Fowler, Indiana Official Website

                                    FOWLER WATER WORKS

                                                       IN5204006

Important information for the Spanish –speaking population

Este informe contiene información muy importante sobre la calidad del agua potable que usted consume. Por favor tradúzcalo, o hable con alguien que lo entienda bien y pueda explicarle,

Is out water safe?

This brochure is a snapshot of the quality of the drinking water that we provided last year. Included as part of this report are details about where the water that you drink comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Indiana standards. We are committed to provide you with all the information that you need to know about the quality of the water that you drink.

Do I need to take special precautions?

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised people, such as people with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, people who have undergone organ transplant, people with HIV/AIDS or other kind of 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 has set guidelines with appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants which are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

Where does our water come from?

We are a ground water system in which we have two (2) wells. Both located behind the water treatment plant on East Main Street. Well #9 is twelve inches by one hundred ten feet deep (12” x 110’). Well #10 is ten inches by one hundred ten feet deep (10” x 110’). Both wells are bored into rock and gravel.

Why are there contaminants in my drinking water?

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of these contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk or that it is not suitable for drinking. More information about contaminants and their potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (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, or can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.

Contaminants that may be present in the raw, untreated water may 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-ocurring, or that result from urban storm water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, and mining or farming operations.

·Pesticides and Herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources, such as agriculture, 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 operations, and can also result from gas stations, urban storm water runoff, and septic systems.

·Radioactive Contaminants, which can be naturally-occurring or the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the EPA prescribes regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants that may be present in the water provided by public drinking water systems. We are required to treat our water according to EPA’s regulations. Moreover, FDA regulations establish limits for contaminants that may be present in bottled water, which must provide the same level of health protection for public health.

WATER QUALITY DATA

The table below lists all the contaminants that we detected during the 2007 calendar year. The presence of these contaminants in the water does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. Unless otherwise indicated, the data presented in this table is from testing done between January 1 and December 31, 2007. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) requires us to monitor for certain contaminants at a frequency less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from one year to another. Some of the data, though representative of the water quality, may however be more then one year old.

Some of the terms and abbreviations used in this report are:

MCL:             Maximum Contaminant Level, the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water.

MCLG:          Maximum Contaminant Level Goal, the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health.

MRDL:          Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level, the highest level of disinfectant allowed in drinking water.

MRDLG:       Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal, the level of drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health.

AL:                 Action Level, the concentration of a contaminant which, when exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements or action which a system must follow.

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

NTU:              Nephelometric Turbidity Unit, a measure of the clarity (or cloudiness) of water.

Ppm:              Parts per million, a measure for concentration equivalent to milligrams per liter.

Ppb:               Parts per billion, a measure for concentration equivalent to micrograms per liter.

PCVL:                       picocuries per liter, a measure for radiation

P*                    Potential violation, one that is likely to occur in the near future once the system have sampled for four quarters.

n/a                  either not available or not applicable

ND:                Not Detected, the result was not detected at or above the analytical method detection level.

Special Note on Arsenic: ***The new arsenic MCL is effective on January 23,2006. Until then the MCL is 50 ug/l and there is no MCLG. Arsenic is a naturally-occurring mineral known to cause cancer in humans at high concentrations.

SECTION II – VIOLATIONS (0)

WHAT WOULD WE DO TO RESOLVE A VIOLATION?

The water department would contact IDEM’s DWB and ask for help. The monitoring would be corrected and records would be updated. The public would be notified in a new Consumer Confidence Report.

 HEALTH EFFECTS INFORMATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE AFOREMENTIONED VIOLATIONS:

Disinfection byproducts (TTHM & HAA5)

Some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL over many years may  experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous systems, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer. Some people who drink water containing haloacetic acids in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.

 Our Watershed Protection Efforts

Our water system is working with the community to increase awareness of better waste disposal practices to further protect the sources of our drinking water. We are also working with other agencies and with local watershed groups to educate the community on ways to keep our water safe.

 Public Involvement Opportunities

If you have any questions about the contents of this report, please contact Mr. Dennis Stinson at 765-884-0270. Or you can join us at our Town Council Meetings which are held regularly every 1^st & 3^rd Monday in the Fowler Town Hall at 4:30 pm. We encourage you to participate and to give us your feedback.

 Please Share This Information

Large water volume customers (like apartment complexes, hospitals, schools, and/or industries) are encouraged to post extra copies of this report in conspicuous locations or to distribute them to your tenants, residents, patients, students, and/or employees. This “good faith” effort will allow non-billed customers to learn more about the quality of the water that they consume.

Fowler Town Hall • 307 E. 5th St. • Fowler, IN 47944 • (765)884.0570 • Fax :(765)884.8211