City of Hamtramck Water Quality Report 2009

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City of Hamtramck2008 Consumer Re ort on Water Qualit

Published June 2009

A MESSAGE TO OUR CONSUMERSIn order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prescribes regulations

which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The Food and DrugAdministration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottle water, which must provide the sameprotection for public health.

HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED?We invite public participation in decisions that affect drinking water quality. The Hamtramck City Council holds ameeting every 2

nd& 4

thTuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers. For more information

about your water, or the contents of this report, contact Ms. Cheryl Karpinski, Water Supervisor at 313-876-7700.Press 1 for the Public Services Department or visit our website at www.hamtramckcity.com. For more informationabout safe drinking water, visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency atwww.epa.gov/safewater/index.html.

IS MY WATER SAFE?Last year, as in years past, your tap water met all U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state drinkingwater health standards. The Hamtramck Water Department and DWSD vigilantly safeguards its water supplies. We

have met all the monitoring and reporting requirements for 2008.

DO I NEED TO TAKE SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS?Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organtransplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularlyat risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.EPA/Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection byCryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Water Drinking Hotline (800-426-4791).

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY?Infants and young children are typically more vulnerable to lead in drinking water that the general population. It is

possible the lead levels at you home may be higher that at other homes in the community as a result of materialsused in your homes' plumbing. If you are concerned about elevated lead levels in your homes' water, you may wishto have your water tested and flush your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using tap water for consumption.Additional information is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800) 426-4791.

WHERE DOES MY WATER COME FROM?

The Hamtramck Water Department purchases water from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD),which provides high quality drinking water to approximately 4.3 million people in 126 southeastern Michigancommunities. The system uses water drawn from two intakes in the Detroit River; one to the north near the mouthof Lake St.Clair and one to the south near Lake Erie. The water is then directed to four large water treatment plantsfor processing.

LEAD IN YOUR DRINKING WATER

If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and youngchildren. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and homeplumbing. Hamtramck is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety ofmaterials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize thepotential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking orcooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information onlead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the SafeDrinking Water Hotline (800) 426-4791 or athttp://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/index.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/safewater/index.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/safewater/index.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/safewater/leadhttp://www.epa.gov/safewater/leadhttp://www.epa.gov/safewater/leadhttp://www.epa.gov/safewater/leadhttp://www.epa.gov/safewater/index.html


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SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT & IT'S AVAILABILITYYour source water comes from the Detroit River, situated within the Lake St.Clair, Clinton River, Detroit River, RougeRiver, Ecorse River, in the U.S. and parts of the Thames River, Little River, Turkey Creek and Sydenham watersheds inCanada. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey, The DetroitWater and Sewerage Department and the Michigan Public Health Institute performed a source water assessment in 2004to determine the susceptibility of potential contamination. The susceptibility rating is on a seven-tiered scale from verylow to very high based primarily on geologic sensitivity, water chemistry, and contaminant sources. The susceptibilityof our Detroit River source water intakes were determined to be highly susceptible to potential contamination. However,all four Detroit water treatment plants that use source water from the Detroit River have historically provided satisfactory

treatment of this source water to meet drinking water standards.DWSD has initiated source-water protection activities that include chemical containment, spill response, and a mercuryreduction program. DWSD participates in a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit discharge programand has an emergency response management plan.If you would like to know more about this report or a complete copy of this report , please visit the Detroit Water andSewerage Department's website atwww.dwsd.org or contact the Water Quality Manager at (313) 926-8102

WHY ARE THERE CONTAMINANTS IN MY WATER?The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs,springs, and wells. Our water comes from surface waters. As water travels over the surface of the land or throughthe ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick upsubstances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Drinking water, including bottled water,may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of

contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminantsand potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Safe DrinkingWater Hotline (800-426-4791).Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

*Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septicsystems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.

*Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urbanstormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.

*Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwaterrunoff, and residential uses.

*Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organics, which are by-products of industrialprocesses and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff and septicsystems.

*Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and

mining activities.

CRYPTOSPORIDIUM

Cryptosporidium is a microbial pathogen found in surface water throughout the U.S. Although filtration removesCryptosporidium, the most commonly used filtration methods cannot guarantee 100% removal. Our monitoring indicatesthe presence of these organisms in our source water. Cryptosporidium was detected once, during a 12 month period atour Detroit River intake plants. Current test methods do not allow us to determine if the organisms are dead or if they arecapable of causing disease. Ingestion of Cryptosporidium may cause cryptosporidiosis, an abdominal infection.Symptoms of infection include nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. Most healthy individuals can overcome thedisease within a few weeks. However, immuno-compromised people, infants and small children, and the elderly are atgreater risk of developing life-threatening illness. We encourage immuno-compromised individuals to consult their doctorregarding appropriate precautions to take to avoid infection. Cryptosporidium must be ingested to cause disease, and itmay be spread through means other than drinking water.

UNREGULATED CONTAMINANT MONITORING

Unregulated contaminants are those for which EPA has not established drinking water standards. Monitoring helps theEPA to determine where certain contaminants occur and whether it needs to regulate those contaminants. Beginning inJuly 2008, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Dept (DWSD) began monitoring quarterly for unregulated contaminants underthe Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 2 (UCMR2). All the UCMR2 contaminants monitored on List 1 & List 2 in2008 were undetected.
http://www.dwsd.org/http://www.dwsd.org/http://www.dwsd.org/http://www.dwsd.org/


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Water Quality Data TableThese tables are based on tests conducted by DWSD in the year 2008 or the most recent testing done within the last five

calendar years. They conduct many tests throughout the year, however, only tests that show the presence of asubstance or required special monitoring are shown here. The table below is a key to the terms used in the tables.

MCLG MCL,

or TT, or Your Range Sample

Contaminants MRDLG MRDL Water Low High Date Violation Typical SourceDisinfectant Residuals & Disinfection By-ProductsMonitoring in Distribution System

(There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.)Total Trihalomethanes(TTHM) (ppb)

N/A 80 11.1 2.6 18.4 Feb-Nov2008

No By-product of drinking water

chlorination

Haloacetic Acids

(HAA5) (ppb)

NA 60 5.5 1.4 4.6 Feb-Nov

2008No By-product of drinking water

disinfection

Disinfectant

(Chlorine) (ppm)

4

MRDGL

4

MRDL

0.76 0.67 0.85 Jan-Dec

2008

No Water additive used to control

microbes

Disinfectant

Bromate (ppb)

10 10 0.6 1.7 3.6 Jan-Dec

2008

No Water additive used to control

microbes

Inorganic ContaminantsAnnual Monitoring at Plant Finished Tap Water

Fluoride (ppm) 4 4 0.99 NA NA 9/9/08 No Erosion of natural deposits; Wateradditive which promotes strongteeth; Discharge from fertilizer and

aluminum factories

Nitrate (ppm)

Barium (ppm)

10

2

10

2

0.30

0.01

NA

NA

NA

NA

9/9/08

6/9/08

No

No

Runoff from fertilizer use;

Leaching from septic tanks,

sewage; Erosion of natural deposits

Discharge of drilling wastes;

Discharge from metal refineries;

Erosion of natural deposits

2008 Microbiological ContaminantsMonthl Monitoring in Distribution S stemFecal coliform/E. coli

(positive samples)

0 0 0 NA 2008 No Human and animal fecal

waste

A violation occurs when a routine sample and a repeat sample, in any given month, are total coliform positive, and one is also fecal

coliform or E. coli positive.Total Coliform (positive

samples/month)

0Presence of

ColiformBacteria greaterthat 5% of

monthlysamples

0 NA 2008 No Naturally present in the

environment

2008 TurbidityMonitored every 4 hours at Plant Finished Tap Water

Highest single measurement

cannot exceed 1 NTU

Lowest monthly % of

samples meeting turbidity

limit of 0.3 NTU (min 95%)

ViolationYes/No Major sources in drinking

water

0.06 NTU 100% No Soil runoff

Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of water. We monitor it because it is a good indicator of the effectiveness of our filtration system.

Your Sample # Samples Exceeds

MCLG AL Water Date Exceeding AL AL Typical Source2008 Lead & Co er Monitorin at Customers Ta Copper - action level at

consumer taps (ppm)

1.3 1.3 0.088 June-

Sept

2008

0 No Corrosion of household

plumbing systems; Erosion of

natural deposits

Lead - action level at

consumer taps (ppb)

0 15 10 June-

Sept

2008

1 No Corrosion of household

plumbing systems; Erosion of

natural deposits


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Regulated Contaminate

2008

Treatment Technique Running annual

average

Violation

Yes/no

Typical source of

Contaminant

Total Organic Carbon ppm The Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removal ratio is calculated as the ratio Erosion of Natural

Between the actual TOC removal requirements. The TOP was measured deposits

Each month and because the level was low, there is no requirement for

TOC removal2008 Special Monitoring

Contaminant

Unregulated

MCGL MCL Level Detected Source of

contaminationSodium (ppm) N/A N/A 4.8 Erosion of natural

deposits

Unit Descriptions-

Term Definition

ppm ppm: parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/L)

ppb ppb: parts per billion, or micrograms per liter (g/L)

NTU NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Units. Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of the water.

We monitor it because it is a good indicator of the effectiveness of our filtration system.

positive samples/month positive samples/month: Number of samples taken monthly that were found to be positive

positive samples positive samples/yr: The number of positive samples taken that year

NA NA: not applicable

ND ND: Not detected

NR NR: Monitoring not required, but recommended.

Important Drinking Water Definitions

Term Definition

MCLG MCLG: Maximum Contaminant Level Goal: The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which thereis no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

MCL MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level: The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in

drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available

treatment technology.

TT TT: Treatment Technique: A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant

in drinking water.

AL AL: Action Level: The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment

or other requirements which a water system must follow.

Variances and Exemptions Variances and Exemptions: State or EPA permission not to meet an MCL or a treatmenttechnique under certain conditions.

MRDLG MRDLG: Maximum residual disinfection level goal. The level of a drinking water

disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not

reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.

MRDL MRDL: Maximum residual disinfectant level. The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in

drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for

control of microbial contaminants.

MNR MNR: Monitored Not Regulated

MPL MPL: State Assigned Maximum Permissible Level

For more information please contact:

Cheryl Karpinski

3401 Evaline

Hamtramck, MI 48212

313-876-7700 Option 1

E-Mail:ckar inski@hamtramckcit .comWebsite:www.hamtramckcit .com
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.hamtramckcity.com/http://www.hamtramckcity.com/http://www.hamtramckcity.com/http://www.hamtramckcity.com/mailto:[email protected]

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City of Hamtramck Water Quality Report 2009