2OO9 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report
(Consumer Confidence Report)
CITY OF KERMIT
Phone No: 432 / 586 - 3460
Special Notice - Required language for ALL community public water supplies:
You may be more vulnerable than the general population to certain microbial contaminants, such as Cryptosporidium, in drinking water.
Infants, some elderly or Immunocompromised persons such as those undergoing chemotherapy for cancer; those who have undergone organ
transplants; those who are undergoing treatment with steroids; and people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, can be
particularly at risk from infections. You should seek advice about drinking water from your physician or health care provider. Additional
guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium are available from the
Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800) 426-4791.
Public Participation Opportunities
To learn about future public meetings (concerning your drinking water), or to request to schedule one, please call us.
Date: 3rd Thursday of each month
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Council Chambers – City Hall
Phone: 432/586-3460
Our Drinking Water Meets or Exceeds All Federal (EPA) Drinking Water Requirements:
This report is a summary of the quality of the water we provide our customers. The analysis was made by using the data from the most recent
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) required tests and is presented in the attached pages. We hope this information helps you
become more knowledgeable about what's in your drinking water.
Water Sources:
The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water
travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals, and in some cases, radioactive material,
and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Contaminants that may be present in source water
before treatment include: microbes, inorganic contaminants, pesticides, herbicides, radioactive contaminants, and organic chemical
contaminants.
En Espanol:
Este informe incluye informacion importante sobre el agua potable. Si tiene preguntas o comentarios sobre este informe en espanol, favor de
llamar al tel. ( 432) 586 - 3468 para hablar con una persona bilingue en espanol.
Where do we get our drinking water?
Our drinking water is obtained from GROUND water sources. It comes from the following Aquifers: DOCKUM (SANTA ROSA) and PECOS
VALLEY(ALLUVIUM). A Source Water Susceptibility Assessment for your drinking water sources is currently being updated by the Texas
Commission on Environmental Quality. This information describes the susceptibility and types of constituents that may come into contact with
your drinking water sources based on human activities and natural conditions. The information contained in the assessment allows us to focus
our source water protection strategies. Some of this source water assessment information will be available later this year on Texas Drinking
Water Watch at http://dww.tceq.state.tx.us/DWW/. For more information on source water assessments and protection efforts at our system,
please contact us.
ALL drinking water may contain contaminants.
When drinking water meets federal standards there may not be any health based benefits to purchasing bottled water or point of use devices.
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 contaminants and potential health effects
can be obtained by calling the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).
Secondary Constituents:
Many constituents (such as calcium, sodium, or iron) which are often found in drinking water, can cause taste, color, and odor problems. The
taste and odor constituents are called secondary constituents and are regulated by the State of Texas, not the EPA. These constituents are
not causes for health concern. Therefore, secondaries are not required to be reported in this document but they may greatly affect the
appearance and taste of your water.
About The Following Pages:
The pages that follow list all of the federally regulated or monitored contaminants which have been found in your drinking water. The U.S. EPA
requires water systems to test for up to 97 contaminants.
DEFINITIONS:
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) - The highest permissible level of a contaminant in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as
feasible using the best available treatment technology.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) - The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected health
risk. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL) - The highest level of disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that
addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG) - 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 contamination.
Treatment Technique (TT) - A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
Action Level (AL) - The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must
follow.
ABBREVIATIONS:
NTU - Nephelometric Turbidity Units
MFL - million fibers per liter (a measure of asbestos)
pCi/L -picocuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity)
ppm - parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/L)
ppb - parts per billion, or micrograms per liter (ug/L)
ppt - parts per trillion, or nanograms per liter
ppq - parts per quadrillion, or picograms per liter
Inorganic Contaminants
Year Contaminant Average Minimum Maximum MCL MCLG Unit of Source of Contaminant
Level Level Level Measure
2006 Barium 0.117 0.117 0.117 2 2 ppm Discharge of drilling wastes: discharge from metal refineries;
erosion of natural deposits.
2008 Fluoride 1.03 0.74 1.31 4 4 ppm Erosion of natural deposits; water additive which promotes strong
teeth; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories.
2009 Nitrate 2.23 1.68 2.77 10 10 ppm Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage;
erosion of natural deposits.
2006 Selenium 5.6 5.6 5.6 50 50 ppb Discharge from petroleum and metal refineries; erosion of natural
deposits: discharge from mines.
Organic Contaminants
Year Contaminant Average Minimum Maximum MCL MCLG Unit of Source of Contaminant
Level Level Level Measure
2009 Trichloroethylene 0.30 0 0.60 5 0 ppb Discharge from metal degreasing sites and other factories.
2009 Tetrachloroethylene 1.45 0 2.90 5 0 ppb Discharge from factores and dry cleaners.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level
Year Disinfectant Average Minimum Maximum MRDL MRDLG Unit of Source of Disinfectant
Level Level Level Measure
2009 Chlorine Residual - 0.66 0.20 2.04 4 4 ppm Disinfectant used to control microbes.
free
Disinfection Byproducts
Year Contaminant Average Minimum Maximum MCL Unit of Source of Contaminant
Level Level Level Measure
2007 Total Trihalomethanes 4.5 3.6 5.3 80 ppb Byproduct of drinking water disinfection.
Unregulated Initial Distribution System Evaluation for Disinfection Byproducts WAIVED OR NOT YET SAMPLED
Unregulated Contaminants
Bromoform, chloroform, dichlorobromomethane, and dibromochloromethane are disinfection byproducts. There is no maximum contaminant
level for these chemicals at the entry point to distribution.
Year or Range Contaminant Average Minimum Maximum Unit of Source of Contaminant
Level Level Level Measure
2009 Chloroform 0.35 0 0.70 ppb Byproduct of drinking water disinfection.
2009 Bromoform 0.95 0 1.90 ppb Byproduct of drinking water disinfection.
Lead and Copper
Year Contaminant The 90th Number of Sites Action Unit of Source of Contaminant
Percentile Exceeding Action Level Level Measure
2007 Lead 1.2 0 15 ppb Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of
natural deposits.
2007 Copper 0.103 0 1.3 ppm Corrosion of household plumbing systems: erosion of
natural deposits: leaching from wood preservatives.
Required Additional Health Information for Lead:
"If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily
from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. This water supply is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but
cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for
lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking and cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you
may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the
Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead."
Turbidity NOT REQUIRED
Total Coliform REPORTED MONTHLY TESTS FOUND NO COLIFORM BACTERIA.
Fecal Coliform REPORTED MONTHLY TESTS FOUND NO FECAL COLIFORM BACTERIA.
Secondary and Other Constituents Not Regulated
(No associated adverse health effects)
Year or Constituent Average Minimum Maximum Secondary Unit of Source of Contaminant
Range Level Level Level Limit Measure
2008 Bicarbonate 96 85 107 NA ppm Corrosion of carbonate rocks such as limestone
2006 Calcium 97.8 97.8 97.8 NA ppm Abundant naturally occurring element
2008 Chloride 101 35 168 Abundant naturally occurring element; used in water purification;
byproduct of oil field activity
2008 Hardness 221 166 276 NA ppm Naturally occurring calcium and magnesium
as Ca/Mg
2006 Magnesium 14.9 14.9 14.9 NA ppm Abundant naturally occurring element
2006 Manganese 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.05 ppm Abundant naturally occurring element
2006 Nickel 0.003 0.003 0.003 NA ppm Erosion of natural deposits
2008 pH 7.8 7.8 7.9 >7.0 units Measure of corrosivity of water
2006 Sodium 33 33 33 NA ppm Erosion of natural deposits; byproduct of oilfield activity
2008 Sulfate 53 50 57 300 ppm Naturally occurring; common industrial byproduct; byproduct of
oilfield activity
2008 Total Alkalinity 96 85 107 NA ppm Naturally occurring soluble mineral salts
as CaCO3
2008 Total Dissolved 411 288 534 1000 ppm Total dissolved mineral constituents in water
Solids
2006 Zinc 0.009 0.009 0.009 5 ppm Moderately abundant naturally occurring element; used in the metal
industry