Fort Walton Beach — 2018 Consumer Water Quality Report — reading text

Important Health Information Contaminants That May Be Present In Source Water WE ARE PLEASED TO REPORT THAT OUR Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in Include: FORT WALTON BEACH DRINKING WATER MEETS ALL FEDERAL AND drinking water than the general population. Immuno- compromised persons such as persons with cancer (A) Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, STATE REQUIREMENTS undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, Purpose of report organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife. The purpose of this report is to provide you with system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should (B) Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which 2019 Annual information about the quality of water and services we seek advice about drinking water from their health care can be naturally-occurring or result from urban stormwater deliver to you every day. We ask that all our customers providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas help us protect our water sources, which are the heart of lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other production, mining, or farming. our community, our way of life and our children’s future. microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe (C) Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a The Water Treatment staff works around the clock to Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791). variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, meet our goal to provide you with a high quality safe and and residential uses. dependable supply of drinking water. A Special Note About Lead In Drinking Water (D) Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial During the past year we have taken thousands of water problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. processes and petroleum production, and can also come from samples to ensure the quality of your drinking water. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems. The table attached shows only those contaminants that components associated with service lines and home plumbing. The City of Fort Walton Beach is responsible for providing high (E) Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally were detected in the water. The State has reduced quality drinking water but cannot control the variety of occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining WATER TESTING PERFORMED IN 2018 monitoring requirements for certain contaminants to less activities. PWS ID# 1460144 often than once per year because the concentration of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the EPA these contaminants is not expected to vary significantly potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds prescribes regulations, which limit the amount of certain from year to year. In those cases, the most recent to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The sample data are included along with the year in which are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits the sample was taken. your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure protection for public health. The City of Fort Walton Beach monitors for contaminants is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead in your drinking water according to Federal and State expected to contain at least small amounts of some laws, rules, and regulations. Except where indicated contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not Source Water Assessment necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. More otherwise, this report is based on the results of our In 2018 the Florida Department of Environmental Protection information about contaminants and potential health effects can monitoring for the period of January 1, 2018 to performed a Source Water Assessment on our system. The be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s December 31, 2018. Data obtained before January 1, assessment was conducted to provide information about any Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800-426-4791). 2018, and presented in this report are from the most potential sources of contamination in the vicinity of our wells. recent testing done in accordance with the laws, rules, There are 17 potential sources of contamination identified for and regulations. this system with low to moderate susceptibility levels. The Coliforms are bacteria that are naturally present in the assessment results are available on the FDEP Source Water environment and are used as an indicator that other, potentially Assessment and Protection Program website at If you have any questions about this report or water harmful, waterborne pathogens may be present or that a www.dep.state.fl.us/swapp. quality in the City of Fort Walton Beach, please contact potential pathway exists through which contamination may enter the drinking water distribution system. We found coliforms Daniel Payne, Engineering & Utility Services Director at indicating the need to look for potential problems in water 833-9613. Community Participation treatment or distribution. When this occurs, we are required to You are welcome to attended Fort Walton Beach regularly conduct assessment(s) to identify problems and to correct any Where Does Our Drinking Water Come scheduled Council meetings held on the second and fourth problems that were found during these assessments. During the Tuesday of every month. Contact the City Clerk at 833-9511 to past year we were required to conduct a Level 1 assessment From And How Is It Purified? confirm day, time and location of meeting. due to two positive total coliform samples in August 2018. A The City of Fort Walton Beach’s water system processed Level 1 assessment is a study of the water system to identify approximately 900 million gallons of water in 2018. Our Substances that might be in drinking water potential problems and determine (if possible) why total coliform water comes from eight deep wells drawing ground water The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) bacteria have been found in our water system. The one Level 1 from the Floridan Aquifer, which provides a very high include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and assessment was completed September 7 2018. We were quality water source. With the excellent water quality of wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through required to take one corrective action as a result of this the Floridan Aquifer, the only treatments required to the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in assessment. We have reviewed and updated our sampling plan meet Federal and State standards are aeration and some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances to prevent this from reoccurring by changing two sample locations which were overgrown with vegetation.