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Drinking Water
Quality Report for 2003

 Our goal is to provide you with high-quality, safe drinking water that exceeds every federal and state standard.  As mandated by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), this “Consumer Confidence Report” details our water sources, the result of our water tests, and other information.

 YOU CAN COUNT ON THE CITY OF CHANUTE, KANSAS FOR QUALITY WATER ON TAP.

 OUR RESULTS SHOW IT

 

WATER SUMMARY REPORT

This brochure is a snapshot of the quality of the water that we provided  last year.  Included are details about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state standards.  We are committed to providing you with information because informed customers are our best allies.  It’s important that customers be aware of the efforts that are made continually to improve their water system.  To learn more, please watch our City Government Channel on cable channel 4.

For more information please contact Lawrence Shepard (620) 431-5250.

Your water comes from the Neosho river.  We treat your water to remove several contaminates and we also add disinfectant to protect you against microbial contaminants.  An assessment of our source water has been completed.  For the results of the assessment, please contact us or download the results at www.kdhe.state.ks.us/nps.

 

A Message From EPA

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 (800-426-4791).

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 (800-426-4791).

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 we treat it include:

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

*Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban stormwater 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 and residential uses.

*Radioactive contaminants, which are naturally occurring.

*Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems.  We treat our water according to EPA’s regulations.  Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

Total Coliform Rule (TCR) – Coliform bacteria are usually harmless, but their presence in water can be an indication of disease-causing bacteria.  When coliform bacteria are found, special follow-up tests are done to determine if harmful bacteria are present in the water supply.  If this limit is exceeded, the water supplier must notify the public by newspaper, television or radio.  During 2003, we collected ten samples per month.  September had a positive sample for total coliform.  All follow-up samples were in compliance.

 

Terms & Abbreviations:

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): the level of a contaminant in drinking water which there is no known or expected risk to health.  MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): the highest level of contaminant that is allowed in drinking water.  MCLs are set close to the MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

Action Level (AL): the concentration of a contaminant which, when exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.

N/A: not applicable ND: non detect at testing ppb: parts per billion or micrograms per liter  ppm: parts per million or milligrams per liter  pCi/I: picocuries per liter (a measure of radiation).

 

TESTING RESULTS FOR: CITY OF CHANUTE

Testing Jan 1, 2003 – Dec. 31, 2003

 

REGULATED

CONTAMINANTS  DATE  RESULTS UNIT     MCL     MCLG   Vio  Source

Arsenic

01/03

1

ppb

50

50

N

END

Barium

 

0.024

ppm

2

2

N

END

Selenium

 

1

ppb

50

50

N

END

Fluoride

 

0.83

ppm

4

4

N

APST

Atrazine

 

1.1

ppb

3

3

N

RHRC

 

90TH

PERCENTILE  DATE  RESULTS UNIT     MCL     MCLG   Vio  Source

Lead

08/03

1.9

ppb

AL=15

0

N

CHPS

Copper

08/03

0.0773

ppm

AL=1.3

0

N

CHPS

 

SECONDARY

CONTAMINANTS  DATE  RESULTS UNIT     MCL     MCLG   Vio  Source

Aluminum

01/03

15

ppb

50-200

 

N

END

Calcium

 

40.49

ppm

75-200

 

N

END

Magnesium

 

8.1

ppm

50-150

 

N

END

Sodium

 

24.55

ppm

100

 

N

END

Potassium

 

5.26

ppm

100

 

N

END

Chloride

 

25.33

ppm

250

 

N

END

Sulfate

 

90.26

ppm

250

 

N

END

Total Hardness

 

134.4

ppm

400

 

N

END

Alkalinity as CACO3

 

64.33

ppm

60-300

 

N

END

pH

 

7.23

pH Units

6.5-8.5

 

N

END

Specific Conductivity

 

423.2

Umho/I

1500

 

N

END

Tot. Dissolved Solids

 

233.7

ppm

500

 

N

END

Silica

 

0.715

ppm

50

 

N

END

Corrosivity

 

0.957

LI

0-+1.0

 

N

END

Nickel

 

0.001

ppm

N/A

 

N

END

 

 

RADIONUCLIDES  DATE  RESULTS UNIT     MCL     MCLG   Vio  Source

Gross Alpha

04/02

3

pCi/I

15

0

N

END

 

YRA=Yearly

RUNNING AVG  DATE  RESULTS UNIT     MCL     MCLG   Vio  Source

Turbidity

2003

0.09/YRA

TT

N/A

 

N

SR

TOC

2003

1.75/YRA

TT

N/A

 

N

NPE

Chlorine   Residual

2003

 3.6/YRA

TT

N/A

 

N

DWD

TT: Treatment Technique: the treatment process utilized at each plant controls the concentrations of these parameters in the finished water.

Source Abbreviations

END - Erosion of natural deposits

APST - Additive which promotes strong teeth

RHRC - Runoff of herbicides from row crops

CHPS - Corrosion of household plumbing system

SR - Soil Runoff

NPE - Naturally present in the environment

DWD - Drinking Water Disinfectant

 

YOUR  RIGHT  TO  KNOW

THE U.S. CONGRESS PASSED THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT IN 1974, AND REAUTHORIZED IT IN 1986 AND 1996.  THE EPA AND STATES DEVELOP AND ENFORCE DRINKING WATER REGULATIONS TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH.  CHANUTE=S DRINKING WATER MEETS OR SURPASSES THESE STANDARDS.

What are Cryptosporidium and Giardia?

What is Atrazine?

Is our Water supply at risk?

What is the City doing?

Crytosporidium and Giardia are protozoan parasites that occur in natural surface waters such as lakes, rivers and streams.  Ingesting Cryptosporidium oocysts can cause an illness called Cryptosporidiosis.  Symptoms of this illness include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever and headache.  For individuals with healthy immune systems, the symptoms usually disappear within a few weeks; however, for those individuals with weakened immune systems, the illness can become serious and life threatening.

The water treatment process used at the City of Chanute facility provides multiple barriers including lime softening, clarification, disinfection, filtration, and the management of filtration procedures which lower risk of protozoan parasites in finished water.

Atrazine is a widely used herbicide that is used to control weeds in the production of corn and sorghum.  Atrazine and other herbicides are applied before and after planting, and are also used in urban areas to control weeds along railways.  The maximum contaminant level (MCL) for Atrazine in drinking water is 3 micrograms per Liter (ug/L) using a running annual average.  Samples collected quarterly for Atrazine in drinking water have not exceeded the MCL, and therefore, the City of Chanute continues to remain in compliance with the Federal and State requirements.

Landlords, businesses and schools are encouraged to share this report with non-billed users at their locations.  More information about contaminates and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the USEPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline, 1-800-426-4791.

Requirements met at the plant are more stringent than requirements on bottled water.

 

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS REPORT CAN BE DIRECTED TO:

 THE CITY OF CHANUTE

WATER PLANT

900 South Katy

CHANUTE, KANSAS 66720

(620) 431-5297

 

Copies available at the plant or the City Clerks office at 101 S. Lincoln

 

Tours Available Upon Request

 

Utilities Page

 

 

City offices: Memorial Building, 101 South Lincoln, PO Box 907, Chanute, Kansas 66720
Telephone 620/431-5200           Fax 620/431-5209
city@chanute.org