Annual Drinking Water Quality Report for 2004

Village and Town of Champlain

1104 Route 9, Main Street , Champlain , NY 12919

Village Public Water Supply ID# NY0900211

Town Public Water Supply ID# NY0930006

Introduction

To comply with State regulations we will be annually issuing a report describing the quality of your drinking water. The purpose of this report is to raise your understanding of drinking water and awareness of the need to protect our drinking water sources. This report provides an overview of last year's water quality. Included are details about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to State standards. If you have any questions about this report or concerning your drinking water, please contact our Water Superintendent, Larry Sorrell at (518) 298-4152. We want you to be informed about your drinking water. If you want to learn more, please attend any of our regularly scheduled village board meetings. The Village Board meets on the Second Monday night of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Village offices.

Where does our water come from?

In general, 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 activities. Contaminants that may be present in source water include: microbial contaminants; inorganic contaminants; pesticides and herbicides; organic chemical contaminants; and radioactive contaminants. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the State and the EPA prescribe regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The State Health Department's and the FDA's regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

Our drinking water source is drawn from three deep wells. The Village has studied source water for possible susceptibility to contamination. Please see the Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP) Summary provided by the State Health Department included in this report for additional information. During the past year the Village also contracted for a more extensive study of the source water, as well as tested for MTBE and arsenic. Neither arsenic nor MTBE were detected in any of our drinking water wells. The well water is disinfected with chlorine. Since 1992, the Village has also added orthophosphate for corrosion control, and to prevent rusty water problems. Village water, like most in our area, is hard water. Many residents have found that installation of a water softener reduces hard water problems, and prevents damage to pipes and furnaces.

Facts and Figures

Our water system serves a population of 1,250 persons within the Village, the newly annexed industrial park, and the four Town districts. Last year, the Village system pumped 51, 783,000 gallons of water. Village users consumed approximately 48,689,000 gallons of water, with 3,094,000 gallons being used or lost due to main flushing, fire protection or leakage. It is recommended that customers retrofit their plumbing with water saving and conservation devices. Upon request, DPW employees will show customers water leak detection procedures that can be easily instituted in the home. In 2004, water customers were charged the following fees

Are there contaminants in our drinking water?

As the State regulations require, we routinely test your drinking water for numerous contaminants. These contaminants include: total coliform, asbestos, gross alpha particle activity, nitrate, lead and copper, haloacitic acids, primary inorganic compounds, total trihalomethanes, and synthetic organic compounds and principal organic chemicals. The table presented below depicts which compounds were detected in your drinking water. The State allows us to test for some contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently. Some of our data, though representative, are more than one year old. It should be noted that all drinking water, including bottled drinking water, may be reasonably 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) or Clinton County Health Department at (518) 565-4870.

Notes:

1 - The level presented represents the 90th percentile of the 10 sites tested. A percentile is a value on a scale of 100 that indicates the percent of a distribution that is equal to or below it. The 90th percentile is equal to or greater than 90% of the copper values detected at your water system. The action level for copper was not exceeded at any of the sites tested.

2 - The level presented represents the 90th percentile of the 10samples collected. The action level for lead was not exceeded at any of the 10 sites tested.

Definitions:

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible.

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

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG): The 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 contamination.

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

Treatment Technique (TT): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

Non-Detects (ND): Laboratory analysis indicates that the constituent is not present.

Milligrams per liter (mg/l): Corresponds to one part of liquid in one million parts of liquid

Micrograms per liter (ug/l): Corresponds to one part of liquid in one billion parts of liquid (parts per billion - ppb).

Picocuries per liter (pCi/L): A measure of the radioactivity in water.

What does this information mean?

Iron was detected at our system above the State iron MCL of 300ug/l. Iron has no health effects. At 1,000ug/l a substantial number of people will note the bitter astringent taste of iron. Also, at this concentration, it imparts a brownish color to laundered clothing, and stains plumbing fixtures with a characteristic rust color, Staining can result at levels of 50ug/l, lower than those detectable to taste buds. Therefore, the MCL of 300mg/l represents a reasonable compromise as adverse aesthetics are minimized at this level. Many multivitamins may contain 3,00 of 4,00 parts per billion of iron per capsule.

As you can see by the table we have learned through our testing that some other contaminants have been detected; however, these contaminants were detected below the level allowed by the State.

For residents information please note the following information on lead in drinking water: "Infants and young children are typically more vulnerable to lead in drinking water than the general population. It is possible that lead levels at your home may be higher than at other homes in the community as a result of materials used in your home's plumbing. If you are concerned about elevated lead levels in your home's water, you may wish to have your water tested and flush your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using tap water. Additional information is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791)."

Is our water system meeting other rules that govern operations?

During 2004, our systems were in compliance with applicable State drinking water operating, monitoring and reporting requirements except that the Town of Champlain Water District was found in violation for not collecting required samples for Total Trihalomethanes and Haloacetic Acids. This testing will be done in 2005.We are required to monitor your drinking water for specific contaminants on a regular basis. Results of regular monitoring are an indicator of whether or not your drinking water meets health standards. New York State Sanitary Code requires that two microbiological samples be collected from our distribution system each month and be analyzed for Total Coliform Bacteria. Coliforms are bacteria that are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other, potentially harmful bacteria may be present. All samples were negative during 2004.

Do I Need to Take Special Precautions?

Some people may be more vulnerable to disease causing microorganisms or pathogens 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 from their health care provider about their drinking water. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium, Giardia and other microbial pathogens are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

Why Save Water and How to Avoid Wasting It?

Although our system has an adequate amount of water to meet present and future demands, there are a number of reasons why it is important to conserve water:

• Saving water saves energy and some of the costs associated with both of these necessities of life;
• Saving water reduces the cost of energy required to pump water and the need to construct costly new wells, pumping systems and water towers; and
• Saving water lessens the strain on the water system during a dry spell or drought, helping to avoid severe water use restrictions so that essential fire fighting needs are met.

You can play a role in conserving water by becoming conscious of the amount of water your household is using, and by looking for ways to use less whenever you can. It is not hard to conserve water. Conservation tips include:

• Automatic dishwashers use 15 gallons for every cycle, regardless of how many dishes are loaded. So get a run for your money and load it to capacity.
• Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth.
• Check every faucet in your home for leaks. Just a slow drip can waste 15 to 20 gallons a day. Fix it up an you can save almost 6,000 gallons per year.
• Check your toilets for leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank, watch for a few minutes to see if the color shows up in the bowl. It is not uncommon to lose up to 100 gallons a day from one of these otherwise invisible toilet leaks. Fix it and you save more than 30,000 gallons a year.
• Use your water meter to detect hidden leaks. Simply turn off all taps and water using appliances, Then check the meter after 15 minutes, If it moved, you have a leak.

Champlain Village -(PWS# NY0900211): Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP) Summary for AWQR

The NYS DOH has completed a source water assessment for this system, based on available information. Possible and actual threats to this drinking water source were evaluated. The state source water assessment includes a susceptibility rating based on the risk posed by each potential source of contamination and how easily contaminants can move through the subsurface to the wells. The susceptibility rating is an estimate of the potential for contamination of the source water, it does not mean that the water delivered to consumers is, or will become contaminated. See section "Are there contaminants in our drinking water?" for a list of the contaminants that have been detected. The source water assessments provide resource managers with additional information for protecting source waters into the future.

As mentioned before, our water is derived from 3 drilled wells. The source water assessment has rated these wells as having a high susceptibility to enteric bacteria, enteric viruses, herbicides/pesticides, and nitrates. These ratings are due primarily to the close proximity of permitted discharge facilities (industrial/commercial facilities that discharge wastewater into the environment and are regulated by the state and/or federal government), and residential properties within the assessment area. The source water assessment has also rated these wells as having a medium-high susceptibility to halogenated solvents, metals, nitrates, industrial organics, pertoleum products, and protozoa. These ratings are given because the wells are located in an area that may be prone to flooding. Please note that, while the source water assessment rates our wells as being susceptible to microbials, our water is disinfected to ensure that the finished water delivered into your home meets the New York State drinking water standards for microbial contamination.A copy of the assessment, including a map of the assessment area, can be obtained by contacting us, as noted .

Closing

We ask that all our customers help us protect our water sources, which are the heart of our community. If you have any questions regarding the information presented in this report, please do not hesitate to contact our Water Superintendent, Larry Sorrell at (518) 298-4152.