2008
Annual
Drinking Water Quality Report (continued)
WHERE
DOES OUR WATER COME FROM?
Mishawaka Utilities pumps groundwater from
wells that tap the St. Joseph Aquifer, and transmits it to our treatment
plants.
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ARE WE DOING TO MAKE THINGS BETTER?
Mishawaka Utilities is
constantly striving to improve the quality of drinking water delivered
to Mishawaka residents. To keep a check on water quality, we contract
for independent laboratory testing of our water. The results of
this analytical testing let us know if any problems occur, and
how effective our water treatment is. We have also created this
website to allow quick and easy access to the data by our customers.
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WHAT
ELSE SHOULD I KNOW?
In 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. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants
in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public
health.
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 Environmental Protection Agency's Safe Drinking Water
Hotline at (800) 426-4791.
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IMPORTANT
HEALTH INFORMATION
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 organ transplants, people
with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and
infants can be particularly at risk from infections.
These people should seek
advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC
guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection
by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline
at (800) 426-4791.
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WHERE
DOES WATER COME FROM?
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.
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Contaminants
that may be present
in source water include:
(A) Microbial
contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may
come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural
livestock operations, and wildlife.
(B)
Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals,
which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban storm runoff,
industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production,
mining, or farming.
(C) Pesticides
and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources
such as agriculture, storm water runoff, and residential uses.
(D)
Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic
and volatile organics, which are by-products of industrial processes
and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations,
urban storm water runoff and septic systems.
(E) Radioactive
contaminants, which can be naturally-occurring or
the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
To view
the actual test results, CLICK
HERE!
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