Fort Walton Beach — 2019 Consumer Water Quality Report

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 than the general population. Immuno- DRINKING WATER MEETS ALL FEDERAL AND 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 2020 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. (E) Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally were detected in the water. The State has reduced The City of Fort Walton Beach is responsible for providing high 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 2019 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 otherwise, this report is based on the results of our necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. More In 2019 the Florida Department of Environmental Protection information about contaminants and potential health effects can monitoring for the period of January 1, 2019 to performed a Source Water Assessment on our system. The be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s December 31, 2019. Data obtained before January 1, assessment was conducted to provide information about any Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800-426-4791). 2019, 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 2 assessment in From And How Is It Purified? confirm day, time and location of meeting. June 2019 due to a batch of positive total coliform samples. A The City of Fort Walton Beach’s water system processed Level 2 assessment is a very detailed study of the water system approximately 922 million gallons of water in 2019. Our Substances that might be in drinking water to identify potential problems and determine (if possible) total water comes from eight deep wells drawing ground water The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) coliform bacteria have been found in our water system on from the Floridan Aquifer, which provides a very high include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and multiple occasions. The one Level 2 assessment was completed quality water source. With the excellent water quality of wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through June 20, 2019. We were required to take one corrective action the Floridan Aquifer, the only treatments required to the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in as a result of this assessment. We have reviewed and updated meet Federal and State standards are aeration and some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances our sampling plan to prevent this from reoccurring by changing our transport and delivery method of samples to the laboratory. chlorination. resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.  2019 WATER TESTING RESULTS In the table to the left you will find many INORGANIC CONTAMINANTS terms and abbreviations, some of which you Dates of MCL Range might not be familiar. To help you better Contaminant and Unit Level sampling Violation of MCLG MCL Likely Source of Contamination of Measurement Detected understand these terms, we have provided the (mo./yr.) (Yes/No) Results Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; erosion of following definitions: Barium (ppm) May 2017 No 0.35 0.005-0.35 2 2 natural deposits n/a: not applicable Erosion of natural deposits; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum ND: means not detected and indicates that the substance Fluoride (ppm) May 2017 No 1.1 0.45-1.1 4 4.0 factories. Water additive which promotes strong teeth when at the optimum was not found by laboratory analysis. level of 0.7 ppm Parts per million (ppm) or milligrams per liter (mg/l): Lead (point of entry) Residue from man-made pollution such as auto emissions and paint; lead one part by weight of analyte to one million parts by weight May 2017 No 1 ND-1 0 15 (ppb) pipe, casing, and solder of the water sample. Sodium (ppm) May 2017 No 110 35-110 n/a 160 Salt water intrusion, leaching from soil Parts per billion (ppb) or micrograms per liter (µg/l): RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINANTS one part by weight of analyte to one billion parts by weight Jan & May of the water sample. Alpha emitters (pCi/L) No 2.7 ND-2.7 0 15 Erosion of natural deposits 2017 Picocuries per liter (pCi/L): measure of the radioactivity Radium 226 +228 or Jan & May in water. No 1.36 0.4-1.36 0 5 Erosion of natural deposits combined radium (pCi/L) 2017 Action Level (AL): the concentration of a contaminant STAGE 2 DISINFECTANTS AND DISINFECTION BY-PRODUCTS . which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements MCL or which a water system must follow. Disinfectant or Dates of Range MRDL Level MCLG or MCL or Maximum Contaminant Level or MCL: the highest level Contaminant and Unit sampling of Likely Source of Contamination Violation Detected MRDLG MRDL of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs of Measurement (mo./yr.) Results (Yes/No) are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best Chlorine (ppm) – MRDLG MRDL available treatment technology. Jan-Dec 2019 No 0.72 0.64-0.82 Water additive used to control microbes Stage 1 =4 = 4.0 Maximum Contaminant Level Goal or MCLG: the level Haloacetic Acids (five) of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no July 2019 No 21.9 20-21.9 n/a MCL = 60 By-product of drinking water disinfection (HAA5) (ppb) known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a TTHM (Total margin of safety. July 2019 No 23.9 20-23.9 n/a MCL = 80 By-product of drinking water disinfection trihalomethanes) (ppb) Maximum residual disinfectant level or MRDL: the LEAD AND COPPER (TAP WATER) highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. Dates of AL 90th No. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant Contaminant and Unit AL (Action is necessary for control of microbial contaminants. Sampling Exceeded Percentile Exceeding MCLG Likely Source of Contamination of Measurement Level) (mo./yr.) (Yes/No) Result the AL Maximum residual disinfectant level goal or MRDLG: Copper (tap water) Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; the level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there Jun-Sept 2017 No 0.22 0 of 30 1.3 1.3 is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not (ppm) leaching from wood preservatives Lead (tap water) (ppb) Jun-Sept 2017 No 2.3 1 of 30 0 15 Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants. Treatment Technique (TT): A required process intended to reduce the level of contamination in drinking water. Unregulated Contaminants We monitored for unregulated contaminants (UCs) in 2019 as part of a study to help the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determine the occurrence in drinking water of UCs and whether Contaminant Dates of sampling Level Detected Range Likely Source of or not these contaminants need to be regulated. At present, no health standards (for example, maximum (Unit of Measurement= ppb) (mo/yr) (average) Contamination contaminant levels) or likely sources have been established for UCs. However, we are required to publish Manganese April 2 & 30, 2019 0.074 ppb ND-0.67 ppb Unavailable the analytical results of our UC monitoring in our annual water quality report. All detections are shown on HAA5 April 30, 2019 4.9 ppb 4.9 ppb Unavailable the table, but if you would like a copy of all our 2019 UC data, contact this water system at the number provided in this report. HAA6Br April 30, 2019 9.94 ppb 9.94 ppb Unavailable If you would like more information on the EPA’s Unregulated Contaminants Monitoring Rule, please call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791. HAA9 April 30, 2019 11.2 ppb 11.2 ppb Unavailable Bromide April 2 & 30 2019 144.3 ppb 66-308 ppb Unavailable