Village of Quincy
2008 Drinking Water Quality Report
DEAR CUSTOMER:
This report has been prepared to inform our customers of the quality of their drinking water.
Your drinking water complied with all Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Michigan drinking water health standards for the last sampling period.
You may be more vulnerable than the general population to certain microbial contaminants, such as cryptosporidium, in drinking water. Infants, some elderly or immune-compromised persons such as those undergoing chemotherapy; 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).
The Village of Quincy water comes from two (2) groundwater wells. The state performed an assessment of our source water in 2003 to determine the susceptibility or the relative potential of contamination. The susceptibility rating is on a six-tier scale from “very low” to “high” based primarily on geologic sensitivity, water chemistry and contaminant sources. The susceptibility of our source is moderately high.
Copies of the susceptibility study may be obtained by contacting Jason Laney at the phone number listed at the end of this page.
Ground water (also called well water) is protected from many of the sources of contamination described below, such as microbes like cryptosporidium. In general the sources of drinking water (both tap and bottled water) may 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. Source water can also be contaminated by substances resulting from animal or human activity.
Contaminants include anything found in water. They are generally not harmful at low levels. Removing all contaminants would be extremely expensive and in nearly all cases would not provide greater protection of health. Examples of contaminants that may be present in source water in general include: 1) Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife. 2) 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. 3) Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff, and residential uses. 4) Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also, come from runoff and septic systems. 5) Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally-occurring or be the result of oil and gas production or the mining process. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water system.
The Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health. Drinking water (bottled or tap) may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The contaminants in our drinking water are primarily geological materials that dissolved while still in the aquifer. 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).
Contaminants may be found in drinking water that causes taste, color, or odor problems. These types of problems are not necessarily causes for health concerns. For more information on taste, odor, or color of drinking water, please contact the system’s business office.
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. The Village of Quincy 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 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.
Public input concerning the Village of Quincy water system may be made at regularly scheduled Council Meetings, held every 3rd Tuesday of each month. You may also contact Jason Laney at the Utility Department (517) 639-9065 ext. 14.
2008 Drinking Water Quality Report
The last available information for the contaminants detected in our water during the sampling cycle ending in 2007 is given in the table below. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not require some contaminants to be monitored annually because their concentrations are not expected to vary. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality obtains and analyzes the samples in accordance with sampling cycles which vary according to EPA schedules. The definitions and abbreviations used in the table follow.
Definitions & Abbreviations:
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): The level of contaminants in drinking water below 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 a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
Maximum residual disinfectant level (MRDL): The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. This is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
Maximum residual disinfectant level goal (MRDLG): 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 contaminants.
Maximum residual disinfectant level goal (MRDLG): 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 contaminants.
Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant, which, if exceeded, triggers treatment, or other requirements, which a water system must follow.
Parts per million (ppm): The equivalent of milligrams per liter (mg/l) is analogous to 1 minute in 2 years.
Parts per billion (ppb): The equivalent of micrograms per liter (ug/l) is analogous to 1 minute in 32 years.
Picocuries per liter (pCi/L): A measure of radioactivity
RAA: Running Annual Average.
N/A: Not Applicable. ND: Non-detectable.
Substance (Units) |
MRDL |
RRA |
Range Detected |
MRDLG |
Compliance |
Typical Sources |
Chlorine Residuals (ppm) |
4 |
1 |
0.4-0.8 |
4 |
Yes |
By-product of water chlorination |
Substance (Units) |
Sample Date |
MCL |
Level Detected |
Range Detected |
MCLG |
Compliance |
Typical Source |
Inorganic Contaminants (Regulated at the Water Plant)
Arsenic (ppb) |
9/2/08 |
10 |
3 |
- |
0 |
Yes |
Natural erosion; runoff from orchards; glass and electronic production |
Fluoride (ppm) |
9/2/08 |
4 |
1.1 |
- |
4 |
Yes |
Natural Deposits; Additive to prevent tooth decay |
Unregulated Contaminants
Sodium (ppm) |
9/2/08 |
N/A |
51 |
- |
N/A |
Yes |
Natural Erosion |
Haloacetic Acids
Total Haloacetic Acid (ppb) |
9/29/08 |
60 |
8 |
- |
N/A |
Yes |
By-product of water chlorination |
Trihalomethanes
Total Trihalomethanes (ppb) |
9/2/08 |
80 |
35 |
- |
N/A |
Yes |
By-product of water chlorination |
Lead and Copper (Regulated at the Customer’s Plumbing)
Substance (Units) |
Sample Date |
90th Percentile Value |
EPA Action Level |
# of Results Above Action Level |
MCLG |
Compliance |
Typical Source |
Lead (ppb) |
7/1/06 |
2 |
15 |
0 |
15 |
Yes |
Corrosion of customer plumbing |
Copper (ppm) |
7/1/06 |
1.2 |
1.3 |
0 |
1.3 |
Yes |
Corrosion of customer plumbing |
Next testing cycle Summer 09
No MCL’s were exceeded. Levels detected were below MCL’s.