City of Menno
Annual Drinking Water Quality Report
Last year, we monitored your drinking water for more than 80 possible contaminants. This brochure is a snapshot of the quality of the water that we provided last year. Included are details about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state standards. We are committed to providing you with information because informed customers are our best allies.
Water Source Information
We serve more than 729 customers an average of 84,800 gallons of water per day. Our water is surface water that we purchase from Bon Homme-Yankton Rural Water System. The state has performed an assessment of our source water and they have determined that the relative susceptibility rating for the City of Menno public water supply system is high.
For more information about your water and information on opportunities to participate in public meetings, call (605) 387-2427 and ask for Peggy Thranum.
If you have any questions about this report please contact:
Fred Sayler
PO Box 432
Menno, SD 57045-0432
Phone: (605) 387-5414
Additional Information
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 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, 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.
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.
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 Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (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. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).
Detected Contaminants
The attached table lists all the drinking water contaminants that we detected during the 2004 calendar year. The presence of these contaminants in the water does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. Unless otherwise noted, the data presented in this table is from testing done January 1 – December 31, 2004. The state requires us to monitor for certain contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of those contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from year to year. Some of the data, though representative of the water quality, is more than one year old.
Terms and Abbreviations Used in the Following Table
The following definitions are provided to assist you in understanding our water quality test results and the following discussion of the results.
Action Level (AL) - The concentration of a contaminant which, when exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements, which a water system must follow.
Maximum Contaminant Level (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 Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) - 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.
Treatment Technique (TT): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
1. MFL: million fibers per liter
2. Mrem/year: millirems per year (a measure of radiation absorbed by the body)
3. NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Units
4. pCi/l: picocuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity)
5. ppt: parts per trillion, or nanograms per liter
6. ppm: parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/l)
7. ppq: parts per quadrillion, or picograms per liter
8. ppb: parts per billion, or micrograms per liter (ug/l)
9. pspm: positive samples per month
|
2005 WATER QUALITY TEST RESULTS Water Quality Tests Taken at the Bon Homme-Yankton RWS Treatment Plant EPA ID No: 0865 |
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Substance
|
Highest Level Detected
|
Range |
Date Last Tested |
Highest Level Allowed (MCL) |
Ideal Goal (MCLG) |
Units |
Major Source of Contaminant |
|
|
Alpha emitters |
0.7 |
|
03/10/2004 |
15 |
0 |
pCi/l |
Erosion of natural deposits. |
|
|
Barium |
0.012 |
|
04/19/2005 |
2 |
2 |
ppm |
Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits. |
|
|
Chromium |
1.0 |
|
04/12/2004 |
100 |
100 |
ppb |
Discharge from steel and pulp mills; erosion of natural deposits. |
|
|
Copper |
0.0 |
#Sites>1.3 AL-0 |
07/21/2004 |
AL=1.3 |
0 |
ppm |
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives. |
|
|
Fluoride |
1.30 |
|
04/12/2004 |
4 |
4 |
ppm |
Erosion of natural deposits; water additive that promotes strong teeth; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories. |
|
|
Haloacetic Acids |
7.0 |
|
09/12/05 |
60 |
0 |
ppb |
By-product of drinking water chlorination. |
|
|
Lead |
1
|
#Sites>15 AL-0 |
09/04/2001 |
AL=15 |
0 |
ppb |
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits. |
|
|
Selenium
___________________ |
1.5
________
|
____________
|
04/19/2005
__________
|
50
________
|
50
_______
|
ppb
______
|
Discharge from petroleum and metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits; discharge from mines.___________________
|
|
|
Turbidity |
0.16 |
100% Samples below 0.3 |
05/01/05 |
TT |
NA |
NTU |
Soil runoff. Turbidity is a measurement of the clarity of the water |
|
|
Total Trihalomethanes |
33.5 |
19.8-33.5 |
09/12/05 |
80 |
0 |
ppb |
By-product of drinking water chlorination |
|
1. Not Applicable
2. The symbol (<) means less than
3. The symbol (>) means more than
|
Water Quality Tests Taken at Customers Taps In the City of Menno EPA ID No: 0205 |
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|
Substance |
Highest Level Detected |
Range |
Date Tested |
Highest Level Allowed (MCL) |
Ideal Goal (MCLG) |
Units |
Major Source of Contaminant |
|
|
Copper |
0.1 |
#Sites>1.3 AL-0 |
09/08/05 |
AL=1.3 |
0 |
ppm |
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives. |
|
|
Lead |
3 |
#Sites>15 AL-0 |
09/08/05 |
AL=15 |
0 |
ppb |
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits. |
|
We Welcome Your Input
The City of Menno meets the first Monday of every month at 7:30 p.m. in the meeting room at City Hall. If you would like to attend one of the meetings you are welcome. Please contact Peggy Thranum, Finance Officer, at 387-2427. The council provides an opportunity in the agenda for public input.