Salamanca Board of Public Utilities

Annual Drinking Water Quality Report for 2008

Salamanca Board of Public Utilities

What are the sources of our water?

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 water originates from fourteen wells, ranging in depth from 50 feet to more than 80 feet.  Thirteen wells (WF) are located near Water Street in the center of the City of Salamanca.  Another well (GV) is located at the extreme eastern boundary of the City near Great Valley Creek.  Since natural filtration of the ground water through an extensive sand and gravel aquifer occurs, only chlorination prior to distribution to our customers is required.  The covered storage reservoir, which is located in Newton Run in the City of Salamanca, usually contains between 3.5 and 4 million gallons, which equates to 3.5 to 4 days reserve capacity.

The NYS DOH has completed a source water assessment for our water system, based on available information.  Possible and actual threats to the drinking waters sources were evaluated.  The 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 contamination of the source water.  It does not mean that the water delivered to consumers is, or will become contaminated.  See section “Are 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 was mentioned before, our water is derived from fourteen wells.  The source water assessment has rated the combined susceptibility to contamination for these wells as high from cations/anions (salts, sulfate), enteric viruses, halogenated solvents, herbicides/pesticides, nitrates, other industrial organics and petroleum products; and medium high from enteric bacteria, metals and protozoa.  These ratings for the wells are due to their proximity to industrial activities.  While the assessment rates our source as being susceptible to enteric bacteria, please note that our water is disinfected to ensure that the finished water delivered into your home meets New York State’s drinking water standards. 

A copy of this assessment, including a map of the assessment area, can be obtained by contacting us, as noted above.

Facts and Figures

The Salamanca Board of Public Utilities is the supplier of potable water to Customers in the City of Salamanca and in portions of the Townships of Salamanca and Great Valley.  There are presently 2,730 metered BPU Customer Accounts, representing an estimated 7,500 potable water users.

The total water produced in 2008 was 380 million gallons.  The daily average of water treated and pumped into the distribution system is 1,041,000 gallons per day.  Our highest single day was 2,178,000 gallons.  The amount of water delivered to customers was nearly 60% of the actual production.  The additional quantity of water was used to flush mains, fight fires, for fire training, and leakage.  In 2008, water customers were charged $1.45 per 1,000 gallons of water.  Average monthly potable water charges for a family of three should be about $11.47, or about 38 cents per day.  Charges for customers residing in the Townships of Salamanca and Great Valley are presently 175% of those of the City of Salamanca.

Are contaminants in our drinking water?

As the State regulations require, we routinely test your drinking water for numerous contaminants.  These contaminants include total coliform, inorganic compounds, nitrate, lead and copper, volatile organic compounds, total trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids, radiologicals and synthetic organic compounds.  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.  All of this data, though representative, may be more than one year old.  Also available at the Salamanca Board of Public Utilities business office, is a list of analytical results for parameters where there were no detections.

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 the Cattaraugus County Health Department at (716) 373-8050.

Notes:

* - The levels presented represent the 90^th percentile of the 20 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 90^th percentile is equal to or greater than 90% of the copper or lead values detected at your water system.  In this case, a minimum of twenty samples were collected in the City and the 90^th percentile value for copper was the third highest value, 390 ug/l.  In the Town Districts a total of five samples were collected and the 90^th percentile value was determined to be 280 ug/l for copper. The action level for copper was not exceeded at any of the sites tested.

** - The 90^th percentile values for lead in the City System and the Town Districts were 4 ug/l and 3 ug/l, respectiveley.  None of the samples exceeded the action level of 15 ug/l for lead.

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.

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

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 (parts per million – ppm).

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

N/A:  Not applicable

Picocuries per Liter (pCi/L): A measure of radioactive:  A measure of radioactivity in water.

What does this information mean?

We have learned through our testing that some other contaminants have been detected; however, these contaminants were detected at values well below the level allowed by the State Department of Health

Do I need to take special precautions?

Although our drinking water met or exceeded all State and Federal regulations, 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 some infants can be particularly at risk from infections.  These people should seek advice from their health care provider about their drinking water.  EPA/DCD 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 saving water is a good idea.

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.

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:

System improvements

The Board of Public Utilities is committed to serving the community by revamping and modernizing the water production and treatment process to take advantage of the most effective and economical technology available.  Improvements have recently taken place and more will be undertaken in the near future in response to the changing environment and stricter government regulations.

Replacement of the BPU’s existing Newton Run Covered Storage Reservoir, with new storage tanks will be completed this year. 

Development of an additional groundwater source, for additional production capability, is now underway.

Closing

Thank you for allowing us to continue to provide you and your family with quality drinking water this year.  We ask that all our customers help us protect our water sources, which are the heart of our community and our way of life.  Please call our Office if you have questions.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency maintains a toll-free hotline for Customers with questions regarding Safe Drinking Water:  (800) 426-4791