MO4010279

PARK HILLS

2003 Annual Water Quality Report

(Consumer Confidence Report)

This report is intended to provide you with important information about your drinking water and the efforts made to provide safe drinking water.

Attencion!

Este informe contiene informacion muy importante.  Traduscalo o prequntele a alguien que lo entienda bien.  [translated:  This report contains very important information.  Translate or ask someone who understands this very well.]

SOURCE OF WATER

The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and groundwater 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 pickup substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.

Our water comes from the following source:                  Ground Water - Well

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE SAFETY OF YOUR DRINKING WATER

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).

Contaminants that my be present in source water include:

A.      Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.

B.       Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial, or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.

C.       Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.

D.      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 stormwater runoff, and septic systems.

E.       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, the Department of Natural Resources prescribe regulations, which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems.  Department of Health regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health.

DOES PARK HILLS SYSTEM MEET OTHER RULES THAT GOVERN OUR OPERATIONS?

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources regulates our water system and requires us to test our water on a regular basis to ensure its safety.  Our system has been assigned the identification number MO4010279 for the purposes of tracking our test results.  Last year, we tested for a variety of contaminants.  The detectable results of these tests are on the following pages of this report.  Any violations of state requirements or standards will be further explained later in this report.

HOW MIGHT I BECOME ACTIVELY INVOLVED?

If you would like to observe the decision-making process that affects drinking water quality or if you have any questions about your drinking water report, you may contact the Water Department at 573-431-2280 daily, except for holidays to inquire about scheduled meetings or contact persons.  Lobby hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

DO I NEED TO TAKE SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS?

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general populations.  Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ trans-plants, 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 are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

Thursday, May13, 2004

                                                                                                                                                                                                MO4010279

PARK HILLS

2003 Annual Water Quality Report

Definitions:

MCLG:  Maximum Contaminant Level Goal, or 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.  MCL:  Maximum Contaminant Level, or 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.  AL:  Action Level, or the concentration of a contaminant which, when exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.  TT:  Treatment Technique, or a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.-90^tth percentile: For lead and Copper testing. 10% of test results are above this level and 90% are below this level.-Level found : is the average of all test results for a particular contaminant.-Range of Detections: Shows the lowest and highest levels found during a testing period, if only one sample was taken, then this number equals the Level Found. MRLDG: Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal, or the level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDL: Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level, or the highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water.

Abbreviations:

PPB: Parts per billion or micrograms per liter.  ppm:  parts per million or milligrams per liter.  n/a:  not applicable.  NTU:  Nephelometric Turbidity Unit, used to measure cloudiness in drinking water.  MFL:  million fibers per liter, used to measure asbestos concentration.  Nd:  not detectable at testing limits.

The state has reduced monitoring requirements for certain contaminants to less often than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from year to year.  Records with a sample year more than one year old are still considered representative.

Regulated Contaminants