CONTENTS

Origin of Your Water

About Your Drinking Water

Water Quality Data

Water Contamination

Special Precautions

How to Receive Additional Information

EPA Hotline

Water Service Numbers

What are sources of contamination to drinking water? 

The sources of drinking water, both tap water and bottled water, includes 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 it can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.

Contaminants that may be present in source water include the following: 
(A) Microbial contaminants, such as viruses, bacteria, Cryptosporidium, and Giardia, may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations and wildlife;
(B) Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, can be naturally-occurring or result from urban storm water runoff, industrial or domestic  wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming;
(C) Pesticides and herbicides may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff, and residential uses;
(D) Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, are by- products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff, and septic systems; 
(E) Radioactive contaminants, 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
(1-800-426-4791)