performance.

Please call our office at 717-626-2172 if you have questions.  We at Severn Trent Environmental Services, Inc. and the Lititz Water System work around the clock to provide top quality water to every tap. We ask that all our customers help us protect our water sources, which are the heart of our community, our way of life and our children’s future.  We want our valued customers to be informed about their water utility.  If you want to learn more, please attend any of our regularly scheduled Borough Council meetings on the last Tuesday of each month. They are held at 7:00 p.m. at Lititz Borough Council Chambers, 7 South Broad Street, Lititz, PA.

Notice: 

While the nitrate levels were below the MCL of 10 ppm, the quarterly samples did show the nitrate levels ranged between 6.20 ppm to 6.90 ppm. Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 10 ppm is a health risk for infants of less than six months of age. High nitrate levels in drinking water can cause blue baby syndrome. Nitrate levels may rise quickly for short periods of time because of rainfall or agricultural activity. If you are caring for an infant, you should ask for advice from your health care provider.