2010 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report

City of Warren Utility Services

 

This page explains the quality of drinking water provided by the City of Warren Utility Services. Included is a listing of results from water quality tests as well as an explanation of where our water comes from and tips on how to interpret the data. We are proud to share our results with you.  Please read them carefully.

 

Water Source
The City of Warren utility services is supplied by surface water from the Mosquito Creek Reservoirs in Trumbull County. For the purposes of water assessments, in Ohio all surface waters are considered to be susceptible to contamination. By their nature, surface waters are readily accessible and can be contamination by chemicals and pathogens which may rapidly arrive at the public drinking water intake with little warning or time to prepare.

 

The City of Warren's drinking water source protection area is susceptible to wastewater treatment discharges, home sewage disposal system discharges, runoff from construction sites, residential, agricultural and urban areas, oil and gas production and transportation, and accidental releases and spills from vehicular traffic as well as from recreational boating.

 

The City of Warren public water system treats the water to meet drinking water quality standards, but no single treatment technique can address all potential contaminants. The potential for water quality impacts can be further decreased by implementing measures to protect Mosquito Creek Reservoir and its watershed. More detailed information is provided in the City of Warren's Drinking Water Source Assessment report, which can be obtained by calling the Chemist at 330.841.2578.

 

Important Health Information
Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants.  Their presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate the 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).

 

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.  Contaminants that may be present in source water includes: 

(A) Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewages 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 storm water 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 storm water 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 also from gas stations, urban storm water 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, 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.

 

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 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 form 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 at 800.426.4791.

 

How to Read the Water Quality Table
The results of tests performed in 2006 are presented in the table below.  Terms used in the Water Quality Table and in the report are defined here:

Maximum Contaminant Level or MCL: The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water.  MCLs are set as close to MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal or 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.

Detected Level: The highest level detected of a contaminant for comparison against the acceptance levels of each parameter.  These levels could be the highest single measurement, or an average of values depending on the contaminant.

Range: The lowest to highest values for all samples tested for each contaminant.  If only one sample is tested, or no range is required for this report, then no range is listed for that contaminant in the table.

Treatment Technique (TT): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

 

We encourage public interest and participation in our community's decisions affecting drinking water. Regular meetings are held twice monthly at Council Chambers at 7:30 pm. Please call 330.841.2578 for specific dates. All residents and members of the public are welcome.