FORT RECOVERY WATER DEPARTMENT

DRINKING WATER REPORT 2007

The Fort Recovery Water Department has prepared the following report to provide information to you, the consumer, on the quality of our drinking water. Included within this report is general health information, water quality test results, how to participate in decisions concerning your drinking water and water system contacts.

What's the source of your drinking water?

Fort Recovery Water Department drinking water source is two, deep-drilled wells located in Community Park and on the West side of the village limits. Water is drawn from either of these two wells and pumped to the treatment plant where it is treated for hardness reduction and disinfected prior to being used for drinking water. The use of the wells is rotated every three months.

In the event of an emergency, the Fort Recovery Water Treatment plant has a stand-by generator capable of supplying sufficient power for the pumping, treatment and distribution of safe drinking water. Under normal usage, the elevated storage tanks hold a 48-hour water supply.

What are sources of contamination to drinking water?

The sources of drinking water both tap water and bottled water includes 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 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 water 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, urban storm water runoff and residential uses; (D) 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 storm water runoff and septic systems; (E) 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 which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. 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 (1-800-426-4791).

Protecting our drinking water source from contamination is the responsibility of all area residents. Please dispose of hazardous chemicals in the proper manner and report polluters to the appropriate authorities. Only by working together can we insure an adequate safe supply of water for future generations.

Who needs 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 disorder, and some elderly and infants can be particularly at risk from infection. 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