1999 Report to Consumers on Water Quality

City of Terrell
1999 Report to Consumers on Water Quality

The City of Terrell is proud of the fine drinking water it provides. This annual water quality report shows the source of our water, lists the results of our tests, and contains much important information about water and health. City of Terrell will notify you immediately if there is any reason for concern about our water.

The bottom line: Is the water safe to drink? Absolutely.

Call us for information about the next opportunity for public participation in decisions about our drinking water.

Overview

YOUR DRINKING WATER IS SAFE

Providing safe and reliable drinking water is the highest priority for the City of Terrell water department. Our employees take pride in providing and delivering water to your home or business.

The information in this report is based on tests conducted through 1999.

It is important to us that you have information about your Drinking Water so you can have confidence in the product we deliver.

Water Source
The City of Terrell is supplied by surface water from the New City Lake at Elmo. During drought conditions water is pumped from Lake Tawakoni into the New City Lake at Elmo.

What Do The Tables Mean?
The tables show the results of our water-quality analyses. Every regulated contaminant that we detected in the water, even in the most minute traces, is listed here. The table contains the name of each substance, the highest level allowed by regulation (MCL), the ideal goals for public health, the amount detected, the usual sources of such contamination, footnotes explaining our findings, and a key to units of measurement. Definitions of MCL and MCLG are important.

Maximum Contaminant Level or MCL: The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible, using the best available treatment technology.

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal or MCLG: The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to Health.

Key To Table

AL = Action Level
MCL = Maximum Contaminant Level
MCLG = Maximum Contaminant Level Goal
NTU = Nephelometric Turbidity Units
pCi/l = picocuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity)
ppm = parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/l)
ppt = parts per trillion, or nanograms per liter
ppb = parts per billion, or micrograms per liter (µg/l)
ppq = parts per quadrillion, or picograms per liter
TT = Treatment Technique

Inorganic Contaminants

Contaminant	Date Tested	Unit	MCL	MCLG	Detected Level	Range	Possible Sources	Violation
Antimony	1/06/99	ppb	6	6	2.00	2.00	Discharge from petroleum refineries; fire retardants; ceramics; electronics; solder	NO
Arsenic	1/06/99	ppb	50	0	2.00	2.00	Erosion of natural deposits; Runoff from orchards; Runoff from glass and electronics production wastes	NO
Cadmium	1/06/99	ppb	5	5	1.20	1.20	Corrosion of galvanized pipes; Erosion of natural deposits; Discharge from metal refineries; Runoff from waste batteries and paints	NO
Barium	1/06/99	ppm	2	2	1.20	1.20	Discharge of drilling wastes; Discharge from metal refineries; Erosion of natural deposits	NO
Beryllium	1/06/99	ppb	4	4	1.0	1.0	Discharge from metal refineries and coal-burning factories; Discharge from electrical, aerospace, and defense industries	NO
Chromium	1/06/99	ppb	100	100	10	10	Discharge from steel and pulp mills; Erosion of natural deposits	NO
Selenium	1/06/96	ppb	50	50	10	20	Discharge from petroleum and metal refineries; Erosion of natural deposits; Discharge from mines	NO
Nitrate	1/06/99	ppm	10	10	0.34	0.34	Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage	NO
Thallium	1/06/99	ppb	2	0.5	1.0	1.0	Leaching from ore-processing sites; Discharge from electronics, glass, and drug factories	NO
Nitrite	8/2/94	ppm	1	1	0.1	0.1	Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage	NO

**Regulated at the Customer's Tap**
Contaminant	90th Percentile Values	# of Sites Exceeding Action Level	Maximum Contaminant Level	Maximum Contaminant Level Goal	Possible Source of Substance
Lead (ppb)	5.1	0	Action Level=15	15	Corrosion of customer plumbing service connection
Copper (ppm)	0.1250	0	Action Level =1.3	1.3	Corrosion of customer plumbing service connection

**Regulated in the Distribution System**
Contaminant	Range of Detections	Terrell Water	Maximum Contaminant Level	Maximum Contaminant Level Goal	Possible Source of Contaminant
Total Coliforms	0	0	Presence in 5% of monthly samples	0	Human & Animal Fecal waste
Total THMs	50.9-103.5	76.2	100	0	Chlorine by-products

Regulated at the Treatment Plant

Turbidity has no health effects. However, turbidity can interfere with disinfection and provide a medium for microbial growth. Turbidity may indicate the presence of disease – causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea and associated headaches

Constituent	Year	Highest Single Measurement	Lowest monthly % of samples Meeting Limits	Turbidity Limits	Unit of Measure	Source of Constituent
Turbidity	1999	0.12	100	0.5	NTU	Soil runoff

Radioactive Contaminants

Contaminant	Date Tested	Unit	MCL	MCLG	Detected Level	Range	Possible Source	Violation
Alpha emitters	1/06/99	PCi/ pCi/L	15	0	2.0	2.0	Erosion of natural deposits	NO
Beta/photon emitters	1/06/99	pCi/L	50	0	4.0	4.0	Decay of natural and man-made deposits	NO

Synthetic Organic Contaminants Including Pesticides and Herbicides

Contaminant	Date Tested	Unit	MCL	MCLG	Detected Level	Range	Possible Source	Violation
Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate	10/04/99	ppb	6.0	0	2.0	2.0	Discharge from rubber and chemical factories	NO
2,4-D	8/28/96	ppb	70	70	5.0	5.0	Runoff from herbicide used on row crops	NO
2,4,5-TP (Silvex)	8/28/96	ppb	50	50	0	0	Residue of banned herbicide	NO
Alachlor	10/04/99	ppb	2.0	0	0.2	0.2	Runoff from herbicide used on row crops	NO
Atrazine	10/04/99	ppb	3.0	3.0	0.2	0.2	Runoff from herbicide used on row crops	NO
Benzo(a)pyrene [PAH]	10/04/99	ppb	200	0	0.20	0.20	Leaching from linings of water storage tanks and distribution lines	NO
Carbofuran	2/20/96	ppb	40	40	5.00	5.00	Leaching of soil fumigant used on rice and alfalfa	NO
Chlordane	10/04/99	ppb	2.0	0	0.20	0.20	Residue of banned termiticide	NO
Dalapon	10/04/99	ppb	200	200	1.00	1.00	Runoff from herbicide used on rights of way	NO
Di (2-ethylhexyl) adipate	1/15/98	ppb	400	400	2.00	2.00	Discharge from chemical factories	NO
Dinoseb	8/28/96	ppb	7.0	7.0	1.0	1.0	Runoff from herbicide used on soybeans and vegetables	NO
Endrin	10/04/99	ppb	2.0	2.0	0.20	0.20	Residue of banned insecticide	NO
Heptachlor	10/04/99	ppb	400	0	0.20	0.20	Residue of banned termiticide	NO
Heptachlor epoxide	10/04/99	ppb	200	0	0.20	0.20	Breakdown of heptachlor	NO
Hexachlorobenzene	10/04/99	ppb	1.0	0	0.20	0.20	Discharge from metal refineries and agricultural chemical factories	NO
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene	10/04/99	ppb	50	50	1.0	1.0	Discharge from chemical factories	NO
Methoxychlor	10/04/99	ppb	40	40	0.20	0.20	Runoff/leaching from insecticide used on fruits, vegetables, alfalfa, livestock	NO
Oxamyl [Vydate]	2/20/96	ppb	200	200	5.0	5.0	Runoff/leaching from insecticide used on potatoes and tomatoes	NO
Picloram	8/28/96	Ppb	500	500	3.0	3.0	Herbicide runoff	NO
Pentachlorophenol	1/06/99	ppb	1.0	0	<1.0	1.0	Discharge from wood preserving factories	NO
Simazine	1/06/99	ppb	4.0	4.0	<0.20	0.20	Herbicide runoff	NO
Toxaphene	7/25/95	ppb	3.0	0	3.0	3.0	Runoff/leaching from insecticide used on cotton and cattle	NO

Volatile Organic Contaminants

Contaminant	Date Tested	Unit	MCL	MCLG	Detected Level	Range	Possible Source	Violation
Benzene	7/29/99	ppb	5.0	0	0.50	0.50	Discharge from factories; Leaching from gas storage tanks and landfills	NO
Carbon Tetrachloride	7/29/99	ppb	5.0	0	0.50	0.50	from chemical plants and other industrial activities	NO
Chlorobenzene	7/29/99	ppb	100	100	0.50	0.50	Discharge from chemical and agricultural chemical factories	NO
1,1-Dichloroethylene	1/15/98	ppb	7.0	7.0	0.50	0.50	Discharge from industrial chemical factories	NO
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene	7/29/99	ppb	70	70	0.50	0.50	Discharge from industrial chemical factories	NO
1,2-Dichloropropane	7/29/99	ppb	5.0	0	0.50	0.50	Discharge from industrial chemical factories	NO
Ethylbenzene	7/29/99	ppb	700	700	0.50	0.50	Discharge from petroleum refineries	NO
Styrene	7/29/99	ppb	100	100	0.50	0.50	Discharge from rubber and plastic factories; Leaching from landfills	NO
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene	7/29/99	ppb	70	70	0.50	0.50	Discharge from textile-finishing factories	NO
1,1,2-Trichloroethane	7/29/99	ppb	5.0	3.0	0.50	0.50	Discharge from industrial chemical factories	NO
Toluene	7/29/99	ppm	1.0	1.0	0.50	0.50	Discharge from petroleum factories	NO
Vinyl Chloride	7/29/99	ppb	2.0	0	0.50	0.50	Leaching from PVC piping; Discharge from plastics factories	NO
Xylenes	7/29/99	ppm	10	10	1.00	1.00	Discharge from petroleum factories; Discharge from chemical factories	NO
1,2-Dichloroethane	7/29/99	ppb	5.0	0	0.50	0.50	Discharge from industrial chemical factories	NO

Unregulated Contaminants

City of Terrell did not test for Cryptosporidium or for Radon.

Required Additional Health Information

To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes limits on the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems.

FDA regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water.

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of Contaminant 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 (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 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 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 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 that must provide the same protection for public health.

National Primary Drinking Water Regulation Compliance

For more information, call the City of Terrell Water Treatment Plant at 972-551-6635
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1998 Water Quality Report

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City of Terrell
201 East Nash St.
Terrell, Texas 75160
972-551-6604
Metro 972-524-3332
Fax 972-551-6682
E-mail: information@cityofterrell.org

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City of Terrell
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