Fort Walton Beach — 2024 Consumer Water Quality Report — reading text

Important Health Information Source Water Assessment WE ARE PLEASED TO REPORT THAT OUR Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in In 2024 the Florida Department of Environmental Protection FORT WALTON BEACH drinking water than the general population. Immuno- performed a Source Water Assessment on our system. The DRINKING WATER MEETS ALL FEDERAL AND compromised persons such as persons with cancer assessment was conducted to provide information about any STATE REQUIREMENTS undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone potential sources of contamination in the vicinity of our wells. Purpose of report organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune There are 26 potential sources of contamination identified for system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be this system with low to moderate susceptibility levels. The 2024 Annual The purpose of this report is to provide you with information about the quality of water and services we particularly at risk from infections. These people should assessment results are available on the FDEP Source Water deliver to you every day. We ask that all our customers seek advice about drinking water from their health care Assessment and Protection Program website at SWAPP providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to (state.fl.us). help us protect our water sources, which are the heart of lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other our community, our way of life and our children’s future. microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Community Participation The Water Treatment staff works around the clock to meet Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791). You are welcome to attended Fort Walton Beach regularly our goal to provide you with a high quality safe and scheduled Council meetings held on the second and fourth dependable supply of drinking water. Tuesday of every month. Contact the City Clerk at 850-833-9511 A Special Note About Lead in Drinking Water to confirm day, time and location of meeting. Lead can cause serious health effects in people of all ages, During the past year we have taken thousands of water especially pregnant people, infants (both formula-fed and samples to ensure the quality of your drinking water. The Substances that might be in drinking water breastfed), and young children. Lead in drinking water is The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) table attached shows only those contaminants that were primarily from materials and parts used in service lines and in detected in the water. The State has reduced monitoring include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and home plumbing. The City of Fort Walton Beach is responsible requirements for certain contaminants to less often than wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the for providing high quality drinking water and removing lead ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some once per year because the concentration of these pipes but cannot control the variety of materials used in the plumbing in your home. Because lead levels may vary over cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting contaminants is not expected to vary significantly from from the presence of animals or from human activity. year to year. In those cases, the most recent sample data time, lead exposure is possible even when your tap sampling PWS ID# 1460144 results do not detect lead at one point in time. You can help Contaminants That May Be Present In Source Water are included along with the year in which the sample was protect yourself and your family by identifying and removing Include: taken. lead materials within your home plumbing and taking steps to (A) Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, Recipient reduce your family’s risk. Using a filter, certified by an American The City of Fort Walton Beach monitors for contaminants National Standards Institute accredited certifier to reduce lead, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, FDEP 2020 Plant Operation Excellence Award agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife. in your drinking water according to Federal and State is effective in reducing lead exposures. Follow the instructions FDEP 2023 Plant Operation Excellence Award laws, rules, and regulations. Except where indicated provided with the filter to ensure the filter is used properly. Use (B) Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which only cold water for drinking, cooking, and making baby formula. can be naturally-occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, otherwise, this report is based on the results of our Boiling water does not remove lead from water. Before using industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas monitoring for the period of January 1, 2024, to December tap water for drinking, cooking, or making baby formula, flush production, mining, or farming. 31, 2024. Data obtained before January 1, 2024, and your pipes for several minutes. You can do this by running your (C) Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety presented in this report are from the most recent testing tap, taking a shower, doing laundry or a load of dishes. If you of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and done in accordance with the laws, rules, and regulations. have a lead service line or a galvanized requiring replacement residential uses. service line, you may need to flush your pipes for a longer If you have any questions about this report or water quality period. If you are concerned about lead in your water and wish (D) Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial in the City of Fort Walton Beach, please contact the Water to have your water tested, contact the City of FWB Utilities at 850-833-9613. Information on lead in drinking water, testing processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas Operations Supervisor at 850-833-9613. methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems. available at https://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead. (E) Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally Where Does Our Drinking Water Come occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining From And How Is It Purified? The City performs lead testing at 30 designated sites every activities. The City of Fort Walton Beach’s water system processed three years. The next round of sampling is scheduled for 2025. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the EPA approximately 967 million gallons of water in 2024. Our Individual results are delivered to each customer from where prescribes regulations, which limit the amount of certain the sample was collected. All results are on file at the Utilities water comes from eight deep wells drawing ground water contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The from the Floridan Aquifer, which provides