|
|
Drinking Water Quality Report City of Homer ~ 2009 |
|
Public Works Department ~Water/Wastewater Utility Under the 1996 Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act, all water utilities are required to deliver annually a brief water quality report. This report contains information about the City of Homer’s Water System and covers the period of time from January through December 2008. |
|
Distribution The treated water is transported to your home through 42 miles
of underground pipelines. The piped "distribution system" is
controlled by over 470 valves. The system also has four water storage
tanks, with a total holding capacity of 2.5 million gallons. The system also
includes a booster pump station on the Homer Spit for fire protection, 18
pressure reducing stations and 280 fire hydrants.
Is my water safe? Last year, we conducted tests for over 80 contaminants. We only detected 8 of those contaminants, and found only 2 at a level higher than the EPA allows. As we told you at the time, our water temporarily exceeded drinking water standards. (For more information see the section labeled Violations at the end of the report.) This report is a snapshot of last year’s water quality. Included are details about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to standards set by regulatory agencies. We are committed to providing you with information because informed customers are our best allies. 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 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/Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on
appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and
other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Water Drinking
Hotline (800-426-4791). Why are there contaminants in my drinking water? Drinking water, including bottled
water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some
contaminants. The presence of contaminates 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 (EPA) 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: microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria,
that 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 discharge, oil and gas production,
mining, or farming; pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety
of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential
uses; 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; and radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be
the result of oil and gas production and mining activities. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations that 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. How can I get
involved? If you have any questions, or are
interested in learning more about Homer’s drinking water system. Call
235-3175. You are also invited to attend Homer City Council Meeting,
usually on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 491 E. Pioneer
Avenue (City Hall). Additional
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. City of Homer, Alaska 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 you tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking
or 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.
|
