Fort Walton Beach — 2012 Consumer Water Quality Report — reading text

We are proud to report that the water Community Participation Important Health Information You are welcome to attended Fort Walton Beach Some people may be more vulnerable to FORT WALTON BEACH provided to the City of Fort Walton Beach regularly scheduled Council meetings held on the second contaminants in drinking water than the general Water System meets or exceeds all and fourth Tuesday of every month. Contact the City population. Immuno-compromised persons such as Federal and State Water-Quality Clerk at 833-9511 to confirm day, time and location of persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, Standards. meeting. persons who have undergone organ transplants, The purpose of this report people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system Substances that might be in drinking water: disorders, some elderly, and infants can be is to provide you with information about the quality of The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled particularly at risk from infections. These people 2013Annual water and services we deliver to you every day. We ask that all our customers help us protect our water water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, should seek advice about drinking water from their springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on sources, which are the heart of our community, our the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by way of life and our children’s future. The Water occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive Cryptosporidium and other microbiological Treatment staff works around the clock to meet our material, and can pick up substances resulting from the contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking goal to provide you with a high quality safe and presence of animals or from human activity. Water Hotline (800-426-4791). dependable supply of drinking water. Contaminants That May Be Present In Source Water During the past year we have taken thousands of Include: water samples in order to ensure the quality of your (A) Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and A Special Note About Lead In Drinking drinking water. The table attached shows only those bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, Water contaminants that were detected in the water. The septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious State has reduced monitoring requirements for certain wildlife. WATER TESTING PERFORMED IN 2012 health problems, especially for pregnant women and contaminants to less often than once per year (B) Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from PWS ID# 1460144 because the concentration of these contaminants is which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban materials and components associated with service lines not expected to vary significantly from year to year. In stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater and home plumbing. The City of Fort Walton Beach is those cases, the most recent sample data are discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming. responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but included along with the year in which the sample was cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing taken. (C) Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a components. When your water has been sitting for variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead The City of Fort Walton Beach monitors for runoff, and residential uses. exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 contaminants in your drinking water according to (D) Organic chemical contaminants, including minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If Federal and State laws, rules, and regulations. synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by- you are concerned about lead in your water, you may Except where indicated otherwise, this report is based products of industrial processes and petroleum wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in on the results of our monitoring for the period of production, and can also come from gas stations, urban drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. Data stormwater runoff, and septic systems. to minimize exposure is available from the Safe obtained before January 1, 2012, and presented in Drinking Water Hotline or at this report are from the most recent testing done in (E) Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead accordance with the laws, rules, and regulations. occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities. If you have any questions about this report or water Source Water Assessment In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the EPA In 2012 the Florida Department of Environmental quality in the City of Fort Walton Beach, please contact Tim Bolduc, Engineering & Utility Services prescribes regulations, which limit the amount of certain Protection performed a Source Water Assessment on Director at 833-9607. contaminants in water provided by public water systems. our system. The assessment was conducted to provide The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations information about any potential sources of Where Does Our Drinking Water Come establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which contamination in the vicinity of our wells. There are must provide the same protection for public health. seven potential sources of contamination identified for From And How Is It Purified? The City of Fort Walton Beach’s water system Drinking water, including bottled water, may this system with low susceptibility levels. The processed approximately 869 million gallons of water reasonably be expected to contain at least small assessment results are available on the FDEP Source in 2012. Our water comes from nine deep wells amounts of some contaminants. The presence of Water Assessment and Protection Program website at drawing ground water from the Floridan Aquifer, which contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the www.dep.state.fl.us/swapp. provides a very high quality water source. With the water poses a health risk. More information about excellent water quality of the Floridan Aquifer, the only contaminants and potential health effects can be treatments required to meet Federal and State obtained by calling the Environmental Protection